Advances in Social Work Practice with the Military

With the United States’ involvement in numerous combat operations overseas, the need for civilian social workers with the clinical skills necessary to work with members of the military returning from combat, as well as their families, has never been more critical. In this practical and important book, each chapter is written by specialists in a particular area devoted to the care of service members and includes case material to demonstrate assessment and intervention approaches. The reader is introduced to the world of the military and the subsequent development of mental health services for returning men and women. Chapters look at special populations of service members with specific needs based directly on their experience in the military, discussing post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, sexual harassment and assault during their service, and the physiology of the war zone experience. The challenges faced by reintegrating service men and women are explored in detail and include family issues, suicide, and substance use disorders. A section on services available to returning service members looks at those offered by the Veterans Administration and at the use of animal-assisted interventions. The book concludes with a section devoted to unique concerns for the practitioner and explores ethical concerns they may face and their own needs as clinicians working with this population.

"This book is a significant, distinctive, timely, and very welcome contribution to the social work practice literature. Its attention to military culture, special populations, clinical challenges, family, and ethical implications are particularly noteworthy." Raymond Scurfield, DSW, LCSW, Vietnam veteran; Professor Emeritus of Social Work, University of Southern Mississippi "I was most impressed by this book which addresses key issues faced by social workers and practitioners who are challenged to provide expertise and skill in this very demanding field. It makes a very significant contribution to social work literature on interventions with soldiers and their families when on the battlefield and upon returning home. I am most certain that many practitioners and their clients will benefit greatly from this unique book." Rachel Dekel, PhD, Associate Professor of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Israel

Joan Beder, DSW, is a professor in the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University in New York. She has been a clinical social worker for over 30 years and maintains a private clinical practice in Long Island, NY.