While social service work and political activism have often been viewed as separate and opposing forces, Serving the People: Social Services and Social Change argues persuasively that the two endeavors can-and should-be combined for the benefit of both. Drawing on her extensive experience in service work and social action, Ann Withorn probes the past and present of these fields and reveals: why social services have been viewed as necessarily apolitical...what problems are posed by professionalism and bureaucratic practice...why progressive have not actively fought for social welfare changes...what choices and issues exist in politicizing social practice...and much more. Finally, here is one book that combines historical research and practical, workable ideas for social workers, social planners, and activists to use. Serving the People surpasses current social work and left literature by providing: * Extensive historical background of the social service/social action dichotomy.* Examination of the history of service work in labor, feminist, black, and left movements in the United States from the late nineteenth century to the present.*
Political analysis that most professional literature avoids.* Examples from scores of interviews from practitioners at all levels.* Concrete, practical suggestions that go beyond left theories to show how to apply political analysis to daily work. * Summary of the latest European ideas and trends that make the book a useful classroom tool for social work, social policy, and sociology courses. For social service practitioners and students, or anyone concerned with achieving social change in contemporary society, Serving the People is a timely, invaluable book.