Social Work:
      A Guide to Selected Resources


The following is a selective list of information resources available in the Owen Library or accessible in electronic format. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of resources. Please consult a reference librarian for advice on the best sources and research strategy for your specific topic.

 

Encyclopedias

 

The Encyclopedia of Aging: A Comprehensive Resource in Gerontology and Geriatrics 

2nd edition                                                                                 Reference  HQ1061 .E53 1995

A single volume encyclopedia with entries covering health, psychological and sociological aspects of the aging process. Signed articles, written by gerontologists from various fields. Good list of resources.

 

Encyclopedia of Social Work 19th edition                                Reference  HV35 .S6

An authoritative collection of entries on social work topics, including population groups, social work history, its leaders, and future trends. Includes excellent bibliographies on each topic. Appendices include codes of ethics, acronyms and a subject index.

 

Encyclopedia of Sociology                                                      Reference HM425 .E5 2000

This five-volume reference work provides essays on topics in the field of sociology and related areas.

 

Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence                   Reference HQ772 .G27 1998

Provides entries on topics related to the psychology and development of children and adolescents.

 

International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family             Reference HQ9 .E52 2003 

This multi-volume encyclopedia collects entries on many subjects related to family life, from many different perspectives.

 

Social Work Almanac  2nd edition                                            Reference  HV90 .G53 1995

Almanac includes entries discussing recent data on demographics, children, crime and corrections, education, health and mortality, mental illness, aging, social welfare and professional issues. Published by the National Association of Social Workers.

 

Dictionaries & Handbooks

 

Biographical Dictionary of Social Welfare in America           Reference HV27 .B57 1986

A collection of biographical information on individuals important in the field.

 

 

The Dictionary of Family Psychology and Family Therapy   2nd edition

Reference RC488.5.D525 1993

A dictionary providing definitions for terms related to family psychotherapy and the psychology of family.

 

Handbook of Empirical Social Work Practice                       Reference HV43 .H316 1998

A summary compilation of empirical research with relevance to the practice of social work. Includes numerous references, as well as both author and subject indices.

 

The Social Work Dictionary  5th edition                                   Reference  HV12 .B37 2003

A comprehensive dictionary for the social worker. Includes definitions on over 5,000 terms. Provides descriptions of social work organizations, concepts, philosophies, disorders and legislation important to the profession. Also includes biographies of leaders of importance to the profession over the past four hundred years. Includes the NASW Code of Ethics.

 

Directories

 

Directory of Clinical Social Workers                     Locate in Digital Library under Databases A-Z

Electronic version of NASW Register of Clinical Social Workers.

 

Public Human Services Directory                                           Reference HV89 .A55

Provides a listing of federal, state and local public agencies that administer medical assistance, child welfare and temporary assistance for families, etc.

 

Statistical Sources

 

Statistical Handbook on Adolescents in America                Reference  HQ796 .S8237 1996

Defines adolescents as those individuals age 12 to 21 years old. Includes tables, charts and graphs on demographics, health, parent-adolescent relations, education, quality of life, deviance and sex. Good subject index.

 

Statistical Handbook on Aging Americans                           Reference  HQ1064 .U5S695 1994

Provides numerous charts and tables, based in part on U.S. census information. Includes demographics, social and health characteristics, and economic data. Good list of data resources and index.

 

Statistical Handbook on Women in America                        Reference  HQ1420 .T34 1996

Provides tables, charts and graphs on demographics, health, and economic data. Data based in part on information gathered by government agencies.

 

Indexes & Databases

 

 

AgeLine                                                           Locate in the Digital Library under Databases A-Z

Produced by the AARP, this database contains over 65,000 detailed abstracts of research reports, journal articles, videos and books related to life at 50+ and issues related to aging. Coverage includes all major gerontology journals and many from related disciplines. Includes citations, abstracts and some links to full-text research reports.

 

Child Abuse and Neglect Clearinghouse: Database

                                                                       http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/search/pubs_search.cfm

Enables public to search clearinghouse’s documents database, which includes over 22,000 records; the Prevention Program’s Database, which has information on over 400 community-based child abuse programs, and the National Directory of Child Abuse and Neglect Treatment Programs.

 

PREVLINE Databases                                                            http://www.health.org

Site maintained by the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information. Provides links to 10 publicly accessible databases useful to individuals doing research on the topic of substance abuse.

 

PsycINFO                                                       Locate in the Digital Library under Databases A-Z

This database is the electronic version of Psychological Abstracts. Its indexing coverage is from 1887 to the present and includes all types of documents. It is international in scope, including relevant materials related to the field of social work. Includes some full-text.

 

Social Work Abstracts                                                Locate in the Digital Library under Databases A-Z

This is the electronic version of the print reference index by the same title. The database indexes more than 450 journals in all areas of the field of social work. Indexing coverage is from 1977 to the present. It includes some links to full-text.

 

Sociological Abstracts (SocioFile)                  Locate in the Digital Library under Databases A-Z

This database provides indexing coverage to approximately 2000 journals. It is international in coverage from 1963 to the present. There are some full-text links.

 

 

Useful Internet Resources

 

Almanac of Policy Issues                                            http://www.policyalmanac.org/

 

The New Social Worker’s Online Career Center        http://www.socialworker.com/career.htm

 

National Association of Social Workers                                 http://www.naswdc.org/

Includes an online version of The NASW Register of Clinical Social Workers.

 

National Conference on Social Welfare Proceedings (1874-1982)

                                                                                    http://www.hti.umich.edu/n/ncosw/

A useful resource for understanding history of social work and social issues.

 

Public Agenda Online                                                 http://www.publicagenda.org/

 

World Wide Web Resources for Social Workers         http://www.nyu.edu/socialwork/wwwrsw/

Provides links to many useful Web sites for social workers.

 

 

 

 

 

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