Introduction: Whither american social work in its second century?

Abstract

This special issue of Social Service Review acknowledges the 100th anniversary of the inaugural meeting of the National Conference of Social Work in 1917 by inviting scholars to reflect on the state of scholarship, and the profession itself, in the core areas of social work—social welfare policy development and analysis; administration of social services; community organization; and direct practice with individuals, families, and groups. To frame that discussion, this introduction describes the symposium that initiated work on these articles, identifies themes emerging from the special issue, and highlights the need for additional research on the state of the profession.