Introduction: Social Work and the Making of Social Policy ~ Ute Klammer, Simone Leiber and Sigrid Leitner Part One: Social Work, Problem Definition and Agenda Setting Social Work as Policy Innovator: Challenges and Possibilities in the UK ~ Roger Smith Social Work, Problem Definition and Policy Change in the USA: The Case of sex trafficked Youth ~ Lisa Werkmeister Rozas, Megan Feely and Jason Ostrander Italian Social Workers Voices: from a Pilot Anti-Poverty Intervention to a National Policy ~ Matteo D’Emilione, Giovannina Assunta Giuliano, Paolo Raciti and Paloma Vivaldi Vera Part Two: Social Work Interests in Policy Formulation and Decision Making Social Reform in the US: Lessons from the Progressive Era ~ Francisco Branco Social Work Academia and Social Policy in Israel: On the Role of Social Work Academics in the Policy Process ~ Idit Weiss-Gal and John Gal Social Workers’ Collective Policy Practice in Times of Austerity. Italy and Spain compared ~ Riccardo Guidi Social Policy and Welfare Movements ‘from below’: The Social Work Action Network (SWAN) in the UK ~ Rich Moth and Michael Lavalette Section Three: Social Work and Implementation Policy Work and the Ethics of Obedience and Resistance: Perspectives from Britain and beyond ~ Tony Evans Systemic Barriers to effective Implementation of Child Protection Reform in Israel ~ Ravit Alfandari Social Workers implementing Social Assistance in Spain: reshaping Poverty in a familialistic Welfare State ~ Sergio Sánchez Castiñeira Layering, social Risks and manufactured Uncertainties in Social Work in Poland ~ Paweł Poławski ‘A little more Humanity’: Placement Officers in Germany in-between Social Work and Social Policy ~ Markus Gottwald and Frank Sowa Conclusion: Social Work and the Making of Social Policy - Lessons learned ~ Ute Klammer, Simone Leiber and Sigrid Leitner

"This is not just a routine collection of academic papers. In much of this material, there is detailed evidence from well-constructed empirical research that policy influence is possible in the daily practice and activism of social workers, and the world would be better for more of it." British Journal of Social Work

"This book provides a wide-ranging mix of examples from the USA and Europe to exemplify the different aspects of policy practice. It should be essential reading for all those who seek to place policy firmly within a social work practice agenda." Graeme Simpson, University of Wolverhampton

The book closes a research gap between two academic disciplines by investigating their relationship and mutual influence. Thus it also addresses two different scientific communities: social work and social policy. Moreover, it brings a comparative perspective into social work research, which is still rare. Last, but not least, the book contributes to the research on political and societal actors and governance and can therefore be of interest to scholars and students of political science and sociology.