This comprehensive practice text is designed to promote the development and application of solid generalist social work practice skills. The text is structured, but also employs a flexible, 'user-friendly' format that can be adapted for use in undergraduate and graduate, direct and administrative practice classes. Driving the development of the text was the goal to provide an orientation to practice that is current, logical, and (more importantly for students), readable. It is designed to challenge students to think critically, enhance their ability to apply social work concepts to practice and support the stepwise development of more advanced skills over time.