A Selected Reading List on Spirituality and Social Work, with Emphasis on Work with Children, Adolescents & Families
This list was compiled in response to requests from the field for resources on spirituality and social work practice with adolescents and families. The focus is on recent North American and European resources. Our criteria included materials that are international in scope, multi-faith/culture, and focused on spirituality broadly defined (not just religion).
Journals
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, published by Springer, features original articles that focus on clinical social work practice with children, adolescents, and their families.
Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, published by The Haworth Press, provides social work professionals with the latest methods, theories, and techniques relating to issues of religion, social policy, and social work practice.
Social Work and Christianity is a referreed journal published by the North American Association of Christians in Social Work.
Bibliographies
Besthorn, F.H. Selected bibliography by social work authors or in social work sources, Global Alliance for a Deep Ecological Social Work, retrieved October 3, 2006, from http://www.ecosocialwork.org/rfrnces.html.
Canda, E.R., Nakashima, M., Burgess, V.L., Russel, R., & Barfield, S.T. (2003). Spiritual diversity and social work: A comprehensive bibliography with annotations, 2nd ed. Alexandria, VA: Council on Social Work Education.
Books & Articles
Al-Krenawi, A., & Graham, J.R. (2000). Islamic theology and prayer: Relevance for social work practice. International Social Work, 43, 289-304.
Bartlett, M., Copeman, A., Golin, J., Miller, D., & Needle, E. (2004). Unlocking the potential of homeless older adolescents (edited by Melanie Wilson & Doug Tanner). Burlington, VT: New England Network for Child, Youth & Family Services.
Canda, E. R., & Furman, L. D. (1999). Spiritual diversity in social work: The heart of helping. New York: Free Press.
Caputo, R.K. (2005). Religiousness & adolescent behaviors: A comparison of boys and girls. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 24 (3), 39-67.
Cnaan, R.A. (2002). The invisible caring hand: American congregations and the provision of welfare. New York: New York University Press.
Garland, Diana (2003). Sacred stories of ordinary families. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Garland, Diana (1999). Family ministry: A comprehensive guide. InterVarsity Press.
Garland, D. R. (2001). The faith dimensions of family life. Social Work and Christianity, 28 (1).
Garland, D.R., & Chamiec-Case, R. (2005). Before—and after—the political rhetoric: Faith-based child and family welfare services. Social Work & Christianity, 32 (1), 22-43.
Garrison Institute (2005). Garrison Institute Report: Contemplation and education: A survey of programs using contemplative techniques in K-12 educational settings: A mapping report. Garrison, NY: Garrison Institute. Download from www.garrisoninstitute.org
Haight, W.L. (1998). “Gathering the Spirit” at First Baptist Church: Spirituality as a protective factor in the lives of African American children. Social Work, 43 (3), 213-221.
Hodge, D.R. (2004). Working with Hindu clients in a spiritually sensitive manner. Social Work, 49 (1), 27-38.
Hodge, D. (2002). Conceptualizing spirituality in social work: How the metaphysical beliefs of social workers may foster bias toward theistic consumers. Social Thought, 21(1), 39-61.
Hodge, D. R., Cardenas, P., & Montoya H. (2001). Substance use: Spirituality and religious participation as protective factors among rural youths. Social Work Research, 25 (3), 153-161.
Hufton, E. (2006). Parting gifts: the spiritual needs of children. Journal of Child Health Care, 10, 240-250.
Kidd, S.A. (2003). Street youth: Coping and interventions. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 20 (4), 235-261.
Lindsey, E.W., Kurtz, P.D., Jarvis, S., Williams, N.R., & Nackerud, L. (2000). How runaway and homeless youth navigate troubled waters: Personal strengths and resources. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 17 (2), 115-140.
Morris, B., Rambo-Freeman, D., & Powell, C. (2005). African American faith-based organizations’ involvement in the adoption of African American children: Are they the missing link? Social Work & Christianity, 32 (1), 44-55.
Peck, H.L., Kehle, T.J., Bray, M.A., & Theodore, L.A. (2005). Yoga as an intervention for children with attention problems. School Psychology Review, 34, 415-424.
Scales, T.L., Wolfer, T.A., Sherwood, D.A., Garland, D.R., Hugen, B., & Pittman, S.W. Spirituality and religion in social work practice: Decision cases with teaching notes. (2002). Alexandria, VA: Council on Social Work Education.
Semple, R.J., Reid, E.F.G., & Miller, L. (2005). Treating anxiety with mindfulness: An open trial of mindfulness training for anxious children. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 19, 379-392.
Voss, R.W., Douville, V., Little Soldier, A., & Twiss, G. (1999). Tribal and shamanic-based social work practice: A Lakota perspective. Social Work, 44 (3), 228-241.
Walker, S. (2005). Towards culturally competent practice in child and adolescent mental health. International Social Work, 48 (1), 49-62.
Williams, N.R., & Lindsey, E. (2005). Spirituality and religion in the lives of runaway and homeless youth coping with adversity. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 24 (4), 19-38.
Wilson, M. (2005). _Adolescent heart and soul: Achieving spiritual competence in youth-serving agencies. _Burlington, VT: New England Network for Child, Youth & Family Services.
Download from http://www.nenetwork.org/publications/publications-overview.html
Wilson, M. (2004)._ A part of you so deep: What vulnerable adolescents have to say about spirituality._ Burlington, VT: New England Network for Child, Youth & Family Services.
Download from http://www.nenetwork.org/publications/publications-overview.html
Wilson, M. (2002). Practice unbound: A study of secular spiritual and religious activities in work with adolescents. Burlington, VT: New England Network for Child, Youth & Family Services.
Download from http://www.nenetwork.org/publications/publications-overview.html
Yankeelov, P., & Garland, D. (2004). Families in congregations: Developing methods for studying their demographics, strengths, stressors and faith behaviors. Review of Religious Research, 45 (4), 368-385).
Societies & Organizations
Society for Spirituality and Social Work (www.ssw.asu.edu/spirituality/sssw)
Hosted at Arizona State University School of Social Work, this society is committed to dev eloping “innovative approaches to spiritually sensitive social work practice and education.” The society publishes the Society for Spirituality and Social Work Forum, a referred publication.
The Center for Spirituality and Integral Social Work (http://csisw.cua.edu)
The center is part of the National Catholic School of Social Service at the Catholic University of America. It is “dedicated to providing integrated state-of-the-art social work research, training, and service from a bio-psycho-social-spiritual perspective, with a particular emphasis on spirituality, guided by integral theory.”
Canadian Association for Spirituality and Social Work
(http://people.stu.ca/~jcoates/cnssw/) provides opportunities for Canadian academics and social work practitioners to come together to discuss the topic of spirituality and social work practice.
International Symposium on Spirituality and Social Work
http://www.spirituality-and-social-work.net/
This site is dedicated to the work of the annual International Symposium on Spirituality and Social Work at the Inter-University Centre of Dubrovnik, Croatia. This site provides an opportunity for international networking among social workers, allied helping professionals and volunteers in various fields (such as psychology, medicine, pastoral care, and ministry).
Global Alliance for a Deep Ecological Social Work (GADESW) (http://www.ecosocialwork.org/)
This site, founded in 2000, offers information on environmental issues, ecological justice, deep ecology, ecofeminism, eco-spirituality and sustainable social development.
North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW) (http://www.nacsw.org)
This organization equips its members to integrate Christian faith and professional social work practice.
Compiled by Sandra Longfellow for The Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence
February 21, 2007
We are grateful to Melanie Wilson from the New England Network for Child, Youth & Family Services and Michael E. Sherr from the Baylor University School of Social Work for reviewing the reading list and offering helpful suggestions.
