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SWK 310: Social Policy and Services

Library Spaces: Information about places in the library for individuals or groups to study or prepare for presentations

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Specialized books such as the following titles provide background information on your topic or help you with unfamiliar words.

Bibliographies at the end of each article may refer you to other useful sources.

The Social Work Dictionary
Robert L. Barker, ed., 2003
Location: ref HV12 .B37

Human Services Dictionary
Howard Rosenthal, ed., 2003
Location: ref HV12 .R67

Encyclopedia of Social Work

National Assn. of Social Workers, 2008

Scholarly articles on numerous topics including the historical background on particular social problems

Biographies of major historical figures in social work
Also available in print: ref HV35 .S6 4 volumes

Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Social Work
Martin Davies, ed., 2000
Location: ref HV12 .B53

1997 volume available online

West's Encyclopedia of American Law

Shirelle Phelps and Jeffrey Lehman, eds. 2nd ed., 2005

Updated by the American Law Yearbook

Current information on more than 5,000 legal topics, controversial issues, legal definitions, biographies, etc.

Articles will provide information on the legislation and legal aspects of social problems

Also available in print: ref KF 154 .W47

Subject Databases for Locating Magazine and Journal Articles

Databases are subject guides to magazines, journals, newspapers, and other materials. For additional choices, go to The University Libraries home page, click on Databases, then on the starting letter of the database or a department name.

Tips:
-Try a variety of subject headings for the same concept.
-Click here for tips on using the search connectors AND, OR, and NOT in your search strategy.
-If AND and OR are used in the same search, the terms connected by OR must be in parentheses ( )

What Are Scholarly Journals?

Primary vs. Secondary Sources (Univ. of Cal. at Berkeley website with definitions, examples). Watch this flash tutorial for help identifying primary sources

Don't ignore a database just because it does not have the full text of the articles it indexes. An article still may be available online. Always check Journal Finder (see below) to see if the Library has access to a journal, either in print or online.

REMEMBER: To get to the full text of the journal article you must go through the Library's web pages. We have paid for access to the journals. You cannot go to the publisher's page to get an article.

Social Work Abstracts (EBSCO)

Indexes several hundred journals as well as dissertations
Related subject coverage: child and family welfare, sociology, crime and delinquency, community health
Sample topics: homelessness, AIDS, child and family welfare, aging, substance abuse, legislation, community organization
No online thesaurus; print thesaurus available. Ask at Reference Desk
Dates of coverage: 1977+

Social Services Abstracts (CSA)

Much larger than Social Work Abstracts but a little more complicated to use
Subject coverage: social work, human services, social welfare, social policy, community development, etc.
Online thesaurus available
Dates of coverage: 1979+

EBSCO Databases

Search any combination of 20+ databases from this vendor

Academic Search Premier (EBSCO)

Large, interdisciplinary database with substantial full text from several thousand academic journals and popular magazines
Subject coverage: sociology, social work, family studies
Dates of coverage: full text January 1990+; indexing 1975+

Lexis-Nexis Academic

Full text articles from thousands of journals, magazines, transcripts, newspapers, editorials, newsletters, and other sources
Especially important for newspaper articles on North Carolina issues and programs
Up-to-date, worldwide news
Dates of coverage vary by publication

To find articles on North Carolina:
      --Click on Sources (beige tab)
      --In the list of Publication Types click on News
      --Over 200 sources are listed. The link to North Carolina News Sources is on the next screen. Find it and check the box.

--Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click the red box OK-Continue

      --You should be back at the search screen. Enter your search terms
      --In the box by Specify Date select a time period from the pull-down menu
      --Click on the red Search box

"Legal Research" section includes legal news, law review articles, state and federal case law, state and federal statutory law (e.g. North Carolina General Statutes), and federal regulations from government agencies.

Greensboro and Guilford County Codes

Includes the full text of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances and the Guilford County Code as well as the text for many other North Carolina cities and counties.

Codes and Ordinances of other Cities in the United States

Includes the full text of municipal and county ordinances or codes from many locations around the country.

Ethnic NewsWatch (ProQuest)

Full text of several hundred publications of the native, ethnic, and minority press of the United States

SocIndex with Full Text (SIFT) (EBSCO)

Comprehensive coverage of sociology, criminology & criminal justice, demography, ethnic & racial studies, gender studies, marriage & family, social work, substance abuse & other addictions, violence, etc.
Full text of articles from thousands of journals and some books
Dates of coverage: some core journals 1895+

PsycINFO (EBSCO)

Full text or abstracts for journals and books
Subjects: psychology, sociology, social work, medicine, nursing, and psychiatry
Sample topics: behavioral assessment, community mental health and casework with special populations
Dates of coverage: 1872+

ERIC (EBSCO)

Most widely used education database with considerable full text
EJ numbers: journals, most available through the library
ED numbers: research and technical reports, school system reports, conference papers, books, etc. Access: microfiche or online links to full text
Subjects: schools of all types and levels, parent-school relationships, special education, child discipline, etc.
Dates of coverage: 1960s+

Humanities and Social Science Retrospective (Wilson)

Indexes the core scholarly journals published between 1907 and 1984

Useful Websites

Government Information--The University Libraries' website for Documents

American Public Human Service Association Issues and Policies Page

Policy statements dealing with child welfare, adoption, food stamps, disabilities, Medicaid, and more
Be sure to check the Issues and Policy section on the left of the page
Also useful: Relevant Links section then Private/Nonprofit section to find links to 100 other policy organizations

Almanac of Policy Issues

Background information and links on major U.S. public policy issues
Sample topics: children's health insurance, Medicare, child care, welfare, and education

Policy Archive

Indiana Univ-Purdue Univ. project to archive thousands of global, non-partisan, public policy reports, charts, videos and white papers
Enter your subject in the Search box on the upper right of the screen

Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)

Offer policy solutions and advocate and invest in programs that help children, youth and families thrive
Sample topics: child care and early education, welfare, child support, and temporary assistance

Welfare Reform

The Finance Project

Specialized, non-profit research, consulting, technical assistance, and training firm for public and private sector leaders nationwide
Online publications (see Publications section) as well as links to hundreds of websites (see their Information Resource Center) on every conceivable aspect of welfare reform including child welfare, food stamps, and faith-based involvement
Note especially the Economic Success Clearinghouse

Welfare Information Network

Information on the history of welfare, programs and benefits, application process, etc.

National Association of Social Workers

Welfare reauthorization website
Links to information on federal legislation, fact sheets, grassroots advocacy, and research

Children and Families

Child Welfare League of America

Oldest and largest national nonprofit organization developing and promoting policies and programs to protect children and strengthen families
Check out the links under Advocacy and Programs for position papers, Congressional reports, and fact sheets on topics from adoption to youth development.

Kids Count Databook

National and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S.
Provides policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being

Child Welfare Information Gateway

Information, products and technical assistance services to help professionals locate information related to child abuse and neglect, adoption, and related child welfare issues
Includes a Statistics site and a state statutes site

National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

"One-stop shop" for information on youth violence prevention
In the section on "Youth Gangs" take note of the "Helpful Links" section to find additional viable websites. The bibliography may be useful too.

North Carolina Division of Social Services. Foster Care Program

Kids Peace: Foster Care and Family Services

Non-profit organization providing services for children

North Carolina Division of Social Services. Child Protective Services

Information on child abuse and neglect.

Family Violence Prevention Fund: Public Policy

The FVPF works to prevent violence in the home and in the community

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: Public Policy Office

A national leader in an effort to create and influence federal legislation that positively effects the lives of domestic violence survivors and their children

Administration for Children and Families: Child Maltreatment

Report and statistics

National Center for Children in Poverty

The leading public policy center dedicated to promoting the economic health, security, and well-being of America's low income families and children
In the Search box in the upper right try putting in your topic. e.g. foster care policy

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and Work First Information

North Carolina Division of Social Services

Extensive report on the North Carolina Work First Program
Links to the State manual on the Work First Program

North Carolina's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families State Plan (The Work First Program)

47-page booklet on the State's plan

Guilford County Work First Plan for 2005-2007

Health Issues

Healthfinder (U.S. Dept.of Health and Human Services)

Four-part free guide to reliable consumer health and human services information.
Online publications, clearinghouses, databases, web sites, and support and self-help groups, as well as government agencies and not-for-profit organizations that produce reliable information for the public
Excellent starting point for locating information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: HIV/AIDS

Extensive list of fact sheets, information, and resources

The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource

Over 600 topics including sections on policy and activism

HIV InSite (Univ. of California at San Francisco)

Comprehensive information on HIV treatment, prevention and policy

Healthy People: 2010

The major national health issues policy statement outlining objectives for the health of the nation

Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics: ChildStats.gov

Statistics and reports on children and families, including family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education and health

National Institute of Mental Health

Main federal agency on behavioral and mental disorders

Immigrants and Migrants

Migrant Clinicians Network

National, not-for-profit organization of clinicians seeking to improve health conditions for migrants

Immigration Policy Center (part of the American Immigration Law Foundation)

Non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of immigration law and policy and the value of immigration to American society

The Brooking Institution: Social Policy--Immigration Policy

Commentaries weighing all sides of the immigration policy issues

Housing

National Council of State Housing Agencies

Nonprofit organization created more than 30 years ago to coordinate and leverage their federal advocacy efforts for affordable housing

National Housing Institute

Examines the issues causing the crisis in housing and community in America as well as the key issues affecting affordable housing and community development practitioners and their supporters
Issues include unemployment, safety, education, poverty and racism, disinvestment, and breakdown of the social fabric

Habitat for Humanity

Nonprofit ministry seeking to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world

Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD's mission is to increase home ownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination

APA Style

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association . 6th edn. Copies at the Reference Desk and Reserve Desk BF76.7 .P83 2010

Examples:

Electronic article without a DOI number, use the URL:

VandenBos, G., Knapp, S., & Doe, J. (2001). Role of reference elements in the selection of resources by psychology undergraduates. Journal

of Bibliographic Research, 5, 117-123. Retrieved from http://www.envplan.com/epa/fulltext/a40/a38255.pdf

Text of an electronic journal article that can be retrieved via a DOI number:

Smith, W.C. (1993). Role of early supervisory experience in supervisor performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78(4), 443-449.

doi:10.1037/002-9432.76.4.482

Article from a print or microfilm journal:

VandenBos, G., Knapp, S., & Doe, J. (2001). Role of reference elements in the selection of resources by psychology

undergraduates. Journal of Bibliographic Research, 5(2), 117-123.

APA, MLA, Turabian Style Information

Journal Finder

Journal Finder

Finding Individual Journal Articles Using "Journal Finder"

Return to the Library's home page and click on Journal Finder
Enter the journal name (not the article title) such as Social Work in the box and press the Enter key or click Search
If the title appears, click on the icon for the method of access you want
- Click on the computer icon to find full text online access to some articles
  - The database(s) and dates for full text are displayed
  - Choose a database and follow any instructions for finding specific journal titles
- Click on the book icon to locate print issues of the journal in the Library
  - The record shown will provide the holdings and location of the journal
  - Older years of journals are either bound and shelved by call number with the book collection in the stacks or are on microfilm
  - Current issues are available in the Reading Room on 1st Floor Main
- Click on the envelope icon for mail or electronic delivery of the article
- Click on the car icon to check whether other libraries own this title

Author Info: Nancy Ryckman