SHU Professor’s New Social Work Textbook is First of its Kind
Book features excerpts from SHU alumni and faculty
Sacred Heart University Professor Bronwyn Cross-Denny’s recently published textbook, Integrated Social Work Practice: Bridging Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Level Practice, presents vital and contemporary concepts that are fundamental to social work.
It is the first social work textbook to integrate levels of practice. The “needs of both the individual and society are considered in tandem in the book, including all system levels in between: families, groups, organization and communities,” said Cross-Denny.
The text also devotes a full section with multiple chapters to social justice and how it is essential to social work. Cross-Denny’s integration of social justice aligns with SHU’s mission, specifically by promoting the common good of society, recognizing the dignity and worth of every human being and considering how people are affected at the individual and societal levels. Cross-Denny said social justice is one of the book’s guiding principles as it permeates through most of the book’s teachings.
“I am tremendously proud of the final product,” said Cross-Denny. “This is my first book, but I have my next one already planned! Writing the text was really a good experience that used my various skills in project coordination, team building, leadership and writing.”
The textbook was a cross-college collaboration that included the College of Health Professions, the College of Arts & Sciences and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing, in addition to former faculty and faculty from other universities. SHU faculty members Christina Gunther, Amanda Harmon, Rui Liu, Jill Manit, Suzanne Marmo, Victoria Osborne, Maura Rhodes, Lisa Smith and Jennifer Wilson contributed to the book as well as SHU alumni Victoria Cone MSW ’21, Sarah Frazier MSW ’22 and Ithamar Thomson ’19, MSW ’21.
The text provides students and instructors with a guide for attaining the knowledge and skills to develop competence in social work practice using an integrated approach. Problems and solutions are viewed holistically from various practice levels to develop the best, most comprehensive interventions.
“Think of that saying, ‘You can’t see the forest for the trees,’ only you actually see the forest and the trees together; you see how they affect each other and how you can help them work together,” Cross-Denny said.
As she worked on her writing project, Cross-Denny’s said her passion is still “teaching students, in the classroom and in global programs, where I try to embody the mission and values of the social work profession and Sacred Heart University.”
To learn more about Cross-Denny’s book or purchase it, visit the publisher’s website.