This is the first book to focus on the scope of social work practice within military settings from an international perspective, and therefore addresses what has been a significant gap in the literature. Given the critical support needs of military personnel and their families worldwide, and the expanding role of social work in responding to these needs, this book offers a comprehensive global understanding of the common military social work (MilSW) practices with active duty military service members and their families, as well as the forms of practice and approaches that are unique, or potentially transferable across nations.
Based on a systematic inquiry conducted by the Editors, there are at least 25 countries that have social workers working directly within their country’s military in either a civilian or uniformed capacity, or both. This book includes contributions from experts in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and the USA, who describe various aspects of the MilSW role within their country and the research that informs what military social workers do. The MilSW similarities and differences among these countries are highlighted, including developmental milestones, practice settings, practice orientation and approach, ethical dilemmas, military to veteran transition support, and past and current challenges. Experts from countries that do not yet have MilSW but are interested in developing it (Japan, Ukraine) or are in the process of establishing this area of practice (Slovakia), also contribute chapters about these developments and the evidence base that supports this direction.
Military Social Work Around the Globe is a valuable resource for social work programs and essential reading for instructors and students in MilSW electives and specializations. It is also pertinent reading for occupational social work and international social work courses. In addition, this book is an important source of information for military social workers who would like to gain insights into existing programs and the possibilities for international collaboration, and for countries interested in developing MilSW.
Author Biography:
Mary Ann Forgey, PhD, LCSW, is a Professor in the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University in New York where she has been a faculty member since 1993. Prior to her academic career, she was a civilian social worker within the US Department of Defense and served in the positions of Family Advocacy Coordinator and Army Community Services Director in Wiesbaden, Germany. She has been the Principal Investigator on two research projects related to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) within the US military, the results of which have been published in the Journal of Family Violence, Violence and Victims and the Journal of Social Work Education. As a Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Forgey taught at the University College Dublin, Ireland and conducted research on IPV assessment practices. In 2011, she developed Fordham’s first course in Military Social Work. She has been invited to present her work on military social work practice and education at national conferences within the United States and internationally in Ireland, Italy, France and Vietnam. She organized the first roundtable conference on International Military Social Work held at West Point in 2019 and is a founding member and coordinator for the International Military Social Work Consortium, a group of uniformed and civilian military social work practitioners, educators and researchers from over 15 countries. She is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Military Behavioral Health and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Task Force on the Specialized Practice Curricular Guide for Military Social Work.
Karen Green-Hurdle, MPH, AMHSW, BSW, GD Couple Therapy, GC Business, GC Research Methods and Design, Assistant Director of Open Arms Veterans and Families Counselling, is an Australian Accredited Mental Health Social Work professional with over 30 years of senior practitioner, supervisory and executive leadership experience. Since 2000 she has worked in public service roles, in both the Department of Defence and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, delivering and managing mental health counselling, treatment, education, and family support services. Her career highlights include being invited to present on her military social work expertise at forums in Canada, the United States, France, Italy and Singapore, and virtually to the United Kingdom and Ukraine. In 2014, she received the Mount Sinai Hospital Icahn School of Medicine (New York) ‘Enhancement of International Social Work Leadership in Health Care’ Scholarship; in 2016, she was awarded a Commonwealth Endeavour Executive Fellowship (sponsored by Fordham University, New York) where she commenced a collaboration with Professor Forgey on a systematic research inquiry exploring the scope of social work practice across international military contexts; and in 2020, she received theLaurie Cowled Women in Leadership Scholarship (QUT Business School). She is a passionate advocate for developing military social work as an international specialist field of practice; has worked as practitioner consultant with Fordham University; is a founding member of the International Military Social Work Consortium; and is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers National Advisory Panel on veteran issues.
