Why a new edition when at this writing, the original is only three and a half years old? Perhaps nowhere is there a more vivid example of change, which is the theme of this text, than in the rapid fire information 'explosion' surrounding all of us. Such change makes information, even that of fairly recent vintage, quickly obsolete. Social work and social welfare developments are no exception to the general societal thrust. One of the major additions in this revision concerns the innovations and variations in social services, some of the latter traditional and others newer. This revised text is intended for the first course in an undergraduate social work program, whether in a four year school or a two year community or junior college. In some institutions, this will be only social work course available to students and it will most likely be offered within a sociology department or other social or behavioral science area.