Shaping the Policy Practice Agenda of Social Work in the Field of Aging

This article argues that contemporary social work practice will, of necessity, involve a politically active stance. This stance will strengthen and redefine the relationship between legislative policy and social work practice in the field of aging. The urgency for such redefinition is fueled by the massive changes proposed and under way in Congress and by the increasing need for agencies to develop innovative programming, evaluate practice effectiveness, and compete for funding. Social work practitioners in all roles are challenged to refine or redefine their goals while remaining true to social work values and ethics.