Reflections on Rural Social Work

Rural social work literature is an important resource for educators, policymakers, agency administrators, and practitioners interested in social work in rural areas. This article reviews 34 articles and 1 commentary on rural social work, published from 1981 to mid-2009 in Families in Society and its predecessor, Social Casework. The entries are separated into categories to enhance reader utility: Research and Theory, Direct Practice Issues, Delivery and Management of Services, Global and Cultural Perspectives, and Historical Perspective. Key issues and enduring themes in this review are identified and discussed to demonstrate applications to practice, in order to benefit rural clients and communities. This article also reveals gaps in the rural social work literature and encourages academic–practitioner collaboration in future submissions.