Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction, Overall context of rural practice / Leon H. Ginsberg -- Rural communities in transition / Judith A. Davenport and Joseph Davenport, III -- Economic and social policy development in rural settings : an ecological perspective / Gemma Beckley and C. Harrell Weathersby -- Community political economy and community empowerment : the continuing relevance of community organizing for social work practice in rural communities / Margie DeWeese-Boyd -- In search of a theory to guide rural practice : the case for social capital / Kathleen Belanger -- Celebrating rural communities : a strengths assessment / Carolyn J. Tice -- Facilitating rural community planning groups : collaboration games we know and (sometimes) love / Joanne Riebschleger -- Building assets in rural communities through service learning / Sharon B. Templeman -- Ethical practice in rural environments / Kimberly Strom-Gottfried -- Walking the tightrope between cultural competence and ethical practice : the dilemma of the rural practitioner / Joanne Gumpert and Phyllis N. Black -- Ethical mental health social work practice in the small community / Ellen M. Burkemper -- Dual relationships and rural social work : is there a rural code? / Laura S. Boisen and Lois A. Bosch -- Concurrence of intimate partner violence and child abuse in rural settings / Linda L. Openshaw and Helene K. Halverson -- Identifying the needs of battered women in a rural community / Wendy G. Turner -- Youth violence in rural communities : challenging the stereotype / Karen Slovak -- Challenges of dual relationships and the continuum of care in rural mental health / Susan S. Manning and Mary Elizabeth Van Pelt -- Where do you go when it's 40 below? : domestic violence among rural Alaska Native women / Judy Shepherd -- Helping emotionally at-risk rural children after a natural disaster : unique challenges for social workers in rural settings / John J. Stretch and Larry W. Kreuger -- Social work in rural communities in India / Sudershan Pasupuleti, Uma Vennam, and Anuradha Komanduri -- Culturally relevant social work practice in diverse rural communities / Michael Johnson and Ellen Dunbar -- Racial and ethnic minorities in rural areas : use of indigenous influence in the practice of social work / Debra H. Harley, Todd A. Savage, and Laura E. Kaplan -- Mexican American adolescents in rural areas : education, culture, and mental health / Shoshana Ringel -- Barriers confronting African Americans of the rural Appalachian region / Wilburn Hayden -- Social workers in rural areas : an assessment of homophobic attitudes / Heidi S. Kulkin, June Williams, and Linda Woodruff -- Teaching generalist practice in a rural context / Edna V. Allen -- Rural elderly women : a triple jeopardy population / Michael E. Sherr and Felix Blumhardt.

Also issued online.