Ira C. Colby, DSW, MSW, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Houston. Dr. Colby describes his social work career as one of discovery, passion, concern for others, and civic engagement. His political beginnings began as a youngster when he volunteered in a neighbor's campaign for a local city council seat. Over the years, his political work led him to: participate in and lead local, state, and national advocacy efforts and groups; provide testimony to numerous local, state, and national legislative groups; and chair a political campaign. His global-to-local perspective has been enhanced by his travel and international work to more than 25 countries.

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"Ira C. Colby's The Handbook of Policy Practice is a 'hands-on' practice textbook that explores ways to influence social policy . . . It offers a common-sense approach to issue analysis with added attention to the concept of social justice and necessary critical thinking skills, policy analysis, history, economics, politics, ideologies and values, and alternate policy models. Examples used will assist readers as they endeavor to analyze historical and current social welfare policies in light of the principles of social and economic justice and human rights; and understand the role of power and privilege in social welfare policy, especially as it pertains to equality, equitability, and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, class, disability, and other individual and population characteristics." - Gary Bailey, DHL, MSW, ACSW, Professor of Practice, Simmons College School of Social Work

"Social work students seeking to understand social policy have an outstanding new book to help. Colby's The Handbook of Policy Practice draws on his decades of teaching and own successful policy practice experience to provide a top-notch addition to the field. The book encourages active application of material through targeted skill-building activities, turning everyone into experienced policy practitioners, one chapter at a time. In short, this book is an exciting resource for social policy courses and for helping social work students fulfill their ethical obligations in bringing change to society. Highly recommended!" - Richard Hoefer, PhD, MA, MSSW, Roy E. Dulak Professor for Community Practice Research, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington

"Today's students and practitioners often feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the policy-making process and intimidated by the prospect of engaging in policy advocacy even when they have a strong interest in doing so. Ira Colby's The Handbook of Policy Practice will help them overcome these fears and uncertainties. It is an invaluable navigational guide that demystifies and makes more accessible the policy development and implementation process and is a welcome addition to the literature in these challenging times." - Michael Reisch, PhD, Daniel Thursz Distinguished Professor of Social Justice, University of Maryland