Social workers have forgotten their interactionist ancestors. This article is the first installment in a 2-part series designed to remedy this amnesia. Part 1 introduces the tradition of applied symbolic interactionism and reports on the historical and exemplary partnerships between social workers and interactionists. Part 1 also reviews the social work use of symbolic interactionism in the areas of human behavior theory and practice with varied size social systems. Part 2 reviews interactionist contributions to social work in varied fields of practice, to social policy and welfare, to research, and to professional education. An appraisal of the social work use of the interactionist legacy and a summary of resources from within and outside North America for revitalizing the partnership are also provided in Part 2.
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