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Journal for Social Work Scholar-Practitioners

Inaugural issue: The Social Work Scholar‑practitioner

Bridging Scholarship and Practice to Advance the Social Work Profession

Over the past few years, we have envisioned a journal which highlights the importance of social workers who are able to integrate research and social work practice. We are now excited to introduce the inaugural edition of the Journal for Social Work Scholar-Practitioners. Many conversations led us to the establishment of this journal. Questions on what is a scholar-practitioner or a practitioner-scholar, how do we prepare students for this, and how can it impact curriculum, whether it is a practice doctorate or a PhD in Social Work?

Scholar-practitioners explicitly reflect on and assess the impact of their work. Their professional activities and the knowledge they develop are based on collaborative and relational learning through active exchange within communities of practice and scholarship. Social work scholar-practitioners and practitioner-scholars connect inquiry with practice, while they find ways to contribute to the profession through innovation. The identity of scholar-practitioners and practitioners are deeply rooted in creating a bridge to link research and practice. The term scholar practitioner-expresses an ideal of professional excellence grounded in theory and research, informed by experiential knowledge, and motivated by personal values, and ethical conduct. Scholar practitioners are committed to the well-being of clients and colleagues, to learning new ways of being effective, and to conceptualizing their work in relation to broader organizational, community, political, and cultural contexts. Scholar practitioners explicitly reflect on and assess the impact of their work. Their professional activities and the knowledge they develop are based on collaborative and relational learning through active exchange within communities of practice and scholarship.

We want this journal to reflect the many different ways in which knowledge, evidence and interventions are integrated to ultimately enhance practice and advance the social work profession. The journal will serve as a forum for the dissemination of scholarship by practice doctorate and PhD students, graduates, faculty, and practitioners. The journal will feature examples of scholar-practitioner and practitioner-scholar work from social work and related disciplines, promoting collaboration, innovation, and the advancement of shared knowledge.

For this inaugural issue, our publications include reflections and articles by practice doctorate graduates and PhD/practice doctorate directors, examples of scholar-practitioner/practitioner- scholar applications, and inter-professional articles.

Starting small, we envision that this journal will grow in publications and increase in visibility in the future. Our aim is to publish articles across all relevant systems in social work – individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. Additionally, articles which contribute to reflective, ethical, evidence-based practice, leadership and scholarly engagement – contributing to a responsive social work profession will be considered.