Developing Effective Social Work University--Community Research Collaborations

Abstract

In many instances, departments of social work in universities and community-based social services agencies have common interests in improving professional practice and advancing knowledge in the profession. Effective university-community research collaborations can help partners achieve these goals jointly, but to be effective these collaborative partnerships require considerable effort and understanding by all partners involved. This article provides to novice investigators and social work agencies new to research partnerships an integrated discussion of important issues to develop the groundwork necessary for building and maintaining effective university-community social work collaborations. Through experience gained from a series of social work research partnerships, as well as an overview of relevant literature, the authors offer a set of strategies for building and sustaining research collaborations between university and community-based social work professionals. The general topics discussed are technology exchange, adopting a longitudinal perspective, knowing your partners, and practical contracting/budgetary issues. The article has relevance to beginning social work researchers, social work educators, and social work practitioners seeking to engage in collaborative partnerships that improve social work practice through research and advance the knowledge base of the profession.

Child Welfare Partnership for Research and Training: A Title IV-E University/Community Collaborative Research Model

“…Core elements of effective community-university partnerships include respect and exchange of unique contributions of partners; adoption of a long term perspective that accounts for the developmental nature of partnered research; consideration of the perspectives, priorities and concerns of partners; flexibility to address local needs and conditions; assessment of outcomes relevant to the local context; and clarity related to contribution of resources between partners (Begun, et al, 2010;Jensen, et al, 1999).…”

“…University partners include faculty, students, and affiliates of the school of social work who operate in the nexus between systems, such as the On the other end of the spectrum is community-based participatory research in which community members are full and equal partners within all aspects of the research process. Community-based participatory research models are valuable in facilitating community change; at the same time other strategies for community-engaged research are also promising in social work contexts (Begun, et al, 2010). In the center of the spectrum is research with the community, in which researchers may control many aspects of the research process, while also inviting meaningful participation of community members in advisory or participant roles (McDonald; OCTRI, nd).…”

“…University-community partnerships are valuable in educating students for professional practice, advancing knowledge, and leveraging resources to address social problems (Barnes, et al, 2009;Begun, Berger, Otto-Salaj, & Rose, 2010;Buys & Bursnall, 2007;Gutheil & Heyman, 2010;Suarez-Balcazar, Harper, & Lewis, 2005;Wertheimer, Beck, Brooks, & Wolk, 2004). Title IV-E training programs strive to maximize the potential of university-community partnerships in preparing students for practice in public child welfare settings (Collins-Camargo & Hoffman, 2006;Risley-Curtiss, 2003;Zlotnik, 2003).…”

“…Title IV-E training programs strive to maximize the potential of university-community partnerships in preparing students for practice in public child welfare settings (Collins-Camargo & Hoffman, 2006;Risley-Curtiss, 2003;Zlotnik, 2003). Although there is a growing recognition of the importance of university-community partnerships with an explicit focus on research (Begun, et al, 2010), there is a dearth of information in the literature describing partnered research models designed to facilitate collaborative research in the context of child welfare, including federally funded child welfare educational programs and other related initiatives. This article describes the evolution and design of a partnered research initiative between one school of social work and local communities centered in, but extending beyond, child welfare.…”

Building Castles Together: A sustainable collaboration as a perpetual work-in-progress

“…Our mutual partnership works because it is founded on common goals (Begun et al 2010;Merzel et al 2007): we aspire to a happier and more accessible community, particularly for those most marginalised. We believe that the most effective and just way to achieve these ideals is through public participation which includes the disenfranchised in a process of mutual and sustained empowering exchanges.…”