Evidence-Based Practice in Social Work: Challenges and Opportunities for Clinicians and Organizations

Wike, Traci L.; Bledsoe, Sarah E.; Manuel, Jennifer I.; Despard, Mathieu R.; Johnson, Lydia V.; Bellamy, James A.; Killian-Farrell, Candace

doi:10.1007/s10615-014-0492-3

Cited by 70 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…However, a recent statewide effectiveness study found the home visitation EBI SafeCare ® (SC) to significantly reduce child neglect recidivism rates compared to services as usual (Chaffin, Hecht, Bard, Silovsky, & Beasley, 2012). Despite increasing demand for EBIs in child welfare systems (Wike et al, 2014), less systematic understanding exists regarding factors that facilitate their implementation and sustainment, such as the role of collaboration among stakeholders within service systems. Without effective implementation and sustainment, initial investments in EBIs are wasted, the subsequent impact of beneficial interventions is limited, and outcomes for children and youth are compromised.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of collaborations in sustaining an evidence-based intervention to reduce child neglect

Green

Trott

Willging

et al. 2016

Child Abuse & Neglect

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Child neglect is the most prevalent form of child maltreatment and represents 79.5% of open child-welfare cases. A recent study found the evidence-based intervention (EBI) SafeCare® (SC) to significantly reduce child neglect recidivism rates. To fully capitalize on the effectiveness of such EBIs, service systems must engage in successful implementation and sustainment; however, little is known regarding what factors influence EBI sustainment. Collaborations among stakeholders are suggested as a means for facilitating EBI implementation and sustainment. This study combines descriptive quantitative survey data with qualitative interview and focus group findings to examine the role of collaboration within the context of public-private partnerships in 11 child welfare systems implementing SC. Participants included administrators of government child welfare systems and community-based organizations, as well as supervisors, coaches, and home visitors of the SC program. Sites were classified as fully-, partially-, and non-sustaining based on implementation fidelity. One-way analysis of variance was used to examine differences in stakeholder reported Effective Collaboration scores across fully-sustaining, partially-sustaining, and non-sustaining sites. Qualitative transcripts were analyzed via open and focused coding to identify the commonality, diversity, and complexity of collaborations involved in implementing and sustaining SC. Fully-sustaining sites reported significantly greater levels of effective collaboration than non-sustaining sites. Key themes described by SC stakeholders included shared vision, building on existing relationships, academic support, problem solving and resource sharing, and maintaining collaborations over time. Both quantitative and qualitative results converge in highlighting the importance of effective collaboration in EBI sustainment in child welfare service systems.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of collaborations in sustaining an evidence-based intervention to reduce child neglect

Green

Trott

Willging

et al. 2016

Child Abuse & Neglect

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“…Within medical social work, research on challenges related to EBP implementation is limited (Wike et al 2014) and EBP is still a relatively new concept in social care (Manuel et al 2009). The few studies that have specifically focused on medical social workers' attitudes show a low orientation towards EBP (Björkenheim 2007;Heiwe et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research Use and Evidence-Based Practice Among Swedish Medical Social Workers: A Qualitative Study

et al. 2018

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The aim of this study was to explore medical social workers' perceptions of evidencebased practice (EBP), including factors relevant for the successful implementation of evidence into medical social work practice. Eight focus group interviews were conducted that included 27 medical social workers. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, which resulted in two categories: "knowledge in practice" and "challenges in relation to the implementation of EBP" and four subcategories: "practice based on research evidence or experience", "obtaining new evidence of practice", "research and the social work context", and "barriers and facilitating factors". Participants tended to perceive EBP as theoretical and positivistic while perceiving their own knowledge as eclectic and experience-based. Although they perceived the relevance of research findings to their clinical practice, they expressed a need for support to translate research into policy and practice. They also reported that studies about their specific work were scarce. The medical social workers' suggestion for the facilitation of knowledge exchange needs further investigation.

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“…Further, agency staff may not have the additional time and money to investigate adaptations to the EBP when original guidelines are unclear or not suitable for their populations (Goldfried et al, 2014;Marsiglia & Booth, 2014). Additional agency restraints to implementing EBPs include time shortages, unsupportive organizational culture, tight funding, inadequate staff training, and limited staff availability (Applebaum & Leek, 2008;Bellamy, Bledsoe, & Traube, 2006;Bhattacharyya et al, 2009;Gautam, 2008;Gray & Schubert, 2012;Gray et al, 2014;Wike et al, 2014). EBPs are often not a part of the culture of the agency, in which practitioners have limited appreciation and understanding of the value of EBPs (Bellamy et al, 2006;Gray et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The National Bridging the Research and Practice Gap Symposium recently noted that more needs to be done in terms of including education on EBPs in social work curriculum (Cheung et al, 2014). These limitations can lead to practitioners having difficulty identifying good studies and understanding methods used and how to implement evidence-based interventions (Goldfried et al, 2014;LeMay, Mulhall, & Alexander, 1998;Murray, 2009;Wike et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In social work, scholars have recently noted the value of educational projects and assignments on EBPs for helping students gain a greater appreciation of the connections between research and practice (Cheung et al, 2014;Wells, Maschi & Slater, 2012). Wike et al (2014) suggested that building strong partnerships between agencies and universities can help produce a future body of research ready practitioners, improve the education of current practitioners on how to identify and implement EBPs, and create a conduit for practitioners and educators to inform researchers of questions and issues that need to be explored.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Integrating Education, Research, and Practice in Gerontological Social Work: Lessons Learned From the Reclaiming Joy Peer Support Program

Chapin

Sellon

Wendel-Hummell

2015

Gerontology & Geriatrics Education

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The practice-to-research gap has been attributed to many factors, including differing goals and priorities, differing knowledge bases and skill sets, and lack of recognition of limits of agency and community resources. Although many scholars have called for more collaboration between educators, researchers, and practitioners, these challenges can make collaboration difficult. The authors illustrate how the application of the strengths perspective, by acknowledging and building on the strengths and goals of researchers, practitioners, and educators, can help to mitigate some of the barriers that contribute to the research--practice gap and to create more relevant research. The Reclaiming Joy Peer Support Program is offered as a case study in gerontological social work to demonstrate how the strengths perspective can be applied in a real-life research setting.

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Evidence-Based Practice in Social Work: Challenges and Opportunities for Clinicians and Organizations

Cited by 70 publications

References 62 publications

The role of collaborations in sustaining an evidence-based intervention to reduce child neglect

The role of collaborations in sustaining an evidence-based intervention to reduce child neglect

Research Use and Evidence-Based Practice Among Swedish Medical Social Workers: A Qualitative Study

Integrating Education, Research, and Practice in Gerontological Social Work: Lessons Learned From the Reclaiming Joy Peer Support Program

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