Is that all?—Reflections on beginnings, endings, and hopeful transitions

Abstract

My inaugural issue as Editor-in-Chief (for the Americas region) coincides with several exciting changes. We welcome the addition of a new Assistant editor, Yun Chen, and a recently appointed Book Reviews editor, Deirdre Lanesskog, who also moves into her new role as Associate editor. Over the past 2 decades, Qualitative Social Work (QSW) has grown from 4 issues to 6, and correspondingly, the number of submissions we receive from all corners of the global has also increased. Here at QSW, we hold that the development of high-quality scholarship means investing in our authors and reviewers through a rigorous but fair and transparent peer-review process. We also want to respond quickly and effectively to our submissions. We are delighted that Yun Chen and Deirdre Lanesskog have joined us in their new roles on the editorial team.This first issue of 2023 is also bittersweet. The eminent Karen Staller, who after 10 years of unwavering service to the journal as Co-Editor, has stepped down. It is hard not to see this as an end of an era. Ten years ago, Professor Staller invited me to join QSW as an Associate editor. I was all too familiar with her groundbreaking work with runaway youth (Staller, 2004(Staller, , 2006(Staller, , 2006b(Staller, , 2010 and her captivating writing style that transports you into the minds and sentiments of others (Staller, 2007). It was a decision I have never regretted, and I have learned countless lessons about the peer-review process, the behindthe-scenes of publishing across three global regions, and the power of the editorial to reach a broad audience. Over the past 10 years, I have come to view Professor Staller as the essence of the journal. Its emphasis on rigorous qualitative inquiry aligns with her commitment to methodological advocacy (

Honouring the artistry in qualitative social work research

“…I am in excellent company at this journal and am inspired by the past editorials of Lissette Piedra (Piedra, 2023) and Lisa Morriss (Morriss, 2017), whose words read like short stories. Each of their editorials brings alive small scenes with huge ramifications, such as Lissette’s poignant description of a young boy involved in a group she was running, asking ‘Is that all?’ in response to her laying out celebratory treats on the final day.…”

Moving on: Reflections on time well spent

“…In listening to the narratives of research participants we learn how power relations have constructed experience and may undermine access to social and material resources. Researchers have a key advocacy role in using research findings to expose injustice and inform social action (Piedra, 2023; Staller, 2016). This involves understanding that qualitative research is a space for researchers to be ‘active partners’ in interactions that enact ‘faith, hope, and courage’ and a belief in the possibility of positive social change to overcome ‘intractable social problems’ (Staller, 2018:738).…”