Engage in Practice-Informed Research
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Week 8 Journal - Engage in Practice-Informed Research
Student Name
National University
Course
Instructor’s Name
Date
Integration of Research into Social Work Practice
Numerous social work academics have discussed how the field necessitates integrating a deeper understanding of research into social work practice in the past few years. Scholars and professionals alike recognize that social work research must become integrated into practice and grow interconnected and interdependent rather than remaining in the background for social work to advance (Traber et al., 2021). Research and practice are frequently seen as two different but related aspects of the same profession. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that collaborative approaches lead to greater effectiveness in research and practice. A collaborative research technique known as "practice research" has been employed by certain educational institutions, organizations, and professionals to close the gap between practice and research in response to the need to integrate research into social work practice more successfully (Traber et al., 2021). As newly licensed social workers receive their education and prepare for the workforce, they must be equipped to perform their jobs as effectively as possible, produce fresh insights, and improve practice methods, even during their practicum. Social work students and professionals will be better equipped to harness curiosity and work together to conduct collaborative research to advance practice by including practice research in their field learning. Therefore, this journal will recall an experience with a client at Arrow Child & Family Ministries, identify and describe two organizations that provide data and research for the agency, identify two professional journals that address topics relevant to the population and services, and discuss an article from one of the journals that reflects a best practice with the population at the field practicum to share with peers in the weekly field seminar.
Reflection on a Family Domestic Abuse Intervention
During my practicum, one of the opportunities I had at Arrow Child & Family Ministries was to work with a family dealing with the effects of domestic abuse. The wife complained about the husband's tendency to arrive home late all the time, and when the wife raised a concern, the husband became confrontational. It reached a point where the wife felt that the husband was unfaithful and could be having an affair. The husband resorted to mistreating and assaulting the wife. Domestic abuse between the husband and wife affected the children's welfare because they could not enjoy a healthy family and mother-father relationship. They were also abused and assaulted during the quarrels between the parents. They came to the agency to seek help and guidance for their family.
During a therapy session, I led conversations to restore trust and encourage constructive communication styles. Seeing the family's resilience and determination to recover from their difficult circumstances was both moving and inspiring. Nevertheless, acknowledging the significant influence of trauma on their well-being, I also felt compelled to offer effective solutions and assistance to meet their multifaceted needs. In addition, the couple's honesty and resilience during the session astounded me. I experienced a range of feelings, including motivation to positively influence their healing process, satisfaction in seeing them make progress in their family life, and sympathy for their prior traumas. It was encouraging to see them begin building a happy family and creating a healthy environment for a child to grow.
Organizations Supporting Child and Family Welfare Research
National Center for Children in Poverty
It is among the leading public policy organizations in the country committed to advancing the health, well-being, and financial stability of America's low-income families and their children. While promoting favorable outcomes for future generations, NCCP uses research to guide practice and policy. These initiatives aim to produce effective laws that support children's development and stable, loving households with a strong financial foundation (NCCP, 2024). At the state and federal levels, the organization supports family-centered solutions. It investigates the factors that lead to child poverty and ensures that its recommendations reach people with the power to improve the lives of struggling families. Arrow Child & Family Ministries' goals align with these initiatives.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
The organization gives people access to materials and data on the well-being, safety, and permanence of children and their families in the child welfare system. Its goal is to provide people with the tools they need to promote the best possible outcomes for all children, young people, and families (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2024). Its extensive library of books, seminars, and statistical reports can be beneficial in gaining insight into the needs and difficulties encountered by the people whom Arrow Child & Family Ministries serves.
Professional Journals Addressing Child Maltreatment and Family Violence
Child Abuse & Neglect
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/child-abuse-and-neglect
As a leading scientific publication on child maltreatment, Child Abuse & Neglect publishes studies on different forms of exploitation, neglect, and abuse of children. In line with Arrow Child & Family Ministries' mission to advance children's safety and well-being, it provides multidisciplinary perspectives and evidence-based techniques for child protection and welfare practitioners.
Journal of Family Violence
Link: https://link.springer.com/journal/10896
The study and measurement of family violence, such as intimate partner violence, domestic assault, and child abuse, are the primary subjects of this publication. It supports the goal of Arrow Child & Family Ministries to address and prevent family violence using trauma-informed therapy by offering empirical research, theoretical reflections, and clinical knowledge relevant to practitioners who serve families affected by violence.
Predictive Risk Modeling as a Child Maltreatment Prevention Practice
APA Reference for the Selected Article
Ahn, E., An, R., Jonson-Reid, M., & Palmer, L. (2024). Leveraging machine learning for effective child maltreatment prevention: A case study of home visiting service assessments. Child Abuse & Neglect, 151, 106706.
Evaluation of the Selected Evidence-Based Practice
The study's objective was to compare the effectiveness of predictive risk modeling (PRM) with the current assessment tool for identifying children and families who require home visiting services. The authors assert that identifying children and families who could benefit from assistance at an early stage is essential for implementing preventive measures before child abuse occurs. PRM might provide valuable and practical improvements over current risk assessment methods (Ahn et al., 2024). The findings demonstrated that the PRM tool performed better than the baseline model among the top 30% of children with high-risk scores, correctly identifying 75.3%–84.1% of all children who would receive maltreatment substantiation, compared with 46.2% for the baseline model.
References Supporting Practice-Informed Social Work Research
Ahn, E., An, R., Jonson-Reid, M., & Palmer, L. (2024). Leveraging machine learning for effective child maltreatment prevention: A case study of home visiting service assessments. Child Abuse & Neglect, 151, 106706.
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2024). About. Child Welfare Information Gateway. https://www.childwelfare.gov/about/
NCCP. (2024). Putting Research Into Action to Improve Lives. https://www.nccp.org/?src=logo
Traber, D. K., Collins, T., Drolet, J. L., Adamo, D. J., Franco, M., Laban, K. M., ... & Wulff, D. (2021). Integrating Practice Research into Social Work Field Education. Field Educator, 11(1).