ERIC Number: EJ1130610
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Mar
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1049-7315
EISSN: N/A
Catalyzing Innovation in Social Work Practice
Traube, Dorian E.; Begun, Stephanie; Okpych, Nathanael; Choy-Brown, Mimi
Research on Social Work Practice, v27 n2 p134-138 Mar 2017
Social innovation is defined by novelty and improvement. This definition requires social work practice to be more effective or efficient than preexisting alternatives. Practice innovation is accomplished by leveraging technical, social, and economic factors to generate novel interventions, diffusion or adoption of the interventions into broader use, and identification of the value created by the new approaches or processes. Innovation in social work practice is fundamentally hindered by the foundational trifecta on which the profession is built: (a) the structure of social work education, (b) diffusely focused professional organizations, and (c) siloed professional environments. This article explores the elements of social work education, professional organizations, and practice environments that impede innovation and offers recommendations for changes in each sector that can facilitate innovation.
Descriptors: Innovation, Social Work, Caseworkers, Professional Associations, Caseworker Approach, Mental Health
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A