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Background In Sweden, as elsewhere, the development of evidence-based practice (EBP) in social work has been debated for over a decade now. One of the issues concerns the top-down strategy used by the Swedish government to enhance the knowledge about interventions in social work practice. Critiques argue that this is not a feasible way forward; instead the social work profession needs to take over the leader pin. This of course calls for structures that enable social work practitioners and researchers to engage in practice-based research in order to solve current and urgent issues. Academic primary- -care centers have been established as a possible way forward in implementing an evidence-based medicine in Swedish healthcare. Clinical research is one of the basic tasks in those centers, involving much of the personal. Here, we will reflect upon the possibilities for a similar approach within the social services. This presentation aims to present research about the conditions for new pathways between Swedish social work practice and research and to critically review the idea of academic social services offices. The following questions will be addressed:(i) What characterizes an academic social services office?(ii) What are the opinions of management in charge? (iii) What are the recommendations from research? Methods A survey was launched twice (2005 and 2015) to the leading association of administrative leaders in the social services in Sweden. Among other things they were asked about their opinions of EBP and of clinical research in social work, also if they were in the need of staff with a PhD-education. Furthermore, a review of relevant literature and expert consultations is being undertaken focusing on significant mechanisms when it comes to establishing structures in order to support the development of academic social services offices and practice-based research. Results Results from the survey show that leaders are more positive towards EBP today than ten years ago. However they are not keen on hiring staff educated in research and especially management in smaller organizations express severe difficulties to hire staff with appropriate skills and to further develop the competence to do research within their workplace. This calls for collaborations with other organizations as well as with researchers from universities and R & D-units. Results from reviews and expert-interviews will be added. Conclusions Administrative leaders support the idea of a knowledge-based social work and to use interventions whose effects are demonstrated by evaluations. However they lack strategies, competence and role-models to create a research-based organization. This paper-presentation contributes to the building of bridges between practice and research through presenting analysis of the views of management as well as innovative ways of research-production within the social services.

BackgroundIn Sweden, as elsewhere, the development of evidence-based practice (EBP) in social work has been debated for over a decade now. One of the issues concerns the top-down strategy used by the Swedish government to enhance the knowledge about interventions in social work practice. Critiques argue that this is not a feasible way forward; instead the social work profession needs to take over the leader pin. This of course calls for structures that enable social work practitioners and researchers to engage in practice-based research in order to solve current and urgent issues. Academic primary- -care centers have been established as a possible way forward in implementing an evidence-based medicine in Swedish healthcare. Clinical research is one of the basic tasks in those centers, involving much of the personal. Here, we will reflect upon the possibilities for a similar approach within the social services. This presentation aims to present research about the conditions for new pathways between Swedish social work practice and research and to critically review the idea of academic social services offices. The following questions will be addressed:(i) What characterizes an academic social services office?(ii) What are the opinions of management in charge?(iii) What are the recommendations from research? MethodsA survey was launched twice (2005 and 2015) to the leading association of administrative leaders in the social services in Sweden. Among other things they were asked about their opinions of EBP and of clinical research in social work, also if they were in the need of staff with a PhD-education. Furthermore, a review of relevant literature and expert consultations is being undertaken focusing on significant mechanisms when it comes to establishing structures in order to support the development of academic social services offices and practice-based research. ResultsResults from the survey show that leaders are more positive towards EBP today than ten years ago. However they are not keen on hiring staff educated in research and especially management in smaller organizations express severe difficulties to hire staff with appropriate skills and to further develop the competence to do research within their workplace. This calls for collaborations with other organizations as well as with researchers from universities and R & D-units. Results from reviews and expert-interviews will be added. ConclusionsAdministrative leaders support the idea of a knowledge-based social work and to use interventions whose effects are demonstrated by evaluations. However they lack strategies, competence and role-models to create a research-based organization. This paper-presentation contributes to the building of bridges between practice and research through presenting analysis of the views of management as well as innovative ways of research-production within the social services.

Objectives: This study investigated treatment fidelity in social work research. Method: The authors systematically reviewed all articles published in five prominent social work journals over a 5- year period. Sixty-three outcome studies were identified and reviewed for how well treatment fidelity was monitored using eight review criteria. Results: Seventy-one percent of reviewed studies defined each independent variable but more than two thirds lacked information on control measures for the interventions. Only two studies addressed all eight of the fidelity criteria, while five articles provided sufficient information on seven of the criteria. Nearly half (49%) were identified as primarily effectiveness studies. Slightly fewer (43%) were identified as efficacy studies. Conclusions: Greater attention needs to be paid to fidelity in social work intervention research.

Purpose: This study examines the effectiveness of social work services designed to enhance resilience among migrant children in urban China. Methods: We selected four primary schools (i.e., two public and two private migrant schools) in the X District, Guangzhou City, China. A total of 461 valid samples were surveyed for analysis. Three regression models were employed to explain the influence of social work services on students' resilience. Results: Social work services exert a positive and significant influence on the resilience of migrant children. Concretely, social work services in terms of educational activities, interest activities, and psychological counseling affected the resilience of migrant children after controlling for the impact of social capital, self-efficacy, and individual and household economic status. Moreover, students who participated in educational activities exhibit superior resilience. Discussion: Social work organizations should provide more participation opportunities and diversified service items to migrant children.

Purpose: This study assessed the research productivity of African American faculty in the top 25 ranked schools of social work cited in the 2012 U.S. News and World Report. Method: Four citation metrics ( h-index, g-index, age-weighted citation rate, and per author age-weighted citation rate) were examined. Results: Scholar rankings per h-index changed when ranked by other metrics revealing more uniqueness beyond the impact of their scholarship. Discussion: While the h-index metric is a valuable measure of scholarly impact to assist tenure and promotion decisions, it should be considered with other metrics that reveal the overall character of individual scholarship. As the overall research culture of social work broadens, future research calls for an expanded knowledge based on measuring both impact and uniqueness of scholarship to assist faculty, especially minority scholars, in successfully negotiating and overcoming barriers and challenges.

Purpose: Paternal incarceration poses significant concerns for fathers and their children. Despite the known negative consequences, little is understood about father involvement after prison. This study aims to further understanding of fatherhood following incarceration to inform future intervention strategies. Method: Using data from the Urban Institute's Returning Home: Understanding the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry Study ( N = 326), we conduct bivariate and multivariate analyses to examine three dimensions of father involvement and predictors of involvement at two time points after prison. Results: Findings reveal generally high levels of father involvement in the first year following incarceration. Father-child contact during prison and increased work hours after prison showed positive effects on early father involvement, while post-prison engagement and contact following release were associated with later involvement. Conclusions: Promoting father-child contact and positive relationships during incarceration may be important for future father involvement after release. Potential social work and criminal justice practice and research opportunities are discussed.

Objectives: This article reports the first estimated h-index values for social work faculty. Methods: Multiple raters blindly assessed two samples of faculty (1) tenure-track faculty at institutions listed in the U.S. News and World Report top 10 (n = 337) and (2) tenure-track editorial board members of 5 highly ranked social work journals (n = 215). Results: Intraclass correlation coefficients for h-index values among the multiple raters ranged from .83 to .92, indicating good reliability. For faculty at top 10 institutions, mean estimated h-index values were 3.97 (SD = 2.87) for assistant professors; 8.59 (SD = 3.72) for associate professors; and 16.14 (SD = 8.35) for full professors. Values for editorial board members were generally similar. Conclusions: These are the first such published data; further research is needed.