Final Report - Social Work Policy Institute

COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH AND SOCIAL WORK FINAL REPORTFINAL REPORTABOUT THE SYMPOSIUMWith growing attention to how Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) might be utilized toidentify which medical and psychosocial interventions work best, for whom and under whatconditions, the Social Work Policy Institute (SWPI) of the National Association of Social Workers(NASW) Foundation convened a think tank meeting on November 16, 2009. This was theinaugural event of the new Institute, which was launched in October 2009.Social Work Research and Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER): A Research Symposium toStrengthen the Connection brought together experts from the research, practice, policy andeducation arenas to examine how the social work profession might best contribute to theexpanding attention to CER. Participants included representatives of federal research and serviceagencies, national organizations, health care delivery organizations, foundations and academicinstitutions (see Participant List, Appendix A). The think tank agenda (see Appendix B) includedexpert presentations (see Presenters’ Biographies, Appendix C) and small group discussionsleading to the development of an action agenda. The presentations covered:• Definitions and federal agenda for CER and the implications for social work• What is known about outcomes of social work research• Economic analysis of effectiveness of psychosocial interventions, and• Strengthening the research-practice relationship.Following the presentations, symposium participants identified gaps and challenges for conductingCER and psychosocial research. Issues discussed included the current status of research on socialwork interventions; methods for conducting effectiveness research in complex systems with specialpopulations and people with complex needs; researcher training and capacity building; andstrengthening research-practice linkages. As a culmination to the discussions of challenges andopportunities, the participants identified an action plan to address further social work research,training of researchers, interdisciplinary collaborations, research/practice connections, andcommunication and outreach efforts.SOCIAL WORK POLICY INSTITUTE 1