Evidence Based Practice and Implementation Science

Catalog description

This course emphasizes the use of current research evidence in Social Work to promote Evidence- Based Practice with individuals, families, organizations, and communities. The concept of Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) was originally developed in the medical field and has subsequently been adopted by most disciplines in the health professions. It provides foundational knowledge that supports students' abilities to describe and interpret the scope of the profession, appraise new knowledge, create new knowledge, and interpret and apply this knowledge to practice. EBP approach has been adopted by the Council on Social Work Education as a pivotal skill for the training of social workers. Evidence-based practice stands in opposition to authority-based practice, which relies on opinions and anecdotal accounts to justify a specific practice. An important component of EBP is Shared Decision-Making (SDM), a communication process by which clients and practitioners work together to make optimal care decisions that align with what matters most to each client. The course complements the research courses by providing student with the tools to assess internal and external validity of specific studies of specific practices. Pre-requisites of SWK 810, 820, and 850 are required.