EBP in MSW Curricula
A Canadian Consortium member examined readiness of North American graduates to conduct evidence-based practice. This study is available on the Publications drop down menu of the Resources tab at the top of each website page (Barwick, 2011).
Her findings inspired a Consortium study of MSW program curricula (Bertram, Charnin, Kerns, & Long, 2014, 2015). The full report )2014) was shared with deans and directors of Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited MSW programs and is available here:
Bertram, R.M., Kerns, S.E., Charnin, L., & Long, A. (2014). Evidenced-based practices in North American MSW Curricula: Full Report. Child and Family Evidence-Based Practices Consortium. Denver, CO.
A summary of this study and report was peer-reviewed and is available below:
Bertram, R.M., Charnin, L.A., Kerns, S.E., & Long, A. J. (2015). Evidence-based practices in North American MSW curricula. Research on Social Work Practice.
JANUS WEBINAR SERIES
These studies inspired development of our Janus webinar series for MSW faculty and programs. These webinars are named after the mythological Janus figurehead that looks to both worlds, shaping the present with eyes focused toward the past and the future.
These webinars emphasize that effective implementation of evidence-based practice is a shared responsibility of professional academic programs and of family service programs.
Through these webinars we developed a technical assistance & research network that:
Identified challenges & provided assistance to promote evidence based practice in academic & field curricula.
Shared examples of successful inclusion of evidence based practice in academic & field curricula.
Pursued research, funding, & publishing opportunities about such efforts.
Webinar 1
Evidence Based Practice in MSW Curricula: Misconceptions and Facts
Access the complete webinar here
https://theinstitute.adobeconnect.com/p3q1ba93f18/
PDF of powerpoint for webinar 1
- We introduced the Consortium and the Janus Webinar Series.
- We presented findings from our studies on evidence-based practice preparedness and workforce development (Barwick, 2011; Bertram, Charnin, Kerns & Long, 2015).
- We addressed misconceptions about evidence-based practice expressed in peer-reviewed literature and also evident in our study of North American MSW curricula.
Webinar 2
Integrating Evidence Based Practice in MSW Curricula
Access the complete webinar here:
https://theinstitute.adobeconnect.com/p8ooub6jm4p/
PDF of powerpoint for webinar 2
We presented overviews of MSW curricula at:
- George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St Louis MO: This MSW program completely transformed curricula to teach a process for evidence–based practice, while also teaching specific evidence supported treatment models.
- University of Washington: This university-based multi-disciplinary effort develops and provides training for practitioners in child and family behavioral health settings.
- Fordham University: This MSW program integrated a course developed by The Wheeler Clinic, a child and family behavioral health program! It teach evidence-based practice models to both practitioners and academic faculty (Cannata & Hoge, 2012).
- University of Missouri-Kansas City: This MSW program transformed a required program evaluation course to teach implementation science and frameworks. Students conduct multi-method implementation evaluations of their field sites (Bertram, King, Pederson, & Nutt, 2014). Also, through a National Child Welfare Workforce Initiative university partnership grant, implementation science and evidence-based practice are infused into through public and private child welfare service models via restructured field curricula implementation.
Webinar 3
Finding the Fit: Evidence-Based Practice in MSW Curricula
Access the complete webinar here:
https://theinstitute.adobeconnect.com/p7thwdqo9g9/
PDF of powerpoint for webinar 3
Based upon Janus webinar series participants’ comments, questions and requests, course syllabi and strategies employed in bringing evidence-based practice and implementation science into three MSW programs were presented.
Click on each university to open the presented course syllabus:
- University of Missouri-Kansas City
- George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University
- Fordham University
This course is also taught on a regular basis at these MSW programs
University of Connecticut
Southern Connecticut State University
Springfield College
University of St. Joseph
This course is also taught on a regular basis at these MFT programs
University of Connecticut
University of St. Joseph
Southern Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University
Webinar 4
Transforming MSW field learning: Evidence-based practice and implementation science
Access the complete webinar here:
https://theinstitute.adobeconnect.com/p3ywg8tn866/
PDF of powerpoint for webinar 4
The council on Social Work Education describes field learning as its “signature pedagogy.” However, most MSW programs don’t adjust field curricula to ensure that evidence-based practice and implementation science are integrated in students’ professional development. Our fourth webinar presented practical examples of how this can be accomplished, including:
- Transformation of MSW field curricula in the University of Missouri-Kansas City National Child Welfare Workforce Institute university partnership grant site.
- Use of implementation science to integrate evidence based trauma treatment at multiple MSW programs working with Fordhan University’s National Center for Social Work Trauma Education and Workforce Development.
- Washington University’s G. W. Brown School of Social Work’s evidence based practice model applications in MSW field practica.
