Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice.
Introduction:
I consistently integrate research into my social work practice to ensure my interventions are effective and evidence-based. By staying informed on the latest research, I enhance the quality of my work. When conducting research, I focus on scenarios relevant to my workplace, ensuring that the findings are directly applicable. This approach allows me to adapt quickly to emerging trends and best practices in the field. It also helps me address the specific needs of the populations I serve. By combining research and practice, I strive to contribute to both my clients’ well-being and the broader social work community.
4.1 Critically review current research on evidence-based and contemporary best practices to improve practice, policy, and programs.
In Section 1.5: Needs Assessment of our SOCW 618 New Organization Proposal, I critically reviewed local and statewide programs offering reentry support services. I compared key organizations such as the Chattanooga Community Reentry Program, The Next Door, and Tennessee Reconnect, identifying gaps in services for formerly incarcerated fathers. Using publicly available research and program descriptions, I synthesized contemporary best practices such as supervised visitation, parenting workshops, legal advocacy, and trauma-informed services and used that information to help shape our integrated, family-centered model (K, S). This review not only guided our program design but also demonstrated my ability to apply evidence to improve both policy and practice recommendations for underserved populations (A).
This assignment was framed by Ecological Systems Theory, which highlights how individuals interact with and are influenced by nested environmental systems from immediate relationships to broader cultural and temporal contexts (Guy Evans, 2025). This lens enabled me to critically assess how systems-level barriers impact formerly incarcerated fathers and informed multi-level, responsive reentry interventions (K, A, C).
It also reflected social work values (V) by prioritizing dignity, family reunification, and holistic support. I intentionally engaged a macro level perspective to consider ethical and systemic dimensions of service delivery, guiding the development of sustainable, community rooted solutions (C). My analysis directly informed the components of the Second Chance Collective program, successfully linking research, local data, and social work values to create evidence informed and culturally responsive programming (K, C, A).
Reference
Guy Evans, O. (2025, May 6). Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. SimplyPsychology. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/bronfenbrenner.html
4.2 Conduct and disseminate research that responds to social work practice needs and uses ethical, culturally informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive strategies to advance the purposes of social work.
How_to_Grow_a_Diverse_Volunteer_Base
In my field placement at Signal Centers, I recognized persistent barriers to volunteer inclusion, especially among underrepresented groups such as bilingual individuals, volunteers with disabilities, and those with limited prior experience in developmental disability settings. These observations prompted me to initiate a research-informed project aimed at improving volunteer outreach and preparation with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (K, C/A).
To inform my efforts, I conducted a comparative analysis of volunteer handbooks and practices from national organizations including Easterseals, The Arc, and Best Buddies International. I cross-referenced these resources with peer-reviewed literature on inclusive volunteer engagement and culturally competent recruitment practices. I learned that outreach is more effective when grounded in cultural humility, plain-language communication, and trusted community partnerships (K, T). These insights shaped how I approached developing practical, evidence-based strategies for our program.
I applied this knowledge by creating a “How to Grow a Diverse Volunteer Base” toolkit that outlines ethical, culturally informed, and inclusive recruitment practices designed for nonprofit environments. It included suggestions such as accessible language guides, community-specific outreach efforts, and onboarding techniques that honor neurodiversity and lived experience (S, V). I shared this resource with my MSW cohort and professional peers through LinkedIn to promote dialogue and improve practice across programs (S, C/A).
Throughout this project, I reflected deeply on my own biases and privilege and centered feedback from stakeholders historically excluded from volunteerism. This process reinforced the importance of listening, adapting, and staying accountable to the communities we serve. It demonstrated that research does not have to be abstract—it can be practical, relational, and equity-driven (V, C/A).