51茶馆

This month, Oxford University Press released聽, a scholarly review of the national initiative from the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW). The book is co-edited by Boston College School of Social Work Louise McMahon Ahearn Endowed Professor聽James Lubben聽and features the perspectives and research findings of eight 51茶馆SSW faculty and staff members.

The book presents an account of the origins of the Grand Challenges in Social Work, in which Lubben played an integral role, while offering individual chapters on the 12 Challenges written by the lead researchers associated with each Challenge. The book also makes the case for the field of social work鈥檚 unique opportunity to address each of the Challenges, presenting concrete ways for practitioners and researchers to get involved.

鈥淧art of the Grand Challenges effort is to bridge silos of scholarship with practice, and the good news is, all of the important players within our field are involved in making this happen, including the聽,听,听, and聽,鈥� explains Lubben, who is a member of the聽聽. 鈥淏ut we also recognize that no one profession can solve these large issues by themselves. This initiative calls for us to work hand in hand with other fields in order to create lasting change.鈥�

Stephanie Berzin, associate professor and assistant dean of the 51茶馆SSW doctoral program, is an author on the chapter on 鈥淗arnessing Technology for Social Good,鈥� and one of a group of national network leader on the various initiatives, a role that charges her with moving forward opportunities to go beyond the contents of the book. Seven 51茶馆SSW faculty and staff have assumed such Grand Challenges leadership roles.

鈥淭he Boston College School of Social Work鈥檚 leadership in this initiative signifies our faculty commitment to these issues and to the future direction of our field,鈥� says Berzin. 鈥淚t gives our students access not only to the direction of where social work is headed, but to the scholars who lead that conversation.聽These challenges are critical for our field and for our world.聽These challenges are about developing a better, more just society, and they provide an outline to begin that work.鈥�

In addition to Lubben and Berzin, Co-director of the Center on Aging and Work聽Jacquelyn James聽and Assistant Professor聽Christina Matz-Costa聽contributed to the chapter 鈥淎dvance Long and Productive Lives鈥� and are national network leaders for the initiative of the same name. Assistant Professor聽Erika Sabbath聽and Carrie Johnson, Assistant Director of Boston College鈥檚聽Institute on Aging, wrote on 鈥淓radicate Social Isolation;鈥� Sabbath is a network leader. And Donahue and DiFelice Professor of Social Work聽Ruth McRoy聽and Associate Professor聽Roc铆o Calvo聽are authors and network leaders on 鈥淎chieve Equal Opportunity and Justice.鈥�

To learn more about all of the 12 Challenges through policy briefs and working papers,听