Introduction to the New Editor-in-Chief

I am extremely pleased to be writing my inaugural editorial for Social Work Research. The opportunity to serve as the journal’s editor-in-chief is an honor, and I take the attendant responsibilities very seriously. Since becoming a consulting editor in 2010, I have long been aware of the high-quality research this journal promotes and disseminates and of its important role in supporting the social work profession. I am committed to making each issue as valuable as it can possibly be, which to me means supporting authors and reviewers to promote rigorous research articles with real-world social work implications. This commitment also means placing social work ethics at the forefront, recognizing that, at its core, social work research should explicitly promote justice and equality.

In case we have not yet crossed paths, I would like to introduce myself. As is true of many social work scholars, my research interests are informed by my social work practice background. In my case, direct practice in child welfare and juvenile justice and administration of a program serving at-risk adolescent girls led to a passion for improving the research base on gender, trauma, and services for youths and families with child welfare or justice system involvement. As a services researcher, I am primarily interested in answering questions about what works, and for whom. Questions of how to make services optimally accessible and effective are an important part of this picture, and implementation science offers some relevant answers. Since 2008, I have engaged in this work at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. I feel very fortunate to have a rich network of colleagues and students who provide myriad opportunities for collaboration and are always generous with their constructive advice. In short, social work research is essential to my identity, and service to the journal is an excellent fit for my interests and experiences.

Social Work Research has the essential mission of publishing exemplary research to advance the development of knowledge and inform social work practice. This body of work encompasses a broad range of knowledge from which social workers must draw to make informed policy decisions, to use the most effective practices possible with diverse client populations, and to understand the dynamics of social problems we seek to remedy. I see the journal as filling a crucial role in connecting research findings to social work practice, at all levels. All social workers, whether in direct practice; in the classroom; or in organizational, policy, or advocacy work, should be able to draw from research to support their decisions. As most readers are well aware, this connection between practice and research is codified in our professional ethics.

The complexity of the social work profession is evident in its broad mandates, diverse areas of practice, values orientation, and person-in-environment perspective. Social workers are faced with challenges to justice and equality and attempts to restrict civil rights and civil liberties in the United States and around the world. It can be discouraging and dispiriting to realize how much work remains for our society to achieve the profession’s foundational principles. Research is a necessary part of the process to identify policies and practices that promote equitable outcomes and support the dignity and worth of the person.

Fortunately, we have some powerful tools to guide us in this seemingly Sisyphean endeavor. The Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative (Sherraden et al., 2015), which has been addressed in recent editorials, provides us with an organizing framework for thoughtful, collaborative, difficult work to address social problems. Multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary scholarship, like interprofessional education and cross-disciplinary practice, allows us to draw from the strengths and skills of related professions to maximize resources and affect change (Nurius & Kemp, 2014). Implementation science principles are critical for bringing best practices from the “bench” to the “trench” (Palinkas & Soydan, 2012). Thoughtful application of these ideas and skills will help us move the field forward.

The research articles in this issue are exemplary pieces of scholarship that focus attention on issues relevant to social workers. I am excited to see research that spans diverse areas of practice and identity; applies various methods of inquiry; and promotes thoughtful, informed decision making. I look forward to following the future work of these accomplished, innovative scholars.

Loyal followers of the journal may be wondering what they should expect with the editor-in-chief transition. Newer readers might wonder if the journal is a good home for their scholarship, or if they will find articles of value to their research, practice, or educational efforts. In short, I endeavor to meet high standards and expectations and promote research consistent with the mission of Social Work Research. Research encompassing populations and problems of interest, interventions and services, policy and advocacy solutions, and implementation science will find an eager audience at the journal. Social justice and social work ethics are the foundation and purpose of social work research, and submissions to the journal should reflect the values orientation of the profession.

The editorial lineage I am following as editor-in-chief shows that the journal’s commitment to excellence extends through its history, as noted in Kirk Foster’s (2019) editorial in the previous issue. I would like to note a particular debt of gratitude to the most recent editor-in-chief, James Herbert Williams, who has been a mentor to me since I began my doctoral studies in 2004 at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Williams’s commitment to expanding the global reach and relevance of the journal, promoting research that relies on a socially just perspective, and increasing the journal’s impact is an admirable and inspirational legacy. I aspire to continue in his path.

I would also like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the expertise and dedication of the publishing, editing, and circulation staff at NASW Press. Their engagement, excitement, and collaborative spirit have made my first weeks in this role an absolute pleasure. That readers of the journal may be unaware of the hard work that goes into managing, production, and circulation is a signal of just how effective and efficient this team is.

I conclude by inviting you to join me in my efforts to make Social Work Research the best possible outlet for social work scholarship. Please submit your innovative, impactful original research. We are actively seeking new consulting editors, who serve the vital function of reviewing manuscripts. Current NASW members who publish in peer-reviewed journals and are familiar with research literature in their area are encouraged to e-mail their CV to me ([email protected]). I look forward to working together on future issues of the journal!

Charlotte Lyn Bright, PhD, MSW, is associate professor and associate dean for doctoral and postdoctoral education, School of Social Work, University of Maryland, 525 W. Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201; e-mail: [email protected]

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