Session: Social Workers As Researchers and Innovators: Global Knowledge, Cross-Cultural Solutions, and Practice-Based Research (Society for Social Work and Research 31st Annual Conference)

Purpose and Goals The proposed SIG seeks to advance the role of social workers as both researchers and change agents in a global context. Specifically, the group aims to: 1. Identify factors that enable social workers to conduct research on pressing global social issues such as poverty, migration, violence, and social inequality. 2. Promote practice-based and community-informed research that connects local experiences with international knowledge. 3. Encourage cross-cultural and cross-border collaboration among social work scholars and practitioners. 4. Explore how local social work practices can generate global insights and solutions with broader social impact. 5. Develop frameworks that allow social workers to transform research findings into policy recommendations and practical interventions. 6. Strengthen global networks of social work researchers working on shared social challenges. Planned Activities The SIG will function as an ongoing international collaborative network and will engage in the following activities: Peer exchange meetings during international conferences to discuss emerging research topics and methodological approaches. International workshops and seminars focusing on practice-based research and innovative interventions in social work. Collaborative research projects examining global social issues across different cultural contexts. Development of international academic programs that connect research, education, and professional practice. Organization of an international conference or symposium dedicated to practice-based social work research. Publication initiatives, including a potential special issue in an academic journal focusing on social workers as researchers and innovators. Relevance to Social Work Research This SIG contributes to the advancement of social work research capacity by strengthening the connection between research, practice, and policy. By highlighting how local practice knowledge can inform global responses to shared social challenges, the SIG promotes innovative and collaborative approaches to social work research. Through international partnerships and interdisciplinary dialogue, the group will support the development of research agendas capable of addressing complex global social problems.