From Research Culture to From Research Culture to Infrastructure: Enhancing Infrastructure: Enhancing Capacity Building in Social Work Capacity Building in Social Work Programs Programs – Jerry Flanzer, San Jose State University Jerry Flanzer, San Jose State University Graduate Studies and Research Graduate Studies and Research – Ruth McRoy, Boston College Graduate School Ruth McRoy, Boston College Graduate School of Social Work of Social Work National Association of Deans and National Association of Deans and Directors Directors Naples, Florida Naples, Florida April 10, 2010 April 10, 2010
Transcript
From Research Culture to Infrastructure: From Research Culture to Infrastructure: Enhancing Capacity Building in Social Work Enhancing Capacity Building in Social Work
ProgramsPrograms
– Jerry Flanzer, San Jose State University Graduate Jerry Flanzer, San Jose State University Graduate Studies and ResearchStudies and Research
– Ruth McRoy, Boston College Graduate School of Social Ruth McRoy, Boston College Graduate School of Social WorkWork
National Association of Deans and DirectorsNational Association of Deans and Directors
Naples, FloridaNaples, Florida
April 10, 2010April 10, 2010
Overview of PresentationOverview of Presentation
Considerations in Developing Research Culture and InfrastructureConsiderations in Developing Research Culture and Infrastructure
– Drivers of Changing Research Culture Drivers of Changing Research Culture
– Assessing Readiness for Change and for Capacity BuildingAssessing Readiness for Change and for Capacity Building
– Internal and External Supports for ResearchInternal and External Supports for Research
– Connecting Research to the Teaching and Service MissionConnecting Research to the Teaching and Service Mission
Challenges and SustainabilityChallenges and Sustainability
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Social Work Programs: Variations in Social Work Programs: Variations in Infrastructure Support and CapacityInfrastructure Support and Capacity
– Ranging from Ranging from extensive internal supports for faculty research to extensive internal supports for faculty research to programs seeking to create research culture to programs seeking to create research culture to address deficiencies in research capacityaddress deficiencies in research capacity
Drivers of Changing Research Drivers of Changing Research Culture Culture
Focus on evidence based practice and Focus on evidence based practice and practice relevant researchpractice relevant research
Growing visibility of social work researchGrowing visibility of social work research
1997 NADD Report on Administrative 1997 NADD Report on Administrative Research Structures in SW EducationResearch Structures in SW Education
Competition/RankingsCompetition/Rankings
Community demand for research capable Community demand for research capable practioners and policy makerspractioners and policy makers
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Changing Academic Expectations in Social Changing Academic Expectations in Social Work ProgramsWork Programs
– Changing expectations for students Changing expectations for students – Changing expectations for faculty tenure and Changing expectations for faculty tenure and
promotionpromotion– Growing pressure for social work faculty to Growing pressure for social work faculty to
join, lead, contribute to cross- campus join, lead, contribute to cross- campus research efforts research efforts
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Drivers of Changing Research Drivers of Changing Research CultureCulture
Availability of Research FundingAvailability of Research Funding– Development of NIDA , NIMH and other Development of NIDA , NIMH and other
Federally Funded Social Work CentersFederally Funded Social Work Centers– New Federal grant opportunities open to all in New Federal grant opportunities open to all in
social work domains- health disparities, RIMI, social work domains- health disparities, RIMI, CBPR, health services, adjudicated CBPR, health services, adjudicated youth/mental health treatments….youth/mental health treatments….
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Infrastructure Funding HistoryInfrastructure Funding History
State and LocalState and Local– The state-federal matches (child welfare, substance The state-federal matches (child welfare, substance
abuse, aging)abuse, aging)– # the single school to state advantage# the single school to state advantage
Foundations – national and localFoundations – national and local– Hartford, RWJHartford, RWJ
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Drivers of Changing Research Drivers of Changing Research CultureCulture
SW Organizational Support for ResearchSW Organizational Support for Research– St Louis GroupSt Louis Group– NADDNADD– CSWE, SSWR, IASWR, NASWCSWE, SSWR, IASWR, NASW
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Challenges BSW and MSW Challenges BSW and MSW Programs FacePrograms Face
• Workload/TimeWorkload/Time
• TeachingTeaching
• ServiceService
• Office hoursOffice hours
• Lack of teaching assistantsLack of teaching assistants
• Support for research/mentors/fundingSupport for research/mentors/funding
• Pre and post grantsmanship, Pre and post grantsmanship,
• University capacity, reputationUniversity capacity, reputation
• Community supportCommunity support
• Pilot fundsPilot funds
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Structural Disincentives/Challenges Structural Disincentives/Challenges to Building Research Capacityto Building Research Capacity
Lack of faculty with research expertiseLack of faculty with research expertiseCompeting demands on faculty time Competing demands on faculty time – Heavy workload/ international travelHeavy workload/ international travel– Quest for teaching excellenceQuest for teaching excellence
– Have to choose: Publications vs. fundingHave to choose: Publications vs. funding
Who will do the teaching if faculty buy out?Who will do the teaching if faculty buy out?Desire to work primarily on conceptual piecesDesire to work primarily on conceptual piecesLack of release timeLack of release timeNot connected with Agencies/CentersNot connected with Agencies/Centers
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Assessing Readiness for Assessing Readiness for ChangeChange
Assess Mission and Goals within context Assess Mission and Goals within context of the Universityof the University
Assess Resources, Capacity and Assess Resources, Capacity and Structure of the ProgramStructure of the Program
Promoting Research Climate and CulturePromoting Research Climate and Culture
Use of Strategic PlanningUse of Strategic Planning
Role of School’s LeadershipRole of School’s Leadership
Handling Resistance to ChangeHandling Resistance to Change
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For considerationFor consideration
What are the benefits of research for :What are the benefits of research for :– StudentsStudents– Faculty: T3, Research and clinicalFaculty: T3, Research and clinical– StaffStaff– SchoolSchool– CommunityCommunity– Teaching/CurriculumTeaching/Curriculum
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Benefits for Teaching/CurriculumBenefits for Teaching/Curriculum
Doctoral research practiceDoctoral research practice
PhD, BSW and MSW RA positionsPhD, BSW and MSW RA positions
Post Doc’sPost Doc’s
Research class assignmentsResearch class assignments
Adds to class content across the boardAdds to class content across the board
Helps to focus faculty interest and outputHelps to focus faculty interest and output
Dissertation researchDissertation research
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Incentives for Faculty and SchoolIncentives for Faculty and School
Research informs practice and teachingResearch informs practice and teaching
Enhances students experiences and learningEnhances students experiences and learning– Prepares students to meet the demands of working in urban Prepares students to meet the demands of working in urban
areasareas
– Prepares students to use data in their practicePrepares students to use data in their practice
Provides employment opportunities for studentsProvides employment opportunities for students
Provides more opportunities to address key issues in Provides more opportunities to address key issues in community and nationcommunity and nation
Provides more opportunities for collaboration (within the Provides more opportunities for collaboration (within the school, across campus, partnering with community, and school, across campus, partnering with community, and with colleagues in other schools/universities and agencieswith colleagues in other schools/universities and agencies
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Incentives for Faculty and SchoolIncentives for Faculty and School
Desire to make a difference/knowledgeDesire to make a difference/knowledgeImprove lives of children, families and Improve lives of children, families and communitiescommunitiesCommitment to social justiceCommitment to social justiceEstablishes professional recognition within the Establishes professional recognition within the university and the field at largeuniversity and the field at largeOpens doors to a myriad of national and Opens doors to a myriad of national and international exposureinternational exposureProvides funds that allows for program and Provides funds that allows for program and resource developmentresource development
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Incentives for research – the Incentives for research – the personal payoffpersonal payoff
Research support staffResearch support staffPrestige and tenurePrestige and tenureFunding for travelFunding for travelTime away from teachingTime away from teaching Merit increasesMerit increasesCourse reductionCourse reductionReturn of indirect/overheadReturn of indirect/overheadFunds for Computers and other “toys”Funds for Computers and other “toys”SpaceSpace
Opportunities for CollaborationOpportunities for Collaboration
SpaceSpace
Availability of studentsAvailability of students
Research infrastructureResearch infrastructure– Technical and research assistanceTechnical and research assistance– Budgeting assistance pre and post awardBudgeting assistance pre and post award
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Faculty Interest/Expertise(Funding Mismatch)
Mental Health
Aging
Substance Abuse
Child Welfare
Juvenile Justice
Disabilities
Health
Poverty
Immigration
Policy
Prevention
Intervention
Theory
Methods
Administration
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Considerations: Assess Considerations: Assess Research CapacityResearch Capacity
Impact of growth in research funding/centersImpact of growth in research funding/centers
Who is involved in research?Who is involved in research?– Motivating faculty to engage in researchMotivating faculty to engage in research– Mentoring junior facultyMentoring junior faculty
Assess Faculty StrengthsAssess Faculty Strengths
Competing DemandsCompeting Demands– Who is doing the teaching?Who is doing the teaching?– Who is doing field?Who is doing field?– Service?Service?– Interest in expanded international programInterest in expanded international program– Interest in online programsInterest in online programs
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Assess Research CapacityAssess Research Capacity
Multiple roles for faculty-teaching, research, Multiple roles for faculty-teaching, research, liaison, serviceliaison, service
Role of studentsRole of students
Level of available external fundingLevel of available external funding– Sufficient to justify the effort?Sufficient to justify the effort?
Role of Center and associated staffRole of Center and associated staff
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Moving towards Research Moving towards Research InfrastructureInfrastructure
Research FundingResearch FundingTypes of ResearchTypes of Research– Evaluation vs ResearchEvaluation vs Research
Number and type of faculty involvement Number and type of faculty involvement Staffing—Director/Associate DirectorStaffing—Director/Associate DirectorAssociate Dean for ResearchAssociate Dean for Research
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Research Center Models Differ Research Center Models Differ
OrganizationOrganization
Relationship to School’s Administrative Relationship to School’s Administrative StructureStructure
Research Center Models DifferResearch Center Models Differ
Services offered—Pre and Post awardServices offered—Pre and Post award– Administrative/Accounting for all grantsAdministrative/Accounting for all grants– Human Subjects ReviewHuman Subjects Review– Editing/Grant writingEditing/Grant writing
Review of proposalsReview of proposals
Feedback Feedback – ConsultationConsultation– Integration of Center(s) within SchoolIntegration of Center(s) within School– Level of interdisciplinary collaborationLevel of interdisciplinary collaboration– DisseminationDissemination
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Types of Infrastructure Types of Infrastructure AssistanceAssistance
Grant writingGrant writingLibrary of grantsLibrary of grantsSpaceSpaceTraining/funding for consultation on Training/funding for consultation on
grants/methodology, etc.grants/methodology, etc.Pre and Post awardPre and Post award IRBIRBGrant review processGrant review process Indirect returnIndirect return
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Issues for Research ProgramsIssues for Research Programs
Administrative StructureAdministrative Structure
Funding sourcesFunding sources
Overhead CostsOverhead Costs
Supporting Research infrastructureSupporting Research infrastructure
Involving graduate studentsInvolving graduate students
Responding to requests from communityResponding to requests from community
SpaceSpace
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Issues for Research ProgramsIssues for Research Programs
Appropriate attention to expertise on specific populationsAppropriate attention to expertise on specific populations
Culturally competent researchCulturally competent research
Interdisciplinary researchInterdisciplinary research
New staff needs: BiostatisticianNew staff needs: Biostatistician
Grants specialistsGrants specialists
Balancing teaching and researchBalancing teaching and research
Publication of findingsPublication of findings
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Next steps for considerationNext steps for consideration
Current funding Current funding – What happens when grants end?What happens when grants end?
– # ending in 2010# ending in 2010– # ending in 2011# ending in 2011
Impact on SchoolImpact on School
– Whose funded and who is not?Whose funded and who is not?
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Questions for DiscussionQuestions for Discussion
In what ways, if any has the School’s focus on externally In what ways, if any has the School’s focus on externally funded research enriched or hindered its educational funded research enriched or hindered its educational programs?programs?– If so, in what ways? If so, in what ways? – If so, to what extent?If so, to what extent?
In what ways, if any, has the School’s focus on externally In what ways, if any, has the School’s focus on externally funded research enriched or hindered its service funded research enriched or hindered its service mission?mission?– If so, in what ways? If so, in what ways? – If so, to what extent?If so, to what extent?
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Impact on educational Impact on educational ProgramsPrograms
EnrichedEnriched HinderedHindered
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Impact on Service MissionImpact on Service Mission
EnrichedEnriched HinderedHindered
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Questions for DiscussionQuestions for Discussion
What is the culture of research in your What is the culture of research in your program? program?
What are biggest challenges to writing What are biggest challenges to writing proposals and managing projects?proposals and managing projects?
What would be the most efficient and What would be the most efficient and effective administrative structure for effective administrative structure for research within your social work research within your social work program? program?
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Questions for DiscussionQuestions for Discussion
What steps have been taken to What steps have been taken to increase collaboration with community increase collaboration with community partners?partners?
What other steps can be taken? What other steps can be taken? What are biggest challenges in getting What are biggest challenges in getting
