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Public Health Social Work as a Unifying Framework for Social Work's Grand Challenges.
Julie A Cederbaum1, Abigail M Ross1, Betty J Ruth1
1Julie A. Cederbaum, PhD, MPH, MSW, is associate professor, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 669 W. 34th Street, MRF 222, Los Angeles, CA; e-mail: jcederba@usc.edu. Abigail M. Ross, PhD, MPH, MSW, is assistant professor, Graduate School of Social Services, Fordham University, New York. Betty J. Ruth, MPH, MSW, is clinical professor, School of Social Work, Boston University. Robert H. Keefe, PhD, ACSW, is associate professor, School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, State University of New York.
Public health social work (PHSW) offers a unifying framework for the Grand Challenges for Social Work (GCSW). This approach integrates population health principles and the social work health impact model (SWHIM) to guide practice and achieve collective goals.
Area of Science:
- Social Work
- Public Health
- Population Health
Background:
- The Grand Challenges for Social Work (GCSW), established in 2013, implicitly align with public health principles.
- A lack of a specific conceptual framework hinders the translation of GCSW from concept to practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose Public Health Social Work (PHSW) as a unifying framework for implementing the GCSW.
- To demonstrate the utility of PHSW and the Social Work Health Impact Model (SWHIM) using selected GCSW examples.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review was conducted, including published literature and online materials related to the GCSW.
- Three GCSW initiatives were analyzed: stopping family violence, eradicating social isolation, and achieving opportunity and justice.
Main Results:
- PHSW provides a structured approach to address complex social issues within the GCSW.
- The Social Work Health Impact Model (SWHIM) can be effectively integrated with PHSW for multilevel interventions.
- Focus on environmental strengthening and population-level actions is crucial for impact.
Conclusions:
- PHSW offers a robust framework to operationalize the GCSW, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
- Integrating public health, population health, and SWHIM principles enhances the potential for achieving GCSW goals.
- Addressing social determinants of health is central to both PHSW and the GCSW's objectives.