As the recipient
of the 2006 BPD Summer Policy Fellowship, I am excited to write about my summer experience in Washington D.C.
and working at the Institute for Advancement of Social Work Research (IASWR). IASWR
helps connect social work research and practice and builds relationships with the research community to promote the importance
of social work research. While at IASWR I was exposed to a variety of experiences on a national level from representing IASWR
at conferences to gathering information about issues that affect social workers.
Two of the conferences I attended were the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
(OBSSR) 10th Anniversary Conference and a policy conference hosted by the Virginia Commonwealth University. For me, one of the most valuable outcomes of these conferences was that I connected with professors and
other social work professionals. They served as helpful resources to education and career paths I may want to pursue in the
future. For example, while at the OBSSR conference I spoke with professors from
universities and learned of dual degree programs offering a master’s in social work combined with other degrees such
as law or public health. Speaking with these professors and other professionals
interested in behavior and social science research I also learned about different research and outreach opportunities available
while going to graduate school.
At the OBSSR and policy conferences I gained a familiarity with the academic world and
the new research completed that will help improve services to individuals both on macro and micro levels. Attending these
conferences helped to reinforce the important role IASWR plays in both the social work and research communities. For example, the extensive research compiled about AIDS prevention programs or ways to treat childhood
depression is not beneficial if this information is not put to use by relaying to practitioners and policy makers. Along with conferences I also sat in on briefings on Capitol Hill, legislative committee meetings and a
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) national advisory board meeting, all broadening my experiences
with government and human service issues.
Along with my experience representing IASWR at conferences and meetings I contributed to
the work at the office. NASW contracts with IASWR to compile research pages for the NASW website (http://www.socialworkers.org/research/default.asp)
and I worked on a page about adoption. For NASW’s Government Relation’s
Office, I helped with an analysis of previous Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) regulations and new regulations
under the Deficit Reduction Act. I assisted IASWR in collaboration with NASW on the initial steps in moving forward the Social
Work Reinvestment Initiative. Working on all of these projects showed me the
different capacities in which social workers serve individuals as well as the profession.
Living in Washington DC and working at IASWR allowed me to better understand policy work on a national level, the importance
of social work research and practice, and the differences between living in a big city such as DC versus Cedar Falls, Iowa where I grew up. Washington DC contains more diversity in terms of people from different backgrounds
and in terms of the variety of things to do. Living in a larger city helped me to have a better understanding of another way
of life and the benefits and challenges that go along with living in a big city. Working in DC also allowed me to connect
with people in the social work profession and related fields. I was fortunate
to receive the BPD fellowship that introduced me to IASWR (www.iaswresearch.org) and the services it provides to connect research and practice. I greatly appreciate
the education and supervision from the staff at both IASWR and supervision from the staff at both IASWR and NASW.
