Leading Knowledge Mobilization
in Social Work
Goal: Establish an infrastructure to develop and take the lead in
knowledge mobilization in social work
Objective: Promote mobilization of research into practice and facilitate research that is practice-driven
by fostering knowledge exchange between the Faculty and the field
- Facilitate regular seminars that integrate research and practice in an exchange of information on field and Faculty activities
- Establish a clearinghouse or knowledge exchange network to identify opportunities for collaboration, match faculty interests with field concerns, and help practitioners access faculty expertise and research findings
- Provide accessible tools and evaluation rubrics for researchers, students, and organizations to utilize in order to build community capacity
- Establish research digests to disseminate knowledge directly related to practice and policy in the field
- Prioritize the use of technology and develop innovative methods to exchange knowledge amongst faculty, practitioners and other community stakeholders
- Use a range of media to foster existing knowledge mobilization relationships and opportunities for collaboration (e.g., REACH, e-Reach, Annual Report, U of T Bulletin)
- Promote partnering with agencies in course offerings within the degree programs and Continuing Education
Context
- Knowledge mobilization means infusing research with knowledge from practitioners and service users, and respecting professional values and ethics
- Social work knowledge and research agendas are shaped by the current political and
social climate
- There is an emphasis on evidence-informed practice, cost-effective service delivery and translation of knowledge to practice and policy
- Barriers to incorporating research into policies and practice must be identified
