Developing Effective Strategies for Making Your Research Useful to Policymakers through Translation and Connections

As evidenced by the Grand Challenges for Social Work, significant social problems continue to afflict our families and communities.  Addressing them successfully will require creative micro, mezzo, and macro interventions that are informed by evidence-based research. While evidence-based research is now regarded as indispensable to social work practice, only recently have policymakers begun to prioritize evidence-based solutions. Social work researchers can play a key role in helping to shape public policy in ways that ameliorate many of the negative conditions facing our society. Yet researchers and policymakers often remain in their own silos, speaking different languages. Manuscripts published by social work researchers rarely reach the attention of those in a position to influence policy. When they do, they may fail to convey important findings in a format that policymakers find accessible and persuasive.  Rarely are researchers trained to systematically shape policy outcomes.

The purpose of this Workshop, led by two individuals experienced in both research and policy practice, is to enhance the ability of social work researchers to (1) translate and package their research in ways that maximize its impact with policy audiences, (2) develop strategies to effectively communicate with policy-makers and policy influencers, and, (3) build partnerships with key stakeholders who have the skills and connections to effect policy change.  The presenters will (1) demonstrate strategies for communicating research findings to both the legislative and executive branches of government; (2) share examples of how social work research has successfully been used to influence policy outcomes, emphasizing healthy development for children and youth, and (3) provide guidance on the how advocacy organizations, coalitions, and expert workgroups use research to influence policy . They will demonstrate practical tips for translating research findings into briefs and fact sheets and will facilitate an exploration of potential partnerships between researchers and policy professionals.

Participants will have the opportunity to describe their research in policy-relevant language; volunteer to be part of research/policymaker role plays; critique briefs of research findings; and, explore steps that they can take to have their research influence policymakers. Time will be reserved for discussion.