Grand Challenges for Social Work Roundtable Western Consortium for the Grand ChallengesÃÃÆ

In January 2016, the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare launched the 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work. During the initial years of this important initiative, the leads have been primarily at larger research-intensive universities. However, for schools that are smaller, often with tighter fiscal parameters—with a more balanced research-teaching mission or primarily teaching and service mission—their roles in the initiative have not been well defined. These programs, together with community practitioners, have significant and vital roles to play for the full implementation of the Grand Challenges, bringing an essential array of fresh perspectives. To strengthen the impact of these individual stakeholders, members of the Grand Challenges for Social Work leadership have developed a replicable consortium model. The Western Consortium for the Grand Challenges serves as a regional collaboration working together, leveraging talent and resources, to address shared concerns in their region. The Consortium identifies strategies for responding to regional issues and implements creative initiatives involving teaching innovation, translational and implementation science, curricular infusion of the Grand Challenges, new community practices in the field, scholarly professional learning networks, and fresh concepts of community service.

In 2016, the University of Washington, the University of Southern California, and Portland State University led the formation of a Western Social Work Consortium comprised of approximately 61 accredited departments and schools in the western United States. In 2019, the Western Consortium was led by Colorado State University and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. This roundtable will explore the development of this consortium model and outcomes from its 2019 conference, including strategies for collaboration, curriculum development, engaging the community, developing practice-based research networks, and innovations from the field for tackling the 12 Grand Challenges.