Implementation and Evaluation of a Social Justice Education Framework in Social Work Education

Social justice is a long-standing value and principle in the profession of social work. It is a central component of social work education, yet we have no body of science regarding social justice education or its practical application to the world in which social work students prepare to work. This workshop addresses this gap and introduces The Social Justice Education Framework (Framework) as a model for social work curriculum and practice, along with the evaluation of social justice education’s impact on students. The Framework moves social justice from an abstract and philosophical concept into the concrete application to social work curriculum and into real life social work practice, policy, and research. Its application challenges the teacher and student and it has the potential to permeate thinking about future events and issues from a social justice perspective. The Social Justice Education Framework provides educators and students with the means to study current and past events and their linkages to one another and the future through a critical, inclusive, multicultural and multidisciplinary perspective. This interactive workshop will cover all five components of the Framework. These include (1) content mastery of information, (2) tools for critical analysis (especially systems of oppression, power and the status quo), (3) multicultural group dynamics of students and faculty considered within the context of intersectionality, (4) personal reflection by students, and (5) tools for action and social change. Each curriculum component is a focus for evaluation independently and collectively. Application of each of the components of the Framework across the social work professional curriculum (HBSE, Research, Policy and Practice) will be presented. Examples of the utilization and evaluation of the Social Justice Education Framework across the areas of the social work curriculum by the presenters will be provided. Following this, participants will select an area and be guided through how to apply and evaluate the effectiveness of the Framework in their own work. The workshop will conclude with identification of ways for expanded implementation and evaluation in coursework with attention given to potential barriers and how to overcome them.