Social Work and Social Policy: Advances in Theory and Practice
A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Policy and Welfare".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 492
Special Issue Editors
Interests: reparations; social justice; health disparities
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In an era marked by challenges to historical truths, erasure, and censorship, the roles of social work and social policy are increasingly critical. The aim of this Special Issue is to illuminate the dynamic relationship between social work practice and policy, emphasizing the theoretical advancements and practice applications that shape contemporary service delivery. Understanding what works in promoting well-being is essential. We invite contributions that examine how social work influences policy and how policy, in turn, can empower practice to enhance outcomes for individuals, institutions, and communities, especially those historically marginalized or made vulnerable by systemic inequities. We seek to enhance our collective knowledge to create the appropriate conditions that foster the elevation and transformation of contemporary service delivery.
Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- The role of social work in advocating for equitable policy development and reform.
- Innovative theoretical frameworks addressing contemporary challenges (e.g., globalization, immigration, technological advances, climate, and environmental justice, diversity and inclusion backlash).
- Policy practice approaches promoting social justice, equity, and systemic transformation.
- Strategies for building institutional and community partnerships to support vulnerable populations.
- Interdisciplinary collaborations to enhance outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.
Submission Guidelines
We welcome a diverse range of scholarly contributions, including:
- Empirical research (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods).
- Conceptual and theoretical papers.
- Policy analyses and case studies.
- Systemic reviews.
Dr. Cathy McElderry
Dr. Charnetta Gadling-Cole
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Social Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- social policy
- policy development
- policy reform
- social work practice
- equity
- service delivery
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