This text is part of the special Social Work section
For several decades, social work research has occupied a growing and diversified place in university establishments. Work that has an impact both on the training of professionals in the field and on practices aimed at better serving the population.
Around ten educational establishments in Quebec have a social work department. “The studies are quite varied. There are many that are financed by research funds,” indicates Nathalie Delli-Colli, full professor and director of the School of Social Work at the University of Sherbrooke.
It’s at the turn of the 21ste century that research began to gain momentum in the province, says Henri Dorvil, full professor at the School of Social Work at the University of Quebec in Montreal. “For a long time, social workers were seen as executors, people who put theories invented by others into practice,” he recalls.
But the growing number of graduate students has enabled the development of research in French in the field. “There is scientific production that has come from social workers. That’s the big news,” he emphasizes.
Concrete benefits
The conclusions of various social work studies have made it possible to better demystify certain problems and to develop new practices in the field. Mental health, domestic violence, homelessness, rights of LGBTQ+ communities, Indigenous people, racialized populations… “Some researchers have put the magnifying glass on phenomena that we look at less. And that guides the intervention that we will do next,” notes Marie-Hélène Morin, social worker and professor of social work at the University of Quebec in Rimouski.
This academic work also gives a voice to the most vulnerable populations. “Often, in social research, we are interested in the point of view of people we hear less about,” underlines the woman who is co-holder of the Interdisciplinary Research Chair on Health and Social Services for Rural Populations.
Certain studies also make it possible to improve public policies, believes Mme Delli-Colli. She cites, for example, the progress on close assistance that took place between 2018 and 2022, when Marguerite Blais held the position of Minister responsible for Seniors.
New discoveries in social work are sometimes made in an interdisciplinary way, with experts from other fields, she adds. Thus, this specialist in population aging regularly has occupational therapists, doctors and nurses as colleagues. “It’s not research in isolation only by and for social work,” she emphasizes.
Several challenges
Even if the research is increasingly varied, certain problems remain, particularly with regard to the development of lasting solutions. “We are not in a field where researchers are going to make a profit with their inventions. Our results are significant for the population, but they are perhaps less tangible, less concrete,” specifies M.me Delli-Colli.
The lack of labor and the dire needs of the population are also a challenge to overcome. “Sometimes, there can be a gap between environments, which require more immediate responses, and a project where we will have results in 18 or 24 months,” she says.
Reaching certain vulnerable populations also requires experts to be creative. “We will not use the same type of information collection method with people experiencing homelessness as with caregivers,” illustrates Marie-Hélène Morin. She cites as an example the distrust of certain families who have received youth protection services. “The researchers make sure to work in close collaboration with these families and highlight the fact that they are going to give them a voice,” she specifies.
The question of financing remains crucial in order to pursue innovations, she adds. The funds not only help pay the costs associated with data collection, but also hire qualified staff. “When it’s former social workers who do research interviews, there’s a depth that you don’t get otherwise,” emphasizes M.me Morin.
Mme Delli-Colli also hopes that the next Estates General of Social Work, which will take place in April, will allow ample room for ongoing research. According to her, research is one of the levers leading to the creation and identification of new solutions.
According to Mme Morin, this event will be a “great key to nourishing reflections”. “There really is a breeding ground for innovation. I hope that what is happening in research now will inspire recommendations. »
Adapting your practices to discriminated groups
Improving policy and the profession
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.