Research Informed Practice/Policy (RIP) Paper

Instructions

Students will demonstrate their ability to professionally gather, consider, and apply academic

research to a social work field of practice.

1. Choose a local agency, group, or system working in the child welfare field.

2. Using the research gathered (specifically best practices/diversity/ justice/policy sections) offer 3 practice or policy recommendations for the local agency, group or system you selected. (Example: Based on the research evidence (fill in the blank here–refer to specific evidence, don’t just say “research evidence”, Communities in Schools should consider implementing BLANK Program, using BLANK curriculum in their small groups, and lobbying for H.B. BLANK in the Texas Legislature.)

3. Document the rationale and evidence of effectiveness for each of the proposed recommendations using academic literature (Your recommendations should not be your opinions and if you do not include the academic/research support it is unlikely that anyone would take your proposal seriously.)

4. The proposed recommendation paper should not exceed 2 pages (double-spaced). Community leaders often need brief, readable, yet persuasive proposals, so this is good practice for work in the field!