Evaluation as an Imperative for Social Services Preservation: A Challenge to the Department of Veterans Affairs

Abstract

Throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), the largest single employer of professional social workers, there is increasing demand for clinicians to be accountable for the outcomes of client intervention. This article discusses how issues of accountability threaten the leadership role of the social work profession in the DVA extended care services continuum. Many innovations are needed to prepare direct services staff with the research skills they need to complete practice assessments and program evaluations. One project—the development of a research partnership between the doctoral social work program at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and the Colmery-O'Neil DVA Medical Center—is analyzed to highlight system obstacles and administrative approaches that can reduce barriers between the academic and practice sectors. Examples of fiscal and personnel resources use are included as research partnership strategies of relevance to other schools and to DVA medical centers.