Integrating Education, Research, and Practice in Gerontological Social Work: Lessons Learned From the Reclaiming Joy Peer Support Program

Abstract

The practice-to-research gap has been attributed to many factors, including differing goals and priorities, differing knowledge bases and skill sets, and lack of recognition of limits of agency and community resources. Although many scholars have called for more collaboration between educators, researchers, and practitioners, these challenges can make collaboration difficult. The authors illustrate how the application of the strengths perspective, by acknowledging and building on the strengths and goals of researchers, practitioners, and educators, can help to mitigate some of the barriers that contribute to the research–-practice gap and to create more relevant research. The Reclaiming Joy Peer Support Program is offered as a case study in gerontological social work to demonstrate how the strengths perspective can be applied in a real-life research setting.

KEYWORDS:

• community-academic partnerships
• gerontological social work
• academic gerontology
• area agency on aging
• case study
• collaboration
• geriatric education