ABSTRACT
The need to improve the integration of research and practice has long challenged social work educators. Few doctoral research courses adequately address the social context of research, as most focus on introductory methodology, and clinical as opposed to policy applications. This paper describes how an innovative doctoral program evaluation outreach course was developed to address a problem originating in the community. The course was successful in teaching the political and ethical aspects of research, fostering a community-university team, teaching both qualitative and quantitative research skills, and providing students with a hands-on opportunity to traverse the practice-research tightrope.