Critical Variables for Infusing Community Content into a Clinical Program

ABSTRACT

This empirical study seeks to identify effective methods for infusing community material into a clinical social work program. It draws from Diffusion of Innovation Theory (Rogers, 1995b) and the Transtheoretical Model (Prochaska, DiClemente, &Norcross, 1992) to guide implementation. Based on qualitative and quantitative data from a variety of sources, the results identify variables critical in the change process and some preliminary outcomes of that change. Findings suggest that teaching community content can be enhanced through developing a pool of outside community guest speakers and field trips, addressing the varying faculty development needs of professors teaching macro and micro social work courses, and defining and redefining the concept of community during implementation and change processes.

Key Words:

• Community practice
• social work
• clinical
• implementation research
• evaluation
• curriculum design