Creating and Sustaining a Practice-Based Research Group in an Urban Adolescent Mental Health Program

Summary

This article describes the initiation, implementation, and accomplishments of a practice-based research group within a mental health program serving inner-city adolescents. Begun in 1995 and co-led by a program manager and a clinical social work practitioner, the group fosters and supports practitioner-driven research projects as part of a “reflective” organizational development strategy.

Key Words:

• Practice-based research
• practitioner research
• practice wisdom
• reflective practice
• innovation
• adolescent