Understanding the Grand Challenges for Social Work
The Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative, spearheaded by Richard P. Barth and Edwina Uehara, focuses on addressing fundamental issues in social work through the application of high-performance computing resources. This initiative aims to solve critical barriers in important health problems globally, with a strong emphasis on the developing world. The Grand Challenges deal with broad and integrative concepts related to the betterment of society, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the field of social work.
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The Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative Richard P Barth, PhD, MSW Dean of the University of Maryland School of Social Work and President of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare Edwina Uehara, PhD Dean of the University of Washington School of Social Work November 2012
Background Islandwood Meeting (hosted by USC, UW, in Coordination with Brown School, Chicago, AASWSW, SSWR) Science of Social Work discussion continued from SSWR presentation by John Brekke and convening in summer of 2011 Grand Challenges of SW discussion begun (introduced by Eddie Uehara at UW who brought the idea into the Islandwood planning process) Understanding (post-Islandwood): USC would continue to advance the Science of Social Work Initiative along with Other Islandwood Partners The American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (The Academy) would advance the Grand Challenges of Social Work Initiative (GCI)
Definitions Of Grand Challenges Some Examples: A grand challenge is a fundamental problem in science or engineering, with broad applications, whose solution would be enabled by the application of high performance computing resources that could become available in the near future. Executive Office of the President, Office of Science and Technology Policy (1989) A specific scientific or technological innovation that would remove a critical barrier to solving an important health problem in the developing world with a high likelihood of global impact and feasibility. Varmus et al., Science 2003 A grand challenge is one or more specific critical barrier(s) that, if removed, would help solve an important health problem in the developing world with a high likelihood of global impact through widespread implementation. Grand Challenges Canada (2011) 3
Grand Challenges Definition & Corollaries Grand Challenges [deal with] broad and integrative concepts such as the vulnerability of our world, the sustainability of our way of life, the betterment of civilization They have the possibility of being solvable they have the ring of things we [Engineers] can and must do. But the precise path is unclear. That makes them challenging; and their deep importance makes them grand. National Academy of Engineering (2008) A set of imperatives to which a group lays some distinctive scientific and/or professional claim; Reflecting broad, integrative problems, with deeply important societal implication; Solutions to which are "right over the horizon"--i.e., the science and the technology/strategies are imaginable. 4
Why Grand Challenges of Social Work? Communicate what is pivotal about what social work does for society Engage and enthuse students, colleagues, benefactors regarding our pursuits Create the imperative for meaningful advances in our science Clarify how advances in social work are linked to larger national interests and goals Focus the profession s research efforts on achievable albeit grand goals Bring policy and financing imperatives to bear to invest in these transformative and achievable solutions
Potential Benefits Of Adopting A Grand Challenges Platform Potential Benefits Provides focus that enables gathering of congeries of talent around important, shared, solutions-focused goals. Brings the best minds to the table can engage world-leading scientists who might not otherwise be engaged in the work Helps to build and strengthen communities of innovators communities that are collaborative, interdisciplinary, and global. Can capture the public s interest & imagination. Project teams led by world-leading scientists working to solve pressing challenges can offer compelling storylines to capture the interest of media and the public. Can garner new resources & talent organize and coalesce interest and investment Can serve as a platform for social work science diplomacy and team science : help bridge the divides between disciplines and ideologies by identifying common challenges and goals and bringing forward coordinated strategies to address societal challenges If program is successful, may contribute to attaining sustainable social impact, at scale [Adapted from Grand Challenges Canada] 6
Potential Risks Grand Challenges Ennui: Because of the significant and growing interest in the use of the Grand Challenges approach, it may be increasingly difficult to establish and differentiate individual brand entities and to keep the various brands distinct and clear. Transaction costs. As more organizations and agencies begin to implement a Grand Challenges approach to development there could be increasing transaction costs as the demand on management time and attention in each organization rises to ensure that activities and challenges are coordinated across organizations (IN OTHER WORDS CAN WE DO IT WELL ENOUGH AND FAST ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED INNOVATIVE AND RELEVANT TO MEDIA and FUNDERS?} No guarantees of success. A final risk is that because of the complexity and ambition of the challenges that are identified, there is no guarantee of success and the ROI may be low. This risk, however, is not specific to the Grand Challenges approach to innovation - it is inherent in all aspects of scientific discovery and innovation. [Adapted from Grand Challenges Canada] 7
Grand Challenges for Engineering 1. Make solar energy economical 2. Provide energy from fusion 3. Develop carbon sequestration methods 4. Manage the nitrogen cycle 5. Provide access to clean water 6. Restore and improve urban infrastructure 7. Advance health informatics 8. Engineer better medicines 9. Reverse-engineer the brain 10. Prevent nuclear terror 11. Secure cyberspace 12. Enhance virtual reality 13. Advance personalized learning 14. Engineer the tools of scientific discovery 8
Global Health (GATES) Example Suggests Grand Challenges Might Be Narrowly Defined A relatively small (n=16) set of imperatives, reflecting specific and significant bottlenecks or barriers that stand in the way of solving pressing societal problems, that are difficult but not impossible to address or overcome and If overcome, would likely to have large, societal impacts 9
Typical Grand Challenge Rationale (GATES) GRAND CHALLENGE #13 Develop Technologies that Permit Quantitative Assessment of Population Health Status Background Among the most striking recent developments in human biology are entirely novel means to measure molecular, clinical and epidemiologic aspects of human biology and the mathematical tools to analyze complex biologic data. These assays and analytic methods have the potential to alter the practice of public health in fundamental ways. Roadblock Lack of robust population health assessment technologies and methods applicable to developing countries prevents accurate assessment of the burden of injury and disease and evidence-based decisions about prioritizing scarce health resources. Challenge To develop valid, accurate, comparable, and convenient technologies and analytic methods that incorporate clinical, biological, and behavioral markers for quantitative assessment of the burden of disease and population health status as a critical input into priority setting and intervention evaluation in resource-poor settings. Potential Benefits Standardized global system for assessing population health status Accurate assessment of injury and disease prevalence and incidence Accurate assessment of morbidity and mortality Accurate quantification of preventable fraction of injury and disease Accurate algorithms to prioritize and evaluate injury and disease prevention and control interventions 10
Strategies To Delineate Grand Challenges Single influential individual(David Hilbert, Math) Small expert group guides large, public process (National Academy of Engineering, Engineering; NIMH, Global Mental Health) Public call, followed by expert group that prioritizes, winnows(Grand Challenges Canada, Health) Large expert panel for nomination, followed by small expert group (NIMH, Global Mental Health) Delphi Method NIMH relied on 422 panelists who nominated 1565 hallenges, distilled to 154 challenges, rated to arrive at top 40 challenges (put into themes), led to final selection of the top 25. 11
(GRAND CHALLENGES CANADA) GOAL GRAND CHALLENGES for CANADA (SELECTED) Goal A 1. Raise the political priority of social factors 2. Promote social integration through effective education and public engagement 3. Package compelling and valid information to foster widespread, sustained, and accurate media coverage and thereby improve awareness of social and public health impacts Raise Public Awareness of Social Factors in Health and Productivity Goal C 7. Deploy universal measures proven to reduce tobacco use and boost resources to implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 8. Increase the availability and consumption of healthy food 9. Promote lifelong physical activity 10. Better understand environmental and cultural factors that change behavior Modify Risk Factors Goal E 14. Study and address how poverty increases risk factors 15. Study and address the links between the built environment, urbanization, and chronic non-communicable disease Mitigate Health Impacts of Poverty
Illustrative Challenges Derived from John Brekke Domains of Science of Social Work THEME Grand Challenges Research Needed Reduce Marginalization Every adult has positive social connections 1. Development of community, institutional, familial, and personal interventions to increase the provision and uptake of accurate information about the widespread need and use of social work services. Develop effective interventions to reduce stigma for persons with behavioral health problems 2. Increase understanding of social determinants of poor health, education, and well- being Babies are born healthy and provided with responsive and safe parenting 1. Develop effective parenting interventions that can be used by social workers in conjunction with health-related hospital, home visiting, and clinic interventions. Develop more effective versions of parent interventions in Early Head Start and Head Start 2. Increase social factors protecting health, education, and well-being Nurturing and engaged communities and families are universally available 1. Enhanced implementation research to take best prevention services to scale. Create an array of social work interventions that help organize communities and families for better health before and after the need for acute hospital-based care. 2.
Organization of the GCI Executive Committee (GCI EC) Announced by January 2013 Board has indicated parameters of about 13 members. At least 7 are Fellows of the Academy with other members selected for a range of knowledge and skills No representatives of social work organizations, per se
Likely Strategies for Additional Input on Goals (TBD by GCI EC) The Profession s Way National Academy of Engineering s approach (many forum and much involvement or engineers on a regional basis) The Expert s Way? Gate s Foundation s Grand Challenges for Global Health relied on an international group of luminaries NIMH Grand Challenges for Global Mental Health Heavy reliance on Delphi Method A Different Way that Best Fits Social Work? Let s find it
Additional Input on Goals WHEN? GCI Executive Committee will send out the signal Some time after the SLG and SSWR Presentations in January HOW? Getting Ideas in Open Sessions NADD in March? CSWE next November? Other open sessions or testimonial sessions? AASWSW Grand Challenges website What tools should we use? (Delphi Method as per NIH?) AASWSW by email query and website
Developing the Grand Challenges Iteratively Initial Grand Challenges Selection The grandness of the challenge (e.g., how it links to other efforts to have a transformative effect) Making the case for the achievability of the challenge Clarifying the scientific path that is the starting point for future work Selecting the final challenges Final Grand Challenges Selection Separating the few best first challenges
Development of an Action Plan for Using the Grand Challenges Conference (or Panel at Another Conference) on Grand Challenges? Special issue or section of journal on the Grand Challenges Initiative? Special GCI grant announcement (need sponsoring funding partners) Social media support
Eventual Implementation of Grand Challenges Technical assistance re implementation? Training on methods that may be useful for accomplishing Grand Challenges? Evaluation (every year for 5 years)? Are the Grand Challenges attracting interest? Investment? Are scientific groups gathering around the Grand Challenges? Are steps in the translational science process being accomplished toward addressing the Grand Challenges? Is education being influenced?
GCI Vanguard Schools A few schools (USC, UW, UCB, at least) are starting their own Grand Challenges projects These are already building a process that may be of use to the GCI Some will have completed this process and have challenges articulated by spring or summer
Tentative GCI Timeline Evaluation (2-months) Is the idea of grand challenges likely to advance the work of the field and the Academy? Is the translation from math, engineering, and global health a feasible one for social work? [DONE, AASWSW Board Agrees to Pursue Grand Challenges Initiative] 4-months have Grand Challenges Executive Committee Selected by January 2013 10-months: broad input and then finish grand challenges report 2-months: Additional development of media and social media treatment (available to all Social Work portals) Announcement of GCI
Other Expected GCI Products? Peer review publication (led by Eddie Uehara) Vanguard campuses undertaking Grand Challenges efforts Grand challenges for their schools Grand challenges for the profession. Videos of people talking about the challenges and why they matter and what their approach is (heavily used by Gates Foundation and Engineers)
Questions, Comments, Recommendations?
Partial References Collins, P. Y., Vikram, P., Joestl, S. S., March, D., Insel, T., & Daar, A. S. (2011). Grand challenges in global mental health. Nature 475 (7345), 27-30. doi:10.1038/475027a. Grand Challenges Canada . (January 2011). Bold Ideas for Humanity: The Grand Challenges Approach. Toronto, CA: Author. Supplemental information http://grandchallengesgmh.nimh.nih.gov/Grand%20Challenge s%20in%20Global%20Mental%20Health%20Supplementary%2 0Information.pdf
