Aims and Scope

Advancing translational research in social work scholarship, Families in Society focuses on micro and macro practice that fosters whole-person well-being and helps individuals, families, and communities to thrive. Examined are the biopsychosocial and systemic factors that affect functioning, health, equity, and opportunity across the lifespan, with areas of inquiry that include analysis, theory, and investigation; quantitative and qualitative studies; direct-practice issues; and innovation in service delivery and agency management. Content might be explanatory, instructive, reflective, or provocative.

Published by SAGE Publishing in partnership with Social Current (formerly Alliance for Strong Families and Communities), the journal prioritizes research that should be accessible and applicable to all who wish to co-create positive change with and for children, youth, and adults everywhere. Practical knowledge should ideally increase the effectiveness of program development and evaluation, professional learning, and performance quality improvement.

The journal is receptive to many forms of inquiry including quantitative and qualitative. Beyond the relevance of the study itself, a major criterion for publication is the study’s applicability to practice and policy concerns and its accessibility to a variety of professionals in the social work field and related disciplines. Examples might include:

Issues in family and community social work, such as innovation in an outcomes-to-impact approach to working with families, elevating prevention in ecological practice, evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence paradigms, and culturally responsive practice and policy.
Service delivery, systems, and participant engagement. Topics related to the delivery of services are also relevant, such as person and family-centric programming, community engagement, training and supervision trends, legal and ethical issues, program evaluation and performance measures, policy development, technology associated with practice, and interdisciplinary and interagency practice.
Making practice better. Of particular interest are critical examinations on the state of the art, the strengths and challenges of professional practice, the adequacy of formal education, the limitations of social policy, ethics, and future needs. How can a true integration of data, theory, and practice—i.e., translational knowledge—be achieved?