The emergence of new, complex social health concerns demands that the public health field strengthen its capacity to respond. Academic institutions are vital to improving the public health infrastructure. Collaborative and transdisciplinary practice competencies are increasingly viewed as key components of public health training. The social work profession, with its longstanding involvement in public health and emphasis on ecological approaches, has been a partner in many transdisciplinary community-based efforts. The more than 20 dual-degree programs in public health and social work currently offered reflect this collaborative history. This study represents an exploratory effort to evaluate the impact of these programs on the fields of public health and social work.
Methods.
This study explored motivations, perspectives, and experiences of 41 graduates from four master of social work/master of public health (MSW/MPH) programs. Four focus groups were conducted using traditional qualitative methods during 2004.
Results.
Findings suggest that MSW/MPH alumni self-selected into dual programs because of their interest in the missions, ethics, and practices of both professions. Participants highlighted the challenges and opportunities of dual professionalism, including the struggle to better define public health social work in the workplace.
Conclusions.
Implications for academic public health focus on how schools can improve MSW/MPH programs to promote transdisciplinary collaboration. Increased recognition, better coordination, and greater emphasis on marketing to prospective employers were suggested. A national evaluation of MSW/MPH graduates could strengthen the roles and contributions of public health social work to the public health infrastructure. A conceptual framework, potentially based on developmental theory, could guide this evaluation of the MSW/MPH training experience.
References
1.
GebbieKMTurnockBJ. The public health workforce, 2006: New challenges. Health Aff (Millwood)2006;25:923–33.
2.
Institute of Medicine. GebbieKMRosenstockLHernandezLM, editors. Who will keep the public healthy?Educating public health professionals for the 21st century. Washington: National Academies Press; 2003.
Association of State and Territorial Public Health Social Workers. Public health social work standards and competencies. Columbus (OH): Ohio Department of Health; 2005.
RuthBJWyattJWChiassonEGeronSBachmanS.Social work and public health: Comparing graduates from a dual-degree program. J Soc Work Educ2006;42:429–39.
7.
BethkeCRuthBJWyattJPiperT MarkhamCohenMSiscoS.Social work interest in prevention and health promotion: A content analysis of social work literature. Paper presented at: American Public Health Association 134th Annual Meeting and Exposition;2006 Nov 4–8; Boston.
8.
GibelmanM.The search for identity: Defining social work—past, present, future. Soc Work1999;44:298–310.
9.
TurnockBJ. Public health: What it is and how it works. Sudbury (MA): Jones & Bartlett Publishers; 2004.
10.
BloomM.Primary prevention overview. In: EdwardsRL, editor. Encyclopedia of social work. 19th ed. Washington: NASW Press; 1995. p. 1895–1905.
11.
CarltonTO. The public's health. Health Soc Work1988;13:242–4.
12.
DhooperSS. Social work in health care in the 21st century. Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage Publications, Inc.; 1997.
13.
PopplePRLeighningerL.Social work, social welfare and American society. 5th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon; 2002.
14.
KriegerNBirnAE. A vision of social justice as the foundation of public health: Commemorating 150 years of the spirit of 1848. Am J Public Health1998;88:1603–6.
15.
MarshJC. The social work response to violence. Soc Work2003; 48:437–8.
16.
MoroneyRM. Public health services. In: EdwardsRL, editor. Encyclopedia of social work. 19th ed. Washington: NASW Press; 1995. p. 1967–73.
17.
HooymanGSchwankeRWYesnerH.Public health social work: A training model. Soc Work Health Care1980;6:87–99.
18.
PooleDL. Public health social work: Pro bono publico. Health Soc Work1995;20:243–5.
19.
VollandPJBerkmanBSteinGVaghyA.Social work education for practice in health care: Final report. 2nd ed. New York: New York Academy of Medicine; 2000.
20.
BolenRM. Child sexual abuse: Prevention or promotion?Soc Work2003;48:174–85.
21.
JaffeeKDPerloffJD. An ecological analysis of racial differences in low birthweight: Implications for maternal and child health social work. Health Soc Work2003;28:9–22.
22.
MacMasterSA. Harm reduction: A new perspective on substance abuse services. Soc Work2004;49:356–63.
23.
RosenbergGHoldenG.Prevention: A few thoughts. Soc Work Health Care1999;28:1–11.
24.
SmithBDBrideBE. Positive impact: A community-based mental health center for people affected by HIV. Health Soc Work2004; 29:145–8.
25.
WolfMSMitchellCG. Preparing social workers to address HIV/AIDS prevention and detection: Implications for professional training and education. J Community Health2002;27:165–80.
26.
AwofesoN.What's new about the “new public health”?Am J Public Health2004;94:705–9.
27.
BrachtN, editor. Health promotion at the community level, 2: New advances. Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage Publications, Inc.; 1999.
28.
ClarkEJ. Public health social work in the 21st century: Where do we go from here?Paper presented at: Public Health Social Work in the 21st Century: A National Conference;2006 May 19; Boston.
29.
KriegerJHigginsDL. Housing and health: Time again for public health action. Am J Public Health2002;92:758–68.
30.
NorthridgeME. Building coalitions for tobacco control and prevention in the 21st century. Am J Public Health2004;94:178–80.
31.
RoggeMECombs-OrmeT.Protecting children from chemical exposure: Social work and U.S. social welfare policy. Soc Work2003; 48:439–50.
32.
FraserMWGalinskyMJRichmanJM. Risk, protection, and resilience: Toward a conceptual framework for social work practice. Soc Work Res1999;23:131–43.
33.
HawkinsJD. Science, social work and prevention: Finding the intersection. Soc Work2006;30:137–52.
34.
NanceKN. Understanding and overcoming resistance to primary prevention. Soc Work Res Abstr1982;18:32–40.
35.
PiperT MarkhamRuthBJSiscoSBethkeCBWyattJ.Public health social work in the 21st century: An innovative paradigm for health promotion and disease prevention. Paper presented at: American Public Health Association 135th Annual Meeting and Expo;2007 Nov 5; Washington. Also available from: URL: http://apha.confex.com/apha/135am/techprogram/paper_152606.htm [cited 2008Feb 28].
36.
BerkmanB.The emerging health care world: Implications for social work practice and education. Soc Work1996;41:541–51.
37.
BlackRB. Looking ahead: Social work as a core health profession. Health Soc Work1984;9:85–95.
38.
RapoportL.The concept of prevention in social work. Soc Work1961;6:3–12.
39.
VourlekisBEllKPadgettD.Educating social workers for health care's brave new world. J Social Work Educ2001;37:177–91.
40.
JensonJM. A call for social work research from the National Institutes of Health. Soc Work Res2006;30:3–5.
41.
CornetB.Integration of professional training in joint MSW/MPH programs. Paper presented at: Public Health Social Work in the 21st Century: A National Conference;2006 May 19; Boston.
42.
HowardCRJarosK.Strategies for leadership training in public health social work. Paper presented at: American Public Health Association 131st Annual Meeting;2003 Nov 18; San Francisco.
43.
CoulterMLHancockT.Integrating social work and public health education: A clinical model. Health Soc Work1989;14:157–64.
44.
McClellandRW. Joint degrees: Do they strengthen or weaken the profession?J Social Work Educ1985;21:20–6.
45.
SiefertKJayaratneSMartinLD. Implementing the public health social work forward plan: A research-based prevention curriculum for schools of social work. Health Soc Work1992;17:17–27.
46.
SiscoSFrounfelkerR.Public health social work: “what a great idea!”Paper presented at: American Public Health Association 130th Annual Meeting;2002 Nov 11; Philadelphia.
47.
PiperT MarkhamSiscoS.What makes a leader in the field of public health social work? Reflections from the empirical realm of community-based public health. Paper presented at: American Public Health Association 131st Annual Meeting;2003 Nov 18; San Francisco.
48.
DealKH. The usefulness of developmental stage models for clinical social work students: An exploratory study. The Clinical Supervisor2000;19:1–19.
49.
PerryR.The classification, intercorrelation, and dynamic nature of MSW student practice preferences. J Social Work Educ2001; 37:523–44.
50.
GlaserBGStraussAL. The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Hawthorne (NY): Aldine de Gruyter; 1967.
51.
BauerTJ. Why are we here? In: Public health concepts in social work education. 1st ed. New York: Council on Social Work Education in cooperation with the Public Health Service, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (US); 1962. p. 4.
