Graduates of the program are competent in each of these domains, and they are able to use their highly developed research skills to enhance the effectiveness of their practice and to use their advanced intervention skills to inform the research questions they pursue. Just as the roles of scientist and practitioner are mutually enhancing, we believe the role of advocate strengthens our work in both science and practice, and is strengthened by the two traditional elements. The intersection of practice and advocacy involves moving outside the treatment setting to advocate for clients’ needs with policy makers and those who control resources. This involves facilitating change at an organizational or systemic level. In the treatment setting, the model calls for working with clients to find their own voice and, if they choose, to help clients develop the tools to advocate for themselves. The intersection of research and advocacy emphasizes that rigorous research is one of the most effective ways to serve as an advocate. The empirical tools of needs assessment, program development, and program evaluation serve as powerful means to help large numbers of clients. Advocacy goals can become the foundation for a systematic program of research. Rigorous epidemiological studies can be a persuasive means of documenting social problems and suggesting possible solutions. In this way, science becomes an act of advocacy in the best traditions of social action research.
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For a description of individual faculty members’ research and abstracts of recent publications, click on the faculty member’s name.