CALL FOR PAPERS
Special Focus: Revisiting Risk and Resilience

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For this special focus, Families in Society is soliciting manuscripts, essays, and case studies on the topic of risk and resilience. In particular, contributions from the field are sought that address whether or not changes are needed in the current practice paradigm.

Can we benefit from bringing knowledge from other fields and folding it into our own work? Have the basic assumptions of client risk and resiliency practice changed, and, if not, is it necessary to revisit those tenets and make our thoughts more sophisticated? Are there more subtle internal and external factors and resources that influence the level of resilience in clients?

Papers based on research, practice, or theory are welcome, and should clearly address the practical applications of the information they provide. Manuscripts should be 16-20 pages in length; essays, field notes, or research briefs should not exceed 14 pages.

Manuscript file(s) should be submitted to Manuscripts@FamiliesInSociety.org by January 16, 2009 (no exceptions). All submissions will be peer reviewed for acceptance, acceptance contingent upon timely and necessary changes, or rejection.

Questions may be addressed to the editor of the journal by sending an e-mail to Editor@FamiliesInSociety.org. 

Instructions for submitting manuscripts can be found online at www.FamiliesInSociety.org/Writing.asp.

Sample questions and issues:

• Are particular attributes or characteristics of working relationships more helpful than others in helping people cope with risk factors? Can social workers enhance their working relationships such that clients are more likely to be resilient as a result? In other words, can we strengthen clients’ resilience?

• Does age factor into our capacity for becoming resilient or fostering resilience in others?

• Are there particular adversities or risks that overpower human capacities for resilience?

• How can we work effectively with families (et al.) to increase resilience in children?

• Are policy implications arising from research on resilience?

• If resilience can be prompted or strengthened by supportive human relationships, can social workers be educated/trained to bolster client capacity for resilience?

• Can the capacity for resilience in social work students be improved by supportive student–teacher interactions and modeling? Is there merit in going beyond teaching about resilience to modeling interactions and ways of relating that promote resilience?