NAPD 2021 Women's Virtual Conference

In light of the ongoing need for research access and of Maryland’s change to the Daubert standard, the Maryland OPD Social Work Division established a Research Development Team (RDT).  Research is often incorporated in psychosocial evaluations and discussed during testimony, so it is essential and ethically necessary to use appropriate research.  RDT is responsible for creating an internal research database, teaching research skills, critically evaluating peer-reviewed research, and sharing that research through monthly research presentations. The goal is to equip our social workers with current knowledge and to reinforce critical thinking skills in order to strengthen our expertise.  This presentation will discuss how RDT was built, what RDT has provided, and what benefits it has brought for the division.