The Social Welfare Group

Our Mission

The SWCG prepares, updates, and disseminates high-quality systematic reviews that help people make well-informed decisions about the effects of interventions in social welfare, health, and social justice.

Objectives

  • Develop and cultivate a diverse international network of individuals who will contribute to and promote the production of systematic reviews in social welfare
  • Foster collaboration in the production of high-quality systematic reviews
  • Develop and maintain an editorial base; i.e., a group of experts who will critique draft protocols and reviews
  • Determine whether titles, protocols, and reviews meet C2 criteria
  • Submit accepted titles, protocols, and reviews for publication in C2-RIPE
  • Develop and maintain a specialized register of studies that are relevant for systematic reviews in social welfare
  • Provide feedback, support, and technical assistance to review teams

Scope

We use the term “social welfare” in its broadest sense to include a wide range of interventions (programs, policies, and practices) aimed at preventing psychosocial and behavioral problems; improving human functioning, well-being, and living conditions; and treating established conditions and problems. Relevant interventions may target individuals, families, groups, organizations, or communities. The scope of the SWCG includes but is not limited to:

  • Income maintenance
  • Labor force participation (e.g., employment training, job placement)
  • Child care
  • Parent education
  • Parent/family support
  • Child protection and child welfare
  • Individual, couple, family, and group therapies
  • Skills training (e.g., anger management, problem solving, negotiation)
  • Mental health
  • Behavioral health
  • Substance abuse treatment
  • Respite care
  • Foster care
  • Adoption/guardianship
  • Residential treatment
  • Hospital care
  • Gerentology
  • Casework and case management
  • Housing
  • Social networks
  • Advocacy
  • Mediation
  • Recreation
  • Community development
  • Organizational development
  • Inter-organizational relations

These interests may overlap with those of the C2 Education Coordinating Group, the C2 Crime & Justice Group, and several Cochrane review groups, such as the jointly-registered (Cochrane and Campbell) Developmental, Psychosocial, and Learning Problems Review Group. Co-registration of specific review titles is possible.