40 YEARS OF PROGRESS TOWARD EMPIRICAL CLINICAL-PRACTICE

In the premier issue of Social Work, Preston and Mudd (1956) noted fou r major obstacles to conducting research on the outcomes of social wor k practice: (1) the lack of reliable and valid outcome measures, (2) t he lock of practical research designs, (3) the lack of well-procedural ized and replicable social work treatments, and (4) the lack of approp riately trained practitioner-scientists. The post four decades have se en considerable progress made in each of these areas. An empirical cli nical science of social work practice is now developing. Scientific an d practice advances within the profession promoting empirical clinical practice are being aided by progressive ethical views regarding clien ts' rights to effective treatment and by evolving reimbursement standa rds promulgated by managed care companies and third-party vendors.