Social Work Toolkit
Key Resources
Databases
Social Work Focus
- PsycInfo This link opens in a new windowAcademic, research, and practice literature in psychology and related disciplines, 1872 to present.
- Social Services Abstracts This link opens in a new windowArticles on social work, community development, and related topics.
- Social Work Abstracts This link opens in a new windowJournal articles in social work and social welfare.
Additional Databases
- Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new windowScholarly articles and general interest sources in all fields.
- Access World News This link opens in a new window
Regional, national, and international newspapers, 1980's-present.
- America: History & Life with Full Text This link opens in a new windowScholarly articles on American and Canadian history
- CINAHL Complete This link opens in a new windowLiterature in nursing and allied health disciplines, 1937 to present.
- Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full-Text This link opens in a new windowPublications in criminology and related disciplines; international in scope.
- ERIC (EBSCO) This link opens in a new windowEducation-related literature, from pre-K through adult education.
- Gale OneFile: LegalTrac This link opens in a new windowLaw reviews and other articles covering legal issues
- PAIS Index This link opens in a new windowSocial and public policy literature from periodicals, government documents, books, and other sources.
- SAGE Research Methods Online (SRM) This link opens in a new window
Articles, books, case studies, datasets, and video covering the practices of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research methodologies. Expanded trial access to additional modules ends June 30, 2025.
- Sociological Abstracts This link opens in a new window
Journal articles in the field of sociology, including international literature and other related disciplines.
- Web of Science This link opens in a new windowCitation index for the sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities.
Specialty Databases
- Alcohol Studies DatabaseAlcohol and drug abuse literature maintained by Rutgers University Center of Alcohol Studies.
- National Criminal Justice Reference ServiceCriminal and juvenile justice literature maintained by the US Department of Justice.
- Campbell Systematic Reviews This link opens in a new windowDatabase of systematic reviews of the effects of social interventions in crime & justice, education, international development, and social welfare.
- PsycTests This link opens in a new windowPsychological tests, measures, scales, surveys, and other assessments.
- PTSDpubs This link opens in a new windowCitations to worldwide literature on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health consequences of traumatic events
Videos
- Counseling & Therapy in Video This link opens in a new windowCollection of video for the study of counseling in social work, psychotherapy, psychology, and psychiatry. Includes sessions and demonstrations, consultations, lectures, presentations, and interviews.
- Ethnographic Video Online This link opens in a new windowCollection of classic and contemporary ethnographic documentaries
- Filmakers Library Online This link opens in a new windowA collection of award-winning documentaries in the humanities and social-sciences.
- LGBT Studies This link opens in a new windowFilms, documentaries, interviews, and archival footage exploring LGBT topics.
Online Journals
- Child & Family Social Work1997 to present
- Clinical Social Work Journal01/01/1997 to present
- International Social Work01/01/1999 to present
- Journal of Social Work04/01/2001 to present
- International Journal of Social Work Values and EthicsFall 2004 to present
- Qualitative Social Work03/01/2002 to present
Policy Resources
Literature Review Sources
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) ReportsLarge database of reports on Health Care, Social Welfare and Housing, Education, Immigration, Veterans and more.
- Health Policy: Resources for Congressional StaffEveryCRSReport.com: Great starting point for laws, agencies, budgets.
Laws & Regulations
- Congress.gov
Current Congressional activities, including full text U.S. House and Senate bills, committee information and details of the legislative process. - Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
- Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
Policy Organizations
- APHA (American Public Health Association) Policy Database
Policy statements from 1948 onward. - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Non-partisan research and policy institute working on federal and state fiscal policies and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income Americans. - Follow the Money
The National Institute on Money in State Politics provides this "free, nonpartisan, verifiable archive of contributions to political campaigns in all 50 states," with an extensive range of searchable data and reports. - Influencing Social Policy
ISP is a nonprofit organization helping to prepare social work practitioners and students for an active role in shaping the social policies that impact their clients and communities. - Kaiser Family Foundation
KFF tracks trends in all areas of the national health landscape, many of which can impact Washington state. They offer alerts and in-depth analysis on a number of health policy topics. - Social Work Policy Institute
SWPI examines issues that relate to the work of social workers.
- APHA (American Public Health Association) Policy Database
Policy statements from 1948 onward. - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Non-partisan research and policy institute working on federal and state fiscal policies and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income Americans. - Follow the Money
The National Institute on Money in State Politics provides this "free, nonpartisan, verifiable archive of contributions to political campaigns in all 50 states", with an extensive range of searchable data and reports. - Influencing Social Policy
ISP is a nonprofit organization helping to prepare social work practitioners and students for an active role in shaping the social policies that impact their clients and communities. - Kaiser Family Foundation
KFF tracks trends in all areas of the national health landscape, many of which can impact Washington state. They offer alerts and in-depth analysis on a number of health policy topics. - Social Work Policy Institute
SWPI examines issues that relate to the work of social workers.
Research Tools
- Measurement Tools
Instruments used by researchers and practitioners to aid in the assessment or evaluation of subjects, clients or patients. The instruments are used to measure or collect data on a variety of variables ranging from physical functioning to psychosocial wellbeing. Types of measurement tools include scales, indexes, surveys, interviews, and informal observations. - Qualitative Research
Tips and information to guide you in your search for qualitative research articles through databases, such as PubMed and CINAHL. - Finding drug information
This guide provides background information about selected web-based drug information resources that can be used to answer specific questions you might have about medications, both prescription and over-the-counter as well as dietary supplements and herbals. - How do I...?
Common research & library tasks in short video tutorials and links to other help guides.
Writing Support
- Citation Management ToolsComparison of three free citation management tools. A citation manager will make keeping track of your research easier and make citing your sources a breeze.
- HSL Writer's GuideWriter's guide for health sciences researchers.
- Social Work Writing SupportOnline and in-person sessions available
- Odegaard Writing & Research Center (OWRC)OWRC offers both in-person and virtual writing support.
- Research CommonsWriting, citation management, data and funding services for graduate students in the Suzzallo-Allen Library
Statistics
- Federal Data: Alternative AccessUW Libraries guide with alternative access points for federal data that has been removed from official sources.
- Explore Census DataTable and maps for the U.S., states, counties, cities, towns, and American Indian reservations.
- CDC WonderProvides access to an array of public health information from the Centers for Disease Control.
- Data USA This link opens in a new windowThe most comprehensive visualization of public U.S. Government data. Data USA provides an open, easy-to-use search and visualization platform that turns data into knowledge.
- Health People Data 2030: Social Determinants of Health Literature SummariesThe Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Literature Summaries provide a snapshot of the latest research related to specific social determinants of health.
- King County Health Statistics and DataRegular, updated data focused on King County population-level health outcomes and social factors that impact health (e.g., housing)
- National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports (AHRQ)The NHQDR provides a unique set of AHRQ data tools to assist in focusing efforts on identifying areas for improvement in the delivery of healthcare in the United States.
- PolicyMap This link opens in a new windowOnline mapping with data on demographics, real estate, health, jobs and more in communities across the United States
- Sage Data This link opens in a new windowSocial-science data and statistics from a variety of sources.
- Social Explorer This link opens in a new windowMaps and reports based on U.S. Census and other data sources, 1790 to present.
- Statistical Abstract of the United StatesContains statistical tables and charts on the social, political, and economic organization of the U.S.
- World Bank DataFind profiles, topic and data by source and indicator for countries around the globe.
HSL & UW Libraries Guides
Alumni Resources
- HEALWALicensed social worker in Washington State can access HEALWA, an on-call library of resources with current, authoritative clinical information and educational resources (e.g., MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane, etc.). Access is paid through licensing fees.
- UW Alumni AssociationJoin the UW Alumni Association to get a free Borrowing Card and access to EBSCO Academic Search Alumni Edition. To learn more, visit UW Alumni Association Member Borrowing Cards and Privileges.
Librarian
Leah DeSantis, MLIS
Social Work and Research Impact Librarian