Pathways for Public Impact: Utilizing Engaged Scholarship for Translating Systemic Family Therapy Research to Policy and Practice

Abstract

This article describes three systemic family therapy research programs that seek to influence government policies and institutional practices for improving equitable access to services across culturally diverse communities in the United States of America, South Asia, and East Africa. The programs described in these contexts represent culturally responsive and engaged training approaches with professionals in underserved communities, global mental healthcare access, and family therapy with LGBTQ youth. Engaged scholarship is utilized as a paradigm for anchoring the varied programs and their impact on policy and practice. The authors describe their unique academic journeys as engaged family therapy scholars who view marrying research to policy as an intentional good. The authors conclude with several calls, including centering the voices of the community, formulating research questions for community impact, producing and rewarding public scholarship, and embodying humility as an engaged scholar.