Evidence-based practice (EBP) has refocused social work practice and education. The current social work literature, and that of allied professions, includes very little discussion of assessment in EBP in direct practice. The authors argue that assessment is the hidden foundation on which EBP efforts are based, and that assessment in social work practice includes many important decisions that shape and orient it. Pivotal issues in assessment and in social work assessment practices are explored, addressing variation across agencies, clients, and practitioners. Without a thorough and wide-ranging assessment, including the active participation of the client(s), EBP efforts may be misdirected or less than optimally effective. Assessment is the actual foundation of EBP and warrants much greater attention in scholarship, education, and professional advocacy.
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