Arête, the journal of the University of South Carolina College of Social Work, is planning a special issue in 2007 on the history of social work and social welfare in the American South.

The purposes of this special issue are to enhance our understanding of how social work and social welfare have developed over time in the southern region of the United States and to advance the use of historical research in social work. Given ongoing population growth and social changes in the South, historical inquiries would help develop a better understanding of important patterns of change and continuity regarding a wide range of social, political, and economic topics. This special issue will explore the region’s historic capacity to address burgeoning social issues. In addition, this issue will bring greater attention to historiography as a research method that may inform social work practice, policy, and education, especially as scholars strive to address the enduring structural issues facing marginalized populations. Finally, this issue may spark interest in historical research and encourage its increased usage among professional social workers and educators.

Thus, this special issue of Arete seeks manuscripts that address broad areas of historical interest specific to the American South including, though not limited to: community organization and development, immigration/migration issues, health and mental health, substance abuse, delinquency, direct practice, culture, poverty, race, gender, aging, class, sexual orientation, and disabilities.

We prefer manuscripts that are empirically based but welcome a broad range of historical approaches including oral history, narrative history, and intellectual, institutional, and social history. We expect the papers to provide both descriptive and analytical histories while addressing contemporary implications for social work policy or practice.

Manuscripts, in APA format, should be no longer than 25 pages, including references. The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2006.

Manuscripts should be submitted via E-mail as attachments in Microsoft Word format to: arete@gwm.sc.edu. Please include “Special history issue” in the subject line. Inquires may be sent to the same address.

Authors who cannot submit via E-mail may submit four paper copies of their manuscript via postal mail to the following address:

ATTN: Special History Issue
Arête
College of Social Work
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208