A Proposed Framework Based on the Evidence-Based Practice Model for Developing the Professional Skills of Social Workers in the School Setting: An Applied Study on Public Schools in the West Bank

Abstract

The study aimed to propose a framework based on the evidence-based professional practice model to develop the skills of school social workers in Palestinian public schools. The descriptive analytical approach was employed, and the study sample con-sisted of )276( counselors representing social workers working in public schools, The study sample was selected using a proportionate stratified random sampling method ac-cording to geographical regions (north, center, and south). Four subscales were used to measure social workers’ level of knowledge about evidence-based practice, the chal-lenges they face, the ways to overcome them, and their level of skills in applying the model’s steps. The results revealed that the level of skills in applying the steps of evi-dence-based professional practice was moderate. No statistically significant differences were found that could be attributed to gender, specialization, years of experience, or directorate, while differences appeared in favor of those holding a master’s degree or higher. Based on the results, the study recommended adopting the evidence-based pro-fessional practice model as a framework for developing the professional performance of social workers in public schools, integrating its concepts into preparation and training programs, and strengthening the partnership between the Ministry of Education and Palestinian universities to provide specialized field training that enables social workers to enhance their professional skills.