Soydan, Haluk

Contact Information
Associate Dean of Research
Director, Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services
USC School of Social Work
Phone: (213) 743-4774
E-mail: soydan@usc.edu

Haluk Soydan joined the USC School of Social Work in 2004 and now serves as director of the Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services. He has been professor of social work at the University of Gothenburg and Stockholm University, dean of social work at Orebro University and visiting professor at Columbia University and University of Pennsylvania. He was the research director of the Institute for Evidence-Based Social Work Practice, which is part of Sweden's National Board of Health and Welfare, for 10 years and remains a senior advisor.

His scientific publications include more than two dozen books and over 100 journal articles, and he has received awards from The Swedish Association of Textbook Writers three times. The History of Ideas in Social Work (Birmingham: Venture Press, 1999) is published in three languages. He, Sandra Wilson and Mark Lipsey received the 2003 Pro Humanitate Award for "Intellectual Integrity and Moral Courage," a meta-analysis article on what works among ethnic juvenile delinquents in the United States.

His most recent book is “Evidence-based Practice in Social Work –Development of a New Professional Culture” (together with Lawrence Palinkas, published by Routledge in 2014).

Dr. Soydan supports the movement for evidence-based research in practice internationally by having served as an invited expert to both the World Health Organization's Commission on Social Determinants of Health and to the Public Health Agency of Canada; organizer of the 2002 "Evidence-based Knowledge and Sustainable Social Development" seminar at the United Nations; scientific advisor to the What Works in Crime and Justice Panel of the Swedish National Board of Correctional Services; board member of the National Integration Office and co-founder of the International Campbell Collaboration, which he co-chaired from 2001-2007.

His research experience includes intervention studies, systematic research reviews, qualitative studies of how human services organizations work, service delivery among ethnic clients and patients and core theoretical issues in social work research. In 2004, he was honored by the Swedish Government for "Zealous and Devoted Service to the Kingdom."

Education:

• Ph.D. Uppsala University, Sweden, 1975
• B.S.S. Uppsala University, Sweden, 1971

Honors and Awards:

• Inter-University Consortium for International Social Development, Recognition of Devoted Services, 2000
• The Pro Humanitate Literary Award for Intellectual Integreity and Moral Courage, North American Resource Center for Child Welfare, 2003
• Tri-annual Award, Swedish Association for University Textbook Writers, 1998, 2001, 2004
• "For Dedication and Ardour in the Service of the Kingdom of Sweden", 6th order of the Kingdom of Sweden, 2004
• Recognition of Outstanding Service, Campbell Collaboration, 2005