Edward R. Canda is being recognized for his prolific and trailblazing work researching the role of religion and spirituality in human development and coping across the lifespan. Beginning in 1980 Canda sought to address the absence of content on religion and spirituality in social work curricula and in the research literature. His MSW and doctoral work focused on understanding the topic, and his life’s work has been devoted to refining and developing a framework for spiritually sensitive and culturally appropriate social work. Most of his career has been dedicated to building a knowledge base to enhance social work’s understanding of spirituality across cultures and nations, and he has helped the profession recognize that how an individual, family, or community views and embodies life’s meaning is important in social work practice.
Award: Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award
Citation: Edward R. Canda is being recognized for his prolific and trailblazing work researching the role of religion and spirituality in human development and coping across the lifespan.