Introduction and Update on the Grand Challenges

This chapter reflects on the process and progress that brought the Grand Challenges for Social Work to the midway mark of an ambitious ten-year initiative. Critical partnerships and support enabled the initiative to expand its reach and impact on the field. Responding to early critiques of the original selection and development of the Grand Challenges, the initiative added the Grand Challenge to Eliminate Racism and strategically examines the intersection of gender inequality with each challenge by mainstreaming gender throughout the GCSW. Progress in education, policy, and research is chronicled. The chapter outlines the initiative's vision and goals for the remaining five years of the original timeline through interdisciplinary innovation and collaboration to tackle some of society's grandest challenges.