USF Duvall Initiative launches open-access journal on family and community health

• May 30, 2025
• College News, School of Social Work

The University of South Florida (USF) Duvall Initiative has announced the launch of the Duvall Journal of Family and Community Health, a new open-access, peer-reviewed journal that will publish its inaugural issue in February 2026.

Led by Evelyn Duvall Endowed Chair and School of Social Work Assistant Professor Dane Minnick, PhD, MSW, the journal's first issue will focus on the impact of substance misuse and addiction on families and community health.

"This journal represents a new platform for advancing rigorous, community-centered health research," said Minnick, editor-in-chief of the journal. "We're excited to publish work that informs real-world practice and promotes family and community well-being."

Scholars, practitioners, and researchers are invited to submit original research articles, program evaluations, policy analyses, and practice-based essays that explore innovative responses to the substance misuse crisis by Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. Contributions that highlight prevention strategies, harm reduction approaches, recovery supports, or systems-level change are particularly encouraged. Additional details about formatting and submission requirements are available in the author guidelines.

Each year, the journal will focus on a theme to highlight innovative approaches, practical applications, and research contributions within a specific area of interest. Themes may include topics such as addiction, technology, prevention, and other pressing issues impacting communities and family systems.

The journal is committed to offering compensation to reviewers and publishing at no cost to authors, and authors will retain copyright under a Creative Commons license.