JHS Call for Papers
1. Call for Papers: Purposeful Engagement in Human Services
The Journal of Human Services invites manuscript submissions for a special issue centered on the 2026 NOHS annual theme, Purposeful Engagement: Empowering People, Systems, and Communities. This issue will explore how human services professionals intentionally engage individuals, families, organizations, and communities in ways that promote dignity, equity, and sustainable systems change.
We welcome empirical research, conceptual papers, practice-informed scholarship, and interdisciplinary perspectives that examine purposeful engagement across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice. Topics may include community-based collaboration, culturally responsive engagement strategies, advocacy and systems reform, ethical engagement in complex environments, empowerment-oriented leadership, and innovations in education and professional identity.
Submissions should reflect the core values of human services, including respect for autonomy, social justice, and strengths-based practice. We especially encourage manuscripts that bridge research and applied practice, offering actionable insights for educators, practitioners, and policymakers.
Through this issue, JHS seeks to highlight scholarship that not only examines engagement—but models it.
For more information on submission requirements and to submit your paper for review, visit the Journal’s website.
2. Call for Papers Special Issue: "Beyond Borders: Reimagining Human Services with Immigrant Communities"
Guest Editor: Milagros Calderon-Moya, Ph.D., Boston University
Overview:
Across local, national, and global contexts, immigration continues to shape the landscape of human services practice, policy, and education. At the same time, shifting political climates, evolving policy frameworks, and heightened public discourse have created new complexities for immigrant communities and the professionals who work with them. This special issue, “Beyond Borders: Reimagining Human Services with Immigrant Communities,” invites scholars, practitioners, educators, and policymakers to examine how human services systems engage with immigration—not only as a matter of access and service delivery, but also as a question of belonging, dignity, and structural inclusion. We seek contributions that explore diverse, evidence-informed, and culturally responsive approaches to practice and policy. This issue aims to elevate work that examines human services through ecological, relational, and systemic lenses, centering the lived experiences of immigrant individuals, families, and communities. We particularly welcome submissions that advance understanding by documenting challenges, evaluating practices, and/or proposing new or adapted frameworks, interventions, and systems that support equity, belonging, and well-being.
Focus and Scope
Submissions may address (but are not limited to) the following themes:
Practice and Service Delivery
- Trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice with immigrant communities
- Work with mixed-status families and undocumented individuals
- Language access, interpretation ethics, and equitable participation in services
- School-based, healthcare, and community-based interventions
- Strength-based and community-driven models of care
Policy and Systems
- Impacts of immigration policy on service access and delivery
- Sanctuary policies, legal constraints, and ethical considerations in practice
- Structural barriers and facilitators to care
- Intersections of immigration with housing, education, healthcare, and employment systems
Belonging, Identity, and Community
- Theories and frameworks of belonging in human services
- Identity development, acculturation, and transnational experiences
- Community resilience, mutual aid, and informal support systems
- Experiences of exclusion, marginalization, and systemic inequities
Education and Workforce Development
- Preparing human services professionals for work with immigrant communities
- Culturally responsive and reflective pedagogy
- Field education and experiential learning in immigrant-serving contexts
- Workforce challenges, including ethical tensions and professional identity
Advocacy and Social Contexts
- The role of human services in supporting clients within complex policy and social
environments - Community-based participatory research and collaborative approaches
- Strategies for advancing equity and access within service systems
- Ethical frameworks guiding professional practice in contested policy environments
Types of Submissions
We welcome a range of manuscript types, including:
- Empirical research (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods)
- Conceptual and theoretical papers
- Practice-based articles and case studies
- Policy analyses
- Pedagogical innovations and curriculum design papers
- Community-engaged and participatory research
All submissions should clearly articulate implications for human services practice, policy,
education, or research, and demonstrate relevance to immigrant communities and service
systems.
Submission Guidelines
Manuscripts must follow the Journal of Human Services author guidelines and APA (7 th
edition) formatting requirements.
For more information on submission requirements and to submit your paper for review, visit the Journal’s website.
Timeline
- Full Manuscript Submission Deadline: September 1, 2026
- Peer Review Decisions: November 15, 2026
- Responses to Revise and Resubmit Decisions: January 10, 2027
- Publication: Spring 2027 (anticipated March/April)
Submission Process
Manuscripts should be submitted through the Journal of Human Services online submission system at: https://journalhumanservices.org
When submitting, please indicate that your manuscript is for the special issue: “Beyond Borders: Reimagining Human Services with Immigrant Communities.”
Inquiries
For questions about the special issue, please contact the Guest Editor: Dr. Milagros Calderon- Moya at mcalderm@bu.edu
Concluding Thoughts About Contributing
At a time when immigration is often framed through deficit, division, or political tension, this special issue seeks to highlight rigorous scholarship that enhances understanding of how human services systems respond to immigrant communities. We invite contributions that critically examine, evaluate, and advance approaches within the field, contributing to ongoing dialogue about how human services can effectively support diverse communities across contexts.