Health & Social Work invites submissions to a special issue on the role of social work in ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic amid an evolving political and public health landscape. For over four decades, social workers have been central to HIV prevention and care, applying principles of equity, advocacy, and community engagement to address one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time.

As we enter a new era shaped by biomedical innovation (e.g., PrEP, PEP, U=U, long-acting injectables); heightened attention to structural inequities; and a shifting political climate marked by anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation, reproductive health rollbacks, and syndemic crises, this collection will examine how social workers continue to lead across systems of care and policy. This special issue will spotlight original research, practice-based innovations, policy analyses, and interdisciplinary strategies that reflect the breadth of social work contributions to HIV prevention, care, and health justice.

This special issue invites articles that explore how social work can address the HIV epidemic amid evolving health systems, social determinants, and shifting political landscapes. Submissions may examine the integration of HIV services into maternal, mental health, and substance use care; social work responses to HIV criminalization and anti-LGBTQIA+ policies; and the use of digital and telehealth tools to support engagement. We also welcome work on community-based and participatory approaches, workforce training and supervision models, and the impact of structural stigma and systemic barriers on service delivery. Manuscripts highlighting social work’s role in the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative or UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals or examining how political, legal, or economic shifts affect HIV advocacy and health equity are encouraged.

We welcome full-length articles as well as Practice Forum or Viewpoint columns. Manuscripts are due December 1, 2025. Please refer to the journal’s submission guidelines at https://naswpress.org/content/1411 for formatting requirements. Submit your manuscript at https://hsw.msubmit.net and indicate that your submission is intended for the HIV/AIDS Policy and Practice special issue.

To view this call for papers in PDF format, click here.