Developing knowledge to support social work professionals in practice is a focus of the Knowledge Development and Practice Research in Social Work research programme (KUPSA). The research takes place in close collaboration between users, the fields of practice education and project groups. Issues related to social services are a key aspect of the research. It comprises the study of social problems, their causes and consequences at the individual, group and societal levels. Social services play a central role in society’s interventions to deal with and solve social problems. Here, issues related to measures to improve the situation for individuals, families and groups are brought to the fore, as well as sociopolitical issues and questions about the organization of social services. The following topics are central in this area: