The Grand Challenges for Social Work is an initiative spearheaded by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. The challenges are modeled after a similar undertaking led by the National Academy of Engineering. Edwina Uehara from the University of Washington, School of Social Work, proposed the Grand Challenges approach to the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW). Then President of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (Richard Barth of the University of Maryland School of Social Work) presented the idea to the AASWSW Board, which approved it.