Social work, ideologically speaking, is a profession grounded in principles of integration and interaction. The principles are embedded in curriculum policies for acceditation. They span interdisciplinary information, person and environment, research and practice, practice and policy, and theory and practice. The values, knowledge, and skills integration that is proposed may not be successfully implemented for three reasons. Two reasons are specific to social work: the impossibility of carrying out all of the activities expected of social work educators and the fact the social work professionals are conflicted concerning their commitment to integration at all levels and fields of practice. Integration is not really respected or rewarded in either practice or academic arenas. Research reveals that integration is unlikely for any profession in the absence of an integrative structure. The establishment of a national social work linkage service is proposed. The service could focus on the integration of research, policy, and practice while including several areas of integrative concern. Such a service could provide the missing link that has kept social work from realizing its integrative purpose and identity, establishing social work as a visibly authentic profession. (Author/NB)