Research Highlights
Toni Johnson Center for Racial and Social Justice: A Catalyst for Change
Exciting things are happening in the KU School of Social Welfare’s Toni Johnson Center for Racial and Social Justice.
New Faculty Member will Lead the School of Social Welfare in Emerging Field of Eco Social
KUSSW is on the leading edge of a new area of social work that could have important implications for people around the world: Eco Social Work
Grand Challenges for Social Work Events Spotlight Progress on Complex Social Issues
The KU School of Social Welfare envisions a world in which individuals and families have the support they need to thrive, where we see an end to chronic social problems like homelessness, where justice and equity are the norm.
Supporting Survivors of Partner Violence
Meredith Bagwell-Gray has seen the magic happen. When women who have experienced sexual abuse and intimate partner violence have a safe place to address their sexual trauma, they often begin to feel more empowered and in control of their sexuality. As a result, they are more likely to embrace positive sexual behaviors that have a profound impact on their health, like getting Pap tests and HPV vaccines, and seeing sexual health providers.
Kansas Families Are Benefiting from Family First Initiative
KU Evaluation Helps Guide Expanding Program Designed to Keep Kids in Their Homes and Out of Foster Care
New Faculty Member Gleans Insight for Preventing Domestic Violence from Work in Nepal
Domestic violence (DV) is a global health issue that impacts the well-being of survivors, families, and future generations. Claire Willey-Sthapit, Ph.D., assistant professor in the KU School of Social Welfare, has studied responses to DV both in the Unite
KU School of Social Welfare’s Partnerships Equip More Social Workers to Serve Rural Kansas
Lauren Stiles was upset by what she saw. As she worked with pregnant women and families at a community health center in rural southeast Kansas, she was shocked by the health disparities and health inequities she noticed.
Integrated Health Scholars Program Prepares Graduates to Serve Kansas and Missouri
In the nine years since its inception, the Integrated Health Scholars Program (IHSP) has prepared 246 graduates to provide integrated health care with underserved communities across the state of Kansas and into western Missouri.
Center for Research to Transform Systems for Family, Community & Social Justice Launches
A team of KU School of Social Welfare researchers is working to bring about that kind of child welfare system transformation.
Banerjee has spent her career in social welfare combatting income poverty
Retiring faculty member has led work in India and the United States focused on social justice and income equality
New Programs Equip Rural Social Workers With Much-Needed Resiliency Skills
The Center for Community Engagement & Outreach advances authentic relationships with key community and university partners to complement the School of Social Welfare’s community-engaged scholarship and instruction.
Faculty Member Works to Elevate Unheard Voices to Influence Social Work Practice
Dr. alexander’s academic research is grounded in community, culture and place, and focuses on developing new ways to elevate voices of individuals who have historically been unheard, excluded or harmed in academia.
Faculty Member Elevates the Voice and Experiences of Indigenous People
Through teaching and research, she equips social workers to understand the unique history, strengths and needs of Indigenous people.
Integrated Health Scholars Program Focuses on Telehealth to Improve Patient Access
In the rural and frontier areas of Kansas, residents often live hours away from the nearest health care provider. But with the rise of telehealth seeing their doctor may be as easy as turning on their computer. Because telehealth is the service wave of th
Center for LGBTQ+ Research and Advocacy Gains Momentum in its First Year
Revolutionary. That’s one of the words Briana McGeough, Ph.D., uses to describe the existence and goals of the newly created Center for LGBTQ+ Research & Advocacy, located within the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.
Professor Documents the Stories of Young African Refugees' Trek to Italy
Terry Koenig documents the stories of young African refugees’ trek to Italy as part of "The Long Road Out of Africa: Inclusion and Identity in Como, Italy."
Family Strong Aims to Prevent Family Crises and Keep Kids in their Homes
The Family Strong demonstration project will focus on eight counties in southeast Kansas, a region where the out-of-home foster care placements for children is nearly double that in the rest of the state. Byers says the region also has many strengths the project will build upon, including an existing network of programs and partnerships that can provide the added support families need to stabilize and thrive.
Researcher Studying Care and Safety Practices in Home-based Care During COVID-19 Pandemic
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world was reeling from the growing threat to our health and wellbeing, Carrie Wendel-Hummell’s thoughts went immediately to a group of people she knows well and is passionate about serving: older adults, people with disabilities, and the workers and caregivers who make it possible for these folks to remain in their own homes.
Initiative Supports Well-being of Native American Families in Kansas
KSNAF team leading the implementation of a five-year initiative funded by a Regional Partnership Grant from the Children’s Bureau, a federal agency focused on improving the live of children and families
Integrated Health Scholars Program Improves Access to Care in Underserved Communities
For many people living in Kansas’ vast rural areas getting the medical and behavioral health care services they need is a challenge. One barrier to accessing services is the shortage of health care professionals, including social workers, serving in their communities. The University of Kansas Integrated Health Scholars Program (IHSP) at the School of Social Welfare was funded to address this problem.
Research Aims to Improve the Health of Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers
When Cheryl Holmes shops for produce at the grocery store, she doesn’t just see apples or watermelons or lettuce. She sees the faces of the migratory and seasonal agricultural workers she knows who have worked long days – often 6:00 am to 8:00 pm in all weather, six days a week – to harvest each piece.More Research
Providing support to researchers so they may successfully carry out transformative social work scholarship.