Strategic Plan 2019 & Beyond: Strengthen Research and Discovery
Summary: Strengthen Research and Discovery
As a core focus of the 2019 & Beyond Strategic Plan, we aimed to grow the KU School of Social Welfare's research capacity, increase external funding, support faculty development, and translate social work research and scholarship into practice and policy.
The environment for this work changed significantly during the planning cycle. The School continued to invest in research designed not only to generate knowledge, but to improve practice, inform policy, and strengthen communities.
Featured Updates
Support for Research Proposal Development
Internal support for School of Social Welfare researchers to develop funding proposals includes writing assistance, research design and statistical consultation, review by subject matter experts, and guidance on securing funding.
Research Support for Early-Career Faculty
Efforts to support early-career faculty as they develop their research include internal awards, startup funding, mentoring, access to data systems, and support for KUSSW-based research center programming.
Presentations at Research Conferences
Faculty, researchers and graduate students regularly present their work during large academic conferences, including annual events hosted by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR).
Featured Updates
Research Projects
Research projects at the School of Social Welfare work toward advancing the science and knowledge base of social work through collaboration, curriculum, scholarship and research.
Public Scholarship
KU Social Welfare scholars share their work through virtual and in-person public scholarship events, including Research Impact Talks and Grand Challenges for Social Work panel discussions. Public scholarship events offer continuing education credit for practicing social workers.
Integrated Health Scholars Program
Since 2016, the Integrated Health Scholars Program has trained more than 300 MSW students to provide high-quality integrated behavioral health services to communities across Kansas and western Missouri. The program received renewed federal funding through 2029.
Featured Updates
Students Involved in Research
Social work students at every level have opportunities to get involved in research. Students receive mentorship from faculty and research staff, present findings at conferences and continuing education events, and translate research into practice through capstone projects.
Community-Engaged Approaches to Improve Child Welfare
The Center for Research to Transform Systems for Family Community & Social Justice (CRTS) engages in projects, initiatives and research, including implementing and evaluating innovative approaches to serving children, families, and their communities.
Progress
- Expanded support for KU School of Social Welfare researchers to develop funding proposals through writing assistance, research design and statistical support, expert review, and guidance on securing funding.
- Increased intentional support for early-career faculty through internal awards, startup investments, mentoring, access to data systems, and opportunities to develop fundable research trajectories.
- Secured major new and renewed awards focused on responsible fatherhood, behavioral health workforce development, child welfare, health care access, and workforce training.
- Strengthened collaboration with KU Medical Center, community agencies, public systems, and other university partners.
- Created additional pathways for BSW, MSW, DSW, and Ph.D. students to engage in research, present findings, and translate evidence into practice.
- Expanded public scholarship through Research Impact Talks, Grand Challenges discussions, policy and research briefs, legislative testimony, and community-based learning events.
By the Numbers: Strengthen Research and Discovery
$3.75M
A five-year grant will fund FORGE, a partnership project between KU and Cornerstones of Care designed to promote responsible fatherhood by fostering healthy relationships, engaged parenting practices and financial stability.
No. 2
KU is ranked No. 2 nationally for federally funded social work research among public institutions, according to the national Higher Education & Research Development (HERD) Survey for FY24.
$2.4M
A four-year workforce development funding renewal award will train MSW students to provide integrated behavioral health services to high-need, rural Kansas communities (2025-2029). The Integrated Health Scholars Program has trained more than 300 MSW-level social workers since the program started in 2016.
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