Jayhawk statue with fall leaves in the foreground

Community Engagement

The KU School of Social Welfare is committed to strengthening partnerships in Kansas, the Kansas City metro area and nationally.

Community Engagement Overview

The KU School of Social Welfare engages with communities in Kansas, the Kansas City area and beyond. Through academic programs, research, events and community resources, the school works together with community partners to address needs and solve programs.

Learn more about community engagement efforts — including practicum education, public scholarship and civic engagement — for social work students, alumni, faculty and staff, and community members.

Community Engagement Resources

Practicum Education

Practicum education is part of the curriculum for the BSW and MSW programs. The School of Social Welfare's Practicum Education Office works with over 500 affiliated practicum agencies to provide an enriching practicum experience.

A student stands by a sign for The Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center, where they are doing their practicum

Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration

The Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration (CCEC) adds capacity to the School of Social Welfare's community engagement. CCEC advances our values and vision in community-university efforts at KU.

Social workers attend a continuing education event hosted by CCEC

Toni Johnson Center for Racial and Social Justice

The Toni Johnson Center promotes an educational environment engaged in racial and social justice. Through faculty scholarship, community programming and the Toni Johnson Scholars program, the center supports students, is as a catalyst for critical dialogue, and expands service, teaching, and research on race and intersectional social justice.

Toni Johnson Center for Racial and Social Justice artwork

Public Scholarship

The Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration's public scholarship work connects researchers and communities for transformative engagement with the KU School of Social Welfare's valuable research.

Professor Joonmo Kang speaks during a panel discussion at the KU Libraries

Civic Engagement

Explore civic engagement resources, including a guide to advocacy organizations and resources to support voter education, registration and participation.

Piles of "I voted" stickers

Community Engagement Events

See all events

Community Engagement Stories

Toni Johnson Scholar directors Joonmo Kang and Claire Willey-Sthapit.

Social Welfare selects 14 students for Toni Johnson Scholars Program in 2024-2025

Scholars for racial and social justice receive mentoring and professional development opportunities dedicated to enhancing community, retention and success.
Fall color on the KU campus in 2023.

Social Welfare fall research events aim to facilitate important discussions

Research events cover self-care in election season, a pilot program to train social work students in supporting survivors of domestic violence, and faculty research on gender-affirming care.
Christina Boyd, associate professor of practice

School of Social Welfare professor of practice remains dedicated to rural areas

Christina Boyd, professor of practice, has worked in behavioral health in rural Kansas for over 25 years. Her service to the state includes several boards, advisory committees and conference presentations.
The School of Social Welfare’s Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration will host an interactive panel virtual panel Feb. 27 on supporting older adults through social isolation with intergenerational alliances.

Social work Grand Challenges event focuses on supporting older adults facing social isolation

The Grand Challenges for Social Work is an initiative within the social work profession to champion social progress around a series of grand challenges that the profession works to affect.
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Connect with CCEC

Join the Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration mailing list
Sign up to learn about upcoming events and community engagement projects.
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KU Social Work Research & Service

Learn more about research and service at the KU School of Social Welfare.
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Study Social Work at KU

KU's School of Social Welfare offers social work degree programs at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels: BSW, MSW, DSW and PhD. Learn more.
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