News
Wed, 11/19/2025
New KU partnership dedicated to engaged fatherhood, family, financial stability
Researchers in the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare have secured a grant to implement the Family Opportunity, Resilience, Grit, Engagement (FORGE) partnership in five northeast Kansas counties to promote healthy relationships, engaged fatherhood and family and financial stability.
Tue, 10/28/2025
Faculty Research Spotlight: Kathryn Berringer
Berringer, an assistant professor at the KU School of Social Welfare, dedicates her research to exploring the relationships, paradoxes, and tensions inherent to the LGBTQ movement in the United States was sparked in her childhood, going to elementary school in Greenwich Village in New York City. She was interested in the gay liberation movement as it happened around her and, later, in the social movement’s intersections with social work.
Mon, 10/06/2025
Social Welfare program found effective in helping reduce stress among child welfare service providers
The Resilience Alliance, an intervention for child welfare service providers in Kansas, was found to help reduce the secondary traumatic stress associated with working amid stressful family environments, according to University of Kansas researchers. They believe the findings can lead to reduced burnout among the workforce and lead to better service outcomes for families.
Tue, 09/09/2025
Assistant Professor presents on research concerning social work biases about Black men
In her dissertation, Dr. Kortney Carr explored social workers’ biases about Black men after finding in her own experience that she often needed to adjust her methods to meet the needs of this category of client.
Wed, 08/27/2025
Faculty Research Spotlight: Ricka Mammah
Social Welfare assistant professor Ricka Mammah's scholarship explores how social and systemic factors influence survivors’ help-seeking behaviors, access to support systems, and the specific forms of violence they encounter. Dr. Mammah’s dissertation investigates the experiences of African immigrant survivors of IPV in the United States, with particular attention to the role of informal social support networks.
Wed, 07/23/2025
Dr. Briana McGeough, Dr. Carrie Wendel-Hummell awarded 2025 Suzanne & Harry Statland Research Staff Award
The Statland Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship recognizes scholarly
excellence and demonstrated impact on both the academy and social work practice.
Two scholars are recognized with this year’s award: Dr. Briana McGeough and Dr. Carrie Wendel-Hummell.
Fri, 02/28/2025
Record-high research at KU benefits Kansans, fuels state economy
Research and development expenditures spanning all University of Kansas campuses increased to $546.1 million in fiscal year 2024, surpassing the half-billion-dollar mark for the first time in university history. The reverberations of that growth extend far beyond KU to benefit people throughout the Sunflower State and beyond.
Fri, 02/21/2025
Faculty research profile: Logan Shinkai Knight
Dr. Logan Shinkai Knight's research prioritizes survivor leadership and expertise for developing the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to address human trafficking. Her work on survivor resilience and altruism involves survivors in all stages of research from study design to dissemination.
Wed, 02/19/2025
Terry Koenig to receive KUIA Advisory Board International Research Award
In recognition of her exceptional contributions to the internationalization of research and education, Terry Koenig, professor of social welfare, will receive this year’s KU International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award.
Mon, 02/03/2025
Panel event centers around mental health of young children
On Feb. 25, Grand Challenges for Social Work panel “Focus on 4s: Advancing Family Well-Being Through Data-Driven Interventions in Early Childhood Mental Health” will be available for free on Zoom with prior registration.
Mon, 01/27/2025
Spring research events address youth mental health, eco-social work, and occupational trauma
Three events this spring share research from the School of Social Welfare and its impact on practice and policy.
Tue, 01/07/2025
KU Social Welfare faculty, researchers to present at SSWR 2025 conference
KU School of Social Welfare attendees will share their research in over 30 presentations, symposia, roundtable discussions and poster presentations. Their work covers a broad range of research areas, with topics including social movements, child welfare, LGBTQ+ activism, environmental justice, generational divides and more.
Fri, 12/13/2024
Social Welfare assistant professor wants research to inform future community organizing, social movements
For Tadeo Weiner Davis, urban politics and policy issues continue to be a focus for him as an assistant professor of social welfare at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. He dedicates his research to learning more about community organizing and social movements, urban politics, and the dynamics of race and class in urban settings.
Tue, 10/29/2024
Social Welfare Assistant Professor wants research to help children with mental illness
Whitney Grube focuses her research on community mental health, and children and teens experiencing serious emotional disturbances.
Tue, 10/22/2024
KU Social Welfare faculty, researchers to present at CSWE 2024 Annual Program Meeting
Faculty and researchers will share their work during the annual conference on social work education, taking place Oct. 24-27 in Kansas City.
Wed, 08/28/2024
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.
Wed, 05/29/2024
Michelle Levy awarded 2024 Suzanne & Harry Statland Research Staff Award
Levy has published and presented nationally and internationally. Her work includes leadership of a program that received the inaugural Academic Excellence Award from the American Public Human Services Association.
Tue, 04/23/2024
Study: Marginalized communities develop 'disaster subculture' when living through extreme climate events
A new study from the University of Kansas found residents of one Seoul, South Korea, neighborhood have grown so accustomed to living through extreme climate events they have developed a “disaster subculture” that challenges both views of reality and how social agencies can help.
Wed, 02/14/2024
KU scholars strive to advance racial equity through newly funded research projects
The project teams — representing five units across the university — were chosen through a peer-reviewed competition co-sponsored by the Office of Research and the Hall Center for the Humanities. They each will receive approximately $20,000 to support their work.
Mon, 02/05/2024
Study: International organizations take oversimplified approach to understanding domestic violence in Nepal
A new study from the University of Kansas has found that research reports written or sponsored by international organizations have often taken an oversimplified “cultural essentialist” approach to understanding domestic violence in Nepal.
Thu, 02/01/2024
Social welfare researcher Pegah Naemi Jimenez receives KU Research Achievement Award
Naemi Jimenez’s scholarship focuses on cross-system approaches and community-engaged research that addresses social problems experienced by children and families in marginalized communities.
Fri, 01/05/2024
KU Social Welfare faculty, researchers to present at SSWR 2024 conference
More than 30 faculty, researchers and students from the KU School of Social Welfare will have their work represented at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) annual conference, happening Jan. 10-14.
Thu, 12/07/2023
KU-led grant will empower underserved communities to address racial disparities in state's child welfare system
A new partnership led by the KU School of Social Welfare will empower members of underserved communities to identify and address the problems of racial bias and inequity in the child welfare system.
Tue, 12/05/2023
Study shows wealth does not ensure equal amounts of health across race, ethnicity
A recent study by Assistant Professor Sicong "Summer" Sun analyzes national data and reports of mental health and well-being. The study shows it takes more financial assets for people of color to have the same health outcomes as white Americans.
Thu, 11/16/2023
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.
Tue, 11/07/2023
Research partnership shows parenting skills more effective at reuniting families
Researchers from KU’s School of Social Welfare worked with social service agencies in Oklahoma for more than 15 years to test several evidence-based interventions to enhance the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families affected by substance use.
Wed, 09/20/2023
One year after Mahsa Jina Amini's death, KU researchers analyze social media responses in Iran
One year ago, Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Jina Amini was killed, setting off some of the largest protests in Iran’s recent history. A new study from the University of Kansas examines how social media has powered the protests and if the cause has shifted away from a women’s rights focus, like many before it.
Tue, 09/05/2023
Study examines role of religion in substance use services
People have turned to religion and spirituality to deal with crises and critical needs for centuries. A new publication from KU and Georgetown University explored the religious orientation of facilities within the substance use and addiction system of care.
Mon, 06/19/2023
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
Fri, 05/05/2023
Scholars Outline Responsibilities of Schools of Social Welfare in Era of Anti-Trans Legislation
LAWRENCE — Through workshops and scholarly writing, experts from the University of Kansas are guiding conversations about the roles and responsibilities that schools of social work have to educate the next generation of social workers serving LGBTQ+ individuals in an environment of expanding anti-trans legislation across the country. Adding weight...