The Graduate School of Social Work is home to centers, institutes and laboratories that engage communities locally, nationally and internationally to develop solutions across a range of practice areas, including youth development, homelessness, poverty, family systems and human-animal connection. Students have the opportunity to work directly with institutes and centers through field internships or research assistantships. Governmental and community partners have the opportunity to work with faculty to implement and evaluate their policies, programs and initiatives, increasing their capacity for impact.
GSSW researchers are doing a world of good. Want to know more?
The Center for Housing and Homelessness Research (CHHR) provides research, policy analysis, program evaluation, technical assistance and data dissemination. It helps those committed to addressing the issue of homelessness review policies, assess and measure impact, determine the best use of resources, and use evidence and data to enhance existing programs as well as inform future policies, services and efforts.
The Butler Institute for Families offers research, evaluation, training and technical assistance to agencies serving children and families across the nation. Through a holistic and customized approach, Butler assists its partners in strengthening and building their evaluation, workforce and implementation capacity, allowing them to better serve their clients and community members.
The Center for Effective Interventions (CEI) works collaboratively with entities interested in promoting emotional and behavioral health and well-being for children, youth and families. CEI supports the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based practices. As a leader nationally in the dissemination and implementation field, the current evidence-based practice CEI supports is multi-systemic therapy (MST).
The Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) intentionally elevates the value of the living world and the interrelationship and health of people, other animals and the environment. This is accomplished through natural and social science-informed education, applied knowledge, research and advocacy, with an ethical regard for all species.
Substance use disorder is a growing societal issue, locally, nationally and internationally. The Cross-National Behavioral Health Laboratory is working to better understand the issue and move forward with urgency for prevention and intervention.
