GSSW Community Impact
A Shared Purpose
At the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), we believe in social work’s transformative potential — to change individual lives, to improve systems, to expand equity and advance social justice. Whether we’re tackling systemic challenges such as poverty or helping an individual to successfully navigate personal challenges with addiction, we know why we’re here: to make things better.
Building on Success
We’ve been developing the social work workforce for nearly a century and have one of the nation’s oldest PhD programs. Now, students throughout the U.S. can access a GSSW education through MSW@Denver, our online MSW.
Growing Social Work Knowledge
With funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, we’re training U.S. social work faculty to teach evidence-based treatment methods for substance abuse and dependence.
Upending Inequity
Prof. Kimberly Bender and our Burnes Center on Poverty and Homelessness hosted a Homelessness Hackathon co-sponsored by the National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services. The University of Denver and community participants developed technological, social, political and legal solutions to meet the needs of Denver residents experiencing homelessness.
A Social Work Community
Each year we graduate more than 280 students who are ready to practice in diverse settings — from rural and tribal communities to city centers in the U.S. and abroad. Much of their preparation comes through internships offered by more than 750 partner field agencies nationwide. Our more than 9,500 alumni have gone on to transform millions of lives.
Grounded in Research
Our research and scholarship spans populations, issues and policies that impact all aspects of human potential. We shed light on social issues, provide evidence for best practices and help organizations to increase their capacity and effectiveness. And we don’t do it alone. We have 126 active community research partners—at least one for each of our research projects.
Responsive to the Community
When the community calls, we answer with classes, research projects and special events like our Catalyst Series for Social Justice, which hosts timely, topical community conversations on issues like race and identity. And we respond via the work of our six centers and institutes, which work in hundreds of communities nationwide.
Related Stories
Addressing Health Inequities
Assistant Professor Tyrone Hamler studies health inequities, chronic illness, aging, and the intersection of mental and physical health, including health equity in kidney disease for older Black Americans.
Social Work & Racial Justice
GSSW faculty and alumni coauthored chapters in a new book, “Social Work, White Supremacy, and Racial Justice,” which challenges readers to forge new practices, policies and pedagogies for an anti-racist future.
Supporting Marginalized Community Members
2024 MSW@Denver online MSW graduate Araceli Esparza aims to put her degree to work helping not only victims, but offenders.
