Although their research interests are diverse, Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) faculty members, students and research partners share something in common: a focus on advancing social justice. We live this mission every day through research and scholarship that spans social work practice, policy and system reform.
Professor Jenn Bellamy is leading a multi-state project using the Breakthrough Series Collaborative continuous learning methodology to develop new ways to engage fathers in child welfare.
Led by PhD alumna Laura Nissen, GSSW fellows are applying futures thinking and foresight practices to social work as part of the Social Work Health Futures Lab.
What will the future of work be for today’s youth? GSSW Assistant Professor Marquisha Lawrence Scott explores the impacts of globalization and automation on healthy youth development.
Professor Inna Altschul examines the complex dynamics of parental relationships, father involvement and child outcomes.
Faculty Book Spotlight
Abolition and Social Work
GSSW doctoral candidate and faculty members contribute to new anthology exploring abolition and social work. Authors include: Assistant ProfessorAutumn Asher BlackDeer, Assistant ProfessorSophia Sarantakos, Associate ProfessorRamona Beltrán and doctoral candidate Annie Zean Dunbar
Community needs and assets shape our research and scholarship agenda. For example, we host 16 intervention research studies and collaborate with 128 research partners. With support from 10 public and private partners statewide, the Climb@DU initiative is training social workers to meet behavioral health needs in underserved Colorado communities. Community partners also invest in our work, as do local, state and national foundations and agencies, funding more than $11.7 million in 2019–20 in annual research expenditures.
