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.
GSSW Prof. Jennifer Greenfield studies the health implications of paid medical leave and advocates for reform, including testifying in support of the Colorado Medical Leave Insurance Act (FAMLI).
GSSW Prof. Debora Ortega is looking at social work’s grand challenges through a critical race theory lens, aiming to address underlying issues such as systematic racism and white supremacy.
A recent study by the GSSW Butler Institute for Families explores how the economics of Colorado’s early childhood care and education industry impact its workforce, the state economy, and children and families.
Using a dual-generation ecological approach to community intervention, a GSSW researcher is demonstrating that creating trusting neighborhood relationships can improve well-being in low-income communities.
GSSW Assistant Prof. Jennifer Greenfield investigated the impact of a Colorado minimum wage increase, predicting positive impact on Colorado women and families.
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.
