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 researchers are investigating how people react cognitively and emotionally to their suicidal thoughts—an understanding that could improve treatment approaches for suicidal people.
GSSW Assistant Professor Jennifer Greenfield and other University of Denver collaborators released a report on the economic impacts of a paid family leave program in Colorado
GSSW Research Associate Professor Suzanne Kerns is helping to develop a national clearinghouse of evidence-based programs and services to prevent foster care placement.
GSSW Professor N. Eugene Walls helps design National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Study of men who have sex with men. Findings shape local prevention and treatment.
Graduate School of Social Work alumnus and Professor William Cloud discusses his concept of recovery capital, which has reframed the addiction treatment field.
A research team at the GSSW Institute for Human–Animal Connection is studying whether the Pets for Life animal-welfare program also has community, human and environmental health impacts.
Faculty Book Spotlight
Ecosocial Work
New book co-edited by Associate Professor of the PracticeRachel Forbes encourages social workers to advocate for environmental justice.
Understanding and Effectively Utilizing Experiential Therapy
New book by Professor Nicole Nicotera and Associate Professor Julie Anne Laser that offers a trauma-sensitive, mindfulness-based approach to Experiential Therapy with 10 practical steps and 32 ready-to-use activities.
New book edited by ProfessorJohnny Kim. This step-by-step training manual guides readers through the clinical practice of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) for use with families.
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.
