Research

Faculty at the School of Social Welfare are leading research in diverse areas such as child welfare, veterans services, aging, integrative mind-body-spirit practice, mental and behavioral health, health disparities, and evidence-based interventions. They engage in community partnerships to conduct research that advances social justice at individual, organizational, and societal levels. Faculty bring lessons from their research directly into the classroom to prepare a workforce with the knowledge and skills to address the most urgent human needs of the 21st century and practice effectively in rapidly changing environments. Students have opportunities to conduct research alongside faculty at the School, and in research centers and institutes across the University.

 

A group of students collaborating together and discussing project documents

 

New York State Social Work Education Consortium
Overview

Mary McCarthy, Director

The New York State Social Work Education Consortium - which includes state and New York City agencies, county social services commissioners, associations, and many others - aims to improve the quality, status, and stability of the public sector child welfare workforce. The primary goal is to identify and implement programs with a forward-looking approach to training and education.

The Social Work Education Consortium was established in 2000 as a formal partnership between the Office of Children and Family Services, Bureau of Training, the New York State Dean’s Association, the social work education community and local social services designed to impact the child welfare workforce. Sixteen graduate and 28 undergraduate social work programs participate in the Consortium, along with 57 county social service districts and NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services.

 

Terri Zuelsdorf, SWEC Administrative Assistant II


Email: [email protected]

Goals and Priorities

The primary goal of the consortium is the identification and implementation of programs and activities, which promote a forward-looking approach to training and education, emphasizing workforce stabilization and professionalization. This goal is achieved through a wide array of activities including:

  • Raising awareness about the importance of recruitment, selection and retention of a professionally trained workforce
  • Regional collaborations between local social service districts and social work education programs across New York State which implement programs to achieve our goal. There are seven active regional groups operating currently, which are open to all local social service districts.
  • Research and evaluation activities designed to develop knowledge about approaches that facilitate retention and support workforce professionalization and implement effective strategies to achieve the goal.

 

The Social Work Education Consortium promotes:

  • Public sector-university collaborations that support the education and training of child welfare staff. 
  • Research driven practice and policy innovations in workforce recruitment and retention. 
  • Policy and program partnerships with OCFS, the legislature and local district leaders in child welfare. 
  • Professionalization activities and workforce development for child welfare workers and those interested in a child welfare career.

 

Programs

  • Six Regional Groups develop region-specific programs designed to promote workforce professionalization and stabilization activities appropriate to their area.
  • Tuition Support provides tuition funding to cover tuition and fees for MSW and BSW courses for current employees in Child Welfare Services.
National Child Welfare Workforce Institute
Overview

Website: National Child Welfare Workforce Institute

Nancy Claiborne and Mary McCarthy, Co-Principal Investigators
The $21.5 million National Child Welfare Workforce Institute is increasing child welfare practice effectiveness through diverse partnerships that focus on workforce systems development, organizational interventions, and change leadership, using data-driven capacity building, education, and professional development.

National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services
Overview

Website: National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services

Heather Larkin and John Records, Co-Directors
The National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services strengthens homeless services by creating partnerships, supporting leaders and sharing excellence. The Center identifies, creates and teaches state of the art, evidence-based and emerging approaches to transform the lives of all homeless children and adults.

Center for Innovation in Mental Health Research
Overview

Eric Hardiman, Director
The Center for Innovation in Mental Health Research focuses on evidence-based direct practice, service delivery, and social welfare policy that support individuals who face behavioral health issues.

 

Have Questions?

For more information about research at SSW, contact Professor Carmen Morano, [email protected].