University of Kansas School of Social Welfare

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University of Kansas School of Social Welfare The official page of the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. Educating, training and supporting qualified, compassionate social workers.

The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare offers the only comprehensive program in social work in Kansas with the professional degrees of:

* Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (Ph.D)
* Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
* Master of Social Work (MSW)
* Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

KU's School of Social Welfare is an excellent place to pursue your interests in professional social work education. It is the oldest school of social welfare in the state and the only one to offer degree preparation from undergraduate through doctoral degrees in social work. Our social work programs at the B.S.W., M.S.W., and Ph.D. levels are consistently rated as excellent by experts and alumni, and, especially, by those who employ our graduates. Whether they enter the arena of professional social work practice (B.S.W. and M.S.W.) or take on the challenging roles of social work researcher/educator (Ph.D.), our graduates report that they are well-equipped to succeed. Social Media Community Guidelines

The University of Kansas encourages interaction from social media users but is not responsible for comments or postings made by visitors to the page. Comments posted by visitors do not in any way reflect the opinions or policies of the university. KU asks that people making comments on university pages show respect for their fellow users by ensuring the discussion remains civil, especially because some networks allow individuals as young as 13 years old to join. Comments are also subject to each social network’s Terms of Use and Code of Conduct. The university reserves the right, but assumes no obligation, to remove comments it deems to be threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, off-topic or duplicative, or that advocate illegal activity, incite violence, or make ad hominem attacks on KU students, employees, or guests. We also may remove messages selling products or promoting commercial, political, or other ventures, or messages that violate intellectual property rights or privacy laws or are otherwise unlawful.

Researchers in the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas have secured a federal grant to evaluate a progr...
10/23/2026

Researchers in the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas have secured a federal grant to evaluate a program designed to support adoptive parents and children to prevent disruptions or dissolutions of adoptions among families in Kansas and Missouri. If the program proves successful, they can help make it available for matched federal reimbursement in Kansas, Missouri and other states across the country.

KU researchers were awarded a four-year, $1.8 million grant from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation within the U.S. Administration for Children and Families to evaluate FosterAdopt Connect’s Behavioral Interventionist Program, a program that serves adoptive families in Kansas and Missouri.

Kaila Anderson’s personal experiences as a Kansan growing up in rural areas around farmers shaped her perspective on men...
10/22/2026

Kaila Anderson’s personal experiences as a Kansan growing up in rural areas around farmers shaped her perspective on mental and behavioral health. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, but life made it difficult to pursue further education until recently.

Anderson, who is now in the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program, witnessed the lack of care available in rural areas of Kansas, particularly for farmers.

So she co-founded and co-developed the LandLogic model, providing training to healthcare providers and collaborating with researchers working with agricultural communities.

KU Social Welfare scholars will have their work presented at the Council on Social Work Education's Annual Program Meeti...
10/20/2026

KU Social Welfare scholars will have their work presented at the Council on Social Work Education's Annual Program Meeting this week.

On Friday, senior lecturer Nicholas Simons-Bracken and assistant professor Whitney Grube will lead an interactive workshop, "Cultivating Student Engagement Through the Implicit Curriculum in Social Work Education." Grube and Simons-Bracken will present a practice-based framework grounded in qualitative action research on MSW student engagement and the implicit curriculum.

On Saturday, Christopher Ward, MSW director and associate professor of practice, will moderate a panel of DSW-trained faculty from several institutions. "Lifting the Veil: Navigating Higher Education Pathways After the DSW Social Work Practice" will share how DSW scholars contribute to the future of social work education.

Assistant Professor Ricka Mammah contributed research to a poster presentation that will be featured on Saturday: "Community Power and Equitable Justice: Religious and Community Leaders Addressing Intimate Partner Violence."

Learn more about KU faculty presentations at social work conferences:
socwel.ku.edu/research-cswe-sswr

KUSSW students and faculty share in the celebration of the KU’s Indigenous People’s Day Tipi Raising on the lawn of Stro...
10/16/2026

KUSSW students and faculty share in the celebration of the KU’s Indigenous People’s Day Tipi Raising on the lawn of Strong Hall.

Included in the image, left-to-right:
Laura Ramirez, faculty; BSW student/BSW Student Group President Sierra Alarcon; Dr. Juliana Carlson; Dr. Joonmo Kang; and BSW student/BSW Student Group Vice-President Aidan Garrett.

Alcaron is also Vice-President of the KU First Nations Student Association, a co-sponsor of the event.

Ph.D. applications are open now for fall 2027!Earning your Ph.D. in Social Work at KU:✅ Learn skills to become an innova...
10/15/2026

Ph.D. applications are open now for fall 2027!

Earning your Ph.D. in Social Work at KU:

✅ Learn skills to become an innovative steward of the social work discipline at an AAU member university.

✅ 45 years of program history: KU Social Welfare welcomed its first Ph.D. students in 1981 and is known as a prime innovator in the Strengths Perspective.

✅ Research: School research centers focus on topics including healthcare access, child welfare system reform, climate justice, and LGBTQ+ research.

✅ Mentorship: Ph.D. students receive 1:1 faculty mentorship and have an assigned faculty guide.

✅ Careers: Graduates go on to tenure-track faculty roles and research positions at universities, hospitals and government agencies.

The School of Social Welfare's Community Care Days are starting back up this fall for students, faculty and staff wantin...
10/12/2026

The School of Social Welfare's Community Care Days are starting back up this fall for students, faculty and staff wanting to mingle over activities.

The first event is this Wednesday, Oct. 14: Mindful Watercolors.

Stayed tuned for more Community Care Days events!

On October 12, we celebrate Indigenous People's Day by honoring Indigenous cultures, sovereignty, and the ongoing contri...
10/12/2026

On October 12, we celebrate Indigenous People's Day by honoring Indigenous cultures, sovereignty, and the ongoing contributions of Native peoples.

Join the celebration at KU's Strong Hall lawn beginning at 9:00 a.m. for a tipi raising. Make plans this evening to attend the screening of the film "Bring Them Home" narrated by Lily Gladstone at 6pm at the Haskell Auditorium.

Looking for other ways to celebrate the day? Listen to Indigenous voices, read works of Native authors, learn about the tribal Nations connected to the places where you live and support Native artists, businesses, and student initiatives.

Let today be a starting point for continued learning, relationships, and action throughout the year.

In September, the School of Social Welfare had a table at the Annual Conference for Behavioral Health in Wichita to prom...
10/09/2026

In September, the School of Social Welfare had a table at the Annual Conference for Behavioral Health in Wichita to promote the programs and present on topics relevant to Kansans.

Associate professor of practice Christina Boyd hosted two presentations:
- Behavioral Health and AI: Navigating the Ever-changing Future
- Building Resilience through Clinical Supervision

Assistant professor of practice Rebeca Sandoval and graduate programs recruitment coordinator Rocky Wallace also represented the school at the event, which estimated to have over 450 people in attendance.

The School of Social Welfare added three new members to the practicum staff this fall. - Carissa Welsh, Associate Direct...
10/08/2026

The School of Social Welfare added three new members to the practicum staff this fall.

- Carissa Welsh, Associate Director-Liaison for BSW students
- Matt Roberts, Associate Director-Liaison for MSW Advanced Year students
- Jalen Holloway, Education Program Coordinator

Welcome!

Getting involved in the community and advocacy were driving forces behind Madi Perkins getting into social work. Perkins...
10/07/2026

Getting involved in the community and advocacy were driving forces behind Madi Perkins getting into social work. Perkins, who graduated with her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare in May, also wants pace in her career choice.

Roles in quick environments like medical and hospital social work were right up her alley, and the School of Social Welfare helped Perkins be in those spaces.

"I’m a fast-paced person, and it’s nice to be around people who are strength-based and solutions-focused.”

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Lawrence, KS
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