The School of Social Work is an international leader in science-driven social change. Read more about the groundbreaking work underway at five of our research and innovation centers, as well as other areas that need your support. 

Center for Integrative Oncology and Palliative Care Social Work

The center is a national leader in educating oncology social work scholars and practitioners, taking a social justice approach to address disparities in cancer and end-of-life care. Your support will help fund graduate scholarships, PhD research focused on oncology and palliative care, and other scholarly activities. Download PDF

Forefront Suicide Prevention  

Suicide is one of our most pressing public health issues, with a life lost every 11 minutes. Forefront programs and training empower individuals and communities to take sustainable action and champion systemic change.  Thanks to its advocacy efforts, nine suicide-prevention bills have passed in Washington state, including one that requires all health and behavioral health professionals receive suicide prevention training – the first state in the nation to mandate suicide prevention training. Download PDF

Joshua Center on Child Sexual Abuse Prevention

The Joshua Center, founded in 2013, works to prevent the sexual abuse of children, particularly those aged 12 to 17, by identifying, evaluating, conducting and disseminating the latest research and proven prevention strategies. To make sure that content is accurate and resonates with young people, the Center engages youth as active collaborators to help craft social media content, videos and youth-oriented discussions. Join us in supporting the important work of eradicating child sexual abuse. Download PDF

Partners for Our Children 

Founded in 2007, Partners for Our Children is a unique public-private partnership focused on improving outcomes for vulnerable children and their families who are part of the child welfare system. P4C works to effect systems change in four key areas: child welfare research, data and analytical support, public policy and workforce development.  Learn more about its work in child welfare and how your support can build on its successes. Download PDF

Social Development Research Group

Promoting healthy behaviors and positive social development among youth and adults are at the core of SDRG, an interdisciplinary team of researchers known for their evidence-based interventions that rely on preventive strategies that work. For more than 40 years, the group has worked to prevent behavioral and health problems before they start —from drug abuse to delinquency— helping to reduce exorbitant social and economic costs. The group is nationally known for its innovative and award-winning programs, such as Communities That Care and Guiding Good Choices. Download PDF

Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative

This initiative addresses the serious shortage of graduate-level clinicians in our state’s community-based behavioral health system by increasing the number, diversity and preparedness of future social workers and counselor. Students receive two-year grants to offset their graduate education expenses in return for serving three years in community-based behavioral health clinic and tribal health centers in Washington. The goal is to create a debt-free or greatly debt-reduced pathway for more than 400 graduate students over the next five years. Learn more.

Faculty Support 

Our faculty teach, inspire and mentor students, conduct groundbreaking research, and drive innovative and systemic change.  Supporting these teachers and scholars through endowed fellowships, professorships and chair appointments ensure that the School of Social Work has consistent funding in place to recruit and retain the very best talent in the nation. 

Student Support

Financial challenges should not stand in the way of students discovering their potential or completing their social work degree and becoming tomorrow’s social work leaders, educators and innovators. Please join with us in continuing to support our students, especially during these challenging times.

Health Science Education Building

The new state-of-the-art Health Sciences Education Building, scheduled to open in spring 2022, will take on a pivotal role in health and social care delivery as we prepare the next generation of health science professionals. This integrated health sciences training facility—the first in the nation—is designed around flexible learning spaces that support collaborative and interprofessional health care teams. Read more.