Ph.D. student Bree Martinez named <br> Health Policy Research Scholar

Ph.D. student Bree Martinez named
Health Policy Research Scholar

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has selected Bree Martinez, a second-year Ph.D. student at the University of Washington School of Social Work, as one of its 2025 Health Policy Research Scholars. HPRS helps scholars establish and strengthen professional ties to public health and policy leaders, provides training in health equity and policy process, and grants an annual award of up to $30,000 for up to four years or until the scholar completes their doctoral program.

UW Ph.D. student accepts faculty position at Hunter College – CUNY

Hannah Scheuer stands in front of cherry blossom trees on the UW campus. She is wearing a pink blazer and glasses.

The University of Washington School of Social Work is thrilled to announce that Hannah Scheuer, a graduating Ph.D. student, has accepted a position as a tenure track assistant professor at The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College – City University of New York (CUNY). Scheuer graduates from UW in Spring 2025 and will begin her faculty position in January 2026.

Laurie Lippold named senior policy advisor at Partners for Our Children

Laurie Lippold, senior policy advisor of Partners for our children, seen here smiling with glasses on.

After 12 years as the public policy director for Partners For Our Children (P4C), Laurie Lippold now serves as P4C’s senior policy advisor and continues to champion policies that keep families together. To celebrate Lippold’s contributions to P4C and policies affecting families across the state, we want to highlight Lippold’s journey and career at the School of Social Work.

UW School of Social Work plays large role in SSWR 2025

Two staff members pose with UW live mascot Dubs II at the UW SSWR exhibit booth.

Seattle hosted the annual Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) conference for the first time, with the UW School of Social Work playing a significant role in welcoming peer institutions and contributing in large numbers to the research presentations. UW faculty, doctoral students, and staff researchers presented on various critical issues, including food insecurity, foster care policy advocacy, suicide risk among college students and more.

New social work center trains first responders on behavioral health

First responders stand and converse indoors during a training session. The woman closest to the camera has Port Angeles Fire Department patch on her uniform.

BHCore, a new School of Social Work research center, held its first behavioral health training for firefighters and emergency medical services staff on January 17. BHCore’s mission is to reimagine how firefighters, emergency medical providers and others deliver emergency and crisis behavioral health services and to transform how those dedicated responders are recruited, trained and supported.

Self-Sufficiency Standard developed by UW social work researcher used nationally

Diana Pearce, wearing a an orange hat and scarf, speaks from behind a podium.

Diana Pearce, senior lecturer emerita at the School of Social Work and founder of the Center for Women’s Welfare (CWW), is giving $250,000 to the School to support the Center’s work. Pearce hopes the additional funding will complete the Self-Sufficiency Standard’s expansion into all 50 states, and Washington D.C., with updated data by 2026.

Research reveals pro-social firearm behaviors among rural adolescents in Washington state

A landscape shot of a country road in Eastern Washington. Bright green grass lines the road, with large white clouds spread across the blue sky. A small red barn and numerous grain silos line the far side of the road.

Researchers from the Social Development Research Group, a School of Social Work research and innovation center, have found that adolescents living in rural Washington state generally understand what constitutes acceptable firearm carrying behavior. Study participants were typically engaging with firearms in prosocial ways like hunting, recreation and sport.

Jennifer Stuber on rise of firearm fatalities among children

Associate Professor Jennifer Stuber spoke to the New York Times to discuss the rising rates of suicides involving guns and firearm fatalities among children in the United States, and the role of firearm storage practices.

Clara Berridge on role of AI and robots in elder care

Older woman with gray hair and a yellow dress looking at a photograph on a dresser.

SSW Associate Professor and Gerontologist Clara Berridge’s research focuses on the ethical and policy implications of digital technologies used in elder care. In recent media appearances, she discussed her research on the role of social robots and AI in elder care and questioned the adequacy of robots replacing human interaction.

Social work practicum gives students hands-on experience in tribal law

MSW and law students pose for a picture in a busy office.

The ambitious Tulalip Tribal Court Practicum gives MSW students hands-on experience in tribal law. MSW students partner with UW law students to handle clients’ cases in the tribal court as part of a public defense team, conduct independent research and even sit for the Tulalip tribal bar exam.