The University of Washington School of Social Work—ranked as one of the top three advanced-degree social work programs in the nation—kicks off a yearlong celebration in September that highlights its broad academic offerings, distinguished faculty and renowned research and innovation centers. “Today the School is a regional, national and international leader in social work education, practice and research,” said Eddie Uehara, Professor and Ballmer Endowed Dean in Social Work. “As we enter our ninth decade, we are building on a powerful platform for innovation to achieve science-driven social change that is scalable and sustainable in communities here and around the world.”
The anniversary celebration launches Sept. 24, 2014 and will extend through June 2015. The anniversary kicks off with an art exhibit—Frontline Heroines—honoring the courage and dedication of female journalists, human rights workers and social justice advocates. The oil and watercolor portraits, created by local artist Judith Larson, will be on display through Dec. 12 in the School’s first floor gallery.
Throughout the academic year, faculty lectures and other events will provide additional opportunities for students, alumni, faculty and donors to recognize the anniversary, reconnect and explore strategies for social change. A new online timeline highlights eight decades of social work innovation, education and leadership.
Founded in 1934 during the height of the Great Depression, the School of Social Work filled an urgent need for social workers and administrators charged with delivering on the promise of New Deal programs. When the United States entered World War II in 1941, the focus shifted to war-related services and medical social work.
Through the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, the School solidified its commitment to social change, expanded the role of research and science in social work, and developed early multicultural and feminist approaches to social work practice. Today, rigorous scholarship, classroom innovation and community partnerships define this dynamic institution dedicated to social change.
The School ranks among the most successful in the nation in terms of research funding, research results and faculty publications. In fiscal year 2014, its research and innovation centers received more than $30 million from government agencies, foundations and nonprofit organizations.
Exemplifying its role as a platform for innovation, the School has launched several new initiatives that have brought national recognition in recent months:
-
Using data to impact child welfare
- The Child Well-Being Data Portal, created by Partners for Our Children, has revolutionized how child welfare information is processed, accessed and applied. The portal delivers free, timely and detailed information on child welfare in Washington state, creating a valuable tool for diverse audiences to understand how the system is working and where improvements are needed.
- Bringing science to community change
- Communities in Action, a proven community-change process for reducing youth violence, alcohol and tobacco use and delinquency, successfully launched a new program in central and southeast Seattle.
- The School is the new home of the Healthy Generations Hartford Center of Excellence in Geriatric Social Work, one of only five such centers nationwide that will research issues related to health and aging across the generations.
- Advocating for policy reform
- Forefront, a suicide prevention program, helped shape a bill that requires suicide prevention training for primary care providers in Washington state. Signed into law this spring, the new legislation also sets up a pilot advice line and creates a statewide suicide prevention plan.