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Attention incoming @uconnsocialwork MSW students! Are you interested in helping the underserved in urban and rural communities? Consider applying for the Social Work Urban Service Track (UST)/ Connecticut Area Health Education Center Scholars Program!

Now in its 20th year, this innovative enrichment opportunity is part of national movement funded by the U.S. Bureau of Health Professions. Scholars receive didactic, experiential, and longitudinal training focused on the medical management of the underserved.

Social work students participating in UST can earn elective credit for an Independent Study connected to the work completed with the UST program.

Applications are currently being accepted, with a deadline of Aug. 3. E-mail Rachel Schwartz, rachel.schwartz@uconn.edu, for more information or for a deadline extension. ...

New research co-authored by @uconnsocialwork Associate Professor Nathanael J. Okpych highlights the importance of campus support programs for students who have experienced foster care, homelessness, or other circumstances that make them independent as they pursue higher education.

The study found that students who participated in a campus support program earned significantly higher first-year GPAs than eligible students who did not participate, suggesting these programs can play an important role in promoting academic success. The research also found that fewer than one in five eligible students accessed these services, underscoring the need for stronger outreach and engagement.

📖 Read the study: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10560-026-01147-w ...

The @uconnsocialwork proudly celebrates six doctoral candidates who successfully defended their dissertations in 2026. Their research addresses some of today`s most pressing social issues—from food insecurity, refugee rights, and substance use treatment to religious trauma, early intervention services, and the experiences of women serving in the military.

They include:

🎓 Dr. Cindy Dubuque-Gallo, “The Disparate Impact of Devolution on a Child Food Insecurity Program: A Policy Analysis of the Community Eligibility Provision”

🎓 Dr. Grace Felten, “Beyond the State: Informal Humanitarianism, Refugee Rights, and Grassroots Protection in Greece and the United States”

🎓 Dr. Elizabeth J. Goldsborough, "Exploring Tobacco Treatment in Substance Use Care: Provider and Organizational Factors"

🎓 Dr. Leah Holle, “A Mixed-Methods Study Investigating the Intersection of Religious Trauma and Disordered Eating in Women and Gender Diverse Individuals”

🎓 Dr. Emily Longo, “Bridging the Gap Between Education and Social Work: Barriers to IDEA Part C Early Intervention Service Access and Utilization for Adoptive Families”

🎓 Dr. Teresa Works, “All Eyes on Me…” The Experience of Female Officers in the Military”

We also extend our appreciation to their faculty advisors—Kathy Libal, Michael Fendrich, Cristina Wilson, and Scott Harding—for their mentorship and guidance throughout each scholar`s doctoral journey.

🎉 Congratulations to our graduates on this outstanding achievement, and best wishes as they continue to advance research, practice, and social justice in their careers!

#uconnssw ...

🌈 Registration is now open for the 14th Annual LGBTQ Research Symposium, presented by the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. (@uconnsocialwork, @kuschoolofsocialwelfare)

This year`s theme, Critical Hope: Queering Care, Belonging, and Survival, explores research, practice, and scholarship that advance equity, community, and social justice.

📅 Sept. 17–18, 2026
💻 Virtual Event
🎤 50+ presentations

We`re excited to welcome three outstanding invited speakers:

✨ D Dangaran, assistant professor of law, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
✨ Kevin Gotkin, assistant director, NYU Center for Disability Studies
✨ Myrl Beam, associate professor of women`s, gender, and sexuality studies, Macalester College

Registration fees:
• Faculty & staff: $60
• Community members: $30
• Students: Free
• Optional CECs/CEUs: $15 recording fee

🔗 Register today: https://lgbtqresearchsymposium.com/ ...

Marijuana: Miracle Drug or the Devil`s Lettuce? 🌿🧠

As marijuana becomes increasingly available for both medical and recreational use, separating fact from fiction has never been more important. Join @uconnsocialwork alumnus, William C. Gilbert, Ph.D., LCSW, AADC for an engaging, evidence-based webinar that explores what current research tells us about marijuana`s effects on the brain and body. This balanced presentation will examine common myths, validated medical uses, potential risks, and the broader cultural and societal impact of marijuana use.

Whether you are a social worker, behavioral health professional, healthcare provider, or simply interested in understanding the science, you`ll leave with practical, research-informed knowledge you can apply in your work.

📅 Saturday, July 11, 2026
🕙 10 a.m. to noon EST
💻 Virtual
🎓 2 Continuing Education Credits (CECs)
Registration: $50
UConn School of Social Work alumni and current field instructors receive a 10% discount.

Hosted by the UConn School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education.

Learn more and register!https://socialwork.uconn.edu/2026/04/14/marijuana-miracle-drug-or-the-devils-lettuce/ ...