Centers, Institutes, and Projects | School of Social Work

The Center for International Social Work Studies at the UConn School of Social Work was established in 1992 to promote knowledge building and professional competence in international social work and human rights. The School of Social Work recognizes the growing importance of social work’s involvement in international problem solving and policy development. A global perspective on human needs, social policy, and practice interventions can best address the social problems of an increasingly interdependent world. While broadly focused on international knowledge related to social work and social development, the Center emphasizes the application of a global and human rights perspective to social workers’ practice in their own communities and internationally.

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Innovations Institute at the UConn School of Social Work advances research-based, inclusive, culturally responsive, and transformative solutions for child-, youth-, and family-serving systems, and supports the workforce within these systems. They do this work in partnership with government agencies, health care providers, youth and their families, and community-based organizations to improve outcomes for and with children, youth, and their families. Innovations supports state and local governments and organizations in implementing and sustaining effective systems and clinical practices that best meet the needs of those involved in the public systems and their families and communities. They provide training, technical assistance, facilitation, analysis, consulting, implementation support, and research and evaluation to support workforce development, systems design and financing, data-driven strategic planning, and quality improvement. Their work is grounded in research, a commitment to social justice, experience and expertise from the field, adult learning theory, and implementation science.

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The Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work was founded to increase the political participation and power of social workers and the clients and communities we serve. Social work is at its most powerful when we bring our skills, expertise, and commitment to social justice to all aspects of the political process. Political social work can and should be a part of any practice from micro to macro and is supported by our Code of Ethics. The Humphreys Institute prepares social workers to lead in politics through our renowned Campaign School for Social Workers, nonpartisan voter engagement training, and resources to integrate civic engagement into curricula and field education. We are co-founders of the National Social Work Voter Mobilization Campaign, home to Votingissocialwork.org, and work to expand voting rights, participation, and access at the local, state and national levels.

Learn more about the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work.

The Puerto Rican and Latin@ Studies Project (PRLSP) was founded in 1980 under the leadership of Dr. Julio Morales as a model program funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The Project is unique because of its mission to advance the well-being of Latin@s through education, research, and community engagement on local, national and global levels. It is one of the few Projects of its nature in schools of social work in the United States. The PRLSP has been referenced and used as a model in various arenas such as the Council on Social Work Education and different social work programs throughout the nation.

Learn more about the Puerto Rican and Latin@ Studies Project (PRLSP).