Research
Our Research
Our scholars make the social work profession better by learning from and alongside our community partners as they conduct cutting-edge, client-focused research.
School of Social Work research is innovative and social justice focused. It is practice-informed, human-centered, and empowerment-based. Our scholars work with clients, community partners, and collaborators to address contemporary issues in social work, transform practice, and spur social change. They are change agents, asking critical questions, positing new theories, and redesigning practice approaches to advance the profession, build system-level sustainability, and enhance lives.
By the Numbers
50+
Active research grants
$7.4M
In total research awards over the past 5 years
80%
of faculty involve students in publications
Michael P. Dentato, PhD
Associate Dean for Research & Professor Co-Director of the Center for Field Innovation, Research, Strategy, and Training (C-FIRST)
鈥淲hat remains most impressive is our school鈥檚 commitment to preparing our students for impactful integrated and affirming practice efforts with diverse communities, advocacy, and the promotion of social justice. Faculty are quite engaged in meaningful research and scholarship activities, interprofessional education and practice, designing and implementing innovative curricula and specializations, and many hold thriving private practices.鈥� Michael DentatoOur Researchers
Our Research
The School of Social Work faculty is dedicated to research that intersects with many areas of social work. Below, you will find a breakdown of how our faculty has focused its scholarship efforts. To better demonstrate our areas of specialization, our annual IMPACT review lists peer-reviewed publications, books, and book chapters into the three main categories defined by the Grand Challenges of Social Work: Stronger Social Fabric, Individual and Family Well-Being, and Just Society.
Individual and Family Well-Being
- Youth, Adults, & Older Adults: Development Concerns, Well-being, and Resilience
- Behavioral Health & Wellness, Health Equity, & Integrated System of Care
- Violence (Lifespan & Structural)
Just Society
- Advocacy, Social Justice, Environmental, International, & Global Issues
- Race, Gender, & Sexuality
- Employment & Work
Stronger Social Fabric
- Practice Methods, Theories, & Education
- Migration, Refugees, & Human Mobility
- Poverty, Housing Insecurity, & Homelessness
- Technology & Innovation
Our Services
The Office of Research Development provides the School of Social Work, its faculty, and doctoral students with services that support research funding identification and submissions, create relationships, and develop and implement strategies to increase the impact of our research and scholarship. Services we provide include collaboration support, communication of research and research opportunities, proposal support, research career development, strategic research advancement. We also provide support to our doctoral students who apply for fellowships, other awards, or dissertation support.
Collaboration Support
- Facilitate research team collaborations within SSW and across LUC and the community
- Support formal agreements that enable research collaborations
Communication of Research and Research Opportunities
- Annual Impact Review publication聽
- Lunch and Learn trainings are led by faculty each semester to discuss current research projects, or important topics such as MOUs, data sharing agreements, etc.
- Praxis – we support our student-run journal that publishes student and alumni submissions and share it with the broader social work research community
- Monthly ADR Newsletter distributed to faculty, doctoral students, and staff
- CSWE and SSWR presentation compilation of faculty, students, and alumni
- Creation of research-related metrics
- Disseminate funding opportunity information
Proposal Support Functions
- Assist faculty with funding opportunity assessment
- Provide project management support for complex proposals
- Assist with navigation through institutional administrative structures
- Support development of sections of grant submissions
- Plan pre-submission proposal reviews
- Coordinate submission with PI and Office of Research Services
- Plan resubmission strategies for unfunded proposals
Research Career Development
- Faculty Research Scholar Program
- Research career planning consultation
Strategic Research Advancement
- Liaise with Corporate and Foundation Relations Team
- Support School of Social Work research planning initiatives
- Represent School of Social Work on LUC Research Advisory Council led by the Vice Provost for Research
- Liaise weekly with LUC/SSW administration
Doctoral Student Support
The School of Social Work’s doctoral students actively engage in research in collaboration with faculty members, frequently earning publication in esteemed professional journals and informing practice. Our doctoral students are investigating critical contemporary issues, such as social justice and equity, housing and food security, child welfare, social work with immigrants and refugees, restorative justice, health literacy, and trauma-informed care. We offer support to doctoral students who apply for fellowships, other awards, and dissertation funding.
Impact Review
The School of Social Work’s annual Impact Review highlights the diverse and far-reaching research activities of the School’s faculty members. It features compelling stories of our scholars, details recent work from our Centers and Institutes, notes continuing education opportunities the School of Social Work provides, and highlights faculty achievements, including peer-reviewed publications and presentations as well as books and grants.
Praxis
Praxis: Where Reflection & Practice Meet is the official journal of the 黑料门University Chicago School of Social Work. An enterprising scholarly effort led by undergraduate, master's, and doctoral social work students at Loyola, Praxis publishes the scholarly work of School of Social Work students and alumni and provides a forum in which they can express their diverse viewpoints as well as learn from and be inspired by one another’s ideas.
Our Research
The School of Social Work faculty is dedicated to research that intersects with many areas of social work. Below, you will find a breakdown of how our faculty has focused its scholarship efforts. To better demonstrate our areas of specialization, our annual IMPACT review lists peer-reviewed publications, books, and book chapters into the three main categories defined by the Grand Challenges of Social Work: Stronger Social Fabric, Individual and Family Well-Being, and Just Society.
Our Services
The Office of Research Development provides the School of Social Work, its faculty, and doctoral students with services that support research funding identification and submissions, create relationships, and develop and implement strategies to increase the impact of our research and scholarship. Services we provide include collaboration support, communication of research and research opportunities, proposal support, research career development, strategic research advancement. We also provide support to our doctoral students who apply for fellowships, other awards, or dissertation support.
Doctoral Student Support
The School of Social Work’s doctoral students actively engage in research in collaboration with faculty members, frequently earning publication in esteemed professional journals and informing practice. Our doctoral students are investigating critical contemporary issues, such as social justice and equity, housing and food security, child welfare, social work with immigrants and refugees, restorative justice, health literacy, and trauma-informed care. We offer support to doctoral students who apply for fellowships, other awards, and dissertation funding.
Impact Review
The School of Social Work’s annual Impact Review highlights the diverse and far-reaching research activities of the School’s faculty members. It features compelling stories of our scholars, details recent work from our Centers and Institutes, notes continuing education opportunities the School of Social Work provides, and highlights faculty achievements, including peer-reviewed publications and presentations as well as books and grants.
Praxis
Praxis: Where Reflection & Practice Meet is the official journal of the 黑料门University Chicago School of Social Work. An enterprising scholarly effort led by undergraduate, master's, and doctoral social work students at Loyola, Praxis publishes the scholarly work of School of Social Work students and alumni and provides a forum in which they can express their diverse viewpoints as well as learn from and be inspired by one another’s ideas.