Partner Spotlight: Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health

The Initiative on Cities partners with several organizations across campus at Boston University, each of which offers unique and engaging opportunities and programming for students and faculty. This week, we’re featuring the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health.

What issues is the CISWH currently tackling, and how can students get involved?

 The Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health at Boston University’s School of Social Work is dedicated to expanding the impact of social work in health care and public health in order to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations nationally and globally. CISWH seeks to improve outcomes, patient experience, and population health; reduce costs; and promote health equity and social justice. The Center supports social work leadership in health through cross-sector collaboration with public health, medicine, health economics, technology, and other relevant disciplines. The Center accomplishes its mission through research, community partnerships, policy development, and by providing technical assistance and educational opportunities. Some of our current areas of focus include substance use, HIV, children and youth, global health, and the changing health workforce. Students can get involved by attending events, and by working as research assistants (new opportunities are typically posted at the beginning of a semester).

What upcoming research projects, events or programming are you most excited about?

CISWH is currently in the middle of several exciting pilot research projects, focused on the relationship between mental health, racism, and trauma in Asian American women, as well as programs to help parents with intellectual disabilities, and police responses to mental health incidents in schools.

How do you interact with the city of Boston and/or partner with us at the Initiative on Cities?

CISWH and the IOC share faculty, and our organizations have provided support and resources to each other for programming and advising on community partnerships.

Any other comments you want to share about your work?

You can learn more at bu.edu/ciswh! Stay up to date with upcoming events and forthcoming research by signing up for our newsletter, and following us on Facebook and Twitter.