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While at the University of Nairobi, Fulbright Scholar Dr. Sungseek Moon aimed to teach a course in epidemiological research methods and conduct collaborative research with local scholars and develop a culturally responsive prevention model for substance use among Kenyan youth. 

Dr. Dennis Myers is retiring after 43 years of service to Baylor University and the School of Social Work.

Labyrinth walking was once an ancient contemplative or spiritual practice, and its benefits for contemporary society are being understood through study. Today, the practice is used as a therapeutic experience and can be found in many churches, hospitals and universities. On World Labyrinth Day, which occurs every year on the first Saturday in May, individuals and communities walk labyrinths in a unified gesture for peace and healing.

I remember the day in March 2013 when Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis. As a young 20-something postulant, I lived in a convent cut off from the outside world—no phone, internet or newspapers. After a continuous prayer vigil during the conclave, we were granted rare permission to watch the momentous announcement of our new pope on the community room television.

At a March for Life in late January, Vice President J.D. Vance said, “…it is the task of our government to make it easier for young moms and dads to afford to have kids, to bring them into the world and to welcome them as the blessings that we know they are.”

I am the kind of person who likes rules. I arrived in the world this way—sprang forth from the womb directing and correcting—immediately and intensely confused by people less inclined to stay in line.

I once thought this was just a lucky disposition toward righteousness because, like so many people, I was led to believe obedience and holiness were near, if not perfect, synonyms.

Dr. Donna Nickerson, a licensed psychotherapist with a background in social work, grew up in Clifton, just about 45 minutes from Waco. In her later years of high school, her family moved to Waco, where she attended Waco High and was able to familiarize herself with the city.

Nickerson’s parents ran a thrift store in East Waco for some time, and Nickerson would always find herself returning to visit her parents. However, when the thrift store turned into a vacant building and her parents gave her the keys in 2014, she decided to take advantage of the new opportunity to create change in a city that needed it.

Nearly 6,000 graduate students pursue their Masters or Doctoral degrees at Baylor—nearly one-third of the student body. Many of these students study on campus, while others pursue online degrees as they work in their home communities. As Baylor celebrates Graduate Student Appreciation Week, meet our social work student whose scholarship, work and experiences advance Baylor’s mission and contribute meaningfully to our role as a Christian research university—impacting the world beyond campus borders.

VIDEO - Members of the Robinson Independent School District community are starting a new effort to ensure students in need can get a helping hand right in the district, with support from their peers. The district will hold a donation drive March 24 through April 4 to replenish care closets in each school and set up a districtwide closet stocked with necessities. The care closets will grow from just providing school supplies to provide jackets, hygiene items, shirts, shoes and coordination with local social support organizations for families in need.

For Master of Social Work students, internships are not only a degree requirement but also a pivotal point in their professional growth. This invaluable experience bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Every year, Community Healthcare of Texas (CHOT) interns become important members of our interdisciplinary teams caring for patients and families diagnosed with a serious or life-limiting illness.

In honor of Social Work Month, we recently had the privilege of hearing from Aleia Durston as she reflected on her journey with Community Healthcare of Texas and her aspirations for the future. Aleia earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN, in May 2024, and she is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University, with graduation anticipated in May 2025.

Social work interns at Community Healthcare of Texas and Providence Hospice are vital members of our interdisciplinary team, helping to support the diverse needs of hospice and palliative care patients, caregivers, and families. Throughout their internship, they gain invaluable hands-on experience, applying their academic knowledge in real-world settings while preparing for their future careers in social work.

In honor of Social Work Month, we had the opportunity to connect with Bree Williams, a soon-to-be graduate of the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University. As she prepares to take the next step in her journey, Bree reflected on her time with us, sharing her experiences and hopes for the future.

Serving others has always been important to social work student Lyndsi Carlson Chapin. From a young age she was taught to serve others and give back to her community. Growing up, she always found joy in learning about and celebrating others’ stories. Lyndsi's passion for building relationships, offering encouragement and standing beside people at their most vulnerable moments is the backbone of her success in the world of social work. 

March marks National Social Work Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of social workers who play a vital role in creating a compassionate society and dedicate their lives to empowering individuals, families, and communities. 

From a young age, Minah Daniela Miranda has had an interest in people. Her first 13 years were spent moving around, which gave her the privilege of meeting diverse individuals and communities. This exposure deepened her understanding of different social dynamics and unique challenges people face. Whether it's a moment of joy or sadness, Miranda has always been drawn to witnessing and supporting others. This passion naturally led her toward the field of social work. 

In observance of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month this February, the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) is recognizing two individuals and one organization for their advocacy against teen dating violence in Texas. Following the release of TCFV’s 2023 Honoring Texas Victims Report, in which the deaths of 10 Texans 19 years old or younger are detailed, TCFV says educating young people about healthy relationships is more important than ever for the future of our state.

From Line Camp to Welcome Week to the Baylor Line and the on-campus living experience, Baylor goes above and beyond to help new students feel like they are truly a part of the Baylor Family. Eyes across the nation are taking notice — the most notable being U.S. News, which once again this year ranked Baylor in the top 10 nationally for “first-year experience.” The write-up on Baylor noted the emphasis on Christian faith and service, as seen in traditions such as Steppin’ Out and the wide variety of missions opportunities.

Like puzzle pieces that fit together to reveal a more complete picture, Baylor researchers address pressing global needs alongside colleagues in departments across campus. Both individually and collaboratively, they form more complete approaches to solving multifaceted problems. At the heart of their work is a call to stewardship — being good stewards of the world God created and making the most of a distinctly Christian research platform. 

Guidara writes, “’Black and white’ means you’re doing your job with competence and efficiency; ‘color’ means you make people feel great about the job you’re doing for them. Getting the right plate to the right person at the right table is service. But genuinely engaging with the person you’re serving, so you can make an authentic connection—that’s hospitality.” Guidara tells story after story of making such a connection with his guests, celebrating life’s ups and downs, and learning to see people with greater intentionality, empathy and authenticity.

Several faculty in and supporting Environmental Humanities just spoke at the UN Habitat World Urban Forum 12 (Nov. 4-8) in Cairo, Egypt.  Dr. Stephanie Boddie (Social Work, Environmental Humanities faculty affiliate) and Dr. Joshua King (English, Environmental Humanities Director) shared about their work with the Sustainable Community and Regenerative Agriculture (SCRAP) Collective, and Dr. Paul Martens (Religion, Director of Baylor's Ethics Initiative and Interdisciplinary Programs) organized an interdisciplinary panel focused on interfaith human dignity.  

Intentionally practicing gratitude encourages us to regularly recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of our lives. While research shows that gratitude benefits health, well-being and happiness, it simultaneously fosters new connections and strengthens existing relationships by encouraging positive interactions and prosocial behaviors.

Psychologist, Dr. Gail Gross & licensed therapist, Cali Werner, share tips on how to decompress and how to better handle things we can't control.

The Central Texas African-American Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 20th Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, recognizing individuals and businesses with outstanding dedication and service to the community.

The Rising Star Award recognizes young adults in the community who exhibit leadership and passion, whether through owning a business, working with nonprofits, or being actively involved in service. The Chamber’s coordinator for the Center of Business Excellence, Jocelyn Williams, emphasized the importance of celebrating these individuals who inspire others through their hard work and dedication.

November is National Adoption Month, which seeks to increase national awareness of adoption issues, bring attention to the need for adoptive families for teens in the U.S.  foster care system and emphasize the value of youth engagement. This year’s national theme – "Honoring Youth: Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds" – recognizes the importance of working toward an adoption journey that is imbued with meaning and purpose, paving the way for healing, well-being and long-term stability.

This month, Baylor was awarded a near $1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program to alleviate food insecurity in Waco’s underprivileged communities and drive sustainable agricultural practices.

The Bridges to Belonging project is equipping congregations across Central Texas to more fully welcome youth and young adults (ages 13–25) facing disabilities, mental health challenges, and chronic illnesses. In its first year, the project has begun sparking dialogue and fostering new relationships among local churches, all aimed at making congregations more accessible, inclusive, and truly representative of the body of Christ.

Baylor University is well-represented on a prestigious list compiling the top 2% most-cited researchers in the world. In a database compiled by Stanford University, 43 current or retired Baylor faculty members and postdoctoral researchers appear among the top 2% of the most-cited researchers across into 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields according to the standard Science-Metrix classification.

“We don’t want those people at our church.”

When people from the community began to walk through the doors on Sunday morning, I heard this grumbling from church members who had just participated in outreach to them...

“Those people” were my friends, my community and as Jesus refers to them, my neighbors. Sadly, these grumblings continue in many churches.

Baylor University has been awarded a nearly $1 million grant from the EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CCGP) to drive transformative local initiatives aimed at bolstering food security, advancing sustainable agriculture and enhancing climate resilience in Waco’s underserved communities. 

"I listened from two perspectives–the social work researcher and the person who had grown up in and deeply loved this church. We learned a lot about collective trauma and how it impacts congregations through that study, but hearing from people I love about surrendering to death has stuck with me to this day." 

At this year's CSWE Annual Convention, members of our Garland School family had the opportunity to travel to Kansas City and present their research to the larger Social Work community. We are so proud of the research being done by GSSW faculty, students, and alumni, and we invite you to check out the important topics that they've been studying!

The Garland School was well represented at the 2024 NACSW Annual Convention this year. The gathering saw many GSSW faculty, students, and alumni present research on some of today's most significant topics in the field of social work. Much of the work that was demonstrated at the conference was centered around our 10th Competency - which we are so proud of! Come and explore the wide array of cutting-edge research topics that our Garland School community is bringing before social workers at the national level.

Before she came to know Baylor as a student, Lucy Huh, a doctoral candidate in Baylor’s Garland School of Social Work, was first introduced to Baylor through the late Diana R. Garland – the namesake and inaugural dean of Baylor’s School of Social Work – and her pioneering research on clergy sexual abuse of adults.

Through U.S. Department of Education funding, Professor Carrie Arroyo, LCSW, alongside Mary Zane Nelson, LCSW, and Dr. Stephanie Boddie, launched the Partnering for Heart of Texas Mental Health project. This initiative focuses on improving mental and emotional well-being for Waco ISD and Transformation Waco students. Six MSW clinical interns are providing school-based mental health services, with a Clinical School Social Work certificate program in development. This project is positively impacting students, families, and the community by increasing access to holistic and culturally inclusive mental health care on school campuses.

Dr. Elissa Madden, contracted by the Texas Supreme Court Children’s Commission, evaluated the McLennan County Parent Advocacy Program (PAP), which provides child welfare-related legal services to help families navigate CPS investigations and prevent child removals. Madden’s evaluation found that the program served 51 clients and prevented 91 children from entering foster care. Through interviews and surveys, the evaluation highlighted the program’s success in addressing custody modifications, CPS defenses, and family law matters. Madden emphasized the need for similar programs in other communities to provide critical legal support to families facing CPS involvement.

Dr. Gaynor Yancey, with funding from Fellowship Southwest, selects and trains MSW students at Baylor to work with congregations, strengthening ministries, deepening faith, and fostering community transformation. The project enables students to conduct congregational research, raising awareness of resources available for congregational growth. Program Manager Erin Albin Hill highlights how students integrate faith with social work practice. Upon the project's completion in July 2024, 13 students will have participated, many now serving in roles supporting congregations and community development across the country.

Dr. Gaynor Yancey, leading the Center for Church and Community Impact (C3I) at Baylor, collaborated with congregations on Accompaniment, Trauma Care, and LGBTQ+ Discernment through the Baugh Foundation’s Building Resilient Congregations initiative. This research pilot focuses on fostering belonging, resiliency, and strengths in spiritual communities using an evidence-based curriculum and peer-learning model. Early results from the 2023 mid-year evaluation indicate positive impacts, with congregations benefiting from humble curiosity, self-awareness, and strengths-based approaches in navigating challenging conversations.

In 2023, over 30,000 U.S. youth faced homelessness without a guardian, with 20% escaping domestic violence. Partnering with the Klaras Center for Families' Homeless Youth Safety Net Project, Dr. Cheryl Pooler evaluated the Chase House, a transitional housing facility in Central Texas. This program, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, supports youth by fostering human connection, amplifying their voices in decision-making, and promoting high school graduation. Testimonials from Chase House youth highlight its transformative role in providing stability, life skills, and support during critical life transitions

Dr. Jinyu Liu, in collaboration with Dr. Clara Li, is studying the impact of immigration experiences on cognitive outcomes among older Chinese immigrants to the U.S., aiming to develop tailored interventions for Alzheimer's prevention.

A Texas initiative, led by Baylor University, trains professionals in Motivational Interviewing (MI) to support commercially sexually exploited youth. With 12 certified trainers statewide, the program helps victims heal and explore new life paths through specialized intervention techniques.

Research and painful experience consistently demonstrate domestic violence is as prevalent in churchgoing families as it is in the general population, author and domestic abuse survivor Geneece Goertzen said.

GSSW PhD Student and Research Fellow Heather Deal alongside Baptist Women in Ministry (BWIM), is working together with Dr. Yancey to build an assessment tool for congregations and, ultimately, a curriculum that can be used to work towards creating an environment within their congregation that is one in which women in ministry are not only accepted but thriving. 

Extending Baylor University’s year-long focus on civil discourse, 12 Baylor University faculty members have joined together as the first faculty cohort of Bridgebuilding Fellows. Each faculty member serves as a role model and works to equip the campus community to make positive connections with one another across deep divides.

On Aug. 15-16, the faculty Bridgebuilding Fellows completed training using the Bridging the Gap (BTG) curriculum, a grant-funded program through Interfaith America that equips participants with the skills and knowledge to better engage across divisions in polarized contexts. Civil discourse is interwoven into the University’s new strategic plan, Baylor in Deeds, with faculty programs such as bridgebuilding, helping students develop the skills to effectively lead and serve in complex, diverse – and sometimes polarized – environments.

In a world where the power of connection and understanding can transform lives, Cassie Niedhammer shines brightly as a beacon of hope. Recognized as the Clinical Intern of the Year from the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University, Cassie’s journey reflects a profound commitment to helping others, particularly children and families navigating the complexities of grief.

The healthcare model of the future recognizes the need for additional skilled mental and behavioral health professionals in the primary care environment. There is a shortage of mental health professionals in Texas who are trained for intervention in primary care. 

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease and other progressive neurocognitive disorders comes with a wide range of challenges, emotions and stressors. Despite those difficult circumstances, an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Baylor University found that family caregivers who recognize and cultivate feelings of gratitude are better able to adjust to their roles with a greater sense of well-being and enhanced coping.

Waco was 1 of 10 U.S. Communities That Received More Than $2.5 Million in Grants for Community-led Sustainability Projects As A Part of The Newest Round of Partners for Places Matching Grants and Has Succeeded in its First Year.

Waco's Sustainable Community and Regenerative Agriculture Project or "S.C.R.A.P." Collective has recently concluded its first year of working to promote sustainability in the Central Texas community. Having received a $150,000 grant from The Funders Network and a matching grant from the Cooper Foundation, the S.C.R.A.P. Collective is growing a healthy, equitable food system in Waco to address issues of food waste, food insecurity, and climate resilience. 

Dr. Danielle Parrish and Ph.D. student Cali Werner are researching mental health in Collegiate and Olympic athletes, focusing on evidence-based interventions and the effects of NIL deals and Olympic Blues.

Over the last three years, Dr. Laine Scales as worked alongside the Baylor University Libraries Learning Design team designing and facilitating a number of professional development opportunities for Baylor faculty and graduate students. Dr. Scales has been instrumental in the success of DOTS (Designing for Online Teaching Success) for Baylor doctoral students and DIVE (Designing Instruction for Virtual Engagement) for Baylor faculty interested in best practices in online education.

Professor David Pooler is a Professor in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University. What is consent and power in clergy-laity relations?

When the world tunes into the Olympic Games, they will celebrate elite athletes’ physical excellence, discipline and competitive spirit. These Olympians push the boundaries of human performance, breaking records and achieving feats that inspire millions. However, behind the scenes of their triumphant victories and grueling training sessions lies a less visible yet equally critical aspect of their lives – mental health. The intense pressure to perform, the constant scrutiny from media and fans and the sacrifices made in personal lives can take a significant toll on their psychological well-being. Garland School of Social Work researchers have studied how strategies involving Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

C3I intern Kennedy Garland writes about the importance of multi-generational ministry and gives churches the tools and steps for how to make that shift in their congregations. 

"Generational ministries are common, but programs that include all generations are not always available. We know different generations can come together on more than Sundays, but we often don’t know how. To do so, we must be intentional."

C3I Program Manager Erin Albin Hill reflects on the childcare crisis that is impacting millennials in America right now.

"I’m a community social worker so my thoughts often go to policy and systems. When the Child Tax Credit was in place during Covid, child poverty decreased from 9.7% to 5.2%. Within a month of its removal, child poverty increased by 3%. Those extra funds were just enough to make a difference in the everyday financial situation of families."

Nada Dorman is the Garland School’s MSW Alicia Martinez Spirit of Social Work Award recipient, and this quote describes her life’s journey quite well. Nada was a non-traditional graduate student in our online MSW program. After working 20 years in the marketing/public relations profession, she decided to make a change. Even though her first career was full of exciting jobs like working with Netflix, she found this path not to be the one she was called to walk. 

“I’ve always had a helper spirit, but I studied communications, pursued a master’s [degree] and had a really exciting and successful career in marketing and PR, but it just wasn’t fulfilling,” Nada said. 

Lucy Huh, who researches adult clergy sexual abuse at Baylor University, said victims consider what they have to lose—their reputations, relationships, marriages, faith communities, and even their faith itself—and most remain silent, keeping their trauma to themselves. The result looks very different than what happens to people who have affairs. “Consensual relationships don’t result in trauma and lifelong suffering,” Huh said. New research done at Baylor in fact shows that survivors of adult clergy sexual abuse suffer rates of traumatization that surpass even war veterans. In a study that is currently being peer-reviewed for publication, professor David Pooler found 39 percent of adult survivors screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

We invite you to apply to join a Congregational Learning Community as a part of the new project Bridges to Belonging: Accessible Ministry with Youth and Young Adults. This project is focused on equipping churches to welcome and support young people (aged 13-25) with disabilities (including mental health challenges and chronic illnesses). 

This interdisciplinary project is a collaboration of George W. Truett Seminary, the Center for Church and Community Impact (C3i), and the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCDD). We are funded through Lilly Endowment Inc.'s Thriving Congregations Initiative. 

Sungseek Moon, Ph.D.,will spend his Fulbright year in Kenya teaching and conducting public health/social work research at the University of Nairobi's College of Health Sciences. Sungseek Moon, Ph.D., The Carl and Martha Lindner Endowed Chair for Global Studies and professor at Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, has been selected as a 2024-2025 Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Kenya, joining an elite group of scholars who have received the prestigious and competitive fellowship from the U.S. government’s premier international educational exchange program.

A researcher and expert on adult clergy sexual abuse in the U.S. is working with survivors, advocates, academics, and emerging scholars to shed light on the pervasive issue and promote meaningful change within religious institutions.

Researchers writing on adult clergy sexual abuse (ACSA) often begin their literature review by recognizing that studies on ACSA are minimal. This limited research highlights the urgent need for collaboratives like the Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse Advocacy and Research Collaborative (ACSARC) at Baylor University. In addition to deepening understanding of ACSA and its ramifications, ACSARC strives to help fill the knowledge gap, thereby fostering a more comprehensive understanding of ACSA.

The Center for Church and Community Impact (C3I) has been empowering congregations to better serve their communities for the past 25 years. C3I provides research, training, and internships that equip congregations to address social justice issues, create welcoming environments, and walk alongside those in their community. Through its programs, C3I has helped congregations create positive change in the lives of countless individuals and families. This article celebrates the Center’s 25th anniversary and the many graduates and supporters who have shared their experiences and expressed their gratitude for the Center’s work.

Dr. David Pooler speaks with media in Florida about the topic of adult clergy sexual abuse in the midst of a breaking story about alleged miscoduct from a local religious figure in the area. Dr. Pooler, a leading expert in this area, talks with ABC7's Summer Smith about this type of abuse.

There’s no shortage of challenges that can impact a child’s mental health — but school districts often face a shortage of qualified mental health professionals. Baylor researchers in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work are working to bridge this gap in Central Texas. Carrie Arroyo serves as senior lecturer of social work and Mary Zane Nelson serves as project director of a project called Partnering for Heart of Texas (H.O.T.) Mental Health. In this Baylor Connections, they take listeners inside this $2.5 million partnership with Waco ISD schools. (Click the headline to listen and read the transcript.)

While labyrinth walking has been a movement meditation for thousands of years, there is modern research to suggest it is beneficial to mental health. A study published last year in Frontiers in Psychology found that labyrinth walking helped ease stress of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“For people in hospitals and prisons, labyrinth walking as a mind-body integrative practice can be life-sustaining and healing in addition to traditional forms of medical treatment or counseling,” Jocelyn Shealy McGee, assistant professor in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University in Texas, who was a researcher in the study, told the BBC. 

Online MSW Candidate and C3I intern Jessica Lewis penned an OpEd for Baptist News Global. Within my role as a social work intern at The Center for Church and Community Impact, I recently led a team of individuals as we conducted an asset map in Falls and McLennan counties in the heart of Texas. This asset map helped shed some light on the valuable role rural churches play in addressing the physical and social needs of older adults. Through the information gathered for the asset map of rural churches in the area, we revealed fascinating insights into the services and ministries offered by those congregations and their potential influence on the aging population.

According to the NASW, there are more than 600 accredited schools of social work in the US, and our ranking puts us in the TOP 8% of programs ... In the U.S. News Best Schools for Social Work rankings, we are ranked No. 51 in the nation. We offer the Master of Social Work with residential and online options and the Ph.D. in social work, which is designed to develop leaders and educators who can lead visionary social work education or service programs and conduct original research addressing today’s complex social issues.

If you’re serving clients, patients, kids, families, students, or helping at work in a fast-paced environment, inviting in restful rhythms in life or marriage may feel audacious and impossible next to your never-ending to-do list. However, those who are natural givers often deeply struggle to thrive because of this tendency to serve until burnout. Here you're invited to lean into practices that will help you to give for the long haul as we chat with Dr. Holly Oxhandler.

I love that there is a month set aside to embrace my culture, one where I feel appreciated and valued. In September, there are many celebrations that take place in communities, at schools and even churches for Hispanic Heritage Month. 

But now that we are a few months past that designated time, I always ask myself why our culture can’t be celebrated year-round. Why is my culture put on the back burner every other month of the year? 

There are so many beautiful ways to serve and welcome the Hispanic community during all the other months as well. 

I cried Sunday night watching two seemingly different individuals perform one of my favorite songs together. I love music and look forward to the Grammy Awards every year.

While I love celebrating my favorite artists and watching about half the performances, once in a while a performance stands out and really moves me. One of the most iconic moments from the Grammys that made such an impression happened 20 years ago when I was in fourth grade.

Last week, a little red, three-and-a-half-year-old puppet asked our world how we were doing, and it turns out we needed someone to ask. We were honest with our answers, and it became national news. Elmo’s question on X garnered over 40,000 responses and roughly 182.3 million views. While some posts were positive, most were brutally honest about negative feelings of stress and anxiety, depression and despair. As Elmo’s post became national news, outlets referred to the responses as a “social media trauma dump” and “social media dread.”  Even the President of the United States weighed in, saying, “I know how hard it is some days to sweep the clouds away and get to sunnier days. Our friend Elmo is right: We have to be there for each other, offer our help to a neighbor in need, and, above all else, ask for help when needed. Even though it’s hard, you’re never alone.” 

People become social workers because they have a strong desire to help others. Social workers have a hearty sense of social justice and follow a Code of Ethics that calls on them to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people. They are particularly attuned to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.

Before she came to know Baylor as a student, Lucy Huh, a doctoral candidate in Baylor’s Garland School of Social Work, was first introduced to Baylor through the late Diana R. Garland – the namesake and inaugural dean of Baylor’s School of Social Work – and her pioneering research on clergy sexual abuse of adults. Clergy sexual abuse occurs when a person with religious authority intentionally uses their role, position and power to sexually exploit a congregant. As a survivor-advocate of clergy sexual abuse, Huh found a home to pursue her own research at Baylor.

Lead advisor to the president, Methodist Children’s Home Part-time staff, First Methodist Church of Waco Founder, motivational speaker, rapper and trainer, MovementUP LLC...Ahmad Washington advises, preaches and ministers to youth and raps to his own music. Sometimes he does it all at the same time. Weekdays, he serves as lead advisor to the president of Methodist Children’s Home. He’s also a part-time staff member at First Methodist Church of Waco. And in between, he runs his own motivational organization, MovementUP LLC, emphasizing positivity and connection between students and teachers.

PODCAST: Caregivers are prime candidates for burnout, but social worker Holly Oxhandler says we find healing when we honor God’s image in ourselves and those we serve.

WACO, Texas (Dec. 11, 2023) – Baylor University has been awarded a  $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to establish an interdisciplinary project that focuses on helping congregations embrace young people with disabilities, mental health challenges and chronic illnesses.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 

But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said: “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her: “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42 NLT).

The Sustainable Communities and Regenerative Agriculture Project Collective, a group of climate-smart organizations, is implementing grant-funded projects in Waco aimed toward public food production, education and composting as a means to reduce food waste.

Sixty families in rural northern Sierra Leone are reaping the benefits of a new cash crop, thanks to a ministry led by a Baylor University graduate and supported by the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering.

As part of an R1 institution, two professors in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work shared their experience with research and how it benefits the people around them.

Dr. Jocelyn McGee, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, said her research focuses on Alzheimer’s and dementia patients as well as their caregivers. McGee specifically looks into how having hope affects patients and caregivers’ resilience.

Women represent the fastest-growing population in U.S. institutional corrections facilities. In the past four decades, the number of women incarcerated has increased by more than 475%, rising from 26,326 in 1980 to 152,854 in 2020. Because the majority of imprisoned women are mothers, a conservative estimate indicates that at least one million American children have experienced maternal incarceration, and a substantial portion of them are adolescents.

Baylor researchers have been awarded $2.5 million across five years to pursue mental health opportunities for students in the Waco area. The program, Partnering for Heart of Texas Mental Health, will also assist Baylor students working toward their master’s degrees in social work as it funds their education.

When it comes to more fully understanding religion and faith in Latin America, Dr. Juan Carlos Esparza Ochoa bridges data, social work and theology — and at Baylor, he’s found a collaborative spot to continue decades of research in this area.

As researchers and leaders in the field of trauma and congregations, staff from the Garland School of Social Work’s Center for Church and Community Impact (C3I) were recently invited to present research findings at a meeting hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

WACO, Texas - July 31, 2023 - PRLog -- A new collective, S.C.R.A.P. (Sustainable Community and Regenerative Agriculture Project), has received a $150,000 grant from The Funders Network and a matching grant from the the Cooper Foundation. S.C.R.A.P. is growing a healthy, equitable food system in Waco to address issues of food waste, food insecurity, and climate resilience.

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Waco ISD and Transformation Waco schools will see more licensed mental health professionals inside campuses in the coming years.

It’s all because of a more than $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, all of these licensed mental health professionals will be Baylor graduate students.

WACO, Texas (July 13, 2023) – Baylor University researchers in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work have earned a significant federal grant to bolster mental health services to school children by preparing licensed mental health providers for work in schools.

Women represent the fastest-growing population in U.S. institutional corrections facilities. In the past four decades, the number of women incarcerated has increased by more than 475%, rising from 26,326 in 1980 to 152,854 in 2020. Because the majority of imprisoned women are mothers, a conservative estimate indicates that at least one million American children have experienced maternal incarceration, and a substantial portion of them are adolescents.

WACO, Texas (May 9, 2023) – Twelve Baylor University professors have been honored with Outstanding Faculty Awards for teaching, scholarship and contributions to the academic community for the 2022-2023 academic year. Our own Luci Hoppe was among the honorees!

WACO, Texas (May 4, 2023) – Baylor University today announced a $1.5 million gift from Charlie and Cindy Fuller of Woodway, Texas, and their family, establishing an endowed faculty chair position to support innovative research and teaching within the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work.

Faith has long had a contentious relationship with mental health, especially from the side of clinical practitioners. The mental health field itself is not a particularly strong religious incorporation though we know it is important for clients and so counselors need to wrestle with how they plan to practice with integrating spirituality. It is our believe that faith has a place in the clinical counseling session and Christian practices, when done ethically, can promote change and healing. 

Garland School of Social Work alumna and adjunct professor Bianca Smith opened her own private practice for counseling and consulting online, called iKultivate, in 2022. While pursuing her master’s degree in social work, Smith said she knew she wanted to pursue private practice.

WACO, Texas (March 24, 2023) – National Social Work Month is a time to celebrate the role social workers play in society. Dedicated to breaking barriers that prevent people from achieving their own potential, social workers are essential to improving the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

Dr. Brianna Lemmons, an assistant professor at the Diana Garland School of Social Work has authored and collaborated on her first textbook entitled, Social Work Practice With Fathers: Engagement, Assessment, and Intervention, published by Springer Charm. When she learned her textbook would be published, she felt both excited and immensely grateful. 

Kerri Fisher, a full-time, senior lecturer at the Garland School of Social Work was recently promoted to the position of associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion. Fisher will serve the school in a variety of ways in this new role, including bringing vision, and accountability.

Hurt. Assault. Violence. Disaster. Loss. Grief. Death. Trigger. Trauma.

What is our initial reaction to each of these words?

“Why should we talk about Black History Month at our church?” This was a question posed to me by someone at a church I am working with.

I had asked for approval to make weekly posts honoring and celebrating Black History Month on the church’s social media page. This church is in a small, rural, Southern town and has little to no experience talking about race productively. I explained this could be a good starting point to learn about the beauty and uniqueness of the Black community’s culture and rich history. A social media post allows people to determine what level of engagement they would like to have with the information. It is a low-stakes intervention.

The church is the beautiful, multifaceted body of Christ, made up of imperfect people impacted and often harmed by imperfect people. We as God’s people declare all humans are created in the image of God—reflecting his character to see the world through eyes of love.

Dr. Stephanie Boddie is a gardener at heart: sowing, cultivating and encouraging the seeds of her students’ critical thinking skills as intentionally as she works the earth in her own garden. She even teaches a class called “Education from a Gardener’s Perspective,” where her students practice introspection through mindful reflection outdoors in a garden.

Our founding dean, Dr. Diana S. Richmond Garland, has been recognized posthumously with the National Association of Social Work Pioneers Award. This is the second major award given to Garland by NASW.

We are surrounded by messages that the holidays are supposed to be perfect—the perfect time with the perfect weather for perfect families to gather, eat perfect meals and exchange perfect gifts while we make perfect memories. What do we do when that doesn’t happen and the expectation is shattered?

Throughout the vast expanses of Texas, people in both rural and urban communities benefit from behavioral health care professionals, who address the needs of children and adults in challenges ranging from diabetes management to substance abuse. The state, however, faces a challenge—more than 75 percent of counties in Texas qualify as behavioral health shortage areas. Across rural areas, the need is particularly acute, and it grows even more for patients who are Spanish-speaking.

Baptist scholars recently gathered at Oxford University for the 2022 Baptist Scholars International Roundtable (BSIR), hosted by the Baylor University Graduate School, to promote Baptist scholarship among faculty around the world. BSIR is co-directed by Laine Scales, Ph.D., professor in Baylor’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, and Baylor graduate João Chaves, M.T.S. ’12, Ph.D. ’17, assistant professor of evangelism and mission at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and associate director for programming at the Hispanic Theological Initiative.

Baylor University was named among the nation’s top 10 Most Trusted Universities, according to global research firm Morning Consult as part of its Most Trusted Brands project. Morning Consult’s Most Trusted Universities report measures public trust in the top 135 doctoral research universities featured in the U.S. News’ 2022 Best National University Rankings and explores how trust varies among diverse groups and different types of institutions.