Research focus areas and faculty projects
Faculty projects
Faculty collaborate on projects that address critical social issues through innovative, evidence-based practices. Their work results in a full range of practical resources for serving clients, serving entire populations, educating future social workers and so much more.
Key research focus areas
Research has been organized into eight key focus areas, each brimming with groundbreaking work by both faculty and students. They showcase collaboration on topics such as mental health, sustainability, substance abuse and community development, all aimed at promoting social justice and improving the well-being of individuals and communities.
Individuals from any socio-economic background, ethnicity, race, age, or other subsets, can be impacted by mental illness.
Faith and practice research ethically integrates knowledge about faith, spirituality, and religion as a part of preparation for professional social work practice.
This research focuses on our commitment to environmental stewardship, community engagement and immersive learning, as well as its vision to foster resilient and equitable solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.
Anti-oppressive social work is a frame we are striving to use in the Garland School to promote our work for equality, honoring the dignity and worth of all people, with a focus on underrepresented and marginalized groups.
The Garland School of Social Work seeks to produce ethical research committed to anti-oppressive practices and the empowerment of all people.
The GSSW works to produce state-of-the-science resources and practical models for the well-being of older persons, their families, residential care environments, congregations, and communities.
Many social workers are in practice contexts in congregations, medical services in denominational agencies, child welfare services, community service and development organizations, and national and international missions.
Our faculty explores how to best prepare social workers for generalist practice and advanced levels of practice in areas such as counseling and therapy (mental health), advanced case management and more.