These faculty-initiated research collaboratives highlight the School of Social Work’s commitment to addressing pressing social issues through pioneering research and collaboration. As these initiatives unfold, they aim to not only affect the academic landscape but also create lasting impacts on the communities they serve.
Public Social Work
Convened by Dr. Leah Jacobs, the Public Social Work Research Collaborative (PSWRC) seeks to renew interest in public sector social work and critically assess its role in producing public goods. Social work, a field that spans multiple institutions and sectors, often faces challenges in accessibility and accountability to the public. This collaborative aims to address foundational questions: Who does social work serve? How does privatization influence the profession? What is the relationship between social work, the state, and the public? The PSWRC also addresses practical concerns, such as improving public access to social work knowledge and attracting students to public sector careers. By bridging gaps between academia and practice, the collaborative strives to build community, promote advocacy, and enhance the impact of public social work in Pittsburgh and throughout the country.
Human Flourishing
Led by Dr. Deborah Moon, the Human Flourishing Research Collaborative, aims to shift the focus from problem-solving to asset building research. Traditional health and human services research often emphasizes deficits, inadvertently reinforcing stigma. This research collaborative aims to conduct research that breaks that cycle by prioritizing well-being, positive mental health, and flourishing as outcomes. Social work, which is uniquely positioned to lead this effort, seeks to redefine the field by addressing not just what needs fixing, but also what can be built. By advancing research, this collaborative aims to create a framework for research aimed at understanding and fostering human flourishing across diverse communities.
Ties that Bind: A Healthy Aging
Led by multiple conveners, including Beth Mulvaney, the Ties that Bind: Healthy Aging Research Collaborative is poised to help make Pittsburgh the healthiest place to age in America. The collaborative’s mission centers on health equity, innovation, and intergenerational connections while also emphasizing the importance of community infrastructure and social bonds in fostering healthy aging. Through partnerships with organizations such as Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh, the collaborative will address the social determinants of health and amplify the voices of older adults. Its first-year goals include establishing a structure, conducting an environmental scan, and creating an action plan for research and community engagement. The group is currently looking at the policy proposals of the incoming federal administration to understand their potential impact on older adults and their families and considering how existing research can inform them. By leveraging expertise in intervention science and community-based research, this initiative will serve as a launching pad for impactful aging-related projects
Care Work
Convened by Dr. Mary Beth Rauktis, the Care Work Research Collaborative examines the well-being of caregivers across various fields. From healthcare workers and family caregivers to treatment foster parents and even veterinary professionals, this collaborative highlights the diverse challenges faced by those in caregiving roles. Building on past research at the School of Social Work, the collaborative aims to explore intersections of race, gender, and profession to inspire novel solutions. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, this initiative seeks to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being for caregivers and those they serve. Due to the overlap between the Care Work Research Collaborative and the Healthy Aging Research Collaborative, Beth Mulvaney and Mary Rauktis serve on each other’s teams respectively and are collaborating to advance this important work.