UK College of Social Work to Attend 2026 Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference

CoSW looks forward to engaging with the broader social work community at the 2026 SSWR Annual Conference and continuing to strengthen social impact through collaborative research.
Dr. Taylor Dowdy Hazlett and Ryan Barney standing in front of their poster presentation at SSWR

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is set to participate in the 2026 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)  30th Annual Conference, taking place in Washington, D.C. on January 14-18.

The SSWR Annual Conference offers a scientific program that reflects a broad range of research interests. This year’s theme is Leading for Transformative Change: Aligning Social Work Science with Policy and Practice. Building on momentum from the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) 2025 Annual Conference in October, the College will feature a strong lineup of talented students and faculty, delivering over 15 juried presentations.

Topics for these presentations span the protective effects of youth sport participation on adverse childhood experiences, barriers to seeking help for intimate partner violence among young mothers with a history of foster care, and language models and public comments in qualitative social work research, among many other topics.

As part of the Forward, Together Strategic Framework, the College continues to make significant investments to bolster research efforts consistent with the University of Kentucky’s Research Priorities Initiative.

CoSW looks forward to engaging with the broader social work community at the 2026 SSWR Annual Conference and continuing to strengthen social impact through collaborative research.

From national awards to innovative wellness programming, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work continues to advance social work education through research, service and human-centered innovation. CoSW’s presence at SSWR 2026 reaffirms its mission to advance the human condition—always, in all ways.

For more information about the SSWR Annual Conference, please visit the SSWR website.

For over 85 years, the College of Social Work (CoSW) at the University of Kentucky has been a leader in education. Our mission is clear: Through rigorous research, excellence in instruction, and steadfast service, the CoSW works to improve the human condition. Always, in all ways.

As the state’s flagship university, our mission is actualized through our deeds. Our faculty are renowned academicians dedicated to fostering the development of high-quality practitioners and researchers. As a college, we promote community and individual well-being through translational research and scholarship, exemplary teaching, and vital community engagement. We are committed to the people and social institutions throughout Kentucky, the nation, and the world.