Alumni-Student Mentoring Program
The College of Social Work Alumni Association (SWAA) Alumni-Student Mentoring Program matches current College of Social Work students with alumni to promote purposeful one-on-one relationships between members of these populations.
Mentors (College of Social Work Alumni) and mentees (current students) are paired from January 2026 to May 2026. Mentors and mentees will interact during the program (once per month at a minimum) to discuss a variety of topics and participate in activities intended to help the mentee work toward their academic and career goals. In order for the college to ensure mentor/mentee matches are progressing appropriately, achievement of program milestones (meetings, etc.) must be logged by the student mentee.
Although mentors and mentees may utilize any appropriate communication mechanism (e.g., email, phone call, text message) and meeting modality (e.g., in-person, Zoom, phone call), shared expectations regarding communication and meetings must be agreed upon during the first meeting and formally documented via the Mentor/Mentee Agreement Form.
If desired, mentors and mentees are welcome to stay in contact after the program is officially over.
Who Should Participate?
You should consider applying to be an alumni mentor if:
- You are an alumnus of the UK College of Social Work and would like to be more connected to the college.
- You want to make a difference in a student’s life and are willing to interact with your student mentee often enough for completion of all program milestones (which include meeting once per month at a minimum) and to provide networking and other opportunities as appropriate.
You should consider applying to be a student mentee if:
- You are a current student in the UK College of Social Work.
- You want to learn more about your future career, and have the support of a mentor in working toward your future professional goals.
- You are willing to interact with your alumni mentor often enough for completion of all program milestones (which include meeting once per month at a minimum).
Applications for Spring 2026 are now closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Mentoring pairs must commit to a five-month mentoring relationship, from January 2026 to May 2026. Participants are expected to attend a Virtual Launch Orientation at the start of the program and a Virtual Wrap-Up at the end of the program.
- Alumni mentors and student mentees should develop a working relationship and must interact often enough to complete all program milestones, which include meeting once per month at a minimum. Mentors and mentees may have more contact if agreed upon by the pair. Mentees must log completion of program milestones. Pairs will agree upon shared expectations regarding communication and meetings via the Mentor/Mentee Agreement Form.
- More specific information regarding program milestones will be provided to mentors and mentees via a program handbook. Each month, pairs who complete all milestones due during that month will be entered to win College of Social Work swag!
- In addition to the above-mentioned regular interactions between mentors and mentees, upon conclusion of the program, all participants should complete a post-program survey, responses to which will be taken into consideration for future program planning.
- Alumni mentors must be graduates of a University of Kentucky College of Social Work degree program.
- As well, alumni mentors should want to make a difference in a student’s life, and should understand and have sufficient capacity to agree to the time commitment as described above.
- Those interested in participating as an alumni mentor should complete an application.
- Student mentees must be current students in a University of Kentucky College of Social Work degree program.
- As well, student mentees should want to engage with and receive support form an alumni related to the student’s academic and career goals. Student mentees should understand and have sufficient capacity to agree to the time commitment as described above.
- Those interested in participating as a student mentee should complete an application.
The deadline to apply as a student mentee has passed.
- As much as possible, pairings will be assigned, based on information provided via the application process, for alignment of academic program experience and/or field / specialty of interest when possible, but this is not guaranteed.
- If members of a mentoring pair do not live in the same geographic area, they should plan to interact electronically (e.g., FaceTime, Zoom, phone, email).
- In December 2025, those who apply to participate will be notified via email regarding the status of their application and next steps in the program.
No, the SWAA Alumni-Student Mentoring Program is free. Alumni mentor and student mentee participation is voluntary. Please note that the College of Social Work will not reimburse program participants for expenses incurred (e.g., mileage, meals).
Have a question not listed here? Want to talk with someone about the program?
Contact Anna Chalfant, Assistant Dean of Strategic Operations
CoSW
spotlights
Our alumni are dedicated to improving the human condition through steadfast service. Their stories serve to inspire current and new generations of social workers.
Events
Calendar of Events
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 events,
Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person
-
This course equips participants with a deep understanding of the intricate dynamics between bonding, and attachment, and the critical role they play in fostering healthy relationships with children. The course |
1 event,
|
1 event,
|
0 events,
|
0 events,
|
0 events,
|
1 event,
-
A Guide to Coping with Allegations explores the prevalence of false allegations of abuse and neglect amongst foster homes and reasons such allegations may arise. Strategies for preventing false allegations |
|
0 events,
|
0 events,
|
4 events,
-
Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person 
Launch your social work career through your practicum experience—formerly known as field education. Attend an information session to learn about the process, opportunities, and support available as you prepare for 
Criminal Justice students are invited to attend our informal monthly meeting. This is a great opportunity to connect with other students, ask questions to your advisor, and meet with program |
1 event,
-
Connecting with Your Child While Correcting Behavior introduces parents to strategies to use to help them feel connected to children while correcting difficult behaviors. Parents will learn how to connect |
1 event,
-
Helping Foster & Adopted Children Transition to a New School will assist foster/adoptive parents in preparing to enroll a child in a new school. It will also provide practical tips |
2 events,
-
The 5 Love Languages introduces parents to the different love languages and discusses ways to use this information to strengthen partner/spouse relationships as well as relationships with children and teenagers.
-
Helping Your Child Make Healthy & Positive Choices: Talking to Teens & Preteens will teach foster and adoptive parents the importance of open and ongoing dialogue with their preteen or |
1 event,
-
Building Positive Relationships with Case Workers & Community Partners provides foster parents the information and tools needed to establish a positive working relationship with their caseworker and child’s caseworker, with |
|
1 event,
-
Preventing Child Abuse: Types, Signs & Symptoms will inform parents of the definition of child abuse and ways it can be prevented. It provides descriptions and statistics of different types |
2 events,
-
Attachment & Bonding with your Foster & Adopted Child equips parents to enhance their relationship with foster/adopted children by teaching them the basics about bonding and attachment. This training also 
This group is an opportunity for kinship caregivers to come together to find support, community, and resources in the care of relative and fictive children. This group will focus on |
4 events,
-
Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person 
Turn Your Goals into Reality Explore our Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program during an online info session. Registration link is below. The UK Difference Our Doctorate of Social Work
Launch your social work career through your practicum experience—formerly known as field education. Attend an information session to learn about the process, opportunities, and support available as you prepare for 
Social Work students are invited to attend our informal monthly meeting. This is a great opportunity to connect with other students, ask questions to your advisor, and meet with program |
1 event,
-
CORE Teen Curriculum provides parents with information they need to develop safe relationships with youth while also focusing on how they can adapt their parenting styles to support the youth’s |
0 events,
|
0 events,
|
1 event,
-
This training introduces the foundational principles of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®), a holistic approach designed to meet the unique needs of children from hard places. Foster and adoptive families will |
|
0 events,
|
1 event,
-
Learning Your Child Has a Disability aims to help foster and adoptive parents understand the unique emotions of discovering or confirming a child in their care has a disability. This |
4 events,
-
Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person 
Explore our Master of Social Work (MSW) program during an online info session. Registration link is below. The UK Difference Our MSW program is an Advanced Generalist program that prepares
Launch your social work career through your practicum experience—formerly known as field education. Attend an information session to learn about the process, opportunities, and support available as you prepare for
-
Developmental Stages & Children’s Responses to Grief defines grief and explores how children process and express grief at different developmental stages. It offers insight into the unique experiences of grief |
4 events,
Are You Wildly Passionate About Social Work? Explore the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program during an online info session. REGISTER HERE The UK Difference Graduates from our 
Pursue your Passion for the Greater Good Explore College of Social Work’s newest Criminal Justice program during our online info session! REGISTER HERE The UK Difference Graduates from our 
Please join us as we discuss the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program! This info session will be held virtually over Zoom. Please register below and select the appropriate
-
CORE Teen Curriculum provides parents with information they need to develop safe relationships with youth while also focusing on how they can adapt their parenting styles to support the youth’s |
2 events,
-
This 90-minute session examines intimate partner violence (IPV) and elder abuse as interconnected public health issues shaped by social determinants of health (SDoH), structural inequities, and intersecting identities. Participants will
$20
-
Perceptions of Adoption: A Child’s Developmental View will discuss the ways a child’s cognitive development skills and emotions develop, and how that impact his or her perceptions regarding adoption. This |
0 events,
|
1 event,
-
Understanding a Case Through the Child Welfare System will provide foster and adoptive parents knowledge on how a case progresses through the child welfare system. Each case may include removal, |
|
3 events,
-
Healthy Boundaries in Teenage Relationships explores healthy and unhealthy dating behaviors. It is designed to assist caregivers in identifying warning signs that a teen may be involved in an abusive
-
Drugs: Things You Need to Know is designed to inform parents of the many different classifications of illicit drugs, as well as the current trends related to adolescent drug abuse.
-
ASK-VIP Support Group for Foster/Adoptive Parents of Teens is specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who are caring for teenagers or those considering fostering and/or adopting teenagers. This support group offers |
1 event,
-
ASK-VIP LGBTQ+ Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who identify as LGBTQ+ as well as foster/adoptive parents who are caring for children or teens who identify |
6 events,
-
Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person
Launch your career through your practicum education! Attend an information session to learn about the process, opportunities, and support available as you explore hands-on learning in real-world settings. The UK College of 
Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky values the role every citizen plays in the prevention of child abuse. PCAK has designed curricula to address current trends and best practice for the prevention of
Turn Your Goals into Reality Explore our Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program during an online info session. Registration link is below. The UK Difference Our Doctorate of Social Work
-
Guiding Your Child Through Adolescence explores the physical and emotional changes that children undergo as they enter adolescence. Parents will discuss how parental roles change during this period of their |
3 events,
-
The Substance Use Counseling Undergraduate Training Program is designed to meet urgent behavioral health workforce needs across Kentucky's Commonwealth. Created in partnership with the Kentucky Center on Addiction Studies and Research, this
-
New Placements: Preparing & Adjusting Family Roles will help foster and adoptive parents introduce new placements into their existing family units. It gives ideas and strategies on how to prepare
-
CORE Teen Curriculum provides parents with information they need to develop safe relationships with youth, while also focusing on how they can adapt their parenting styles to support the youth’s |
0 events,
|
0 events,
|
1 event,
-
This course equips participants with a deep understanding of the intricate dynamics between bonding, and attachment, and the critical role they play in fostering healthy relationships with children. The course |
