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Jefferson Citizen Review Panel hosts Valentine’s Day community drive for youth in out-of-home care

By: Tara Pulaski

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On February 14, 2025, the Jefferson Citizen Review Panel (CRP) organized a community drive to re-stock a clothing closet for youth in out-of-home care in Jefferson County, Ky.

Hosted at the historic L&N Building in Louisville, the drive targeted highly needed items for the clothing closet. The Jefferson CRP partnered with the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) to make the drive a reality, as the clothing closet is used by DCBS frontline workers when youth come into foster care.

Often, when children and youth enter foster care, they do not have all the items they need, including clothing and hygiene items. After consulting DCBS on the greatest need, the Jefferson CRP found that socks and undergarments are the most overlooked items for donations, creating a significant shortage for children. The panel believes that providing clean, comfortable essentials can greatly impact a young person’s health, confidence, and well-being.

Through donations from various non-profits, organizations, and caring individuals, the clothing closet received 500 donations for children of all sizes. They also received hundreds of crucial hygiene items. All the items will go directly to children and youth who have entered foster care in Jefferson County.

The panel also intentionally held their drive on Valentine’s Day, as they wanted children to feel cared for and supported on this day traditionally for love. In the future, Jefferson CRP and DCBS plan to have subsequent drives to keep the community closet stocked on an ongoing basis.

“I would like to shoutout all the Jefferson CRP members for their tremendous effort with this project,” CRP Program Coordinator, Tara Pulaski, said. “Members worked hard to promote the event to the community as well as support the closet by receiving donations. In particular, the panel’s Chair, Tiffany Keith, was instrumental in promoting the event through social media, live streams, and several Louisville radio stations.”

The Jefferson CRP would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone that took the time to donate. All the received items and donations will give children in out-of-home care a sense of comfort.

Kentucky maintains nine regional Citizen Review Panels across the state. Each year, caring volunteers work together to support our child welfare system and make a difference for children and families across the Bluegrass.

Save the date for National Social Work Month and National Criminal Justice Month this March

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is excited to celebrate National Social Work Month and National Criminal Justice Month in March. This year, the CoSW enthusiastically marks this significant month with a diverse array of events in March, highlighting the broad and impactful role of social work and criminal justice across different areas of society.  

Social Work Lobby Day

Kicking off things in February, the College of Social Work invites students to participate in  Social Work Lobby Day on February 25, 2025, at the Kentucky State Capitol. This event provides social work and criminal justice students with a unique opportunity to engage with Kentucky’s legislative processes, understand their impacts on citizens, and connect with advocates, legislators, and peers dedicated to advancing social justice. 

To support student participation, CoSW is chartering a bus to transport students to and from Frankfort. Students who register and indicate they will ride the bus should meet at the bus loop off Avenue of Champions (across from Memorial Coliseum and in front of the Bowman Statue) no later than 7:00 AM. The bus will return to campus by 5:30 PM. 

Students can participate in the event by registering here. 

Emergency Preparedness Event 

UK Police Department’s Emergency Management Team is presenting on incident response and personal preparedness on March 5 from 5-6:30 p.m. This presentation will highlight the impacts of natural, technological, and human-caused emergencies, with additional recommendations for creating a plan to prepare yourself for an emergency and some items to consider in your home emergency kit. 

The presentation can be attended in-person or virtually. Registration is required at this link. Presentation will be held in-person at The 90, Room 228. 

CoSW Pop-up Shop and FREE Continuing Education Opportunities 

March 3-24th, CoSW will host a pop-up shop, inviting faculty, staff, students, and alumni to purchase CoSW branded gear for all the year’s upcoming events. The link for the pop-up shop is coming soon. 

In the spirit of lifelong learning, the CoSW will provide one free online continuing education course to its alumni through the Wildcat Network’s private group, accessible by logging in and navigating to the “Events” tab on the group’s page. Non-members can join Wildcat Network at www.wildcatnetwork.com.  

Take Me Back to the Ball Game – CoSW @ KY Proud Park 

Join us for College of Social Work Day on March 23 at 2 PM at Kentucky Proud Park as the UK Baseball team takes on Auburn. Before the game, Dean Jay Miller will throw the first pitch. Plus, there will be an exclusive tailgate area just for CoSW faculty, staff, students, and alumni. The college also invites friends and families to attend the game. Registration information coming soon. 

Tabling at Gatton Student Center and Appreciation Days 

CoSW will organize a tabling event at the Gatton Student Center on March 11 from 1:30-4:30 p.m., providing an interactive platform for the campus community to engage with one another, learn more about the college’s criminal justice and social work offerings, and pick up CoSW swag items. 

Additionally, in a stance of appreciation, staff and faculty members are planning Appreciation Days to honor and recognize the invaluable contribution of UK HealthCare social workers and UK Police Department employees. 

Graduate Leeanne Mager standing in front of UK24 sign at graduation

Bet on yourself: Leeanne Mager’s journey to the College of Social Work

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Perseverance, dedication and resilience are three words to describe Leeanne Mager’s journey to the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW). Now a graduate of the Master of Social Work (MSW) program, Mager reflects on the challenges that brought her to the graduation stage at Rupp Arena this past December, betting on herself every step of the way.

Receiving her bachelor’s degree in psychology and an associate’s degree in English from Thomas More University in 2022, Mager faced many personal challenges over the course of her academic journey, graduating with a GPA that would make getting accepted into graduate school difficult.

“Following my freshman year, I spent the next four years rebuilding my GPA, but it was hard to bounce back after that first year,” Mager explained. “After I graduated from undergrad, my GPA was low, and I knew I wanted to go back for my master’s degree.”

After being rejected from multiple graduate programs based on her GPA, Mager found the MSW program at the University of Kentucky and the opportunity to petition for extenuating circumstances.

During the application process, Mager wrote an essay describing the challenges she faced during her undergraduate career that affected her GPA. She was able to humanize her experience, demonstrating her dedication to her education was more than just a number.

“UK giving me the opportunity to explain my challenges and understand what I was going through was life changing. I was able to explain my academic journey following my low GPA as a freshman and how I continued to work and grow through the hardships,” Mager said. “The person and the student I was at 18 is not the student and person I am at 25.”

Mager was accepted into the MSW program in the spring of 2022 and officially started classes that summer. From the beginning, her experience at the College of Social Work was a positive one, connecting with her students and professors, and always receiving the help and support she needed as an online student.

Completing the MSW program alongside a full-time job at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Mager was able to apply what she was learning in the classroom to her position as a psychiatric intake coordinator. Once Mager receives her social work license, she will work with the Department of Social Services at Cincinnati Children’s as an all-services medical social worker.

“I’ve learned a lot from the social workers I work with every day while actively learning things in the classroom that I could apply in the field. That has been extremely helpful. I felt like I was learning in the classroom and outside the classroom with these experiences,” Mager said.

Through this hard work and dedication, Mager’s dreams were actualized when she graduated in December 2024, receiving a master’s degree in social work. A lesson in perseverance and always believing in yourself.

“I am so proud of myself. I knew I could do it and I needed a school to take a chance on me and trust that I could do this. I’m so proud to tell people about UK and tell people about the MSW program and the experience that I had,” Mager said.

UK Social Work partners with ‘Survivors for Change’ to enhance youth hockey safety

This story was originally published in UKNow.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 30, 2025) — The University of Kentucky’s College of Social Work (CoSW) is joining forces with Survivors for Change (S4C) to transform the landscape of youth hockey.

Together, the two groups aim to develop innovative training programs that prioritize athlete safety, foster positive youth development and build stronger, more collaborative relationships among coaches, players and parents.

A Chicago-based nonprofit, S4C was founded in 2020 by Michael Sacks. The former standout hockey player was a teen when he was sexually abused by his hockey coach.

Along with Kelly Gee, executive director and fellow survivor, S4C works to provide peer support for survivors. Through tailored workshops and community partnerships, the organization addresses critical needs in youth sports development and safety.

“When we started Survivors for Change, it was about advocating for survivors and bringing accountability to perpetrators and institutions that enable them,” Gee said. “We were among the first to come forward and share what happened to us. It was this amazing awakening — us looking in the mirror at ourselves, looking back at each other and saying, ‘This was not just us.’”

Building on S4C’s momentum, Matt Moore, Ph.D., associate dean of student and academic affairs in the CoSW, is helping lead the charge in shaping the future of youth sports safety. In collaboration with the nonprofit, he is working to create curriculum designed to support positive youth development, focusing on holistic approaches within sports settings.

“For the college, the opportunity to work on curriculum and evaluation components for efforts that can change the landscape of youth hockey is priceless,” Moore said. “These efforts bring to light the vulnerabilities that exist within sport settings, and the need for collaborations to address systemic injustices that adversely affect the health and well-being of the hockey community.”

The pilot program, “Navigators,” which began with youth hockey coaches in the fall of 2024, is a hybrid system combining in-person workshops with an online training tool. The first workshop is focused on helping coaches define their coaching philosophy — building trust and communication with athletes, rather than just focusing on technique.

“We’re not coaching X’s and O’s, and we’re not teaching how to go out and do your job as a coach. What we’re teaching is, how to best identify with yourself so that you can communicate safely and effectively with your community,” Gee said. “So that there’s more understanding, more trust and more structure.”

Two notable youth hockey programs are participating in this initial pilot: the Chicago Mission, a AAA program led by Gino Cavallini, and the Chicago Hawks organization, the largest youth hockey club in Illinois, led by Steve Poapst.

Following the “Navigators” coaches’ pilot, the program will expand to parents and players within these organizations.

“That’s one of the things the College of Social Work is helping us fulfill — finalizing the formative research and development aspects of the parents and players curriculum,” Gee said. “We’re going to learn from the coach’s pilot, then pilot the parents and players. We are putting this into the community, but we are not rushing the results until we have heard from them specifically about what it is they need.”

For Sacks and Gee, the partnership has been both a healing process and a way to create lasting impact within the hockey community.

“As the founder, you dream of partnerships like this. I am just excited. I am learning a lot, and I am healing,” Sacks said. “I was out of the hockey community for many years and to be able to return and start to get on board and see the feedback we are getting from coaches; that’s the hockey community fixing itself.”

Now, S4C has the potential to expand its reach beyond Chicago — taking its vision for systemic-level change in youth sports to new communities.

“We now have the people to take this and make it go,” Gee said. “We want to see systemic-level change in youth sports because of this partnership and the opportunity the College of Social Work is presenting us.”

For more information about Survivors for Change and the “Navigators” program, visit the S4C website.

Social Work faculty and students present research at 2025 Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference

SEATTLE, Wash. — The University of Kentucky College of Social Work’s (CoSW) research was on full display at the 2025 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) 29th Annual Conference, taking place in Seattle from January 15-19th.

The SSWR Annual Conference offers a scientific program that reflects a broad range of research interests. This year’s theme was Strengthening Social Impact through Collaborative Research. The CoSW featured a diverse lineup of talented students and faculty, delivering over 20 juried presentations.

“Attending and presenting my research at the SSWR Annual Conference was an incredible experience,” said assistant professor Taylor Dowdy-Hazlett, who had six presentations over the course of the conference. “I was able to share the work I am doing with a community of passionate social workers and deepen my understanding of the research that is positively impacting communities. Being around my peers and experts in the field is always an exciting time.”  

Highlights from this year’s conference included:

  • Antonio Garcia presenting on best practices for engaging gay latino male sexual assault survivors, ensuring trauma-informed and culturally relevant care
  • Levone Lee, Anne Stauffer and Tarkington Newman sharing interdisciplinary insights on education and training for Sport Social Workers 
  • Abigail Latimer, Natalie Pope and Shelby Clark sharing insights on facilitators and barriers in serious illness care for unhoused older adults 
  • Keith Watts on the protective role of social support, examining the relationship between discrimination and well-being in Black LGB Individuals
  • Aaron Brown and Aubrey Jones exploring healthcare providers’ attitudes toward medications for opioid use disorder during pregnancy
  • Rebecca Bosetti on recognizing sexual well-being as a social work imperative and moving towards a sex-positive curriculum 

Among those presenters, four current PhD students shared their research at this year’s conference. Included in this group was Ryan Barney, who presented on social worker’s experiences with moral distress, alongside faculty members Dowdy-Hazlett, Natalie Pope, Shelby Clark, Abigail Latimer and Cherra Mathis.

“SSWR was a great opportunity for me to get acquainted with a lot of exciting research being done in our profession,” Barney said. “I also appreciated the chance to connect with so many impressive scholars from around the country.”

For 85 years, CoSW faculty have conducted cutting-edge research aimed at addressing society’s most challenging social conditions. Over the last five years specifically, the College’s extramural research folio has grown by 335%.

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. These investments include new pilot initiatives designed to expand professional development opportunities, increase support for extramural proposals, and strategically disseminate resources.

For more information about the SSWR Annual Conference, please click here.

Social Work’s Abigail Latimer and Lynden Bond selected as UK ASCEND Scholars

This article was originally published in UKNow.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 14, 2025) — The University of Kentucky’s Achieving Success in Community-Engaged research to elimiNate Disparities (UK ASCEND) is pleased to announce the selection of its second and third cohorts of ASCEND Scholars.

Supported by a $3 million grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Specialized Centers of Excellence initiative (P50), UK ASCEND focuses on equipping research-intensive early-career faculty with the skills and resources to tackle health disparities through community-engaged research.

Led by a team of distinguished principal investigators — Nancy Schoenberg, Ph.D., Darwin Conwell, M.D., and Lovoria Williams, Ph.D. — UK ASCEND leverages the university’s Research Scholars Program (RSP) and Research Priority Areas (RPAs) to foster transdisciplinary research aimed at addressing health disparities in Kentucky and beyond.

“We developed this program based on the successes our faculty experienced as participants in the Research Scholars Program, a one-year long program that includes five levels of mentorship, professional development and networking,” Schoenberg said. “The ASCEND Scholars Program is a crucial addition to our faculty development programming, as it focuses on the critical need to build expertise in community-engaged research approaches. Community-engaged research is essential to move the needle on the serious health burdens we face.”

The two-year professional development program offers comprehensive training in community-engaged research. During the first year, scholars participate in the RSP while gaining access to workshops, conferences and coursework focused on community engagement. The second year provides funding for a $50,000 mentored and community-guided pilot project designed to translate research into actionable outcomes.

Support for scholars includes scientific mentorship, coaching and programming designed to advance their research careers while promoting meaningful collaboration with community forums.

A highly competitive application and selection process was followed to identify the second and third cohorts of scholars. Individuals were chosen as ASCEND scholars based on their potential to become highly successful community-engaged researchers and the merit of their proposed pilot projects. This process was led by the co-directors of the Investigator Development Core, Kevin Pearson, Ph.D., and Carolyn Lauckner, Ph.D.

“We had a large number of highly qualified faculty applicants from multiple colleges, and this highlights UK’s strengths and continued recruitment of junior faculty but also the need for a program like ASCEND,” Pearson said.

UK ASCEND recognizes its three cohorts of scholars.

Inaugural cohort

Second cohort — beginning Feb. 1, 2025:

Third cohort — beginning Feb. 1, 2026:

  • Lynden Bond, Ph.D., assistant professor, College of Social Work
  • Delvon Mattingly, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine
  • Ketrell McWhorter, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine

By integrating research excellence with community-driven approaches, UK ASCEND underscores the University of Kentucky’s commitment to eliminating health disparities in underserved populations in Kentucky, the nation and the world.

Find more information about UK ASCEND online.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P50MD019476. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It’s all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.

University of Kentucky College of Social Work to Attend Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference

Lexington, KY – The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is excited to participate in the 2025 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)  29th Annual Conference, taking place in Seattle on January 15-19th.

The SSWR Annual Conference offers a scientific program that reflects a broad range of research interests. This year’s theme is Strengthening Social Impact through Collaborative Research. Building on the momentum of last year, the College will feature a diverse lineup of talented students and faculty, delivering over 20 juried presentations.

Highlights include:

  • Antonio Garcia presenting on best practices for engaging gay latino male sexual assault survivors, ensuring trauma-informed and culturally relevant care
  • Levone Lee, Anne Stauffer and Tarkington Newman sharing interdisciplinary insights on education and training for Sport Social Workers 
  • Abigail Latimer, Natalie Pope and Shelby Clark sharing insights on facilitators and barriers in serious illness care for unhoused older adults 
  • Keith Watts on the protective role of social support, examining the relationship between discrimination and well-being in Black LGB Individuals
  • Aaron Brown and Aubrey Jones exploring healthcare providers’ attitudes toward medications for opioid use disorder during pregnancy
  • Rebecca Bosetti on recognizing sexual well-being as a social work imperative and moving towards a sex-positive curriculum 

For 85 years, CoSW faculty have conducted cutting-edge research aimed at addressing society’s most challenging social conditions. Over the last five years specifically, the College’s extramural research folio has grown by 335%.

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. These investments include new pilot initiatives designed to expand professional development opportunities, increase support for extramural proposals, and strategically disseminate resources.

CoSW looks forward to engaging with the broader social work community at the 2025 SSWR Annual Conference and continuing to strengthen social impact through collaborative research.

For more information about the SSWR Annual Conference, please click here.

CoSW Graduate standing in front of CoSW Grad sign

UK College of Social Work honors graduating class of 2024

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) celebrated its graduating class of 2024 on Friday, December 20 at Rupp Arena and at the CoSW’s Graduation Celebration.

The CoSW is committed to developing outstanding professionals — leaders who will serve individuals, families, and communities through innovative and effective practices that are guided by cultural competency, systematic ethical analysis, and a keen and pragmatic understanding of the human condition. 

The class of 2024 join the ranks of CoSW alumni, poised to shape the future with integrity, passion, and unwavering commitment to excellence, reminding the world that Social Work is Everywhere. 

“I’m so thrilled to meet this next milestone in my life,” said Portia Les’Pere, a Master of Social Work (MSW) graduate and United States Air Force veteran, said. “I retired from the Air Force after 22 years and the last three years I attended the University of Kentucky’s Master of Social Work program. This program made it possible for me to be active duty, be deployed, but also continue my education and start the next chapter of my life.”

Following the graduation ceremony Friday morning, the College of Social Work hosted a Graduation Celebration at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Lexington, inviting all graduates and their loved ones to come together and meet their fellow graduates.

“We are so proud of our winter term graduates. They navigated their academic journey with professionalism, the curiosity for knowledge, and an awareness of how they would transform their education into efforts that will now impact clients across the globe,” Dr. Matt Moore, CoSW Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, said at the celebration.

Among those walking across the stage in Rupp Arena was Talia Vosevich, an MSW graduate who also completed her practicum placement with the College of Social Work.

“Being able to start this journey in social work and go out into the field and help people, it means a lot to me,” Vosevich said. “One thing I’ve learned is that connections are so important and everyone at the College of Social Work has been so kind and encouraging to me and my skillset. My time during my practicum has prepared me and reaffirmed that I am capable of going out into the social work world.”

The College of Social Work congratulates the class of 2024 and looks forward to the impact CoSW graduates continue to make on the Commonwealth and beyond, improving the human condition always, in all ways.

CoSW staff standing at the Social Work table at the DCBS Holiday Party

📷Highlights: UK College of Social Work Celebrates the Holiday Season with the Department of Community Based Services

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky College of Social Work celebrated the holidays with the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Southern Bluegrass Region, providing a moment of self-care for caregivers and other resources to foster and adoptive families on December 14.

The Foster Family Holiday party, taking place at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, offered active Southern Bluegrass DCBS foster families a day to celebrate the holidays, including games, arts and crafts, and gifts.

The CoSW was in attendance, offering caregivers chair massages, as well as resources at the College of Social Work for foster and adoptive families.

CoSW Grad standing in front of CoSW Grad sign

UK College of Social Work honors 2024 graduating class on Friday

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The College of Social Work (CoSW) at the University of Kentucky proudly celebrates the accomplishments of its graduating class of 2024 on Friday, December 20 at 10 a.m. Amidst a backdrop of joy and nostalgia, graduates, faculty, staff, families, and guests come together to commemorate this occasion as CoSW graduates walk across the stage at Rupp Arena in Lexington.  

 The ceremony, a testament to perseverance, dedication, and scholarly pursuit, symbolizes the culmination of hard work and unwavering determination. It marks the transition of students into empowered individuals ready to make their mark on the world.  

The CoSW looks forward to celebrating its graduates at the Grad Gathering, hosted by the UK Alumni Association, following the ceremony, and at the Graduation Celebration, hosted by the CoSW. Throughout the week, graduates are invited to share their photos with the CoSW for an opportunity to be highlighted on social media. Please use #UKCoSWGrad24 on all their social media posts from the week to be featured at the Graduation Celebration. 

Grad Gathering (hosted by UK Alumni Association) 

Time: Immediately following commencement
Location: Rupp Arena

More information on commencement. 

The Grad Gathering, occurring immediately following commencement in Rupp Arena, is an event at which all colleges with students graduating during the commencement ceremony will be represented, including the College of Social Work. The CoSW will be there with a small table and a gift for each graduate. Graduates typically walk through this space quickly before reuniting with any friends and family who watched them participate in commencement. 

Graduation Celebration (hosted by UK College of Social Work) 

Day: December 20, 2024 
Time: 12:30 – 2:30  p.m. 

Refreshments will be provided. 

Location: Hilton Hotel (369 West Vine Street, Lexington, KY 40507) 2nd Floor in Salon B,C, and D.


Parking: 

  • Please park at the Hilton Hotel garage.
  • Bring your parking ticket: Please make sure to bring your parking ticket with you to the reception.
  • Where to get your parking validation sticker: You can pick up your validation sticker from Bryan Back or the CoSW team at the check-in table.
  • Parking validation: The validation sticker will allow you to exit the parking garage without additional charges.
  • Our team will be there to welcome you and will ask if you brought your parking ticket as part of the check-in process to make this as smooth as possible.

The Graduation Celebration, occurring after commencement, is a longer event and is exclusively for College of Social Work graduates. There will be food, photo opportunities, and an opportunity to spend more quality time with your fellow graduates as well as college faculty and staff.