LEXINGTON, Ky. – As the University of Kentucky College of Social Work’s (CoSW) Class of 2025 prepares to make their way across the stage on May 9, the 2025 Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) cohort looks to leave a legacy at UK and across the Commonwealth.
Embodying the core values of social work, the 2025 cohort of DSW scholars developed Grounded Together: Creating a Place at UK, a class gift designed to support students with foster care experience at UK and in the Lexington area.
The Grounded Together initiative will provide resources such as educational materials, mentorship opportunities, extracurricular and leadership development, and emergency assistance for former foster youth attending UK.
The goal of this initiative? To address critical needs and create opportunities for former foster youth to thrive in an academic setting.
“Grounded Together is deeply personal to me. As a former Child Protective Services worker and Independent Living Specialist, I have seen firsthand how hard it can be for youth aging out of foster care to find their footing,” Brittany Hamilton, 2025 CoSW doctoral candidate and creator of Grounded Together, said. “This initiative is a way to say to those students, ‘We see you. You are not alone. You deserve stability, support, and a space to thrive.’”
A full circle moment for many in the DSW Class of 2025, this initiative serves to actualize the College’s mission of improving the human condition and speaks to the reason many began their journey in social work.
As the president of the 2025 cohort of DSW Scholars, Lila Elliott sees the initiative as a way to pay forward the support she has received and leave a tangible impact on the community that she serves.
“Our class recognized the unique struggles of former foster youth and felt a responsibility to create something enduring that addresses those needs. It’s about more than charity, it is a statement of solidarity and a belief in equity,” Elliott said. “For me personally, with my commitment to trauma-informed care, leaving this legacy felt like planting seeds for systemic change, ensuring future generations have a stronger foundation to build on.”
A blueprint for future DSW scholars, both Hamilton and Elliott hope that Grounded Together serves as a cornerstone for cohorts to come, building on the initiative as a testament to the power of giving back through educational support.
“Grounded Together is about leaving behind something rooted in gratitude and growth. The DSW program has not just advanced my academic path, it has enhanced my social work practice, sharpened my leadership, and expanded my heart,” Hamilton said. “My hope is to leave UK better, bolder, and more grounded than when I started.”
The Grounded Together fund is currently accepting donations and encouraging those who would like to be involved to volunteer as mentors or community advocates. For more information and to get involved please contact Brittany Hamilton at brittany.hamilton@uky.edu and Lila Elliott lel245@uky.edu or visit the UK Giving website and mark the Fund Selection: Social Work, and for Gift Instructions: Gift for Grounded Together.
