KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For over 85 years, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) faculty have conducted cutting-edge research aimed at addressing society’s most challenging social conditions. The impact of that research was on full display at the 2024 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting (APM), held in Kansas City from October 24-27.
CSWE APM is the largest gathering of social work educators, researchers, and academic administrators in the United States. This year, CoSW faculty conducted more than 20 juried presentations, spanning an array of topics, including creating and sustaining an LGBTQ+ pipeline in social work education, creating psychologically safe spaces for belonging and epistemic justice, and exploring social workers’ experiences with moral distress.
“CSWE APM presented multiple opportunities for our faculty and staff to engage in vital career growth, enhance the visibility of their research and teaching efforts, and network with social work peers from across the globe,” Dr. Matt Moore, CoSW Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs said.
Among CoSW faculty, Dr. Antonio Garcia, Associate Professor at CoSW and Buckhorn Professor of Social Work, was selected to receive the CSWE Minority Fellowship Program’s (MFP) 50th Anniversary Social Work Excellence Award.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Minority Fellowship Program’s 50th Anniversary Social Work Excellence Award,” Garcia said. “This recognition from CSWE reflects not just my work, but the collective effort to advance mental health and behavioral services for underserved communities.”
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.
Over the last five years specifically, the College’s extramural research folio has grown by 335 percent.
“Attending and presenting at CSWE’s APM provided me with valuable opportunities for growth, networking, and knowledge exchange,” Dr. Desha Scanlon, Clinical Assistant Professor, said. “I attended presentations that helped me gain exposure to the latest research findings, and innovative practices, enhancing my understanding and skills across a variety of areas. Presenting my work on field education fosters my credibility as an innovative social work field educator.”
Dr. Stephanie Ratliff, Field Education Director, echoed that a large group of social work educators attended her and Scanlon’s presentation, Moving Past Crisis Response: An Integrated Support Model for Placement Struggles in Field Education.
“It was validating to see the number of social work educators who attended the presentation about how the UK CoSW Field Team serves and supports students through the placement support process,” Ratliff said.
In line with CoSW’s ongoing commitment to holistic well-being, the Self-Care Lab hosted its popular Self-Care Suite. This year, the Self-Care Suite offered innovative wellness activities, including virtual reality (VR) meditations and complimentary 10-minute chair massages for participants, providing an immersive experience to promote relaxation and mindfulness amid the dynamic conference environment.
“Our faculty and staff left with new ideas for innovation, additions to their research agendas, and best practices for engaging students in their educational programs. It was also a perfect place to showcase our CoSW self-care initiatives, to meet future colleagues, and to demonstrate to our peers that UK is a leader in social work spaces,” Moore said.
You can learn more about CSWE, and see a full list of CoSW presenters, by visiting the APM website.
