For more than a century, social workers have been transforming our society. Their work has helped lower infant mortality, reduce poverty, and assist people with mental illness.
Three UT Austin social work faculty members, professors Rowena Fong, Diana DiNitto, and Yolanda Padilla, have joined the executive committee of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare’s Grand Challenges for Social Work, an initiative to meet society’s urgent challenges with research, innovation, and leadership. The Grand Challenges for Social Work will build new knowledge, connect it to practice and policy, and drive transformative social change.
“This initiative provides us with a moment to stop and reflect on the issues facing our communities in these times, to consider the big picture and the directions that we want to take,” said Padilla. “Why should we join this effort? Because of our unique perspectives on these issues and our ability to motivate society to see them in a different way. Because of our ability to visualize a better life for people regardless of the problems they are facing. Because of our unending energy and certainty that we can create a better world. Because that’s what social work is about!”
The success of this important initiative depends on everyone in social work and related fields—students, researchers, practitioners, faculty members, and universities. Learn more and join today by visiting aaswsw.org/grand-challenges-initiative.