School of Social Work
  University of Arkansas
  Fayetteville, AR 72701
  479-575-4734
SWRC Home

Overview of the Social Work Research Center

The Social Work Research Center (SWRC) was established April of 2001 through an award from the U.S. Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education.  The Center is a unit of the University of Arkansas School of Social Work, housed within the Fullbright College of Arts and Sciences.  The Center was approved by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board in August of 2001.  The SWRC was instrumental in providing support for the creation fothe Master of Social Work (MSW) program.  It also helped to establish a computer lab for faculty and students, and granted fellowships by faculty.  The Center is placing an emphasis on building linkages with members of Arkansas Delta communities, in hopes of expanding social work research and education opportunities in the region. 

Purpose of the Center

 The purpose of the Social Work Research Center at the University of Arkansas is to develop social work research infrastructures to improve, research, policy, and practice instruction received by social work students.  Projects suppport from the U.S. Department of Education has enabled the Social Work Research Center to strengthen the School of Social Work's presence and effectiveness in addressing the graduate social work education, research, and outreach needs of person living in Arkansas.

Goals of the Center

The goals of the Social Work Research Center are to:

  1. Continue to sustain and expand the Social Work Research Center.
  2. Maintain and expand the school of Social Work's presence in the Arkansas Delta.
  3. Establish a University of Arkansas Delta Social Work field office in collaboration with the following Partner Institutions: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Philander Smith College, and Arkansas State University.
  4. To provide continued support for the School of Social Work Poverty Reduction Technology Transfer Computer Center.
  5. Communicate research results to inform/guide policy and practice decision making by multiple constituencies through digital and print media.

Faculty and Staff

The Social Work Research Center operates unde the leadership of Dr. Debra Hurd.  Investigators for the U.S. Department of Education grant are Dr. Hurd and Dr. Joe Schriver, Director of the School of Social Work.  Social Work Research Center staff are William D. Quinn, MSSW, and Carrie Lundgren.  Research affiliates include Judy Goodson, Dr. Kameri Christy-McMullian, Dr. Vaughn DeCoster, John King, LCSW, Dr. Yvette Murphy, and Dr. Dona Reese from the School of Social Work, University of Arkansas.  Research affiliates outside of the University and Tommy Milford,MSW from Southern Arkansas University.