Social Work Research Center
The Social Work Research Center (SWRC) was established in 2001 by a special congressional appropriation of $921,000 for a 3-year funding period. The SWRC focuses on the study of poverty reduction in Arkansas. A major goal of the SWRC is to do research on poverty in Arkansas and use that research to inform policy makers at both state and federal levels. Additionally, participants in SWRC research projects will be expected to communicate the results of their work through scholarly publications, professional presentations and technical reports. The SWRC has created faculty and student fellowships for the School of Social Work and members of the Academic Partnership in Social Welfare, which includes eight other universities in the state. Fellowships are available on a competitive basis through a proposal, review and selection process. Finally, the SWRC has established the Poverty Reduction Technology Transfer Computer Center. The computer center is intended to serve as a link to current research and databases for faculty, staff, students, and policy makers in Arkansas and the United States.
Academic Partnership in Social Welfare
The Academic Partnership in Social Welfare housed in the School of Social Work evolved out of the Partnership for Public Child Welfare over a ten-year period. In 1991, the Partnership for Public Child Welfare was formed with the Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the University of Arkansas School of Social Work Program as the administrator of the contract and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock MSW program. In the following year, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Social Work Program joined in the effort to achieve child welfare reform in the state of Arkansas. As the years progressed, the Partnership expanded to include Arkansas State University, Harding University, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Southern Arkansas University, Philander Smith College, and Arkansas Tech University. As the Partnership expanded many talents were recognized in the Partnership and more projects were developed and implemented. In 1999, the Partnership with the U of A School of Social Work as the administrator, expanded to include a contract with DHS, Division of County Operations (DCO) to support welfare reform efforts in Arkansas. This innovative educational effort continued until June 30, 2001. The unique aspect of the Partnership, beyond bringing many educational institutions together with state and federal agencies, is its ability to positively impact all 75 counties in Arkansas. The Partnership continues its collaborative relationship with DCFS.
Links
University of Arkansas Graduate School Website http://www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo/
University of Arkansas Financial Aid http://finaid.uark.edu/
National Association of Social Workers http://www.naswdc.org/
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE): http://www.cswe.org/
NASW Arkansas Chapter: http://www.naswar.org/
Worldwide Web Resources for Social Workers: http://www.nyu.edu/socialwork/wwwrsw/
NASW Code of Ethics: http://www.naswdc.org/pubs/code/default.asp
The University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a student centered research university serving Arkansas and the world. The University is the state’s flagship research institution and offers a dynamic and supportive environment for research, teaching, and service. The University recently successfully completed a $1 billion private fundraising campaign. The School of Social Work is well positioned to play a pivotal role in the future of the University made possible as a result of these new resources.
School of Social Work Mission
The mission of the School of Social Work is to conduct research, educate leader/practitioners, and apply research findings in outreach efforts, to improve the quality of life of vulnerable persons, families, groups, organizations, and communities. This mission is achieved through the research, education, and outreach activities of the School’s students, faculty, and professional staff. Central to all of these activities is the search to understand and address the complex influences of human, geographical, and cultural diversity on personal, social, and economic prosperity and justice. A fundamental goal inherent in the mission is poverty reduction. The School and the University have a strong commitment to human diversity and to culturally competent social work education for the 21st century.
The School of Social Work
The School includes the MSW program, the BSW program, the Social Work Research Center, and the Academic Partnership in Social Welfare. Both education programs received CSWE accreditation for the longest periods possible in October 2005. The School currently has external funding in excess of $ 3 million. The graduate program is focused on preparation for advanced practice from a multi-system life-course perspective. Areas of emphasis in the graduate program include: Management, Administration, and Supervision; Children, Youth, and Families; Health; Mental Health; and Aging. The undergraduate program is focused on generalist culturally competent practice preparation. The School also collaborates with the interdisciplinary Public Policy PhD Program, providing opportunities for doctoral teaching and mentoring of PhD candidates.
The Community
Fayetteville is the largest city in the rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas metropolitan corridor. The area includes an increasingly diverse population of over 300,000 and is the sixth fastest growing area in the U.S. This rapid growth is supported by a robust economy in which the University plays a significant role. The area is served by a new regional airport and has excellent freeway access. Fayetteville is a socially and culturally progressive city surrounded by the unsurpassed beauty of the Ozark Mountains. The city offers excellent schools, a rich cultural and artistic tradition, a wide range of recreational opportunities, and a commitment to maintaining a high quality of life in the context of rapid growth and development. The University of Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas offer an excellent context for a successful career in social work research, teaching, and outreach along with a high quality of personal life.
The University of Arkansas is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and applications will be accepted without regard to age, race, color, sex, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, maternal or parental status, veteran’s status, or disability. Applicants must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States.
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