Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health at BUSSW

09/03/2026

Welcome back, BU students!

As classes begin, we’re excited to welcome new and returning students and highlight some of the students and fellows who have been part of CISWH. Learn more about their experiences and explore their stories at the link in our bio.

09/02/2026

Systems thinking is key to understanding complex situations. To uncover the interconnected challenges social workers face, it is vital.

CISWH Director Dr. Tami Gouveia recently presented the Beyond Defense Causal Loop Diagram, mapping how forces across policy, professional identity, higher education, workforce development, and community needs interact to shape the profession.

Learn more:

Learn how CISWH Director Dr. Tami Gouveia's Beyond Defense Causal Loop Diagram uses systems thinking to examine the future of social work.

09/01/2026

Medicaid policy is not easy to understand for most, and especially when it relates to care for children and youth with special health care needs.

CISWH’s new EPSDT Policy Explainer Series translates complex federal guidance into practical resources for state partners, Title V programs, and family leaders to help strengthen access to care for this important population,

Explore the series:

A new EPSDT policy explainer series helps state partners navigate Medicaid requirements and strengthen access to care for CYSHCN.

08/31/2026

A new editorial in the journal, Social Work, shares early insights from CISWH’s Beyond Defense summit, examining the complex forces shaping the profession today.

Co-authored by CISWH Director Dr. Tami Gouveia, Clinical Professor Emerita and CISWH Strategic Consultant Betty J. Ruth, BUSSW Dean Dr. Barbara Jones, BUSSW, and social work leaders from across the profession, the article highlights opportunities to strengthen social work’s collective voice and drive meaningful change.

Read more:

CISWH’s Beyond Defense Summit participants share insights on challenges facing social work & opportunities to strengthen the profession.

08/28/2026

The COVID-19 pandemic changed many patterns in public health and social supports, including how children sought emergency care and the types of support they needed.

CISWH researchers found an increase in referrals for psychosocial services, highlighting the critical role of social workers in emergency care and public health response.

Learn more about the findings:

CISWH Experts Highlight Increased Psychosocial Referrals Among Children in Emergency Care During COVID-19 Pandemic

08/27/2026

The reach of PEPFAR (the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief launched in 2003) extends beyond HIV care, with impacts across maternal and child health. CISWH researchers found that PEPFAR investments were associated with lower maternal and child mortality and higher childhood immunization rates across low- and middle-income countries.

Learn more about the findings and PEPFAR’s broader impact on global health:

A new report highlights how PEPFAR investments improved maternal and child health outcomes beyond HIV care.

08/26/2026

How are interconnected systems shaping the future of social work?

CISWH Director Dr. Tami Gouveia recently presented the Beyond Defense Causal Loop Diagram at the International System Dynamics Conference, highlighting how social challenges, professional identity, policy change, and the workforce pipeline interact across the profession.

Learn more about the model and its implications for social work:

Learn how CISWH Director Dr. Tami Gouveia's Beyond Defense Causal Loop Diagram uses systems thinking to examine the future of social work.

08/25/2026

What skills do social workers bring to elected office? CISWH Director Dr. Tami Gouveia, former Mass. state representative, points to their ability to listen, understand complex systems, collaborate across sectors, and advocate for policies that respond to community needs.

Learn more about her perspective on why more social workers should consider running for office. https://ciswh.bu.edu/news/tami-gouveia-social-workers-elected-office/

08/24/2026

Social work is navigating growing demands, limited resources, and a rapidly changing landscape.

In a new Social Work journal editorial, CISWH Director Dr. Tami Gouveia and co-authors examine the structural forces that are shaping the profession’s identity and impact.

Read more: https://ciswh.bu.edu/news/social-work-beyond-defense-insights/

08/21/2026

Stronger maternal and child health outcomes are among the broader benefits associated with PEPFAR investment. Research from CISWH and KFF found that PEPFAR-supported countries experienced lower maternal and child mortality and higher childhood immunization rates over time.

Read more about what these findings reveal about the reach of global health investment:

A new report highlights how PEPFAR investments improved maternal and child health outcomes beyond HIV care.