Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health at BUSSW

05/26/2026

CISWH researchers and partners at Boston Children’s Hospital recently released a study that examines how referrals to psychosocial services in children’s hospital emergency departments have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings highlight the important role social workers play in emergency care settings, especially during public health crises. Learn more:

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

05/19/2026

This Wednesday: Join us for our next Beyond 2025 Critical Conversation: Social Work, Moral Injury, and a Rapidly Changing World. Dr. Frederic Reamer, Rhode Island College School of Social Work professor emeritus, will lead a conversation on how social workers can sustain themselves and their integrity as political violence and rapid technological change impacts the communities they serve. Learn more:

05/15/2026

CISWH researchers launched a new tool to identify Medicaid work requirements and caregiver exemption eligibility. Developed in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the tool guides social workers, program staff, and family leaders working with families of children with special health care needs through the current eligibility requirements in an accessible and easy-to-understand flow chart that saves time and mental energy.

Learn more: http://spr.ly/6182BBtQAE

CISWH experts on Medicaid policy for children with disabilities developed a flow chart to  identify who is eligible for caregiver exemptions from the pending Medicaid work requirements.  

05/14/2026

Congratulations to our CISWH Graduate Fellows who are graduating this week!

Our CISWH fellows have contributed thoughtful research, strengthened partnerships, and advanced health and social work in meaningful ways. We are so grateful for the energy and expertise you have shared with our community.

We are excited to see all that you will do next and the impact you will continue to make in the field.

05/13/2026

5/20: Join us for “Conscience Under Fire: Social Work, Moral Injury, and a Rapidly Changing World,” the next Beyond 2025 Critical Conversation featuring Dr. Frederic Reamer, Rhode Island College School of Social Work professor emeritus. A leading voice in social work ethics, Dr. Reamer will explore moral injury, political disruption, and the growing role of AI in shaping social work practice and ethics.

Register here:

05/12/2026

As the U.S. withdraws from its role as a key funder of the global HIV response, countries at the center of the HIV epidemic will bear most of the financial burden. Writing for Devex, Dr. Allyala Nandakumar, CISWH Global Social Work and Public Health Lab director, calls for a resilient, sustainable HIV response that centers equity. Read more:

In a recent op-ed for Devex, Dr. Allyala Nandakumar, Global Social Work and Public Health Lab director for the Center for Innovation in Social Work andin Health (CISWH) at BU School of Social Work (BUSSW) calls for a resilient HIV response that centers equity and has long-term sustainability.

05/06/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! This month, we’re celebrating the many ways social workers lead mental health efforts both locally and globally.

05/05/2026

5/20: Join us for the next Beyond 2025 Critical Conversation - Conscience Under Fire: Social Work, Moral Injury, and a Rapidly Changing World. Dr. Frederic Reamer, Rhode Island College School of Social Work professor emeritus, will explore the moral harm facing social workers in a time of deep political disruption and technological change. Collaborating with other participants, you’ll develop ideas for how social workers can support each other, their communities, and clients in the face of a rapidly shifting landscape.

http://spr.ly/6184BBwdOi

05/04/2026

Rush University Medical Center recently established a new endowment in honor of Robyn L. Golden, CISWH advisory board member and founding member of the Coalition for Social Work and Health. Recognizing her leadership in social work and community health, the Robyn L. Golden Fund for Social Work and Community Health will support programs addressing housing, food access, caregiving, and social isolation while strengthening the social work workforce.

Learn more about Robyn’s incredible impact and the fund: http://spr.ly/6185BBwl2X

Rush University Medical Center established a new endowment fund in honor of Robyn L. Golden, associate vice president of social work and community health and chair of the department of social work at Rush University, and advisory board member at CISWH.

04/15/2026

CISWH experts recently shared a new research review on how quality of life (QoL) is measured for children with special health care needs. The study found that many existing QoL surveys do not fully reflect the lived experiences and priorities of children and their families.

The findings highlight the need to develop measurement toolss in partnership with families to better capture what truly matters to children and their families in daily life.

Learn more here: http://spr.ly/6184B62GGO

CISWH research staff examined how meaningfully quality of life has been measured among children and youth with special healthcare needs.