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Eberly College of Arts & Sciences School of Social Work
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Driving Social Progress through Dedicated Research

The faculty of the WVU School of Social Work is nationally recognized for excellence in research and training that advances social work practice and policy. 

Our faculty and graduate students are leaders in research among diverse communities on pressing social issues such as child welfare, youth development, disability, aging, family violence and restorative justice to name just a few. 

As leaders in the field, they contribute to the development of knowledge that shapes the future of the profession. Their research is highly interdisciplinary, representing the fields of economics, human development, psychology, public affairs, sociology, and social work. 

These projects address problems that threaten to undermine some families, including poverty, abuse, mental illness, school failure, and substance abuse as well as those that provide for aging family members, or the safe care for children.

Two females stand in front of a sign that reads "Welcome to Hillside Clinic"
Dr. Megan Fabbri and BSW student Katrina Vance visit Belize to facilitate a mental health clinic.

Explore our research areas

Aging and Gerontology

WVU social work researchers explore aging, healthcare, and family caregiving, focusing on improving well-being and healthcare access for older adults, particularly in rural communities.

Mental and Behavioral Health

Our research advances suicide prevention, addiction recovery, and evidence-based treatments for mood disorders and children’s behavioral health while addressing mental health care accessibility at individual, community, and policy levels.

Community Engagement

Faculty collaborate with rural and underserved populations to strengthen community-based services, enhance child welfare, and explore the intersection of social work and policing, using both direct practice and systemic approaches.

Trauma and Resilience

Research in this area examines trauma-informed care, childhood adversity, burnout prevention, and resilience-building strategies, addressing trauma at individual, organizational, and societal levels.

Social Justice, Equity, and Policy

WVU researchers examine social policies, economic inequality, and health equity while advocating for marginalized communities, LGBTQIA+ populations, and reproductive rights, shaping policy and practice through an equity-focused lens.

Impacting West Virginia

The need for research and statewide outreach to boldly address problems such as the opioid crisis, suicide, mental illness, child welfare, and chronic health problems is urgent, making our commitment to innovative research and education more vital than ever.
— Dr. Deana Morrow, Director of the School of Social Work

Grants and Projects

Learn how WVU School of Social Work's faculty is engaged in projects with real-world impact.

Title IV-E Public Social Services Education and Training Project

Aims to professionalize the child welfare workforce, and provide evidence-based training to foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers through a flexible trauma-informed and culturally aware curriculum.

Learn More

Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training (RIBHT) Program Research

The purpose of the RIBHT program is to prepare MSW students for behavioral health practice, with a focus on integrated and culturally appropriate rural service delivery.

About RIBHT

Play Higher: Virtual Reality for Career Exploration

Aims to apply gamification to career development and readiness through novel technological applications. Visit playhigher.wvu.edu to learn more.

Visit playhigher.wvu.edu

Student Research Activities

At the WVU School of Social Work, students at all levels—undergraduate, graduate, and PhD—engage in meaningful research that addresses pressing social challenges in West Virginia and beyond.

See What Our Students are Doing