Social work has a long tradition of working with communities and organizations to improve the quality of life for individuals and families. To improve culturally competent practice and to benefit vulnerable populations, social change at the community and organizational levels is essential. The curriculum teaches students to apply family-centered and community-based practice approaches to build strong communities, make organizations more humane, and improve social policy. Developing, implementing, and evaluating interventions with communities, organizations, and social welfare policy are focal points for curriculum, faculty research and School outreach efforts.

Communities of immigrants and refugees have added diversity to the population of Iowa and created social change in its communities. The School of Social Work is involved with outreach projects to communities in Iowa where students can apply culturally competent practice and community building approaches.

• Diversity, Inequality, and Social Justice
• Life Course Development and Aging
• Family and Child Welfare, Family Violence, and Family Centered Practice
• Organizations, Communities, and Rural Perspectives
• Health and Mental Health Promotion and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment

Iowa City reminds me of the Midwestern town I grew up in. I enjoy the fall leaves and the flowers in spring. I enjoy the Iowa River which flows through Iowa City; the great bookstores and the good restaurants. Most of all I picked Iowa because it offered a group of congenial faculty and staff and the curriculum was a good match to my interest in rural, community, and organizational practice."

-Susan Murty, PhD
Associate Professor