News

New guidance from the federal government will make it easier for states to stop a controversial practice that keeps impoverished families in debt when their child is placed into foster care.

When children go into foster care, there's often a surprise for their parents: Many will get a...Read more about Jill Berrick on NPR: The federal government will allow states to stop charging families for foster care

The Berkeley community has a brand-new, 3,000-square-foot outdoor space — funded jointly by the city of Berkeley and UC Berkeley — where unhoused people can go during the day to use the bathroom, grab a bite to eat, play board games, listen to music, and relax under the shade of trees and...Read more about Berkeley’s new daytime center opens for unhoused community

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. To get more clarity around the concept and impact of a "mental health day," Everlywell Health spoke with Dr. Adrian Aguilera for his take on how to get the most from pressing pause. Dr. Aguilera breaks down the goals of a mental health day, ways to recharge...Read more about Adrian Aguilera on the science behind taking a mental health day

Next week, Jessica Scortt will open the doors of the Self-i.s.h. Society, a nonprofit that will operate as both a hair salon and resource hub in Oakland.

Her business description explains, "We believe that there is power in the comfort and communication that takes place in...Read more about Meeting people where they are: Jessica Scortt (MSW '21) launches the Self-i.s.h. Society

We began this year excited to welcome students back in person and reconnect with each other. We navigated a few twists and turns in the road — omicron! changing public health guidance! — but we came through together as a community.

This May, we are proud to celebrate the Latinx...Read more about A message from the Dean

The Latinx Center of Excellence in Behavioral Health (LCOEBH) was launched in 2017 thanks to a Centers of Excellence grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the amount of $3,398,332.

The Center’s unique programs include outreach, recruitment...Read more about Grounded in Community: Celebrating 5 years of the LCOEBH

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted inequity on many levels, and came as a stark reminder that economic vulnerability is a structural problem rather than an individual one.

The scholarship of assistant professor Yu-Ling Chang and associate professor and Mack Center...Read more about Systems of Care: Yu-Ling Chang and Emmeline Chuang analyze the social safety net

“I knew I was going to be advocating for unpopular causes and disenfranchised communities,” explains Dylan de Kervor (MSW/JD ‘09), “so I wanted a law degree for the teeth and a social welfare degree for the heart.”

She attributes this commitment...Read more about Situated social work: Dylan Nicole de Kervor (MSW/JD ‘09) at the intersection of social work and federal legislation

Over the last few months, news coverage has shown refugees from Ukraine being welcomed — sometimes with literal open arms — as they arrived in Europe. If we can view refugees from Ukraine as "people like us" who have to flee hardship and dangerous circumstances, why not view other...Read more about Toward a better future: Douglas Epps examines alternatives to othering and immigrant detention

Tina McClain, who recently won the Chancellor's Award for Public Service, is profiled by Berkeley News. McClain will be the student speaker at Berkeley Social Welfare's BASW commencement ceremony on Tuesday, May 17.Read more about Social workers were her ‘saving grace.’ Now, she’s going to be one.

First-year MSW student Molly Nantongo was recently awarded a $10,000 Davis Projects for Peace grant for her project, Ntongo Skills4Peace.

In this 15-week...Read more about Giving back: Molly Nantongo (MSW '23) and Ntongo Skills4Peace

The Latinx Center of Excellence in Behavioral Health (LCOEBH) recently launched a new collaboration with Marin Community Clinics (MCC). Designed to build the pipeline of integrated behavioral health practitioners at MCC, the ...Read more about LCOEBH partners with Marin Community Clinics to launch Latinx ASW Fellowship for Berkeley MSWs

UC Berkeley's Public Service Center received a $1.8 million grant to support the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps to support students engaging in community service.

The first cohort of the program at UC Berkeley will recruit 100 fellows and will require them to complete 450 hours of...Read more about #CaliforniansForAll College Corps community service begins

"Lessons in cultural humility... have been a feature of teachers' professional development for quite some time. But trainings have largely focused on how students are treated, not families, and they've been targeted at school officials, not parent and caregiver volunteers.

That's changing...Read more about Diverse schools are taking a new approach to anti-racism: Training white parents

A $100,000 pledge from a generous donor will establish a new endowment, the Nevenka Petrić Fund for Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity at Berkeley Social Welfare.

Distributions from the endowment will be used to provide support for the Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity...Read more about 0K pledge to support reproductive equity research

Affiliated faculty member Osagie Obasogie was one of three UC Berkeley faculty to receive a Guggenheim fellowship this year.Read more about Osagie Obasogie receives Guggenheim fellowship

Field faculty members Christina Feliciana, Christine Scudder, and Robert Watts contributed chapters to a new school social work textbook. Several Cal alums and former faculty also joined this venture, including Robert Ayasse, Heather Graham, Francesca Osuna, Michelle Rainer, and...Read more about Field faculty members contribute to new book on social work in schools

"It breaks my heart when people can’t get the resources they need because they don’t have access to information or know someone who can help them navigate the system."

Homeless Outreach Coordinator Ari Neulight talks about his work in People's Park.Read more about A Conversation with UC Berkeley’s Homeless Outreach Coordinator: The Past and The Future of People’s Park

UC Berkeley graduate schools and programs scored high in the 2023 Best Graduate Schools rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report. Berkeley Social Welfare is ranked fifth in the nation.Read more about Berkeley graduate schools, programs shine in U.S. News rankings