Blog
CSSW’s Action Lab for Social Justice is thrilled to announce this year’s Social Work Pathways Initiative (SWPI) fellows. The SWPI initiative is an ongoing collaboration between CSSW and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice SEEK program — with the help of the 2025-2027 New York Community Trust grant, it is designed to support BIPOC and economically vulnerable students pursuing their MSSW and PhD. The Action Lab had the privilege of recruiting four individuals this year who are deeply committed to research, activism, and racial justice. Their participation in the program guarantees mentorship,…
Graduates will be prepared to navigate complex ethical dilemmas, advocate for patients and families, and influence policy across many sectors.
The Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) is proud to announce the inaugural cohort of 19 graduates from the first ever in-degree, psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) program in the world.
The Psychedelic Therapy Training Program (PTTP), led by Dr. Heidi Allen and Brooke Stott, LMSW, consists of four classes that are taken during the advanced clinical practice year of the MSSW program. Students are exposed to the history, regulatory contexts, social issues, and clinical skills during their coursework – they also log 600 hours of practicum learning at various PAT sites in New York City…
The School of Social Work and the Bioethics Program at the School of Professional Studies are pleased to announce the approval of a new Master of Science in Social Work/Master of Science in Bioethics dual degree program. Social workers play an essential role in resolving ethical dilemmas at all levels of the health care system, and this program will prepare graduates to pursue unique professional opportunities and serve as leaders at the vital intersections of these two fields.
Students in the program will alternate between coursework in the School of Social Work and the Bioethics Program…
Last month, Columbia School of Social Work had the privilege of co-sponsoring Shaping Lives, Shaping Policy: A Legislative Breakfast on Black Maternal Health in partnership with the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty, Policy and Research.
The event began with opening remarks from NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and NYC Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams. Both are the first Black women in their respective positions and are at the forefront of necessary policy change in the maternal health space.
Black women and birthing people are six times more likely to lose…
The Anga Center for Climate Justice, Health Equity, and Community Well-being, the first of its kind in a school of social work, has officially launched in East Africa. Grounded in the ethics and values of the social work profession, the Center is dedicated to addressing climate change-related health disparities, particularly among vulnerable populations in the region.
Social workers are intimately involved with the many intersections of health and social justice. In Honor of NYC Climate Week, we sat down with CSSW Associate Professor Samantha C. Winter to learn more about her recent study, "Extreme weather should be defined according to impacts on climate-vulnerable communities," published in Nature Climate Change.
With a focus on Sub-Saharan and East Africa, Dr. Winter’s research explores the social, climatic, and environmental determinants that affect inequities in women’s health. While collecting data for their dissertation, Dr. Winter did a…
The HEALing Communities Study (HCS), funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), is the largest addiction and treatment prevention study ever conducted. The HCS deployed 1,030 total evidence-based interventions in 67 communities across New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Kentucky to reduce deaths within healthcare, justice, and behavioral health settings. The three evidence-based interventions that served as the pillars of this study include prevention education and naloxone distribution, effective delivery of medication, and safer opioid prescribing.
Dr. Nabila El-Bassel, Wilma and Albert…
As we close out Mental Health Awareness Month, we reflect on the importance of mental well-being and continue to extend support to those navigating the complexities of mental health. This month is a time for introspection and action as we reaffirm our commitment to prioritizing and upholding mental wellness. Social workers have an unparalleled perspective on the topic, stemming from their person-centered and empowering approach to supporting individuals and communities. As a mental health crisis continues to unfold within New York City, social workers persist in their ability to reduce stigma and…