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School of Social Work

@illinois_socialwork

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Award-winning faculty. Students prepared for professional success. Alums enacting social change world-wide. Tag with #ILLINOISsocialwork, #ILLINOIS

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Entrepreneurship is for everyone.Think entrepreneurship is only for startup founders? Think again.The entrepreneurship minor helps Illinois students from any major develop the mindset and skills to identify opportunities, solve problems, and create impact in any field.Learn more at the link in the bio. by @illinois_socialwork

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3 days ago

As a Master of Social Work student interning with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical social work team in Springfield, Illinois, and a Public Affairs officer with the Illinois National Guard, 2nd Lt. Trenton Fouche was inspired to tell the story of fellow social work student and retired Chief Master Sgt. Rebecca Velazquez. After sharing a social work class with Velazquez last semester, Fouche witnessed her passion for serving veterans and admired her transition from a highly respected Illinois Air National Guard leader to a future social worker dedicated to helping fellow veterans heal.Read Fouche's Department of Defense story highlighting Velazquez's continued commitment to service at the link in the bio! by @illinois_socialwork

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9 days ago

#IllinoisSocialWork PhD students Junghu Im and Ting Hu have co-authored a new article, "Elder abuse and depression in Korean older adults: roles of trust and social support", now published in Aging & Mental Health.“Our findings also highlight the potential of social support,” Im said. “To address the psychological trauma of older adults who have experienced abuse, we need to pay closer attention to the power of this protective resource.”Hu added, “The deepest wound of elder abuse may be the loss of trust. By examining interpersonal and institutional trust through a social-ecological lens, this study reveals how abuse is associated with depressive symptoms and where interventions can make a difference.”Read more on our website (link in bio). by @illinois_socialwork

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9 days ago

Christine Escobar-Sawicki, clinical professor at #IllinoisSocialWork, has been named to the Board of Directors of The Arc of Illinois. She will serve alongside her son, Sean Sawicki.Sean first visited the School of Social Work at age 9, is now a frequent guest lecturer, sharing powerful perspective on living with Fragile X, advocacy, and inclusion.Christine’s role will be to support Sean in fully participating and bringing his lived experience to the Board as a voting member. Together, they’ll also serve on The Arc of Illinois’ Public Policy Committee and Convention Committee, spreading the advocacy spirit of social work even further."I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors of The Arc of Illinois alongside my son, Sean," says Escobar-Sawicki. "Our family and Sean's connection to the School of Social Work has taught us the importance of inclusion, advocacy, and social justice. This appointment highlights the importance of elevating the voices and lived experiences of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I look forward to supporting Sean’s full participation as a voting board member and to seeing all that he will accomplish."Congratulations to Christine and Sean! by @illinois_socialwork

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12 days ago

School of Social Work student Alyanna, who is interning with the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, joined fellow volunteers yesterday to give back through the United Way of Champaign County. We're proud to see our students making a difference while strengthening the community partnerships and collaborations that create lasting impact. by @illinois_socialwork

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16 days ago

#IllinoisSocialWork was excited to participate in the 2026 Rural Health Careers Camp at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, where students gathered from 30 communities across the state!The Rural Health Careers Camp is a three-day, overnight educational program for high school students interested in the healthcare field. Students participate in hands-on learning activities and labs that represent different healthcare careers and stay in a residence hall to experience living on a college campus.Read our recap by clicking the link in our bio. by @illinois_socialwork

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17 days ago

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work has selected Lisa Reyes Mason to serve as its next dean, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Her appointment begins Aug. 1.Reyes Mason joins Illinois from the University of Denver, where she recently served as interim dean of the Graduate School of Social Work. An accomplished scholar and experienced academic leader, she brings expertise in academic innovation, interdisciplinary research, and advancing social and environmental justice.Read more at the link in the bio. by @illinois_socialwork

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17 days ago

The Spring 2026 semester saw students and faculty travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as part of #IllinoisSocialWork Global Programs. Amalia Thompson, a BSW student, shares the experiences and impacts of the trip. Check it out on our site (link in bio). by @illinois_socialwork

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23 days ago

Love Instagram, TikTok, and creating content? We're looking for one undergraduate and one graduate social work student to join our team as paid Social Media Interns for the fall semester!✔️ $15–18/hour✔️ Flexible schedule✔️ Build your resume and portfolio✔️ Tell the stories of the Illinois School of Social Work communityApplications are due July 18. Visit the link in our bio for details and how to apply! by @illinois_socialwork

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a month ago

This year, our students learned from professionals who brought social work beyond the classroom and into real life.A sincere thank you to every guest speaker who shared their expertise, experiences, and perspectives with our #IllinoisSocialWork community. Their generosity gave students the opportunity to explore diverse career paths, gain practical insight, and engage in meaningful conversations about the profession.Their time and partnership made a lasting impact, and we're grateful for all they've contributed throughout the academic year.👏 Swipe through to celebrate the incredible guest speakers who helped shape our students' learning experience this year! by @illinois_socialwork

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a month ago

Building strong communities starts with strong partnerships.Thank you to the community organizations that participated in our Community Connections Corner throughout the academic year. By spending time on campus, meeting with students, and sharing information about your missions, you helped connect our #IllinoisSocialWork community with valuable resources, volunteer opportunities, internships, and career pathways.These conversations strengthen the connection between the School of Social Work and the communities we serve, creating opportunities for students to learn, engage, and make an impact beyond the classroom. We couldn't do it without you! 🧡 by @illinois_socialwork

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#IllinoisSocialWork is pleased to announce the creation of the Harris Family Scholarship Fund for Social Work. Wendy (MS Library Science, 2002) and Chris came to the university for jobs but found something much more: a community of people who gave them the opportunity to become part of one of the world’s great public universities. By creating the Harris Family Scholarship Fund for Social Work, as well as a companion scholarship at the College of Education, they hope to help strengthen that community connection with students, supporting their education and enabling them to realize their potential as part of the Illinois family.Find out more about Wendy, Chris and their U of I journey on our website (link in bio). by @illinois_socialwork

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a month ago