SCHOOL of SOCIAL WORK History

University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, UW29731Z

Redefining what’s possible. history isshapedbypublic The SchoolofSocialWork’s OUR HISTORY for successivegenerations. demanding socialproblems approach todeciphering and arigorousscientific service, academicinnovation

the 1900s

Arlien Johnson early foundations and leadership work educators,including go ontobecomeleadingsocial work courses.Severalinstructors and offering afullrangeof social of theDepartmentSociology expands, becomingadivision next 15years,theprogram in Washington state.Overthe first formalsocialworktraining returning servicemen.It’s the home servicestofamiliesof trains caseworkerstoprovide Red Cross funding.Theclass Department ofSociologywith a socialcaseworkcourseinthe In 1918theUniversityestablishes Arlien Johnson of Minnesota). Mudgett (University Mawr) andMildred Pittsburgh, Bryn (University of Marion Hathway California), Southern University of of Washington, (University Shantytown for the homeless,knownasHooverville, Seattle(1937)

economic collapse and a new school the 1930s Association. gency Relief State Emer Washington ing from the with fund Social Work School of a graduate establishes and administrators,theUniversity for publicagencysocialworkers Responding tothecriticalneed unemployment ratehits26percent. GreatDepression. The state It’s 1934:theheightof In 1939, School students. welfare administratorsare former By 1938,overhalfthecounty independent graduateprogram. In 1935,theSchoolbecomesan University todirect theprogram. Arlien Johnsonreturnstothe administration. justice, childwelfare andpublic community planning,juvenile offers fieldworkexperiencesin two-year master’s program and a adopts pands thecurriculum, the Schooldirector. Witte ex Ernest Witte Ernest - - isnamed Ernest Witte Ernest

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the 1940s the 1950s the 1960s

America goes to war in 1941, and In 1951, Victor Howery is named In 1960, the School celebrates its the School is hit hard as faculty and director and charged with 25th anniversary, and, by the mid students are mobilized for the war refocusing the School, rebuilding 1960s, is the country’s eighth largest effort. The Red Cross designates connections with local welfare social work school. The Spokane the University as a key training agencies program, a precursor to the social center, and the School’s emphasis and national work program at Eastern Washington shifts to war-related services and organizations, University, graduates 125 master’s- medical social work — away from and laying the level social its roots in public foundations workers. war and retrenchment welfare. School for a stronger Charles Brink graduates from the and refocused redirected research base. assumes war years go on Enrollment leadership Florence Stier to establish lead- grows, a Spokane and specialization recognition in 1963 and ing hospital social branch program opens and the continues work departments School becomes a regional leader a period of in the Seattle area. in social work education. In 1955, expansion An important the School moves into Social Charles Brink Grace Ferguson and increased influence is Acting Work Hall — its first dedicated national prominence. The Center Director Grace Beals Ferguson. building — and in 1958 is for Social Welfare Research is designated an independent established, and the professional school, making School becomes the first Howery its first dean. Plans to in the United States to develop a doctoral program are offer a specialization in underway, and several faculty aging. Faculty diversity members with doctoral degrees and doctoral credentials are recruited, including Henry Lee Allen multiply. Maier, Florence Stier and Cal Takagi. The undergraduate The Organization of Student Social program is established in 1959. Workers makes its debut. School responses to rapid social change include a specialization in community organization, the development of a teaching center in Seattle’s historically African-American Central District and the hiring of faculty of color, including Jim Leigh, Jim Anderson and Lee Allen. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt meets with Japanese Americans in Tacoma (1941)

Henry Maier

“Social change is inevitable, but human needs are the same

from one generation to another.” ARLIEN JOHNSON

Jim Leigh the 1970s the 1980s

Student unrest rocks the writing and teaching on evidence- As the decade opens, the University after the U.S. based social work practice. School’s national standing is bombings in Cambodia in 1971. The doctoral program is added in firmly in place, and a period Activist social work students 1975. The School’s research capacity of expansion and innovation and faculty offer an alternative is strengthened with programs is underway. The School’s curriculum as well as coursework such as the Social Development reputation attracts funding for in black studies. Research Group (SDRG), focusing pioneering programs such as The School’s commitment to social on prevention science that fosters the Northwest Regional change solidifies. Faculty member understanding and supports Child Welfare Training Center Tony Ishisaka takes a leadership interventions that (later the Northwest Institute role in multi-ethnic practice. promote positive for Children and Families), Women faculty members lead behaviors among which partners with state social social unrest and social justice social unrest the nation in developing feminist young people. services to promote excellence in child welfare services. social work practice. The bachelor’s in social In 1971, J. Scott Briar is named welfare program is dean and moves the School in a fully accredited in new academic direction. Empirical Jim Whittaker 1974. Federal training research takes a higher academic grants support curriculum practice innovation and research leadership practice innovation and research profile, and new innovations in social work recruits help build administration, women’s mental a strong core of health, ethnic minority mental

research-trained health, child welfare and aging. Nancy Hooyman faculty including By the close of the decade,the Jim Whittaker. More women of color join the School has 50 faculty members, faculty, solidifying the School’s The School develops some 300 master’s degree students, commitment to racial and a national reputation more than 175 undergraduates ethnic diversity. A three-year J. Scott Briar for its research, and 24 doctoral students. evening master’s program is added, and the School opens a new building in the University District. By 1984, more than 3,000 social work students have graduated since the program began in 1934. Nancy Hooyman assumes the School’s top post in 1987, the first woman dean. The School’s research expansion continues. New research centers include the Innovative Programs Research Group (IPRG), focused on research in health and mental health interventions. Students demonstrating for child care at University of Washington, Seattle (1970) the 1990s the 2000s

The School’s emphasis on diversi- The School continues to be a families through fying its faculty, student body and regional, national and international research and curriculum continues, including leader in social work education, collaboration that a focus on hiring LGBT faculty. practice and research. enhance child welfare policy and practices. Researchers at IPRG and the In 2002, Dorothy Van Soest is Collaborative Health And named dean, and the Institutes of In 2008, the School Prevention Group (CHAP) Excellence more than doubles conduct groundbreaking HIV/ are created, its fundraising target AIDS-related research. A new supporting with more than Edwina Uehara computer lab and director of innovative $20 million in contributions and gifts, social work computing are connections expanding student scholarships added to the school’s research among teach- and endowed professorships.

diversification and expansion and teaching infrastructure. ing, research In 2011, Dean Uehara becomes In 1996, the School establishes and practice. the inaugural holder of the Ballmer the Intergroup Dialogue, Education In 2005, Endowed Deanship in Social Work, and Action Center (IDEA) to public service and smart partnerships the newly the nation’s first such endowment in engage students in transformative established Indigenous Wellness social work at a public university. dialogues on race, justice and Research Institute West Coast In 2012, the School spearheads alliance building. A one-year Poverty Center (WCPC) serves as the Alliance for Child Welfare master’s program is added in a hub for research, education and Excellence, a partnership uniting the 1997, and the following year policy analysis focused on resources of the state’s child welfare distance learning opportunities understanding and reducing agency and the state’s social work are expanded to the Olympic the causes and consequences schools to provide comprehensive Peninsula and Tacoma, where of poverty. child welfare training and education the School opens a branch tied to research that measures results. master’s program directed The Indigenous Wellness Research Institute (IWRI) opens by Marcie Lazzari. Dorothy Van Soest In the same year, U.S. News and its doors in 2006 to support World Report ranks the School The School’s research capacity the rights and improve the health of third among 206 advanced social and productivity continue to indigenous people by coordinating work programs in the country. grow: between 1987 and research, building resources and 1992, grant funding increases sharing knowledge. New building opens on UW Seattle campus (1980) 250 percent. In 2006, Edwina Uehara is the first person of color to be named dean. While remaining committed to preventive science and research, Uehara reaches out to build collaborative relationships inside and outside the University. Partners for Our Children (POC) is launched in 2007. This innovative Liz Roberts public-private partnership with the Director of Practicum and LGBT faculty member School of Social Work focuses on improving the lives of vulnerable Redefining what’s possible.

BOX 354900 SEATTLE WA 98195-4900 SOCIALWORK.UW.EDU

11/2013