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CISWH Experts Share Recommendations for Protecting HIV Care as PEPFAR Scales Down
Photo courtesy of Chip Somodevilla, AFP Getty As the Trump administration seeks to scale down the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, understanding which of its investments have the greatest impact on health outcomes is essential. A new policy brief published by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and…
Dr. Nandakumar Shares How U.S. Isolationism Affects HIV Care in Low and Middle-Income Countries
Photo courtesy of Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation–Malawi / Robbie Flick As the United States scales back its role as the largest donor to global HIV programs, low- and middle-income countries face an urgent crisis. Cuts to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and USAID could…
Renowned Health Economist Dr. Allyala Nandakumar and Research Team Join CISWH
The Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH) at BU School of Social Work (BUSSW) is excited to share that Dr. Alyalla Nandakumar and his team of researchers have joined the CISWH team. Dr. Nandakumar and the research team add their deep expertise in global health, health economics,…
CISWH Advisory Board Member Vanessa Kerry Explains How Weakening EPA Climate Regulations Is a Public Health Risk
As the effects of climate change accelerate, the federal government is moving to weaken key environmental safeguards. In a recent op-ed for the Boston Globe, Dr. Vanessa Kerry, Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH) advisory board member, CEO of Seed Global Health, and World Health Organization Special…
Beyond 2025 Action Toolkit
Part of the Beyond 2025 Action Hub, the Beyond 2025 Action Toolkit offers practical exercises, tools, and resources to empower social workers and other professionals to take action on the issues that matter most.
Analysis of economic and educational spillover effects in PEPFAR countries
Abstract The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been credited with saving millions lives and helping to change the trajectory of the global human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. This study assesses whether PEPFAR has had impacts beyond health by examining changes in five economic and educational…
Trauma-Informed Social Work with Nicaraguan Communities
The team includes physicians, dentists, nurses, social workers, and psychologists who collaborate to deliver integrated care in underserved communities. During the two-week service trip, the medical brigade provides essential physical and mental health services while training local professionals—nurses, community health workers, and lawyers—on trauma-informed approaches. This collaboration strengthens the capacity…
Civic Hubs Initiative
Grounded in the principles of community organizing, civic education, transpartisan dialogue, and systems change, this initiative supports students in designing hubs that bring together residents, community organizations, and public systems to address pressing social challenges. Through hands-on training, mentorship, and access to tools and frameworks, students will explore how to:…
The Economic Value of Social Work in Health Equity
The U.S. healthcare system faces a critical challenge: how to improve outcomes, contain costs, and address long-standing inequities. Social workers are uniquely positioned to meet this moment. Trained to integrate the social, psychological, and structural dimensions of care, they are often embedded across healthcare settings—providing essential services to individuals navigating…