The Economic Case for Social Work in Health Equity
Quantify the economic impact of social work by measuring outcomes, costs, and ROI—demonstrating its value in advancing health, equity, and system sustainability
- Impact Areas:
- Work & Economy
Impact
We’re building the economic case for social work by analyzing how social workers improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and advance equity. Using national data, claims, and simulation models, we are measuring the return on investment of social work and its impact on the broader economy—positioning the profession as essential to sustainable, just health system transformation.
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 complex medical and social challenges, particularly in historically marginalized communities. Yet despite their outsized contributions to well-being, care coordination, and patient experience, social workers remain undervalued in terms of visibility, reimbursement, and influence on policy.
The Boston University Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) is leading a multi-phase research initiative to quantify the economic impact of social work. This inquiry will assess the financial ripple effects of social worker salaries on the broader U.S. economy, examine the impact of social work interventions on health outcomes and system costs, and analyze labor force participation and productivity among individuals who receive social work services. Using national datasets, medical claims, and electronic health records, the project will produce rigorous evidence on the return on investment (ROI) of social work.
Our goal is to build a compelling, data-driven case demonstrating that social workers are not only vital to care delivery, but also to system efficiency and sustainability. We are also developing a dynamic simulation model that integrates salary, clinical, and labor market data to forecast the economic effects of expanding the social work workforce—particularly in care models designed to serve high-need, under-resourced populations. Through this model, we can evaluate the potential economic and health system impact of policy changes that increase social worker supply, training, and compensation.
Complementing this quantitative work are qualitative case studies that examine how hospitals deploy social workers to improve discharge planning, reduce avoidable readmissions, and coordinate community-based care. These efforts will help define effective models of practice and generate actionable insights for policy and system transformation.
Ultimately, the outcome of this project will demonstrate how social workers advance the Quadruple Aim: improving outcomes, reducing costs, enhancing patient and provider experience, and promoting equity. Grounded in a vision of health justice and powered by interdisciplinary methods, this research will help reframe social work not only as a profession of care—but as a core driver of a just, inclusive, and economically sound health care system.
Key Partners
Convergent partnerships are at the heart of what we do. We are proud to partner with federal and state agencies, non-profit and advocacy organizations, philanthropic institutions, and universities to elevate social work leadership and to create equitable health and mental health care systems for all.
