Our Story
Lead · Innovate · Amplify
Inspired by social work’s power to transform individual and community well-being, CISWH was founded in 2015 with the support of a generous anonymous donor. We build strategic partnerships, co-design innovative solutions, and amplify collective influence for equitable well-being and quality of life.
Harnessing the Power of Social Work for Global Impact
Over 3 million social workers worldwide make unique contributions to the health and well-being of individuals and families every single day. Locally and globally, social workers advance health equity by addressing the social drivers of well-being. They lead efforts to secure living wages and quality education, design and evaluate groundbreaking programs, drive rigorous research to improve healthcare access, and shape policies and investments that impact everyone’s ability to thrive.
Social workers lead multi-disciplinary care teams, serve at the helm of institutions fighting for social change, study the impacts of innovative solutions, and help shape the policies and investments that impact everyone’s ability to thrive.
What sets us apart
Our distinct positioning springs from three pillars underpinned by our commitment to justice and our ability to leverage diversity of thought and expertise.
Lead in the Pursuit of Health Equity & Health Justice
Tailored Solutions for Diverse Communities
Innovate Sustainable & Effective Solutions
Community Engagement • Capacity‑Building for Professionals
Amplify the Value & Influence of Social Work
Groundbreaking Research & Evidence-Based Practice • Policy Influence
Our Labs
Learning and Field Building Drives Innovation that Matters
To turn insight into impact, we operate two complementary ecosystems comprised of four interconnected labs. Here we conduct rigorous research, collaborate as creative problem‑solvers and inventive builders, and cultivate leadership through co-creation.
Social Work Field Building Ecosystem
Cultivates the systems‑level change and leadership needed to make innovations stick.
Powerbuilding & Leadership Lab
Elevate social work leadership that shapes policy, transforms practice, and drives implementation of innovative models for equitable health, well-being, and quality of life.
Global Social Work & Public Health Lab
Explore emerging areas of inquiry, fostering co-learning, capacity building, and global partnerships to foster effective healthcare and mental health care delivery systems.
Discovery & Practice Ecosystem
Prototype, test, and scale solutions grounded in lived expertise.
Social Work Innovation Lab
Bring together social work experts, individuals with lived expertise, and leaders from public health, health economics, data science, systems thinkers and planners, and other experts to co-design and test creative, human-centered solutions to society’s most pressing health and social issues.
Health Equity Research Lab
Conduct data-driven research and policy analysis to advance health outcomes across all areas that impact health and well-being and centers the lives of the most marginalized to generate evidence for impact.
