What We Do

Through a dynamic ecosystem of labs and partnerships, we lead and support projects that strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, amplify the power of transformative strategies by working collaboratively with marginalized communities, and influence the political agenda for just and equitable health systems. With a strong focus on real-world impact, we engage frontline practitioners, social work leaders, policymakers, community members, and academic researchers to address the root causes of health inequities across local and global contexts.

We are an interdisciplinary team working at the nexus of social work, public health, health economics, and policy change. As social work and public health leaders, we are uniquely positioned to transform individual and community well-being. Our work focuses not only on service and systems innovation, but also on scaling models, shifting political agendas, and building social work’s power in interdisciplinary, policy, and care delivery spaces. From developing trauma-informed workforce efforts in rural Rwanda to mapping systems of support for children with medical complexity in the United States, our work is expansive and deeply grounded in equity and social justice.

Our signature efforts include the Social Work Innovation Lab, the Powerbuilding & Leadership Lab, the Global Social Work & Public Health Lab, and the Health Equity Research Lab—each creating opportunities for experimentation, community partnership, and applied research.

Our current national effort to build the economic case for social work—through simulation modeling, claims data, and labor force analysis—is among the most rigorous in the field. This initiative, alongside our Beyond 2025 Action Hub and other action-driven projects, positions CISWH as a national leader in redefining the value of social work. Through deep policy engagement, global collaboration, and a commitment to addressing structural injustice, we are reshaping how social work is understood, supported, and deployed as a driver of equitable systems change.