UConn School of Social Work

As political polarization, voter fatigue, and public distrust in institutions continue to shape the national conversation, UConn School of Social Work's Shannon Lane believes one message is more important than ever: democracy only works when people participate. 🗳️🏛️📥☑️🇺🇸

Lane, director of the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work at the School of Social Work, recently shared that message during an appearance on Democracy Does: The Civic Power Playbook, a podcast hosted by journalist Robin N. Hamilton that explores how public policy affects everyday life and what citizens can do to become more engaged in their communities. 📥☑️🇺🇸

Read more in this UConn Today article: https://today.uconn.edu/2026/06/lane-discusses-civic-engagement-voting-rights-power-of-community-on-national-podcast/

📚 New research by UConn School of Social Work Assistant Professor Rupal Parekh examines advance care planning among “solo agers” — older adults who may not have family or close friends available to make decisions for them if they become incapacitated. 👴

The study, published in the May 2026 issue of Educational Gerontology, found that older adults who were older and more highly educated were more likely to complete advance care planning documents. At the same time, many participants expressed hesitation about planning for future care because of uncertainty about the process, financial concerns, and discomfort discussing end-of-life decisions.

The findings highlight the need for targeted education, support, and policy solutions to help solo agers prepare for future health and care needs.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03601277.2026.2663334

Congratulations to Breana Bietsch ’25 Ph.D (SSW), LMSW! The methods portion of her UConn School of Social Work Ph.D. dissertation was published in the Journal of Social Service Research on June 8! 🏳⭐️👏

The study, titled “Applying Qualitative Research Methods to Provide Quality Social Services for Supporting Older LGBTQIA+ Adults’ Health Needs,” explores the lived experiences of older LGBTQIA+ adults through an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) plan. 🏳️‍🌈 Results of this qualitative approach helped to create context for their experiences, and derive shared themes for better understanding of what social services this populations needs to support better health outcomes.

Breana is currently an assistant professor at the School of Social Work at Bridgewater State University. Her advisor was Cristina Mogro-Wilson, Zachs Endowed Professor and director of the Ph.D. Program at the UConn SSW.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01488376.2026.2684544

UConn School of Social Work offers a fully-online, affordable MSW program. We award more than $1 million in scholarships each year and are committed to providing transparency when it comes to cost and can help you navigate financial barriers.

Application Deadline: July 1, 2026

https://socialwork.uconn.edu/masters-social-work/apply-msw/

Are you planning on attending the 2026 National Association of Social Workers Conference? Be sure to join UConn School of Social Work's Milagros Marrero-Johnson, MSW, senior director of strategic initiatives and community engagement at the Closing Plenary Session, starting at 10:15 a.m. June 13!

Milagros will be speaking on “Defending Equity and Inclusion: Social Work’s Role in Advancing Anti-Racism, Collective Liberation, and Justice-Centered Leadership.”

The 2026 NASW National Conference — Beyond the Breaking Point: Connection Through Purpose and Power — brings thousands of social workers, clinicians, advocates, and thought leaders together in Washington, DC.

https://www.socialworkers.org/Events/NASW-Conferences

The UConn School of Social Work Doctoral Fellowship Awards Committee recently announced seven winners of doctoral program internal awards. This year, the committee awarded $32,500 across five funding programs.

These students are researching how asylum law shapes LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, influences on adolescents with uncertain cancer prognoses, juvenile justice policy reform, social service interventions for survivors of child labor in Zambia, cigarette dependence and among gender minority emerging adults, and more.

“This was one of the most competitive cycles we have seen in the history of the doctoral program, with 14 applications received,” says committee member Cristina Mogro-Wilson, Zachs Endowed Professor, director, Ph.D. Program, School of Social Work.

Learn more about the winners and their projects: https://today.uconn.edu/2026/06/7-school-of-social-work-doctoral-students-awarded/

On May 28, UConn School of Social Work's Cristina Wilson traveled to Miami, Florida to speak at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work at Florida International University. Dr. Mogro-Wilson is the Henry M. and Judith M. Zachs Chair in Social Work, professor, and director of the Ph.D. Program.

As an invited guest speaker, Dr. Mogro-Wilson spoke to doctoral students and faculty in social work and public health about “AI in Teaching & Research: Opportunities, Risks and Misconduct.”

A nationally recognized Latina scholar, Dr. Mogro-Wilson’s research focuses on health disparities, cultural humility, and strengthening Latino families, with particular attention to parenting, resilience, and the prevention of substance use.

UConn School of Social Work Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work's director Shannon Lane and Ph.D. candidate Kylie Harrington are leading a webinar on "Social Work Practice and Advocacy in a Polarized Nation" on Friday (June 5) and all social work students are invited to attend, free of charge!

The live webinar, hosted at Yeshiva University, will be held on Zoom between 10 a.m. and noon.

To attend, you must register in advance in order to receive the Zoom login information. The Zoom link will be emailed the evening before the event.

Registration closes on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 5 p.m.
https://s.uconn.edu/socialworkpractice
https://www.yu.edu/wurzweiler/continuing-ed

LGBTQ Pride Month is a month-long observance celebrating LGBTQ pride and commemorating the contributions of le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender and q***r culture and community. Since 1970, the LGBTQ community and supporters have gathered in June to march with pride and demonstrate for equal rights. 💛🩵🧡💜💙

Happy 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

On May 28, UConn School of Social Work's Milagros Marrero-Johnson, MSW, attended the Latinas in Leadership Symposium held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Milagros is senior director of strategic initiatives and community engagement for the School of Social Work and adjunct faculty.

"It is not often that I attend a conference where I feel such an immediate sense of belonging," she says. "As Latina leader, it was both affirming and reassuring to hear that many of the barriers I have faced along my journey are shared experiences among other Latina women. There is power in knowing we are not alone and that we can overcome these challenges."

Latinas In Leadership is a leadership accelerator that helps Latinas strengthen their identity-centered leadership skills, without the systemic barriers that limit their economic mobility and representation.

For more information on the Latinas In Leadership Symposium, visit https://www.latinasandpower.com/symposium/2026-latina-symposium