With mental health concerns at historic levels among young people, a Rutgers professor joins a national call to create context-driven approaches to grief counseling.

At a Central New Jersey senior center, an unexpected friendship and extraordinary bond have formed between two social workers whose careers began generations apart. One is just entering the field with hope and determination; the other, now a resident of the senior center, spent 65 years shaping it with grit, compassion, and an unwavering belief in humanity. Linking their stories is Rutgers School of Social Work and a shared understanding of what it truly means to care for others.

Assistant Professor Durrell M. Washington Sr. received the 2026 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Outstanding Social Work Doctoral Dissertation Award for his dissertation “Invisible Wounds and Sibling Dynamics: A Narrative Study Investigating the Influence of Juvenile Incarceration on Black Family Life.” In conferring the award, SSWR recognized the significance of the problem addressed, the rigor of Dr. Washington Sr.’s analysis, and the meaningful contribution his work makes to social work and social welfare knowledge.

The 2025 International Symposium on Children and Youth Health and Well-being convened in Guangzhou, China on December 13-14, 2025, drawing more than 100 scholars and students from around the world. Hosted by the School of Public Administration at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and co-hosted by the University of Saint Joseph and Rutgers School of Social Work, the event featured 75 research presentations exploring critical issues affecting children and youth.

The Social Work Policy Network remains committed to sharing key news updates, policy changes, action opportunities, events & more - with content particularly focused on social justice, equity, and systemic change.

After serving Rutgers School of Social Work for more than a decade, Cathryn C. Potter, Ph.D. is retiring. Since her appointment as Dean and Distinguished Professor in 2013, Dr. Potter has provided exemplary leadership that has strengthened the School’s academic reputation, expanded its research enterprise, and significantly enhanced its national standing.

Samuel McIntyre, an undergraduate student studying at Rutgers School of Social Work, is one of the record 20 students across Rutgers University who was awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship earlier this year. The award empowers students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, fostering mutual understanding between the United States and other countries.

When Céline Fortin, SSW’91 arrived at The Arc of New Jersey as a Rutgers School of Social Work intern in 1990, she couldn’t have imagined the experience would define the course of her professional life. Today, more than three decades later, Fortin serves as executive director of the organization—the state’s leading advocacy and service provider for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. Her journey serves as a powerful example of how a foundation in social work education and mentorship from experienced leaders can ignite enduring impact in the field.

Last week, Rear Admiral Jennifer Moon spent the morning at the Rutgers University–Newark campus meeting with administrators and students from both the School of Nursing and the School of Social Work.