The Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has an extensive cross-disciplinary research program. The school serves students with interests in social work and criminal justice.

Research conducted by faculty often involves multidisciplinary collaboration through partnerships with researchers on campus and nationwide. The Department of Social Work includes 12 faculty and nine clinical faculty members. The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology includes eight faculty, one visiting faculty, and two full-time teaching faculty.

Extramural funding at the school is close to $8 million annually; the school brings in the most research dollars among professional schools at UW-Milwaukee. All faculty have access to the Office of Research Administration. ORA assists faculty with applying for and managing sponsored funding. This administrative infrastructure supports faculty in their pursuit of interdisciplinary, scientifically rigorous social and behavioral research.

Active Funded Projects

InvestigatorsProject TitleFunding AgencyProject Period
Ai Bo, Co-Investigator
Trenette Clark Goings, Principal Investigator
Substance Use among Biracial Adolescents and Emerging Adults: The Double Jeopardy HypothesisNational Institute on Drug AbuseAug. 1, 2021 to July 31, 2025
Lisa Berger (Co-Principal Investigator), James Topitzes (Co-PI), Ai Bo, Linda Britz, Amy Kirby, Jeanne WagnerThe Youth-Oriented Substance Abuse and Trauma Counseling Program (YOSAT Counseling II)Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025
Tina Freiburger, Alyssa SheeranAssessment of Performance Measures for MCADTCMilwaukee County, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)May 31, 2019 to May 30, 2024
Colleen Galambos, Co-InvestigatorIntegrating Advocates Within a Healthcare Setting to Strengthen Intimate Partner Violence ScreeningAdvancing a Healthier Wisconsin EndowmentJuly 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024
Jane HerethExploring the acceptability, feasibility, and benefits of a mentoring program for transgender youth and adult mentorsFahs-Beck Fund for Research and ExperimentMarch 1, 2022 to Feb. 29, 2024
Melinda S. KavanaughThe Latino Dementia Health Regional ConsortiumWisconsin Partnership ProgramJan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2026
Joshua Mersky (PI)Hope and Healing for Children Who Experience Family ViolenceU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationOct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2027
Joshua Mersky (PI)Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant ProgramU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services AdministrationSept. 30, 2021 to Sept. 29, 2025
Joshua Mersky (PI) and James Topitzes (Co-PI)Developing an Evidence-Informed Postnatal Home Visiting ProgramRacine County Public Health Division and Walworth County Department of Health and Human ServicesOct. 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025
Joshua Mersky, Co-Investigator; Baumer-Mouradian, Principal InvestigatorPromoting Equity in COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination through Emergency Department-based programs: Identifying Informational Needs and Practical Implementation StrategiesClinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeast WisconsinApr. 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024
David J. Pate Jr.Sullivan Spaights Endowment FundUWM FoundationSept. 1, 2014 to present
Alyssa SheeranAn Evaluation of the Milwaukee County Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) ProgramWisconsin Department of JusticeJune 2024 to December 2024
Andrew Steward, Principal Investigator; Yura Lee, Co-InvestigatorA Feasibility and Quasi-Experimental Study of the “Aging Together” Peer Support ProgramBader PhilanthropiesJan. 15, 2024 to Jan. 14, 2026
James TopitzesHealing Adversity and Trauma Through Conversation and HopeMarquette University President and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor ChallengeJan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2024