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 seven clinical faculty members. The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology includes 10 faculty. Doctoral students are vital contributors to research.
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
| Investigators | Project Title | Funding Agency | Project Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ai Bo (Co-I) Trenette Clark Goings (PI) | Substance Use among Biracial Adolescents and Emerging Adults: The Double Jeopardy Hypothesis | National Institute on Drug Abuse | Aug. 1, 2021 to July 31, 2025 |
| Lisa Berger (PI), James Topitzes (Co-PI), Ai Bo, Linda Britz, Amy Kirby | The Youth-Oriented Substance Abuse and Trauma Counseling Program (YOSAT Counseling II) | Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) | July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025 |
| Jane Hereth (Co-I) Gina Fedock (PI) | The Impact of Collateral Consequences on Help-seeking and Help-attainment for Behavioral Health Needs for Women with Criminal Records | National Institutes of Health | 2023 to 2025 |
| Jane Hereth (Co-I) Ryan Shorey (PI) | A Mixed-method Study on Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults’ Alcohol Use | National Institutes of Health | 2023 to 2025 |
| Melinda S. Kavanaugh (PI) | YCare: Supporting Young Caregivers in ALS Families | Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) Pilot Award | Jan 1, 2025 to Dec 31, 2025 |
| Melinda S. Kavanaugh (PI) | Identifying Young Carers in Military Connected and Veteran Communities | Elizabeth Dole Foundation/Wounded Warrior Project | Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2025 |
| Melinda S. Kavanaugh (Academic Partner/Study Evaluator) The United Community Center (PI) | The Latino Dementia Health Regional Consortium | Wisconsin Partnership Program/University of Wisconsin-Madison | Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Yura Lee (Co-I) Priya Nambisan (PI) (Public Health) | Self-Care, Healing and Social Support for Dementia Patients and Their Caregivers | Bader Philanthropies | Feb. 17, 2025 to Feb. 16, 2026 |
| Yura Lee (PI) Zhi Zheng (Biomedical and Electrical Engineering) and Ellias Granadillo (Neurology) (Co-Is) | Going Home: Reminiscence Intervention for Asian Immigrants with Dementia | Alzheimer’s Association | Nov. 1, 2024 to Oct. 30, 2027 |
| Joshua Mersky (PI) | Hope and Healing for Children Who Experience Family Violence | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration | Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2027 |
| Joshua Mersky (PI) and James Topitzes (Co-PI) | Developing an Evidence-Informed Postnatal Home Visiting Program | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration | Oct. 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025 |
| Joshua Mersky (PI) | Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant Program | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration | Sept. 30, 2021 to Sept. 29, 2025 |
| Andrew Steward (PI) Yura Lee (Co-I) | A Feasibility and Quasi-Experimental Study of the “Aging Together” Peer Support Program | Bader Philanthropies | Jan. 15, 2024 to Jan. 14, 2026 |