SP2 launches social work affiliate program with HUP and CHOP

Social workers are an essential part of the health care workforce, playing a critical role in supporting patients, families, and communities across health systems. However, the full scope and impact of their contributions are not always widely recognized or measured. Strengthening the evidence base and visibility of health social work offers an important opportunity to expand investment in research, training, professional development, and practice — advancing workforce development and further elevating the role of social workers in improving health outcomes and systems of care.

To address these longstanding challenges, Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2), in an innovative partnership with the Departments of Social Work at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), has established a first-of-its-kind social work affiliate program. 

Through this new initiative, selected HUP and CHOP social workers will hold a formal academic affiliation with SP2. Spearheaded by Dr. Abigail Ross, associate professor at SP2 and the Perelman School of Medicine; Dr. Tamara Cadet, associate professor at SP2 and assistant director of community outreach and engagement at the Abramson Cancer Center; JoAnn Duffy, senior director of social work at CHOP; and Preeti Advani, director of social work at HUP, the program strengthens the connection between university-based research and hospital-based practice and opens new pathways for shared learning, professional recognition, and collaboration across institutions.

Affiliates will have the opportunity to pursue a project or set of activities that will advance recognition and understanding of social work’s value in health care. The program aims to build capacity for social work research, practice, and professional development within and across Philadelphia-based health and hospital systems; generate knowledge that advances understanding of the value and contributions of social work to health, health systems, and patient care; and develop a spectrum of educational, professional development, and programmatic opportunities responsive to patient and population needs.

An application process will launch this spring and will be open to all eligible CHOP and HUP social workers.