Centers & Institutes

Social Work Research Center (SWRC)

Marc Winokur, PhD, Director

 
Mission:
 
The mission of the Social Work Research Center (SWRC) is to create formal links between higher education and community partners that advance social work theory, promote social justice, and enhance learning and practice in areas such as child welfare and juvenile delinquency. The SWRC is uniquely designed to study social work interventions while promoting evidence-based research, practice, and policy.
 
The SWRC also provides training, evaluation, and program development services to child welfare agencies, human services providers, governmental entities, community groups, and university students and faculty. SWRC collaborates with social work faculty and other interdisciplinary programs across the university on research and program evaluation initiatives.
 
 
Statement of Goals for the SWRC:
 
The Social Work Research Center is a partnership between the School of Social Work at Colorado State University, the Colorado Department of Human Services, and County Departments of Social Services and Human Services Providers in Colorado. The goals of this partnership are to:
 
  1. Improve social welfare outcomes for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities through innovative research and evaluation of social work interventions;
  2. Conduct applied research to bridge the gap between theory and practice in social work;
  3. Disseminate research on best practices to social service organizations and child welfare agencies through publication, conferences, and training venues;
  4. Develop measures to be used in research, evaluation, policy analysis, training, and program development activities;
  5. Provide opportunities for social work students to participate in all aspects of social work research.
 
 
Projects:
 
Applied Research in Child Welfare (ARCh)
 
The Applied Research in Child Welfare (ARCh) Project is a collaboration between the School of Social Work at Colorado State University, the Colorado Department of Human Services, and the Departments of Human Services in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa, Pueblo, and Weld counties. The purpose of the ARCh Project is to conduct applied research on child welfare interventions that informs social work practice and policy in Colorado and the United States.
 
The first research topic investigated by the ARCh Project was the effect of kinship care on child welfare outcomes. Specifically, a systematic review, descriptive study, and outcome study were conducted to determine the efficacy of kinship care as compared with traditional foster care. The main finding from all three studies was that children placed with kin caregivers experienced comparable outcomes for permanency, safety, and well-being as did children placed with foster parents. The latest study for the ARCh Project explored the effect of treatment on the recidivism of juvenile sexual offenders through a systematic review of the literature. The primary finding was that juveniles who complete a cognitive-behavioral treatment program are less likely to commit a sexual or nonsexual re-offense than are juveniles who do not receive treatment, receive an alternative treatment, or do not complete treatment.
 

Completed Reports Available

 
 
Larimer County Children, Youth and Family Services Division
 
Larimer County Children, Youth and Family Services Division (CYF) works with children who are at risk of being abused or have been abused or neglected. It also works with children who are beyond their parent’s control, have delinquent behavior, and/or have violated the law. CYF has a number of specialized programs devoted to serving the children and families of Larimer County. (http://www.co.larimer.co.us/humanservices/cyf/) SWRC has an ongoing relationship with CYF, which is focused on providing evidence-based research for child welfare outcomes. SWRC is currently working on the following studies with CYF:
  1. 1) The relationship between poverty and juvenile delinquency and child welfare caseloads.
  2. 2) The effect of House Bill 1451 implementation on child welfare outcomes.
  3. 3) A validation study of the Larimer County Risk Assessment Tool.
 
 
Attention Homes
 
Attention Homes provides residential treatment, counseling, and safe shelter to at-risk youth and has been serving Boulder County since 1966. Attention Homes is committed to the youth of the community, to changing lives, and to reuniting families in difficult times. In their 40-year history, Attention Homes has provided treatment and safety for over 5,500 teens, ages 12 to 18. (http://www.attentionhomes.org/)
 
SWRC is currently collaborating with Attention Homes on an outcome study of residential treatment services and agency best practices.
 
 
Nordic Campbell Center
 
The Nordic Campbell Center (NCC) is the first regional center in the international Campbell collaboration. The International Campbell Collaboration, C2, is a new network of researchers, practitioners, and others working with development, maintenance, and dissemination of systematic reviews of the effects of efforts and measures within the areas of social work, prison, and probation services and education. (http://www.sfi.dk/sw7165.asp)
 
SWRC is collaborating with the NCC on an international systemic review of kinship care. The purpose of the study is to compare children removed from the home for maltreatment and subsequently placed in foster or kinship care on child welfare outcomes
 
 
Marc Winokur, Ph.D.
Director		Marc Winokur
 
Marc is the Director of the Social Work Research Center in the School of Social Work at Colorado State University. He holds a Ph.D. from CSU in Education and Human Resource Studies. His research interests include child welfare practice, evidence-based interventions, and meta-analysis. Marc also has over 11 years of applied experience with program evaluation in diverse educational settings. In addition, he has published several articles and presented numerous papers on studies of social work and educational programs.
 
Contact Information:
Education 110
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1586

Phone: 970.491.0885
Email: Marc.Winokur@ColoState.EDU
 
 
Tobi DeLong-Hamilton, MSW, LCSW
Research Associate		Tobi DeLong-Hamilton
Tobi is a Research Associate for the Social Work Research Center in the School of Social Work at Colorado State University. Her educational credits include a BSW from Florida Atlantic University and an MSW from Florida International University. Tobi is currently enrolled as a full-time doctoral student in the inter-disciplinary program at CSU. She has worked in the social work field for over 15 years, primarily in child welfare and as a psychotherapist specializing in childhood issues. Tobi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Infant Mental Health Specialist. In 2005 she completed Advanced Infant Mental Health training at Florida State University and Louisiana State University through the Harris Institute. At the University of North Florida, Tobi taught as an adjunct instructor in the Social Welfare Program. In addition, she has collaborated on several journal articles with CSU Social Work faculty and has presented at workshops and conferences.
 
Contact Information:
Education 115
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1586

Phone: 970.491.0888
Email: Tobi.Hamilton@ColoState.EDU