Our Guiding Principles

Mission

To engage academic institutions, county social services, community-based organizations, and Tribal partners to pursue research, training, and evaluation. This collaboration enhances and promotes the skills and abilities of those who are serving children and families in the region, with a focus on improving economic, social welfare, and well-being. 

Vision

To maintain a center dedicated to meeting the social welfare evaluation, research, and training needs of human service systems and residents of the regions.

Purpose

The purpose of the SWERT Center is to support knowledge and learning about the human condition, social issues, and service delivery systems in the regions served, to advance inquiry, theory, education, policy, and practice that promote social welfare and social justice.  The Center serves as a university resource for human service organizations, providers, and stakeholders in the identification and study of social welfare issues and policies impacting the regions. Through the acquisition of external resources and support, the SWERT Center engages in evaluation, research, and training activities consistent with the university’s mission of scholarship and community engagement, enhancing service delivery for children, families, individuals, older adults, and communities.  

Goals

• Maintain a center dedicated to addressing the social welfare evaluation, research, and training needs of the regions.
• Identify and pursue external resources to support the center’s activities.
• Leverage and coordinate existing resources to support the center’s activities.
• Identify and address regional social welfare issues through the development and utilization of university intellectual capital, community linkages, and stakeholder partnerships.
• Engage in evaluation, research, and training activities that are inclusive of appropriate stakeholders.
• Provide empirical foundation for evidence-based practice in the areas of child welfare, mental health, aging, and other areas of practice.

Values

• Exploration.  We commit to cultivating the exploration of ideas and creative expression through nurturing curiosity and open-mindedness.  
• Excellence.  We commit to growing excellence in research, teaching, and professional development to reach our fullest potential.
• Inclusion.  We commit to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belongingness based on a fundamental respect for others
• Community.  We commit to strengthening our community through education, research, and service.