Over its 100-year history, social work has progressed from 'friendly visiting among the poor' to helping people find their own solutions to their problems. In 1936, after social security and the federal welfare program were started, U of L began the graduate program in social work. Eight years later, the Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work was named in honor of the late university president who helped establish the school. Today, the Kent School is enjoying a period of growth and renewal under Singer's leadership. The Kent School strives to balance student education with a tradition of community service.
Service also provides opportunities for research.
A strong presence in academic journals will enhance the Kent School's national reputation and draw more resources to its projects, he says. Just as social work serves diverse needs, the Kent School offers a variety of programs. The Kentucky Interdisciplinary Community Screenings, Family Therapy, a collaborative Ph.D. program with the University of Kentucky, and the Child Welfare Training Assessment are four innovative programs that are contributing to the school's rising national reputation. The stories they hear of unemployment, domestic violence, rape, incest, and prejudice can point to an underlying cause of a medical problem. From that experience, many students say they will never again diagnose or treat an illness without first hearing the patient's story.