We can help you fuel your passion to impact mental health

Access to mental healthcare is an important component of our wellbeing. Faculty, students, and alumni of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work are dedicated to improving mental health outcomes in our communities.

Improving Alzheimer’s Literacy Among African Americans

USC associate professor of social work Karen Lincoln developed a program called Brainworks that uses culturally tailored text messages to improve Alzheimer’s education among African Americans. Published in the American Journal for Geriatric Psychiatry, the study tested an intervention that began with participants attending an hourlong “talk show” in an African-American community setting that delivered information about Alzheimer’s. The next phase incorporated a monthlong regimen of daily culturally tailored text messages to promote Alzheimer’s literacy.

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Community Impact from USC Students and Faculty

Local Alzheimer's Care Triple Trojan Bryan Gaines (BA ‘03, MSW ‘06, DSW ‘18) opened a memory care center to serve the Alzheimer’s population in South LA.

Podcast on Suicide The rising number of high profile suicides in the past couple of years has finally brought this subject to the forefront of public discourse.

Active duty military member in a face-to-face meeting

Mindfulness in the Military USC social work alum Nicholas Barr (PhD ‘18) is combating military trauma through mindfulness.

Adult Mental Health and Wellness

Focuses on designing social change and leading innovation for individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities on a larger scale.

Go to the AMHW Department Page

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Children, Youth and Families

Prepares students to improve the lives and well-being of children, youth and their families within agencies, institutions, communities, families and other social and organizational contexts.

Go to the CYF Department Page

Social Change and Innovation

Focuses on designing social change and leading innovation for individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities on a larger scale.

Go to the SCI Department Page