School of Social Welfare Emergency Fund

Social workers are a unique group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to helping the less fortunate, the marginalized, the hurting, the most vulnerable. Some seek to change the life of one individual and others want to change the world. Either way, their selfless, steadfast commitment is courageous, indispensable and oftentimes underappreciated and misunderstood.

Social workers serve all ages from birth to death and advocate for individuals, families, communities, and change.

If you or someone you love…

• Experiences a health crisis
• Has an addiction
• Is being bullied
• Has been sexually abused
• Needs hospice care
• Is looking to be a foster parent or adopt a child
• Experiences hatred because of who you/they are
• Can’t afford food or a place to live

Then you need a social worker.

This is only a short list of situations where someone would call on a social worker for help. In addition to the breadth of social work fields, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the social work profession in Kansas to grow by 12 percent by 2030.

As the School of Social Welfare’s mission states, we are dedicated to fulfilling this need by providing a learning environment that promotes social, economic, and environmental justice by educating students to practice with integrity and competence needed to serve such important causes.

Contributing to the School of Social Welfare Emergency Fund helps provide the necessary support for students who experience an unexpected need. Many don’t know where to turn and, without support, would be forced to take a break from school or drop out completely. Over the past couple of years, we have provided more than $200,000 in support for our students who have needed assistance with a variety of needs such as food and housing expenses, medical bills, and car repairs. One student would have dropped out since she wasn’t able to afford new tires for her car and her tuition. However, after applying for emergency funds to help with the tires, she was able to stay in school and has since graduated and working as a social worker.

As these students have chosen to devote their lives to helping others, it is now our time to help them. Today, we are asking for donations to aid in these students’ futures and the communities in which we live. By donating to the School of Social Welfare Emergency Fund, you are providing the necessary support for students who experience unexpected expenses, which in many cases without this extra funding, would have been forced to take a break from school or drop out completely.