Center for Excellence in Social Work
Research
Our research drives evidence-based solutions to New Mexico’s most pressing social work challenges, empowering practitioners and shaping policies that transform lives across our communities.
Research
At the Center for Excellence in Social Work, our research drives transformative change in New Mexico’s social work landscape. We tackle pressing issues like behavioral health disparities and rural workforce shortages, bridging academia and real-world practice. Our data-driven studies inform policy, shape interventions, and empower social workers statewide. Through culturally relevant, community-centered research, we’re not just documenting challenges – we’re catalyzing positive change and setting new standards for social work practice and education across New Mexico and beyond.
2026 Rooted in Community, Ready for the Future: New Mexico’s Strategic Blueprint for Strengthening Social Work and Behavioral Health Career Pathways
This Blueprint highlights the cultural, linguistic, and lived expertise of social workers and behavioral health professionals who serve in the very communities that shaped them, particularly in rural, frontier, and tribal regions.
2024 Social Workers of New Mexico Survey Report
Survey findings portray a highly committed and overwhelmed social work workforce in need of enhanced community resourcing and a deeper investment in their retention and wellbeing.
2024 Snapshot of New Mexico's Social Workers
To learn more about New Mexico’s social workers and the workforce challenges they face, the CESW conducted its first biennial Social Workers of New Mexico Survey. This brief focuses on initial survey findings.
Prepared to Promote Educational Equity: The Case for Specialized School Social Work Training in New Mexico: A Policy Brief
Given the correlation between social needs and educational performance, school social work services create essential pathways to educational equity and success. In many New Mexico communities, school social workers (SSWs) are the only accessible providers of these critical services.
School Social Work Guide to Provide Evidence-Based Practice that is Grounded in Critical Disability Theory: A Practice Brief
SSWs must possess an understanding of different models of disability and their implications for practice. This practice brief will explore these models and provide an introduction to Critical Disability Theory (CDT) as an essential theoretical framework in which SSWs can anchor their practice.
Culturally Informed Strategies for Supporting Latino Families in Autism Care: A Practice Brief
This practice brief outlines an innovative, research-grounded approach to improving autism services for Latino families—particularly mothers, fathers, and professionals—through culturally responsive, bilingual, and identity-grounded strategies.
A Proposal for LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curriculums in Publicly Funded Elementary and Secondary Schools in New Mexico
The proposed LGBTQ+ Education Act requires few resources and has the potential for large benefits, most importantly improving the wellbeing of youth across the state of New Mexico.
Mindfulness Practice as a Multidimensional Strategy for Social Workers to Cultivate Wellbeing, Healing, and Commitment to the Struggle: A Practice Brief
This practice brief discusses the recommendation that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) be intentionally woven into educational and workforce development strategies that support social workers.
Addressing LMSW Telehealth restrictions and low quality job opportunities: A Policy Brief
This policy brief outlines resolving legislative gaps for LMSWs providing telehealth care, the risks of creating low-quality, limited intervention jobs, and actionable recommendations to safeguard New Mexico’s mental health infrastructure.
Interested in Writing a Brief?
Contact us today!
Contact Information