Social Work Office of Research and Public Service

At SWORPS, small adjustments in how services are delivered can lead to meaningful improvements in people’s daily lives.

Focus groups supported Mobile Meals in identifying ways to serve more older adults on the same budget. That’s more meals delivered—and more consistent connection for older adults who may be living alone.

When programs learn and adapt, limited resources reach further—with dignity.

At SWORPS, safe relationships matter—especially during times of change.

May is National Supervised Visitation Awareness Month. Supervised visitation helps children and parents maintain meaningful connections in safe, supportive environments while families work through challenging transitions.

That’s not just a service.
That’s protecting children while preserving important family relationships.
That’s creating space for trust to rebuild over time.
That’s supporting families as they move forward with dignity and stability.

Through Access & Visitation, SWORPS helps connect families across Tennessee to supervised visitation programs that prioritize safety, respect, and well-being.

Learn more or get connected:
https://sworps.org/index.php/field-based-services/access-and-visitation/

Supporting safe connection is one way systems help families move toward long-term stability.

At SWORPS, we look at what happens when systems align—across partners, across a community.

This most recent quarter, 449 individuals moved into permanent housing. That didn’t happen because of one program. It happened because providers coordinated through shared data and consistent processes.

Place-based systems insight helps communities direct resources where they’re needed most.

At SWORPS, learning only matters if it changes what we do next.

RECS '26 reinforced a core truth: durable progress requires aligned evidence, implementation conditions, and real-world context—so systems can support stability over time.

Systems intelligence helps us move beyond point-in-time metrics toward long-term mobility.

At SWORPS, conferences matter because they’re where shared learning turns into better systems.

This week, SWORPS is contributing to conversations at both RECS 2026 and the National Workforce Registry Alliance's Conference—sharing how research, technology, and direct service can align to support better decisions in practice.

When insight is embedded where work happens, systems become more coordinated—and people experience fewer barriers.

At SWORPS, outcomes don’t happen without the people doing the work.

Our Help Desk resolved 2,965 requests this quarter—keeping child care systems moving.

Strong systems are built on supported people.

Shelby Citizen Review Panel (CRP) was proud to be represented at the Safe & Supportive Families Expo in Memphis!

Catherine Herrera joined community partners and families at this event to share resources and support efforts that strengthen families and students across Shelby County. This event included addressing chronic absenteeism/truancy with parents in Memphis Shelby County Schools and sharing the information about Parent Child Interactive Therapy which are both recommendation of the CRP.

Events like this highlight the power of collaboration and access to meaningful, hands-on support for parents and students alike.

Looking for a role where your work directly supports families and strengthens communities? We're seeking a TCSEPP Coordinator to support non‑custodial parents through employment, parenting resources, and community connections across Tennessee.

Learn more and apply here: https://tinyurl.com/4avxxum5

Healthy relationships and safe communities don’t happen by chance. They are built through awareness, communication, and support. At SWORPS, we are committed to strengthening the conditions that help individuals and families thrive with dignity and safety.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to center survivors, elevate prevention, and reaffirm our shared responsibility to create environments where harm is not tolerated and support is always within reach.

Reminder: The survey is still open!
Faith-based organizations across Tennessee are doing incredible work—and we want to be sure your efforts are counted.

SWORPS, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and the Tennessee Department of Human Services, is still collecting responses for this first-of-its-kind study on how faith-based organizations and houses of worship support vulnerable Tennesseans.

If you’re a faith leader and haven’t yet shared your perspective, there’s still time! The survey takes just 15–25 minutes and helps tell the story of how you strengthen stability, well-being, and self-sufficiency in your community.

Take the survey today: https://governorsinitiative.org/faith-survey
Thank you for making a difference across our state!

Faith leaders in Tennessee are invited to participate in a ground-breaking statewide research survey: Faith-Based Stewardship to Tennesseans in Need: Time, Talent, and Treasure.

https://governorsinitiative.org/faith-survey

This effort is being conducted by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (UT SWORPS), in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and the Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative.

The purpose of this study is to better understand how faith communities across Tennessee are serving individuals and families in need, and to document the many ways these informal networks strengthen our state.

Tennessee Department of Human Services Social Work Office of Research and Public Service