BU CISS Highlights Research by Professor Alvarez-Hernandez & Jacobson López that Advances LGBTQIA+ Health

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community—particularly those with intersecting marginalized identities—are more likely to experience mental health issues, substance use disorders, and barriers to accessing care, a fact that is often misunderstood by healthcare providers. To educate the healthcare industry and increase more inclusive, sensitive, and effective care for queer communities, Profs. Luis Alvarez-Hernandez and Daniel […]

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Professor Alvarez-Hernandez & Sprague Martinez Receive FDA Grant to Increase Spanish-Speaking Participants in Clinical Research

Language diversity in the U.S. is rarely represented in clinical trials, which rely mostly on English-speaking participants. In a significant step towards enhancing health equity, Profs. Luis Alvarez-Hernandez from Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) and Linda Sprague Martinez from the University of Connecticut received the FDA Health Equity Innovation Award to fund a […]

Professor Alvarez-Hernandez & Colleagues Research the Mass Exodus of Mental Health Professionals from Puerto Rico

The need for mental health professionals in Puerto Rico has risen in response to natural disasters and growing inequality. However, Latino providers are migrating from Puerto Rico at higher rates than ever. Retaining mental health providers on the island is an urgent concern, since the widening service gap worsens citizens’ health and economic disparities and […]

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1/26: BUSSW Faculty Join Dr. Nabila El-Bassel for Conversation on Social Work Leadership in Substance Use Treatment and Social Justice Advocacy

The Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston Medical Center partners with the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) at Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) to present a panel discussion exploring social work leadership at the intersection of substance use treatment and social justice advocacy. Dr. Nabila El-Bassel, director of the […]

BUSSW at the 2023 CSWE Annual Program Meeting: Presentations, Reception & More

Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) had an impressive presence at the Council for Social Work Education’s 2023 Annual Program Meeting (CSWE APM). Faculty, staff, students and alumni shared their expertise on topics ranging from anti-racist group work to early childhood mental health. Saturday night’s reception drew hundreds of attendees from peer schools, social […]

Professor Alvarez-Hernandez & Colleague Center Chicana & Latina Feminisms to Reimagine Trans Latinas’ Mental Health

While understanding that cultural theories can help social workers understand clients whose lives differ from their own, stereotyping is a common pitfall that keeps people in marginalized groups from getting the help they need. To combat this pattern among trans Latinas, Professor Luis Alvarez-Hernandez from BU School of Social Work co-authored a paper on their […]

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Professor Alvarez-Hernandez Reveals the Hidden Potential of Creative Writing for Qualitative Research

Novice and seasoned academics alike can lose sight of writing’s contribution to the research process. Undervaluing writing in this way can lead to stale and oppressive research practices. To counter this trend, Professor Luis Alvarez-Hernandez from BU School of Social Work encourages academics to unlock new possibilities in qualitative research through creative writing. “Writing is […]

Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez Joins BUSSW Faculty as Assistant Professor

Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez will join Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) as a tenure-track assistant professor beginning July 1, 2023. A licensed clinical social worker and scholar, Alvarez-Hernandez’s research is focused on the well-being of Latinx, LGBTQ+, and immigrant and refugee communities with particular attention to the experiences of people living at the intersections […]