College of Social Work

Research Centers

Problem-Solving Centers

Faculty and researchers at the College of Social Work advance knowledge through a portfolio of center-based initiatives that integrate interdisciplinary scholarship, community engagement and translational practice. These centers generate and mobilize evidence across the life course – spanning aging, intergenerational connection, youth development, behavioral health and emerging therapeutic approaches. Through rigorous research, education and national leadership, they inform policies, strengthen professional practice, and enhance social, health and community outcomes. Collectively, this work exemplifies the College of Social Work’s commitment to building innovative, evidence-based solutions that improve well-being locally, nationally and globally.

a group of people from the Age-Friendly Innovation Center at The Ohio State University, posing on a bridge with the Columbus, Ohio skyline in the background. 

Age-Friendly Innovation Center

Improving social, built and service environments that support livability for people of all ages and abilities
Read more  about the Age-Friendly Innovation Center center
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Center for Intergenerational Research and Practice

Promoting individual, familial, organizational and community development and health through intergenerational relationships
Read more  about the Center for Intergenerational Research and Practice center
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Center for Psychedelic Research and Education

Cultivating a thriving and adaptive psychedelic ecosystem for the betterment of all
Read more  about the Center for Psychedelic Research and Education center
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Community and Youth Collaborative Institute

Improving the conditions in which youth learn and play so that all youth have the chance at a healthy, happy life
Read more  about the Community and Youth Collaborative Institute center
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Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery

Empowering those working to address collegiate alcohol and drug misuse and associated harms
Read more  about the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery center
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LiFEsports

Preparing youth for life and leadership through sport
Read more  about the LiFEsports center

Recent News

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Faculty

Dr. Taylor Reed-Jones Using Self-Originated Theory to Inspire and Drive Practice

5-minute read| Posted on September 29, 2026
Dr. Taylor Reed-Jones, who joined the College of Social Work in August 2025, is already taking a seat at tables where social workers have not always been represented. Interdisciplinary gatherings over a common goal Over this past summer, Dr. Reed-Jones participated in the Racial Democracy Crime and Justice Network (RDCJN) Summer Research Institute at the […]
Read more  of the article titled Dr. Taylor Reed-Jones Using Self-Originated Theory to Inspire and Drive Practice
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Faculty

Newly Released: Epistemic Injustice and Resistance in Social Work

2-minute read| Posted on September 18, 2026
Congratulations to Dr. Ran Hu, who co-edited the new volume, Epistemic Injustice and Resistance in Social Work: Rethinking Social Justice in Practice, Education and Research with Dr. Eunjung Lee and Dr. Andrea Greenblatt.
Read more  of the article titled Newly Released: Epistemic Injustice and Resistance in Social Work
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Research

Research Brief: How jobs in different industries may shape methamphetamine use risk in U.S. communities

3-minute read| Posted on September 4, 2026
Local employment patterns may drive substance use risks more than individual factors alone. New research reveals that U.S. counties with higher concentrations of jobs in utilities, construction, and support services experience elevated rates of methamphetamine use. These findings highlight how workplace environments and economic dynamics directly shape community public health.
Read more  of the article titled Research Brief: How jobs in different industries may shape methamphetamine use risk in U.S. communities

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