Social work educators and student wellness needs (2024)

When students struggle with inconsistent food or housing, social distress, or mental health challenges, this can directly impede their learning. Social Work educators in the United States were surveyed to understand what influences their sense of responsibility to address these student issues. 74% of the 116 respondents indicated that they have developed an increased sense of responsibility to address these issues over their time as educators. Student focused concerns were the most common motivation guiding this sense of responsibility, followed by personal and professional motivations. Understanding how social work educators determine how and when to address student wellness needs will continue to influence student learning and the development of future social workers.