Empowering Students to Transform Communities

Since its earliest days, social justice has been at the heart of Mount Mary University’s mission. This is especially evident in the Department of Social Work, which centers around uplifting vulnerable populations and providing critical support systems for mental health, addiction recovery and domestic violence prevention.

The modern-day Social Work program at Mount Mary has gone by several different monikers throughout its history. The department began as Social Science, transitioning to Sociology by the 1950s and finally evolving to become Social Work in the 1970s. This reflected a shift in focus from behavioral science to addressing the root causes of complex social issues like poverty and racism. The change also reflected an evolution within the discipline itself, just as the field of modern social work was beginning to take root as an independent profession.

In April 1975, the program was granted accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), making it the longest standing accredited social work degree at a private university in Wisconsin.

A critical lifeline for communities in need

Department chair Melinda Kiltz is passionate about the role that she and her students take on as advocates for the marginalized and vulnerable. Kiltz’s professional work has ranged from providing inpatient mental health and supporting clients with disabilities to shaping public policy and facilitating mobile crisis and post-disaster response efforts. This wealth of experience has provided her with an intimate knowledge of the critical role that social workers play in our society.

According to Kiltz, social workers often serve in roles which would otherwise remain unfilled. Graduating students can provide a diverse range of services, such as helping families navigate hospital and legal systems, providing resources for individuals leaving abusive partners and providing psychiatric rehabilitation and substance abuse recovery for formerly incarcerated people as they transition back into life outside of prison. It is exactly this variety that excites Kiltz about the possibilities for her students.

“There is a need for this work in a diverse range of organizations,” said Kiltz. “Hospitals, schools, free medical clinics, child and family services, disability advocacy public policy specialists, case managers, mental health advocates — there is such a wide spectrum of opportunities available to graduates.”

At the undergraduate level students are trained to become generalist practitioners, providing a range of skills that prepares them to work within a wide array of areas. Students put these skills to work before ever leaving college, participating in projects such as helping teenage mothers apply for college and offering job seeking skills for incarcerated women. Students complete 450 hours of field experience during the program.

This fall Mount Mary added a new Master of Social Work degree. Kiltz shared her excitement about the program, which she anticipates will open many new professional opportunities for those with a passion for social justice and advocacy.

“With online courses and an ability to offer advanced standing to any student who has graduated from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution, students with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work will be able to finish the program within just one year,” she shared.

The Mount Mary Social Work program has come a long way since its humble beginnings. But even as the field continues to evolve, the demand for these critical services remains strong. To Kiltz, there is no end in sight for the value that her field continues to provide.

“There are many concerns throughout the community” says Kiltz. “Social work answers the call for what people need.”