Rutgers researchers evaluate the early-stage implementation of Family Connects NJ and its role in advancing maternal and child health throughout the state.

At a Central New Jersey senior center, an unexpected friendship and extraordinary bond have formed between two social workers whose careers began generations apart. One is just entering the field with hope and determination; the other, now a resident of the senior center, spent 65 years shaping it with grit, compassion, and an unwavering belief in humanity. Linking their stories is Rutgers School of Social Work and a shared understanding of what it truly means to care for others.

Assistant Professor Durrell M. Washington Sr. received the 2026 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Outstanding Social Work Doctoral Dissertation Award for his dissertation “Invisible Wounds and Sibling Dynamics: A Narrative Study Investigating the Influence of Juvenile Incarceration on Black Family Life.” In conferring the award, SSWR recognized the significance of the problem addressed, the rigor of Dr. Washington Sr.’s analysis, and the meaningful contribution his work makes to social work and social welfare knowledge.

The 2025 International Symposium on Children and Youth Health and Well-being convened in Guangzhou, China on December 13-14, 2025, drawing more than 100 scholars and students from around the world. Hosted by the School of Public Administration at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and co-hosted by the University of Saint Joseph and Rutgers School of Social Work, the event featured 75 research presentations exploring critical issues affecting children and youth.