Engagement

Click here to learn more about SP2 Research Centers.

The Cartographic Modeling Lab
The Cartographic Modeling Lab (CML) is an interdisciplinary center that specializes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and urban and social policy analysis with a special focus on Philadelphia. (www.cml.upenn.edu)

The Center for High Impact Philanthropy
The Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP) seeks to define the efficient frontier of philanthropy, where nonprofit financing is linked to potential for impact. (www.impact.upenn.edu)

Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice and Research
Guided by the Schools of Social Policy & Practice, Law, and Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice and Research brings together the resources of the University of Pennsylvania to enhance and assure the well-being of abused and neglected children and those at risk of maltreatment. (www.fieldceteratpenn.org)

The Evelyn Jacobs Ortner Center on Family Violence
The Evelyn Jacobs Ortner Center serves as a vital resource for policy makers, agency directors, line staff, researchers, and educators as they search for ways to reduce domestic violence.
Website: www.sp2.upenn.edu/ortner
Email: ortner@sp2.upenn.edu)

The Out-of-School Time Resource Center (OSTRC)
The OSTRC promotes out-of-school time (OST) student achievement by conducting research on and providing access to staff resources and professional development. (www.sp2.upenn.edu/ostrc)

Program for Religion and Social Policy Research
The Program for Religion and Social Policy Practice is a research, education, and policy program dedicated to understanding the nexus between organized religion and the provision of social services. (www.sp2.upenn.edu/prspr)

Click here to learn more about SP2 Special Projects.

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
The goals of the project included: 1) identification of the nature, extent, and underlying causes of CSE and the CSEC occurring in the three countries of the North American Free Trade region--the U.S., Canada, and Mexico; 2) identification of those subgroups of children that are at the greatest risk of being sexually exploited; 3) identification of subgroups of adult perpetrators of sex crimes against children—including pimps, traffickers, and adult “customers” of children for sex; 4) identification of the extent to which organized criminal units are involved in the CSEC; 5) identification of the modes of operation and other methods used by organized criminal units to recruit children into sexually exploitive activities; 6) identification of local, state and national laws relating to CSE and the CSEC; 7) identification of international agreements, covenants and declarations pertaining to CSE and the CSEC; 8) identification of the strengths and weakness of the country’s current capacity for preventing CSE, or at least protecting children from its commercial manifestations; and, 9) with governmental and nongovernmental leaders, frame recommendations designed to strengthen the nation’s capacity to prevent and protect the nation’s and region’s children from sexual exploitation. (www.sp2.upenn.edu/~restes/CSEC.htm)

Penn Aging Concentration (PAC)
The PENN Aging Concentration (PAC), in partnership with a consortium of community agencies is offering a special opportunity to earn a Master in Social Work (MSW) with a concentration in services to older persons. The PAC program prepares students in the advanced year for clinical or macro social work careers and leadership in social work services at one of the premier MSW programs in the United States. PAC addresses the critical need in the US for well-trained and skilled geriatric social workers.  

Demographic trends, most notably the aging of the baby boom cohort, clearly show that demand for social workers knowledgeable about the issues and needs of older adults and skilled in the development and delivery of services, will increase dramatically over the next few years.

PAC provides a number of exciting opportunities including the following:

• A specialized curriculum in “aging” leading to the Master of Social Work (MSW).
• Advanced training from Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholars.
• Internships working with older persons on a continuum from well to end of life.
• Special high impact projects to develop leadership skills.
• Rotational and integrative field seminars to bridge the Field Internship and course work.
• Financial stipends in the advanced year of the MSW program.
• Assistance with career planning.
• Internships offer opportunities to both develop skills in working with individuals and families but also with systems and organizations that serve older persons.

The PAC Program is part of the Geriatric Social Work Initiative funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation.

Social Impact of the Arts Project (SIAP)
SIAP is a research center of the Penn School of Social Policy & Practice. Since 1994, it has undertaken a variety of policy research projects on the role that cultural institutions play in the metropolitan Philadelphia region and its neighborhoods. Our website provides access to the Project's working papers, a summary of its findings, and some of its current activities. (www.sp2.upenn.edu/SIAP)

Field Placement is an integral part of the curriculum at SP2.  The Field Department works with over 590 agencies across 5 states to provide optimal learning experiences for students. Areas of practice include both clinical and macro opportunities for students to gain practical skills working in a wide variety of practice settings.  Generally, students complete two field placements in different agencies in their foundation and advanced year.

Full-time students are in field placement 3 days per week both years, for 30 weeks. Part-time students are in field 16 hours/week for 39 weeks the second year, and 36 weeks the third year.