Doctoral Student Policy Fellowship

CSWE Social Work Doctoral Student Policy Fellowship

The goal of the two-year DSPF program is to develop a cohort of doctoral level social workers who influence social policy through the federal legislative policy process. This fellowship will offer opportunities for experiential learning through placements in congressional offices, with CSWE government relations at Lewis-Burke, or other federal agencies and advocacy groups. This virtual opportunity does not require the fellow to relocate to the Washington, DC area, unless by choice and self-funded, to participate in a DC-based fellowship.
 
All placements will center on connecting fellows’ research interests to policy and informing policymakers on how the social work profession can play a key role in the shaping of federal policy. Fellows will work and learn alongside legislative and advocacy professionals on issues of social work and social justice and learn to link their academic research with legislative policies and developing easy to read advocacy materials and policy briefs. Ultimately, this fellowship seeks to cultivate a cadre of social work researchers who can both advocate for investments in social work and adjacent social policy and disseminate this information among their communities of practice. 

Program Purpose 

The objectives of the CSWE Social Work Doctoral Student Policy Forum & Fellowship are to:

  1. Create an opportunity for doctoral students to make a stronger link between their research and policy

  2. Expose social work researchers to the ways their research experience and backgrounds are used by practitioners in government to influence and inform policy; 

  3. Promote the value and significance of investments in social work and social work research on Capitol Hill; and 

  4. Cultivate a cadre of social work researchers who can both advocate for investments in social work education and research, as well as disseminate this information amongst their communities of practice.  

Program Timeline 

See the Program Timeline Overview below for events that require participation of DSPF fellows. There is an expectation that the fellow’s home institution will supplement the fellowship travel award with financial support to ensure full participation in all events.   
 

Program Timeline Overview 
(subject to change) 
January 20, 2025 Application deadline 
February 2025 Fellow interviews and selection
March 2025 Fellow virtual orientation
April- June 2025  Educational Webinars on the following topics:
  • Leadership & Mentorship  
  • Policy Briefs  
  • Policy Analysis  
  • Social Work research and policy organizations.
Fall 2025 Fellowship Placements
Virtual CSWE & Cohort Meeting(s)
January- May 2026  Development of Policy Briefs
May or June 2026 CSWE Fellows Forum (Alexandria, VA)
  • Policy programming (e.g., translating research to policy)  
  • Capitol Hill advocacy visits
Fall 2026  Educational Webinars on job search and research/ policy career- related topics. 
October 2026 CSWE Annual Conference (Atlanta, GA)
  • Present policy briefs
  • CSWE and cohort in-person meeting 


Funding Information: The Doctoral Student Policy Fellowship (DSPF) program is funded by The New York Community Trust (NYCT).