Our Mission, Goals and Values

In our teaching, research and service, we strive to:

• Educate future social workers who will lead the profession regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Facilitate critical inquiry into and analysis of the causes and consequences of social problems and injustice.
• Produce innovative, theoretically based and empirically sound means of alleviating and rectifying such problems and injustices through policy and practice.
• Provide professional leadership in resolving critical social, economic and political challenges.
• Be responsive and responsible members of our university, regional, national and global communities.
• Honor the inherent dignity, rights and strengths of all individuals, families and communities.

We live our values, which exemplify those of the social work profession and the UB School of Social Work within the context of trauma-informed and human rights perspectives. Our core values are embedded within each of us, and we uphold them in our daily actions toward colleagues, students, ourselves and all others.

• Service: We are committed to being of service to others in order to improve the quality of life for people locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Respect: We nurture and value all people without regard for status by respecting the influence of environment and histories and recognize their needs, unique contributions and progress.
• Collaboration: We promote collaboration to improve outcomes; we value the diversity and expertise that everyone brings to the process.
• Leadership: We accept our professional obligation to contribute to leading change that improves individual lives, communities, nations and society.
• Human Rights and Social Justice: We pursue social and economic justice for diverse, marginalized, oppressed and disenfranchised groups.
• Growth: We embrace the capacity for growth in ourselves and all others.
• Professionalism: We demonstrate behavior that reflects our professional values at all times. We uphold ourselves and the social work profession to the highest standards of excellence.
• Excellence: We strive for excellence in our learning, teaching, research, collaboration, advocacy and service provision. We honor and celebrate the contribution of all members of the school community.
• Responsibility: We are fully accountable for both our actions and inactions as social workers. We promote and embrace all aspects of self-care.