Mission & Objectives

Our mission is to provide exemplary individualized psychosocial care to patients and their families so they can achieve maximum benefit from their medical care and optimal social function. Recognizing that illness, hospitalization and treatment are very disruptive to normal, day-to-day function, our social workers are committed to helping patients and their families deal with the impact of illness and disability as individuals and as a family unit. This focus provides the basis for the clinical education of social work employees, students and other health professionals.

To fulfill its mission, the U-M Department of Social Work has the following objectives:

  1. To conduct psychosocial assessments, as indicated
  2. To counsel patients and families in order to help them cope with the impact of illness and disability
  3. To contribute to the health care team's understanding of the psychosocial aspects of patients’ lives and the impact it has on the etiology of each patient’s illness, response to hospitalization and compliance with medical recommendations
  4. To provide psychosocial consultation in U-M hospitals and health centers, and out in the community, as appropriate
  5. To serve as a liaison between the hospital and community health and welfare agencies
  6. To develop clinical education programs for social work employees and contribute to the education of other health care disciplines
  7. To contribute to the development of medical-social programs within the hospital and community
  8. To participate in research activities developed by others and develop independent research studies pertaining to the social aspects of health care
  9. To assist patients and families with discharge planning
  10. To use knowledge regarding social systems and program requirements to advocate for patients and families in order to help them obtain resources they can’t access without professional assistance