
Ranked #9 in the U.S. and #1 in Ohio
A reflection of our strengths, values in action, and local, national and
international impact
93% employment rate within 6 months
specializations
a student mentoring program
#1 in Ohio
22 average faculty h-index
9 research and training centers
The Mandel School is home to nine research and training centers, including three Centers of Excellence, as well as First Year Cleveland, a community movement dedicated to reversing infant death rates and helping all babies celebrate their first birthdays. We facilitate authentic research and training collaborations between faculty and community partners, including human service agencies, service delivery systems and policy makers.
- Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education
- Center for Evidence-Based Practices (Center of Excellence)
- Center for Innovative Practices (Center of Excellence)
- Center on Trauma and Adversity
- Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development
- Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (Center of Excellence)
- Community Innovation Network
- National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities
- Partnership for Evaluation, Research and Implementation
Many of our research and training initiatives are multidisciplinary involving multi-institutional partnerships that address broad social problems, social-work practice and policy. We emphasize dissemination, or using innovative research to enhance practice and service delivery in the community. Our reach is local, national and international. Our centers also provide several opportunities for students to participate in all aspects of the research process.

Ada Jackson began her career at Case Western Reserve University in August 2020—in the midst of the pandemic. As a MSW student with a child welfare fellowship in the intensive weekend format, she learned throughout her journey at the Mandel School that she’s a macro thinker—a “bigger why” person who questions everything. After she graduates, she plans to use the knowledge she has gained to advocate and implement systemic change within the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services, holding agencies and policy makers accountable for the systems they put into place.