Offering proactive social service outreach in the University District is one of the recommendations made in Ohio State’s Task Force on Community Safety and Well-Being. Since its inception in fall 2020, the task force has put forth 15 recommendations that include a variety of strategies, acknowledging that “safety” means different things to different people.
As part of that effort, Ohio State has partnered with the University District Organization (UDO) to add a full-time Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) in the off-campus area to provide additional outreach and support for the housing vulnerable. Additionally, the College of Social Work will provide placement opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to acquire supervised experience with the LISW as part of their in-the-field training.