NASW Foundation National Programs

Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship

The Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship Program provides partial support to social work doctoral students who are engaged in dissertation research in welfare policy and practice. The fellowship program was established in 1987 as a tribute to Eileen Blackey, who was the Dean of the University of California-Los Angeles School of Social Welfare and a pioneer in the planning and use of staff development programs in public welfare agencies and in the U.S. Veterans Administration.

Eileen Blackey's methods enabled professionals to identify and to address the social needs of society from the unique social work perspective. Blackey, who died in 1979, was also instrumental in establishing schools of social work at the University of Hawaii and the University of Puerto Rico.

The Blackey Fellowship is awarded based on the projected annual earnings to the fund and contributions. To make a donation, click below. A panel reviews applicants and selects the award recipient.

The Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship program will support one $2,000 fellowship for the 2008-2009 academic year.

Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship Guidelines

Recently, the program supported the following dissertation research topics:

• 1999—Impact of New Federal Welfare Law on Domestic Violence, Employment, and the Well Being of Welfare Recipients, Louisiana State University.
• 2000—The Benefits and Costs of the Virginia Domestic Violence Policy and their Implications for Law Enforcement and the Social Services, The Catholic University of America, Washington D.C.
• 2002—The Role of Social Networks and Social Services in Shaping the Mobility Prospects of Latin-American Women Living in Public Housing, Silvia Domínguez, Boston University.
• 2003—The Role of Information Flow and Trust Dynamics in Child Care Decision Making: The Case of Philadelphia; Mona Basta; University of Pennsylvania.
• 2004—Award not given.
• 2005—Award not given.  Award panel determined no proposal meeting all of the criteria and guidelines was received.
• 2006—The Influence of Employment Related Supports and Services on Successful TANF Exists: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods Analysis - Patricia M. Carlson, University of Connecticut, School of Social Work
• 2007 – Decision-Making Processes among Sibling Caregivers of Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – Anna L. Zendell, School of Social Welfare, University at Albany
  

Previous Award Recipients