NASW Foundation National Programs
Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship

The Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship Program provides partial support to 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.

2003 Blackey Award Recipient

Previous Award Recipients

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.

Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship Guidelines