Home: MSW Program Guide: Websites

Find Social Work Information Online

As you've read in the How to Do Library Research guide, websites with a .gov or .org domain are considered scholarly. Although this guide offers eBooks that cover a wide range of aspects of social work, we have included a list of government (.gov) and professional organization (.org) websites below to help you further your knowledge. If you plan on using the information from one of these websites for an assignment, make sure to check the rubric or ask your instructor if this type of source is acceptable.

Children and Families

Website - Administration for Children and Families
The Administration for Children & Families (ACF), a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, youth, individuals and communities with funding, strategic partnerships, guidance, training and technical assistance.
Website - Child Welfare Information Gateway
Child Welfare Information Gateway promotes the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, youth and families by connecting child welfare, adoption and related professionals, as well as the public to information, resources and tools covering topics on child welfare, child abuse and neglect, out-of-home care and adoption.
Website - The Annie E. Casey Foundation: Kids Count Data Center
By providing high-quality data and trend analysis through its KIDS COUNT Data Center, the Foundation seeks to enrich local, state and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children.

Housing and Homelessness

Website - United States Census Bureau: Housing
This data gathered from the United States Census Bureau provides a complete view of housing in America.
Website - United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
This is the official website of the federal agency tasked with addressing housing and urban development issues in the United States.
Website - United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
USICH works across federal, state and local governments, as well as the private sector, to help communities create partnerships, use resources in the most efficient and effective ways and employ evidence-based best practices.

Nutrition Programs

Website - United States Department of Agriculture: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
WIC provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, healthcare referrals and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five, who are found to be at nutritional risk.
Website - United States Department of Agriculture: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.

Medicare and Medicaid

Website - Medicaid.gov
The is the official website for Medicaid.
Website - Medicare.gov
This is the official website for Medicare.
Website - CMS.gov: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
This is the central website for Medicare and Medicaid services in the United States.

Mental Health Services

Website - National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders.
Website - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that seeks to advance the behavioral health of the nation.

Poverty, Unemployment, Labor

Website - United States Census Bureau: Poverty
The Census Bureau provides poverty data from several household surveys and programs.
Website - United States Department of Health and Human Services: ASPE, Poverty & Economic Mobility
ASPE releases the annual U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines, which are used to determine financial eligibility for some federal programs. Presented here are the poverty lines for every state and the District of Columbia. You will also find extensive resources on poverty estimates, trends and analysis, historical information on poverty and the guidelines.
Website - Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes and productivity in the U.S. economy to support public and private decision making.

Criminal Justice

Website - Bureau of Justice Statistics
This is an open data portal for criminal justice statistics.
Website - United States Department of Justice: National Institute of Justice
This is the page of the National Institute of Justice of the U.S. Department of Justice, which aims to further understanding of crime and justice issues.
Website - United States Department of Justice: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Established as part of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, OJJDP promotes awareness, supports initiatives and develops policies to guide federal juvenile justice issues.

Policy

Website - Congress.gov: Public Laws
Enacted bills and joint resolutions appear on this list after NARA assigns public law (PL) numbers. PL numbers link to slip law texts after they have been published by GPO.

Find Health Statistics

If you need statistics for health topics, go to the following guide for places to find them.

Research Guide - Finding Health Statistics
This guide provides sources for national, state and local, demographic and international statistics.