Two second-year Social Work Ph.D. students at OLLU’s Worden School of Social Service have secured a combined $305,000 in grants to support community programs serving children, educators, and families.
Heather Thatcher received a $180,000 grant from Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth to support the Connections and Foster Care Program.
Carmen Thatcher, working with Bexar County ReCAST, received a $125,000 reimbursement grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The award will cover most of the project’s $150,000 cost and fund social and emotional wellness kits for 1,500 elementary school teachers across 48 campuses.
Together, the awards demonstrate how Worden doctoral students are applying their knowledge and professional skills to address community needs. Their work connects advanced social work education with practical initiatives that extend support to children, educators and families.
For OLLU, these accomplishments highlight the contributions of its graduate students beyond the classroom and reinforce the University’s commitment to service and community engagement. They also showcase the Worden School’s role in preparing social work professionals to lead initiatives, secure resources and translate ideas into meaningful community support.
Congratulations to Heather and Carmen for their leadership and dedication to strengthening the communities they serve.
For more student highlights and achievements, and to check out what is happening, visit the Ph.D. Worden Newsletter.