50 years of service: SWORPS builds brighter futures for Tennessee families

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Social Work Office of Research and Public Service. For decades, SWORPS has improved the lives of Tennessee families through research-driven solutions, strategic partnerships, and a dedication to community well-being.

Since 1975, SWORPS—part of the College of Social Work’s Office of Research—has delivered innovative evidence-based and data-informed programs that promote social and economic well-being for individuals, families, and communities statewide. What began as a continuing education program for social workers has evolved into a multifaceted organization operating across Tennessee with more than 170 staff members.

“SWORPS has become a model for how universities can partner with communities to create real, measurable impact,” said Doug Coatsworth, associate dean of research in the College of Social Work. “This is community-engaged research at its finest—investing in programs that directly improve the lives of Tennesseans.”

Building a two-generational approach for family support

Among SWORPS’s many initiatives, the Tennessee Child Support Employment and Parenting Program stands out as both the organization’s largest program and a potential national model for supporting families in crisis. TCSEPP serves parents across the state who are ordered to pay child support but face barriers to employment and stability.

Funded by the Tennessee Department of Human Services, the program takes a holistic two-generational approach, helping parents overcome obstacles while strengthening their relationships with their children. What makes TCSEPP unique is its comprehensive strategy—whether participants face housing instability, transportation challenges, mental or physical health issues, or other barriers to employment, the program helps them navigate challenges by connecting them to resources and providing intensive personal advocacy.

“The point of the program is to help parents become as involved in their children’s lives as they can be and to provide them with resources for whatever they need to become stable,” said Daryl Chansuthus, SWORPS director and principal investigator for TCSEPP. “Parents are now able to be involved with their children in ways they weren’t before. We feel that, see that, and measure that impact.”

Debbie Abrams-Cohen, TCSEPP state director, recalls powerful moments of transformation. One participant arrived with nothing but a grocery bag of clothes. Through TCSEPP, he completed an employment training program, earned two professional certificates, and gained the confidence to build a future.

“I always remember the smiles on participants’ faces—that’s why we do this,” Abrams-Cohen said. “We’re showing them this is a system that works with them and for them, not against them.”

Another participant received help getting dismissed charges removed from her record—charges she was never convicted of but that prevented her from finding work. A partnership with the Expungement Clinic in UT’s Winston College of Law made it possible.

“Collaboration is fundamental to everything we do,” Abrams-Cohen said. “Whether it’s legal clinics, job centers, or community agencies, it’s critical to develop relationships that help our participants succeed.”

A practice model built for scale

TCSEPP began as a 17-month federal demonstration grant in Knox County in 2004. By 2019 it had expanded to additional counties in east Tennessee, and in 2023 the program officially went statewide. Now the program serves half of Tennessee’s counties. That expansion required SWORPS to transform over 20 years of field experience into a structured practice model that could be taught and replicated.

Chansuthus led the development of the EPIC model—a comprehensive practice framework that defines the program’s approach, components, outcomes, and measurements. Using implementation science principles, the team created a system that could be replicated across Tennessee.

“We had to clearly define our approach and methodology so we could train new staff to deliver consistent high-quality service across the state,” Coatsworth explained. “Building that infrastructure was a massive effort and represents a major advancement in how these services are delivered in Tennessee—and how the program could become a blueprint for other states.”

The framework to train, manage, and monitor staff across the state ensures consistency in service delivery—a crucial element that sets TCSEPP apart as a potential national model for helping noncustodial parents reintegrate and contribute to their families.

Measuring what matters

The program’s approach to evaluation has evolved significantly. Early on, SWORPS tracked basic metrics: referrals, enrollment, and whether participants were working and paying child support for three consecutive months. Today the measurements are more sophisticated—and more meaningful.

“We’re not just measuring whether someone has a job and is paying child support,” Chansuthus said. “We’re measuring stability—whether they’re stably housed, whether they have the education or resources they need, whether they’re thriving, not just surviving.”

The data tells a compelling story. Participants are more likely to pay child support consistently in the 12 months after program participation compared to the 12 months before. But the deeper impact is evident in participants’ reports of enhanced physical and emotional health, stronger parent-child bonds, increased confidence, and improved economic stability.

SWORPS continues to refine its data collection and impact assessment capabilities, tracking participants even after they complete the program to understand long-term outcomes.

Growing in impact 

In 2024, SWORPS expanded its reach across Tennessee and added four new funding streams. The organization now operates through three divisions—technology, applied research and evaluation, and field-based services—that reflect its mission to leverage research, technology, and human connection.

“The investment from staff—SWORPees, as they call themselves—can’t be overstated,” Coatsworth said. “These are people with huge hearts doing really hard, important work for the betterment of Tennesseans.”

As SWORPS celebrates 50 years, its vision remains  clear: to continue building evidence-based solutions and strengthening the human connections that help Tennessee families thrive. And with TCSEPP’s potential to become a national model, that impact may extend far beyond Tennessee’s borders.