In this episode, our guests Dr. Ashley Davis and Dr. Rebecca G. Mirick discuss the dynamics of power and privilege in relation to teaching and social work education, with an emphasis on the experiences of conservative students. They describe their research involving students’ perceptions of microaggressions within classroom, and provide compelling examples of how conservative students have experienced marginalization. Strategies for creating a more inclusive and affirmative learning...

In this episode, our guests Tracey Feilds and Cynthia Weiskittel describe their experience with programs they implemented that utilize data-driven processes to measure the quality and impact of service delivery. They discuss the challenges to using data and fostering buy-in to measuring service provision. Our experts conclude with describing how providers can bring this process to bear in their own organizations.

In this podcast, our guest Professor Susan A. Green discusses the increased interest among organizations and systems to provide a trauma-informed approach to care and to plan for, implement, and sustain trauma-informed organizational change. She describes what it means and why it is important for an organization to become trauma-informed, the experiences of organizations as they transformed into being trauma-informed, and the benefits of becoming trauma-informed. The episode concludes with a...

In this episode, our guest Dr. Will White highlights his career combining his background as a social worker and his passion for experiential, specifically outdoor, therapy. He describes what adventure-based therapy is and the evolution of the model to its current-day expression. Dr. White discusses the empirical support for the approach, why it’s therapeutic, and the rationale for utilizing this innovative modality.

In this episode, Dr. Judith Herman discusses research on justice from the perspective of trauma survivors, how this is related to the #MeToo movement, and why individuals who are victims of abuse choose to speak out. She considers the progress and relevance of changes within DSM-5 PTSD diagnostic criteria, how chronic shame is related to dissociation and PTSD, and the consequences of forming an insecure attachment. The episode concludes by providing examples on how resilience can be built...

In this episode, our guest Dr. Victor Manalo describes his early inspiration for a career as a social worker in the political arena and looks back and forward over his innovative career. Capitalizing on the Social Work core value of and focus on relationships, he discusses the perfect fit with the "it's who you know" reality of political life.

In this podcast, our guest Dr. Robert T. Muller describes his clinical work with individuals who have experienced trauma. He discusses why trauma survivors engage in avoidance within close relationships, why they use specific coping strategies, and challenges that can occur in psychotherapy. Using case examples, Dr. Muller illustrates several therapeutic approaches, techniques, and strategies that can be beneficial in work with trauma survivors and in promoting posttraumatic growth. He also...

In this episode our guest R. Bong Vergara describes how he utilizes innovation and social enterprise to build sustainable social impact and build wealth for impoverished communities. He weaves social and physical sciences perspectives to challenge conventional approaches and invites both social workers and citizens alike to move from being a technology consumer to a technological innovator.

In this episode, our guests Dr. Lorinda F. Parks and Dr. Robert H. Keefe describe ‘Centering Pregnancy’ and how this multi-faceted group-based care model can be particularly beneficial when working with at-risk populations. The forms and symptoms of postpartum depression along with the relationship between postpartum depression and societal costs are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the social work profession’s role in establishing and maintaining interventions and supports within low-income...

Can a public library be conceptualized as a human service organization? In this episode, our guests Carrie Draper and Dr. Kirk Foster describe how they are leveraging the library's familiarity and resources by placing social work interns and professionals in these non-traditional settings. Our guests describe the natural fit and the challenges inherent in this approach and what they are learning about how services and roles change in this creative endeavor.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Nancy Kusmaul defines trauma-informed care within residential long-term care, and describes regulations that will soon require skilled nursing facilities receiving federal funding to incorporate trauma-informed principles into person-centered care. Dr. Kusmaul compares and contrasts how trauma-informed care is viewed in residential long-term care settings as opposed to other social work settings, and why trauma-informed care is critical when working with older...

In this episode, our guest Lisa Reyes Mason, PhD, takes the Social Work mantra of "person-in-environment" and describes her work related to Global Environmental Change. Applying a social and economic justice perspective, she discusses the impact that Social Work research, education and practice has on shaping our responses to challenges that will continue to challenge those of us living on Planet Earth.

In this episode, our guests Dr. Stephanie Elias Sarabia and Dr. Kathleen Ray describe the Ramapo College study abroad program, and how exposure to Portugal’s system has heightened students understanding of the political, legal, and social context of decriminalization. They provide an overview of Portugal’s drug decriminalization policy, and compare and contrast how the US differs from Portugal in regards to approaching substance abuse. Drs. Elias Sarabia and Ray emphasize the need for social...

In this episode, our guest Dr. Alan Delmerico - a health geographer and economist, describes how he is gathering data and using it to help researchers and practitioners account for the interaction between people and their geospatial contexts (social workers: think person in environment). He discusses how these interactions shape outcomes and help inform interventions that assist in promoting improved healthcare promotion, accessibility, and prevention efforts.

Cross-systems youth, or youth who experience homelessness, child welfare involvement, and educational difficulty, often suffer due to lack of continuity and stability in their school and home lives, as well as in service provision. These children are at risk for a number of negative outcomes, which are in part a reflection of the failure of multiple systems. In this episode, three members of the University at Buffalo School of Social Work faculty (Anna Ball, Betsy Bowen, and Annette...

In this episode, our guest Dr. Sandra Lane employs an anthropologist’s eye to the intersection of community health and community violence. Weaving a path of research, professional and personal experience, and a keen appreciation for the dynamic relationships among populations and environments, Dr. Lane connects the dots to a thorough application of an ecological perspective to address health, mental health, and economic problems. Specifically, Dr. Lane addresses issues of infant mortality,...

In this podcast, our guest Jodie Bargeron describes progressive frameworks that have shaped self-neglect (SN) research - specifically, whether SN is an old age phenomenon or life course issue, and the difference between intentional versus unintentional SN. She discusses her research pertaining to whether Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), intrusive parenting, and/or self-control are related to SN among both elderly and non-elderly adults. The episode concludes by stressing the need for...

In this episode, our guest Dr. Lawrence Palinkas discusses his research seeking to identify the best methods not only to develop evidence-based practices for helping people but also to be sure that these practices are implemented in practice. From a transdisciplinary and social justice perspective, he describes his interest in solving social problems that are rooted in cultural differences, with emphasis on promoting evidence-based practices and social responses to extreme environments in the...

In this episode, our guest Dr. D. Crystal Coles discusses her research pertaining to privatization within child welfare and the trajectory of experiences of children in the foster care system. She describes the different levels of privatization between and within state foster care and how these multisystemic variances can impact service delivery. Dr. Coles stresses the need for stakeholders to work together to understand the implications of privatization and to develop new and innovative ways...

In this episode, our guest Dr. Christopher Larrison describes his work utilizing smartphone technology to help people with mental illness connect, build relationships, and develop supportive networks. He discusses what he is learning about how smartphones can be used as a conduit to reduce clients' isolation and increase their access to useful information about themselves and their condition.

The inSocialWork Podcast Series is taking a break for the holidays. This short message, recorded by our hosts, offers holiday wishes on behalf of our team.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Philip Hong describes his work exploring how welfare reform efforts play out through the eyes and in the lives of people living them. Utilizing a social justice and person-in-environment perspective, he discusses what he is learning about the role of hope and psychological self-sufficiency as articulated by client recipients.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Lauren McInroy discusses her research exploring the relationship between participation in online fandom communities among LGBTQ+ youth and certain aspects of identity development. She explains how online fandom can foster resilience, heighten well-being, and help LGBTQ+ youth navigate challenges. The episode concludes by stressing why social workers need to recognize the importance of online communities for marginalized adolescents and young adults.

In this episode, our guests Dr. Hilary Copp and Dr. William Koehler discuss their work examining urban and rural middle and high school teachers' attitudes and observations of their LGBT students. Our guests describe the challenges faced by schools, policymakers, and practitioners as they attempt to help LGBT students navigate their environments with acceptance, safety, and dignity.

In this episode, our guests Dr. Richard Smith and Dr. Amanda Lehning discuss aging in place and why it is important to understand how older adults experience their communities, in particular their physical and social environments. Our guests describe their research examining the effects of remaining in gentrifying neighborhoods on older adults' self-reported health and mental health, and highlight why social workers need to be concerned with how the sense of place and community impacts the...