Building Healthy, Strong Communities is a professional development program presented by the School of Social Work's Office of Development and Alumni Relations and the Professional Development Committee of the Alumni Board.
This year's Building Healthy, Strong Communities will take place May 6 - 7, 2025.
Moderator:
Trina Shanks, PhD
Director, School of Social Work Community Engagement, Harold R. Johnson Collegiate Professor of Social Work and Faculty Associate, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research
Panelists:
Amy Good, MSW ’80
Founder and retired CEO, Alternatives for Girls
Carol Goss, MSW ’72
Founder and President, Warrior Women Against Poverty
Former President, The Skillman Foundation
Charles Tommasulo, MSW ’79
Retired Executive Director, Family Service Agency of Mid Michigan
Course Description Pending
Presenter:
Addie Weaver, PhD
Associate Professor of Social Work and Associate Director of Doctoral Programs, University of Michigan School of Social Work
Course Description Pending
Presenters:
Brian Perron, PhD
Professor of Social Work, University of Michigan School of Social Work and Faculty Associate, Populations Studies Center, University of Michigan Institute for Social Research
Zia Qi
Research Technology Specialist, University of Michigan School of Social Work
Course Description:
Just as "Kleenex" became synonymous with tissues regardless of brand, "ChatGPT" has quickly evolved into a generic term for all generative AI technologies. However, the AI landscape is far more diverse and nuanced. Since ChatGPT's release, hundreds of alternative models and thousands of specialized applications have emerged, creating a rich ecosystem with tremendous potential for social work practice. The generative AI ecosystem now includes specialized models designed for text generation and summarization, document analysis, multilingual communication, visual content creation, and voice interaction. Each category contains multiple tools with varying strengths, limitations, and appropriate use cases for social work contexts. This presentation showcases diverse AI tools can be thoughtfully applied to streamline administrative documentation while maintaining confidentiality, enhance resource identification for clients with complex needs, support evidence-based practice through improved literature analysis, facilitate more accessible communication with diverse client populations, and assist with ethical decision-making through structured reasoning. We'll provide practical demonstrations of selected tools that show particular promise for social work applications, with guidance on effective prompting strategies, determining when to rely on AI versus human judgment, identifying potential biases and limitations, and maintaining client confidentiality and ethical standards. By developing a nuanced understanding of the broader generative AI ecosystem beyond just "ChatGPT," social workers can strategically leverage these powerful tools while maintaining their professional judgment and ethical responsibilities.
Presenter:
Ramona Perry, MSW ’19, PhD ’23
Managing Partner, Emergence Collective
Course Description Pending
Presenter:
Ramona Perry, MSW ’19, PhD ’23
Managing Partner, Emergence Collective
Course Description Pending
Presenter:
Barb Hiltz, LMSW, PhD
Director of MSW Programs and Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan
Course Description:
This interactive session introduces the Community Conversations model, a structured dialogue approach developed at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Drawing from intergroup dialogue and restorative practices frameworks, Community Conversations creates spaces for authentic engagement around challenging topics. Participants will learn how this model addresses disconnection in today's digital environment by fostering in-person dialogue that builds relationships, enhances understanding across differences, and strengthens community cohesion. The presentation provides practical guidance for implementing this approach in various social work practice settings.
University of Michigan
School of Social Work
1080 South University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106