School of Social Work News

Professor Robert Joseph Taylor was quoted in Salon and CNN: "People are talking about the race disparity in COVID deaths, they're talking about the age disparity, but they're not talking about how race and age disparities interact: They're not talking about older Black adults."

The political and social unrest in Wisconsin in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake echoes the violence that killed George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other Black lives. This is happening again and again because violence against Black bodies and minds has been institutionalized, normalized, as Black people have been dehumanized. 

Michigan Social Work stands with others in demanding justice, equity and accountability. We join the resounding cry that BLACK LIVES MATTER because achieving racial justice requires a movement, not a moment, and none of us can afford to sit this one out. We demand justice for this life that is hanging in the balance and for all lives lost.

Joyce Lee, PhD student, has co-authored a children's book on fighting anti-Asian racism during COVID-19. The book is free and provides an educational resource to help generate meaningful discussions between adults and children about anti-Asian racism.

Assistant Professor Fernanda Lima Cross' new research finds that parents who are undocumented immigrants are more likely than documented parents to teach mistrust to their children and to be wary of interactions with law enforcement. "Ethnic-racial socialization is often used to prepare adolescents for life outside of the home and tends to be protective," says Cross.

On Wednesday, Detroit teachers voted to authorize a “safety strike,” should their concerns about protective equipment and protocols not be met.  Associate Research Scientist Roland Zullo spoke with the Detroit Free Press about the potential legal consequences and public reaction. "No one knows about the exact risks" of COVID-19, Zullo said. "I don't think it'd be unreasonable and my guess is that the public would be on the teachers' side."

Jaclynn Hawkins and Jamie Mitchell have each received loan repayment awards for their continued commitment to engage in health-disparities research. The awards are from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities whose loan repayment programs were established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. Hawkins is an assistant professor and leads the Diabetes in Men's Health Lab. Mitchell is an assistant professor and is a co-director of the Co-investigator of the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research.

Assistant Professor Lindsay Bornheimer has received a National Institute of Mental Health Clinical Trial Planning Grant (R34). This three-year grant will support her team in modifying and evaluating acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Suicide Prevention for psychosis (CBSPp) and will help increase the utility of CBSPp in community mental health work. CBSPp is a promising intervention developed and evaluated by Bornheimer’s collaborative team and is one of few suicide interventions available that is tailored for adults experiencing psychosis.

The Faculty Allies for Diversity Committee (FADC) at the School of Social Work is a recipient of the 2020 Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award for Excellence in Promoting Equity and Social Change (sponsored by CEW+).  This award was created to honor CEW+ director Carol Hollenshead and celebrates those whose sustained efforts have resulted in greater equity with regard to gender, race, class, age, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation. Recipients demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion, creativity in devising strategic approaches to advocacy and problem solving, effective coalition building, and sustained effort and demonstrated outcomes in achieving greater equity in this community or beyond.  

The FADC received this award in recognition of their scholarship and advocacy on behalf of underrepresented minorities in academia, their commitment to diversity and equality, and their sustained efforts to create positive change. 

The FADC is co-chaired by Professor Rogério M. Pinto and Assistant Professor Addie Weaver. Members include PhD Student Briana Starks, Associate Professor David Córdova, Professors Lorraine Gutiérrez, Todd Herrenkohl and Trina Shanks. Congratulations to the Faculty Allies for Diversity Committee members for all of their hard work.