School of Social Work News

Michigan Social Work is addressing issues of stigma and discrimination against Asians and other minority groups in a series of online weekly forums.  Moderated by Assistant Professor Addie Weaver and Professors Rogério Pinto and Larry Gant, the discussion group aims to strengthen solidarity and fight racism and discrimination.

“The COVID-19 pandemic quickly exposed social (e.g., unemployment, food insecurity), medical (e.g., lack of testing, medicine), and structural (e.g., lack of hospital beds, protective gear) issues which have historically undermined the most vulnerable in our society. Our Thursday discussions have addressed issues of stigma, oppression, positionality and myriad others, which outside of the COVID-19 context might be overlooked. The weekly discussion has generated many ideas for research and updated curricula needed to understand and address this new reality,” said Pinto.

Sponsors include the School's Faculty Allies for Diversity Committee in collaboration with the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.  We hope students, faculty and staff will join us via BlueJeans at 3 PM on Thursdays for these frank and essential community discussions.

Associate Professor Terri Friedline has been selected for the U-M 2020 cohort of the Public Engagement Fellowship. Mentor fellows are faculty with more extensive experience in public engagement and will work closely with Fellows to provide guidance, connections and mentorship based on their own expertise and networks. Although planning for the Public Engagement Fellowship started before COVID-19, the current situation highlights how important programs like these are in preparing scholars for engagement - both in moments of crisis and over the long-term.

Associate Professor Matthew Smith and SIMmersion LLC were awarded a $3.1 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. Smith is the scientific lead developing a virtual simulation, which will help autistic teens and young adults learn effective ways to talk and interact with customers, coworkers and supervisors in work settings. Joint PhD student Kari Sherwood is assisting with this project.

Associate Professor Shawna Lee discussed the stress of parenting during the coronavirus pandemic on the latest episode of the Michigan Minds podcast.  On March 24, which was shortly after much of the country began social distancing, Lee and PhD student Kaitlin Ward conducted an online survey that asked a series of questions on parenting behaviors, economic situation and well-being.

Henry J. Meyer Collegiate Professor Emeritus of Social Work John Tropman is the author of a new book, “Supervision, Management, and Leadership: An Introduction to Building Community Benefit Organizations.” Tropman’s handbook serves as a guide for managers and leaders in the human services field. “In response to the increasing needs of managers and leaders, John Tropman provides a comprehensive framework and sensible strategies for improving the craft of management. His text provides a wealth of insights for management practitioners ranging from students to supervisors and agency executives." -- Bowen McBeath, Professor of Social Work and Public Administration Portland State University and Beijing Normal University

Each year the Michigan Men’s Health Foundation holds a Men’s Health Event in Metro Detroit, which offers low-income men free health and mental health screenings.  Research consistently demonstrates that these groups of men are more likely to experience undiagnosed or sub-optimally managed chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. 

Assistant Professor Jaclynn Hawkins has received a grant to both evaluate the impact of this event on health behaviors, and to assess health behaviors and outcomes in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Funded by the Michigan Institute for Clinical Health Research, this study will help health care professionals better meet the needs of this at-risk group, while taking into account the specific health needs during the pandemic. 

“Low-income men in metro Detroit are one of the most at-risk and vulnerable groups during the pandemic, this research will ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met during this critical time,” Hawkins said.

Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Howard V. Brabson Collegiate Professor Joseph Himle and Assistant Professor Addie Weaver, research “A systematic review of rural-specific barriers to medication treatment for opioid use disorder in the United States” is referenced in The Atlantic's “America’s Other Epidemic - A new approach to fighting the opioid crisis as it quietly rages on.” The drug-overdose epidemic has already killed 800,000 Americans—more than have died from AIDS—but the federal government has yet to provide adequate solutions, let alone a level of funding that could stem the crisis.

Michigan’s frontline workers are providing essential services during the pandemic and they are also dealing with unprecedented stress.  Knowing the potential impact of this stress on workers’ psychological well-being, a team including Joint PhD student Sara Stein LMSW, MS and Joy Wolfe Ensor, PhD ‘83, has created MI Frontline Support, a mental health initiative to help frontline workers in Michigan get easy-to-access support from clinicians. Other team members include Erin Barbossa, Felicia Brabec and Sarah Jurkovic.

“The mental health of our doctors, nurses, delivery personnel, grocery clerks, gas station attendants and other essential workers is paramount now more than ever,” says Sara Stein “They are putting their own health and safety, not to mention that of their families, at risk to save others affected by the outbreak, provide needed food and deliver crucial necessities to Michiganders. I feel it’s our responsibility, as social workers and psychologists, to ensure that frontline workers who are supporting all of us during this pandemic can access the mental health care they need.” Members of MI Frontline Support along with members of the southeast Michigan mental health community delivered an online psychoeducational presentation on the mental health risks of the pandemic to frontline workers. 

MI Frontline Support’s priority is to develop a detailed list of mental health clinicians who can provide services to essential workers in need. “We invite all licensed Michigan mental health professionals to join this initiative. The list will reduce the barriers that make it difficult to find a provider,” says Stein. MI Frontline Support is removing the long wait to find a therapist, providing easy insurance information for clients who have insurance, pay what you can for those who still have resources, and some volunteer services for frontline workers who can't afford anything. 

You can do your part:

• If you are a licensed clinician who wants to be added to the directory of available providers go to MIFrontlineSupport.com and fill out the Google form.  
• If you are working or know of someone on the frontlines who is suffering from stress, emotional strain and physical exhaustion and needs help coping, share the list of providers.

During this global pandemic, it is essential to protect Michigan’s frontline workers. Interventions such as MI Frontline Support bolster the mental well-being for workers exposed to COVID-19.