School of Social Work News

Professor Emerita Kathleen Faller’s article "Forty Years of Forensic Interviewing of Children Suspected of Sexual Abuse, 1974–2014: Historical Benchmarks" was published in Social Sciences journal.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan announced the distribution of $150,000 in grants to fund 18 projects through its YOUth Voice Social Justice grant program. The University of Michigan School of Social Work’s Youth Dialogues on Race and Ethnicity in Metropolitan Detroit-- Michigan Youth and Community Program is a consultant to the project and served as a key facilitator for the summit. Professor Barry Checkoway and Assistant Professor Katie Richards-Schuster are leading this project.

Assistant Professor Desmond Patton was interviewed by Cleveland's WCPN public radio regarding the correlation between social media and gang violence.

Assistant Professor Emily Nicklett’s article, “Gardening Activities and Physical Health Among Older Adults: A Review of the Evidence” was published in the Southern Gerontological Society’s Journal of Applied Gerontology.

Five School of Social Work alumni were presented Distinguished Alumni Awards at the SSW All Class Reunion Lunch on Friday, October 31, 2014. 

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes School of Social Work alumni whose achievements exemplify the values of the School of Social Work and who have made an exceptional impact on the profession, the community and/or Social Work education.

Learn more about the Distinguished Alumni Award »

Interprofessional Team-Based Clinical Decision Making (Social Work 714)

Over 300 Students and 11 Faculty from 5 Health Disciplines

This interprofessional education (IPE) course is designed for students in dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social work. The course allows health professional students to gain an understanding of how each discipline contributes to the healthcare team and the importance of effective communication and team collaboration to clinical decision-making. (2 credits, offered Wednesdays 3-5 PM for Winter term, course listed as Social Work 714)

Students will work in interprofessional teams and rotate through modules taught at all five schools by interdisciplinary pairs of faculty. This course is required for Integrated Health Scholars and Detroit Clinical Scholars, and is an elective for other MSW students.

The ultimate goal of the course, explains Associate Professor Brad Zebrack, is to positively influence patient care. “Preparing the next generation of health care providers to work collaboratively across professional boundaries will contribute to enhanced patient outcomes and improvements in the quality of health care.”

Zebrack was quoted in the University Record’s story on the new course, “Team-Based Clinical Decision Making”.

Associate Professor Brad Zebrack received a grant from the National Cancer Institute via the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group to serve as co-chair for the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) task force. His responsibilities will include development and oversight of a research agenda and coordination of all AYA-related research activities.

Professor Edie Kieffer and colleague John Ayanian (Director, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation) received a grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-Subcontracts via the Michigan Department of Community Health to conduct the evaluation of Michigan's Medicaid expansion, the Healthy Michigan Plan.