School of Social Work News

Photo Courtesy of Kate Wells & Michigan Radio

Dear Social Work Colleagues,

Racial discrimination and inequality remain ongoing and pervasive aspects of our society brought again vividly to light by the recent grand jury decision not to indict in Eric Garner’s death.  In combination with the National Association of Social Workers and the schools of social work across the country, many of whom have issued statements following the recent refusal to indict Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Daniel Pantaleo in the death of Eric Garner in New York, we need to draw together as a school and a profession on an agenda that can lead to the fundamental changes necessary to address racism in the U.S.

In the weeks after the shooting death in Ferguson, one of my colleagues teaching in St. Louis wrote, “People have asked if they can help.  My advice is to look at yourself and your community.  There are so many communities like Ferguson and so many places where something similar can happen.  Also, work with your legislators.  Our governor is forming a Ferguson Commission to make suggestions for change.  No real change will happen unless our Legislature is involved.”

 How can we make change? We need to start with ourselves.

• Work in our classrooms and other school venues to continue both critical discussion of the role of racism in our society and the design of social and policy responses to racism and inequality.
• Study and research the impact of racism in our communities and document publicly its effects.
• Work in the organizations and agencies in which we participate to put the fruits of these discussions and analyses to work.
• Work throughout the political system to engage in the work of changing the persisting painful inequities.

As one example, we can engage more specifically with our criminal justice system, towards the goals listed by NASW.

• National standards on the use of lethal police force.
• National standards on how police handle persons living with mental illnesses or disabilities.
• Trainings to help end police bias and racial profiling when dealing with people of color.
• Make body cameras standard police equipment.

 Along with others in the social work community, we must remain committed to addressing and remedying the pain and trauma caused by these events and by the myriad of other, less publicized events, now and in the future. We must also work towards the fundamental changes that will  attack the racial inequities that stunt our society.   I hope that we may come together as a community to address these tasks that we face in the weeks, months, and years to come.  We must also put this commitment into both words and actions, drawing strength and inspiration from what we can each contribute.

With Regards,

Laura Lein

Dean and Katherine Reebel Collegiate Professor of Social Work
University of Michigan

Thanks to Assistant Dean Tim Colenback, Assistant Professor Desmond Patton and Associate Dean Mike Spencer for collaborating with this statement.

On Friday, December 5, 2014, the Curtis Center Program Evaluation Group convened a panel to talk with the University and the community about the delicate dance between evaluation and philanthropy.  In total, over 70 people were in attendance, including students and faculty from the School of Social Work, members of the University community, representatives from foundations, consumers of evaluation, and professional evaluators.  The conversation was facilitated and moderated by John Tropman, PhD, Professor of Social work.  Panelists included Harlene Appelman, Executive Director of Covenant Foundation; Rob Collier, President & CEO of Council on Michigan Foundations; Jane Fran Morgan, JFM Consulting; and Pam Smith, President and United Way of Wasthenaw County.

Professor Linda Chatters discusses how religion and spirituality affect both physical and mental health in the School of Public Health's Findings magazine (page 28).

Associate Professor Sherrie Kossoudji was quoted in a Financial Times article and NASDAQ about unauthorized workers.

Professor Daphne C. Watkins’ current research involves developing and testing an intervention she developed called the Young black men, masculinities, and mental health (or, "YBMen") project. The YBMen project is a five-week, Facebook-based intervention for college-aged black men that addresses the association between hegemonic masculinity and poor mental health."

Almost everyone in the USA has a smartphone and Assistant Professor Shawna Lee wants to turn your smartphone into a way to deliver psychosocial interventions to people who are underserved by social service agencies.  Her first step – a conference bringing scholars and tech experts together to innovate and create.

• Read more about Shawna's conference in the University Record »
• Visit the conference website »

Young adults and teens with cancer face unique challenges, questions and concerns.  Associate Professor Brad Zebrack’s research found that young adult cancer patients benefit when oncology social workers are involved in their care.  His research has received national recognitions for the positive outcomes of his work.

• Learn more about Brad's American Psychosocial Oncology Society award »
• Learn more about Brad's research in the Winter 2014 issue of Ongoing Magazine »

Congratulations to the 2014 Organization of Latino Social Workers award recipients:

Adjunct Professor Laura Sanders - Activist of the Year

Laura shared her award with Melanie Harner, Margaret Harner and Ramiro Martinez the other co-founders of the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition of Immigrant Rights.

Esther Ayers – MSW Student of the Year

Elise Hernandez – PhD Student of the Year

The Organization of Latino Social Workers is committed to improving the overall health and psychological well-being of the Latino population. The organization seeks to promote access to educational and economic opportunities for all Latino social workers.