School of Social Work News

Professor Lisa Wexler’s research is featured in an article on resilience, which is the April 2022 cover story of NIH News in Health. Wexler discusses how tapping into protective factors — including cultural traditions such as ceremonies, teachings and practices — can help build resilience.

Associate Professor Katie Maguire-Jack is editor of “Neighborhoods, Communities, and Child Maltreatment: A Global Perspective,” which explores a diverse range of research relating to the impact of communities on child maltreatment and parenting.

“‘Neighborhoods, Communities, and Child Maltreatment’ includes perspectives from around the globe on the critical role that communities play in families' lives,” said Maguire-Jack. “It delves into the meaning and impact of neighborhoods across different contexts, introduces innovative community-level maltreatment prevention strategies, and highlights advanced methodological approaches for studying these issues. It is my hope that this book will advance research and policy for effective child maltreatment prevention with an understanding of the importance of communities."

Assistant Professor Shanna Kattari is a Woodhull Freedom Foundation 2022 Vicki Sexual Freedom Award Honoree. The award recognizes those individuals whose life and work embody the foundation’s mission and values, and who have made landmark contributions to the sexual freedom movement through education, advocacy, research and activism.

Kattari will receive the award in August 2022 at the Sexual Freedom Summit. “As someone who has been doing sexuality education and advocacy work for the better part of two decades, I am so honored that my work is being recognized in this way,” said Kattari. “We still have far to go to ensure that all disabled people, queer and trans people, people of color, older adults, kinky folks, those who are non-monogamous and sex workers are treated with justice in the realm of sexuality, basic human rights and access. I hope my work brings more attention to many of these topics, and encourages social workers to understand that affirming sexuality is an important part of our practice.”

Associate Professor Terri Friedline and Professor William Elliott spoke with the Guardian about the benefits of children’s savings accounts, which extend beyond saving money for college.  Research shows that these accounts positively affect the social emotional development of kids and encourages families to build other assets. “It’s not because they’re getting money in their hands, it’s more about understanding their kids have a better future,” said Elliott. “What assets give you is tangible hope.”

Associate Professor Terri Friedline was invited to share her research on overdraft fees with the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services. Friedline is part of a nationwide movement to eliminate overdraft fees which are excessive, predatory, and punish lower-income people for not having enough money in the bank.

Assistant Professor Ashley Cureton has been named a 2022 Public Engagement Faculty Fellow by the U-M Center for Academic Innovation. The cohort of 14 fellows will participate in an intensive program designed to build engagement skills, understand key public-engagement concepts and reflect together on how public engagement fits into their scholarly identities.

"This program will help me to reflect on how public engagement fits into my scholarly identity. I am committed to considering the breadth of ways that my research creates public impact, from designing exhibits to working with policymakers to conducting community-engaged research projects to develop interventions and programs and to amplify the voices of refugee populations in the U.S. and abroad," said Cureton.

The Office of Continuing Education announces two new web-based certificate programs: the Online Certificate in Disability Inclusion and Accessible Design, and the Online Certificate in Dismantling Oppression. These courses provide knowledge and skills that are relevant to social workers as well as a broad range of other professionals.  Both courses support and contribute to the university’s DEI goals. 

The Online Certificate in Disability Inclusion and Accessible Design takes an intersectional approach to diversity inclusion and provides the comprehensive skills and knowledge which can be applied in all systems and settings.  The program faculty includes scholars, activists and others working on the frontlines of disability inclusion and accessibility. Participants will learn about pertinent policy issues affecting people with disabilities, anti-ableist language and practices, accessible interpersonal clinical practice skills, disability-inclusive community organizing skills, how to create inclusive management structures and organizational policies, among other topics. Participants will also receive training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines.

"The Disability Inclusion and Accessible Design Certificate program was created because we believe that an anti-ableist education, centering on disability justice, is critical to gaining comprehensive professional skills that can and should be applied when working with all systems and in all settings,” says course instructors Ayesha Ghazi Edwin and Dessa Cosma.

The Online Certificate in Dismantling Oppression prepares participants to interrupt patterns that perpetuate systemic oppression and become leaders for change within their teams and organizations.  Participants will explore and apply course concepts to intervene at micro, mezzo and macro level of practice.

“In 2020, individuals and institutions were publicly reminded of the need to advance equity in order to protect the safety and lives of individuals with historically marginalized social identities,” says Clinical Associate Professor Daicia Price. “We have learned that it is not enough to stop engaging in oppression, but we must actively dismantle oppression at individual, interpersonal and institutional levels. We hope the certificate program increases the number of change agents equipped to deliver content to others."

Youth Engagement through Cannabis Prevention and Employment Training

Faculty Member: Associate Professor Cristina Bares

Community Partner: Kartav Patel, Manager of Youth Services, Southwest Economic Services

Welcome to the Motor City: Exploring Refugee Resettlement Among Afghan Refugees and Beyond

Faculty Member: Assistant Professor Ashley Cureton

Community Partner:  Shadin Adityeh, Director of Employment and Economic Empowerment Programs, Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County and Detroit

Tuxedo Project Community Map

Faculty Member: Lecturer Maureen Okasinski

Community Partner: Rose Gorman, Executive Director, The Tuxedo Project

Enacting Action Goals Informed by HOMES Survey: Services and Options for LGBTQ+ Older Adults in Metro Detroit

Faculty Member: Associate Professor Beth Glover Reed

Partner: Angela Gabridge, Executive Director, Sage Metro Detroit