School of Social Work News

The Association of Black Social Work Students (ABSWS) has received the Michigan Difference Professional Organization of the Year Award.  

“ABSWS has an ongoing presence at the University of Michigan and to continue the legacy, it is critical that their accomplishments be recognized,” said Clinical Assistant Professor Daicia Price.  “ABSWS has been an integral part of preparing for new accreditation requirements that involve anti-racism and social justice as a necessary part of the graduate curriculum. One of the amazing things about this group is that they have been using the curriculum and professional competencies to engage in and implement their strategic plan. They have been intentional about building collaborative networks and been creative and innovative about ways to combine the professional and social experience of social workers.”

The current ABSWS officers include: 

• Blair Baker - President
• Alex Black - Vice President
• J’Melia Richardson - Secretary & Social Coordinator
• Quentin Harris - Parliamentarian

The School of Social Work has again been named the nation’s top social work school in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Graduate School rankings, which were published today.

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.