School of Social Work News

Mitch Paradise, MSW'19 was awarded the 2019 University of Michigan NASW Student of the Year. The award selection is based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated leadership qualities
• Contribution to the positive image of a social work program
• Commitment to political and community activities
• Success in academic performance
• Degree to which the student represents the professional ethics of social work as defined in the NASW Code of Ethics

Min Hee Kim successfully defended her dissertation “Geographic Distribution of Aging and Health-Related Resources in Urban Neighborhoods: Implications for Health Care Delivery to Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Physical and/or Cognitive Impairment.” Her committee consisted of Ruth Dunkle, Sarah Burgard (co-chairs), Sandra Levitsky and Philippa Clarke.

Professor William Elliott’s research on child savings accounts is featured in the San Francisco Chronicle. “Children with a bank account designated for college, with $500 or less, were three to four times more likely to go to college than those without an account”, Elliott said.

John Doering-White successfully defended his dissertation entitled "In the Shadow of the Beast: Violence and Dignity along the Central American Migrant Trail".  His committee consisted of Laura Lein, Jason DeLeon (co-chairs), Andrew Shryock, Reuben Miller and Jorge Delva. He has accepted an Assistant Professor of Social Work position at the University of South Carolina, with a joint appointment in the Department of Anthropology.

Brian Perron presented, "Innovating administrative research through data science: Lessons learned from the U-M SSW Data Lab” at Tsinghua University in China. He also gave a workshop on "Writing and Publication Strategies in Social Work" hosted by the Tianjin University of Technology.

Associate Professor Robert Ortega and Professor Emeritus Charles Garvin’s new book,“Socially Just Practice in Groups” provides a comprehensive exploration of group practice through the lens of social work.  The authors cover all stages of developing a group practice: getting started; establishing purpose, roles and tasks of the group; stages and phases of practice; and specific skills in assessment, monitoring and evaluation.  Chapters contain case examples as well as exercise.

Marion Elizabeth Blue Professor of Children and Families Todd Herrenkohl is featured in the U-M Washington D.C. Update  for his service on the Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

Professor William Elliott’s essay, “ Leveraging Free College and Children’s Savings Accounts for a 21st Century Wealth Building Agenda” was published in the College Promise Campaign Policy Brief.