School of Social Work News

Clinical Associate Professor Julie Ribaudo discussed infant mental health programs with Second Wave Michigan. “Babies need to be adored and to adore,” Ribaudo says. “Babies grow better when they love deeply and are loved deeply.”

Michelle Duprey is the director of Integrated Health Care at Starfish Family Services, which offers behavioral health services in Livonia, Dearborn, and Westland, and in Inkster within Western Wayne Family Health Centers. “A lot more health and hospital systems, private practices, and group practices are hearing about integrated health. They are just not quite sure where to start. This program is a great way to jump in, see what it looks like, and prepare staff to do the work,” Duprey says.

Associate Professor Kristin Seefeldt has been appointed new associate faculty director at the University of Michigan Poverty Solutions. Poverty Solutions is a presidential initiative that aims to prevent and alleviate poverty through action-based research that informs policymakers, community organizations, government entities and practitioners about what works in confronting poverty.  Seefeldt in her new role will engage more faculty and students in meaningful research opportunities.

Associate Professor Daphne Watkins' research on black men is featured in U-M Record.  Watkins researches how men and boys define themselves as men and boys, and how that influences their mental health.

Associate Professors Terri Friedline and Trina Shanks identify key problems, and how to address them, in WalletHub's latest report on underprivileged children.

Jennifer Tucker Defends Dissertation entitled "In the Time of Mangos, Motorcycles, and Improvised Medicine: Aging with Displacement During the Post-Chavez Venezuelan Crisis." Her committee consisted of Ruth Dunkle (co-chair), Scott Stonington (co-chair), Letha Chadiha and Gayle Rubin.

We welcome four new faculty members to Michigan Social Work — a community joined together by a strong commitment to diversity, respect, inclusion and learning from one another.
 

Fernanda L. Cross
Transitional Postdoctoral Research Fellow
 

Area of Expertise
Latinx mixed-status families, undocumented immigrants, ethnic-racial socialization, discrimination experiences, adolescent mental health and academic outcomes

Jessica A. Wojtalik
Transitional Postdoctoral Research Fellow
 

Area of Expertise
Child abuse and neglect, child maltreatment prevention, neighborhoods, poverty, program evaluation, social policy, parenting

Kathryn L. Maguire-Jack
Associate Professor of Social Work
 

Area of Expertise
American Indian/Alaska Native Suicide Prevention, Indigenous Youth Resilience, Culturally-Specific Behavioral Health Services, Digitally-Enhanced Participatory Research

Lisa M. Wexler
Professor of Social Work
 

Area of Expertise
Psychosocial and cognitive interventions, schizophrenia, severe mental illnesses and pathophysiology of mental illness and cognitive impairment

Assistant Professor Lisa Fedina's research on child sex trafficking in the United States was cited in the USA Today story, "Jeffrey Epstein's alleged sex trafficking targets: 'The more vulnerable the better,' investigator says."