School of Social Work News

Assistant Professor Rebeccah Sokol spoke with multiple news outlets about a recent study that showed teens who have been exposed to violence have a significantly higher rate of carrying firearms. Sokol said “This study highlights the importance of identifying the unique circumstances that link these two different types of exposure to violence to youth carrying firearms. By doing so, we can better understand why young people feel the need to own a firearm, provide intervention support and strategies, and reduce firearm injuries in youth,” 

The study was a collaboration between the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, where Sokol is the training and education core co-director, and the Firearm Safety Among Children and Teens Consortium.

Detroit Free Press

Huron Daily Tribune

The Bharat Express News

Pioneer

Techexplorist

Medical Xpress

USA Today

ENGAGE Program Manager and Lecturer Fatima Salman was invited by Vice President Kamala Harris to attend the Eid ul Adha celebration at her residence last week. Salman spoke with Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff about the impact of social workers across the country. Salman is also the president of the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and the National Council of Chapter Presidents Chair.

PhD student So’Phelia Morrow has been named a 2023 Public Voices Fellow on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls. The US-based fellowship is part of The OpEd Project’s Public Voices initiative to include women’s voices in writing history and Equality Now’s mission to create a fair and just world for women and girls. During the year-long program, participants receive mentorship to effectively communicate their ideas and learn how to work with media outlets.

Associate Professor Kristin Seefeldt spoke to the Detroit Free Press and Bridge Michigan about Ann Arbor joining the growing list of cities across the nation exploring a guaranteed basic income program. Seefeldt will oversee the pilot program which will provide 100 income-eligible entrepreneurs with $525 a month for 24 months. “It could be someone who actually has established a small business that’s actively operating to someone who occasionally does yard work and mows lawns for neighbors … we’re really casting a broad net when we talk about … entrepreneurial activity,” said Seefeldt.

Clinical Assistant Professor Justin Hodge was interviewed by CBS Detroit  where he discussed health equity and the practices around the sale of flavored tobacco products across the state.  “We know that 21% of teens in Michigan have reported e-cigarette use, and a study with the FDA has shown that 40% of retailers have sold cigarettes to minors,” said Hodge.

Professor Trina Shanks’ research on the long-term implications of the Homestead Act was cited by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in her dissent of last month’s Supreme Court ruling striking down affirmative action in college admissions.

ENGAGE Program Manager and Lecturer Fatima Salman spoke about the role of social workers in creating policy that supports mental health on the podcast “Breaking Through” with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner.  

“Policy affects all of us,” said Salman. “We actually had the most amount of social workers running for office and winning ever in Michigan which is phenomenal because they approach policy through a mental health perspective. And how critical and amazing is that?”

PhD student Yanghyun Park presented at the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children conference last month. Her presentation was titled “Strategies for increasing economic support in child maltreatment prevention.”