inSocialWork - The Podcast Series of the University at Buffalo School of Social Work

We are living in some of the most unique and challenging periods in history. That said, it's looking like K through 12 schools are going back to their buildings in person this fall. Trauma isn't going to stop at the school door. Today's episode features a conversation with Karen Gross, educator and author, who will talk about what schools should be concerned about as they re-open in person - and especially why trauma matters. She will discuss a blueprint for what can be done from the macro to micro levels and offer practical examples for implementation by School Social Workers and all school personnel.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Laura Johnson describes the domestic violence response team program, which is a collaborative partnership between domestic violence organizations and law enforcement. Findings from her research project examining factors that contribute to police officer support for a police-advocate partnership intervention are discussed, and the implications for social work practice and policy pertaining to the implementation of interagency collaborative interventions are summarized.

Join us as we speak with Dr. Donna Jeffery about the challenges encountered as Social Work education attempts to develop anti-racist methods and practices of teaching. Dr. Jeffrey describes the tension between "being" and "doing" and the obstacle this tension poses for Social Work students and educators. What are Social Workers to do? What is the most practical application of anti-racist content encountered in Social Work education, especially given that content is frequently experienced as overly theoretical and disconnected from the demands of practice? Dr. Jeffrey offers her insights on navigating the path forward through this apparent double-bind.

In this episode, our guests Dr. Stella Resko and Jennifer Ellis discuss differences in federal and state policy pertaining to marijuana use, the topic of legalization, and positive and negative attitudes towards marijuana use. They consider public health risks and safety concerns associated with marijuana use, including implications pertaining to perceived cannabis potency, health care utilization, driving ability, and employee safety. Future research and interventions needed in this area are described.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Millan AbiNader discusses her research examining how mainstream media conversations pertaining to sexual violence have changed between 1991 and 2018, including shifts in language regarding how the accused and accuser have been characterized. Details and implications pertaining to findings from her qualitative thematic analysis are described, and suggestions for heightening attention to how sexual violence is conceptualized within the media are considered. Resources pertaining to sexual violence are provided.

In this episode, Katrina Cherney discusses her research examining the relationship between student loan debt and subjective well-being over time, and how student loan debt is stratified across the socioeconomic spectrum and compounds inequalities and disparities. She summarizes the history of student loans and their role in financing education, describes the concept of the ‘dual quality of debt’, and considers the implications of the growing student loan debt crisis for social work practice, specifically, and for practice and policy.

In this episode, Lindsay Armendariz and Brandi Hawk discuss Parent-Child Care (PC-Care), a brief intervention designed to respond to the needs of parents, foster parents and children in the child welfare system. They will tell you how they assessed the climate and needs of the foster care system in Sacramento County, CA, conducted research and responded with an adapted intervention - PC-Care. Implications for placement stability and other outcomes are described.

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Bowen and Andrew Irish discuss the results of their research on mapping opioid-related public policy, published in their 2019 article "A policy mapping analysis of goals, target populations, and punitive notions in the U.S. congressional response to the opioid epidemic" in the International Journal of Drug Policy. They consider why is it important for social work practitioners and policy makers to understand issues associated with opioid-related policy, and the implications of their research for future policy initiatives that are intended to address the opioid epidemic.

In this episode, our guest Stephanie Stodolka, LMSW discusses her (literally) street-level response to the personal, social and environmental challenges that her school's children and families - and by extension, staff- face to academic success. In order to bridge gaps related to lower socioeconomic levels, immigrant status and racial bias, she will describe how she assessed, advocated for and executed "Plunge Into Buffalo" - a day-long experiential intervention for her school's entire faculty and staff that had them riding public transportation, trying to keep appointments and visiting a range of Buffalo-based human service agencies in person. A year and a half in the making, the project provided a visceral experience of spending a day-in-the-life of students and families. Mrs. Stodolka recounts the consensus building process, how the event unfolded and the outcomes.

In this podcast our guest, Julia Moore, PhD, discusses why implementation science is relevant to the advancement of the Social Work profession and she addresses the research-to-practice gaps that currently exist. Dr. Moore explains what implementation science is, and how implementation science models, theories, and frameworks can be applied to increase the uptake and use of programs, services, and supports. Examples of how social workers can approach practice challenges differently by applying implementation science are provided, including how implementation science can help reduce inequities in care.

In this episode, our guests Drs. Patricia Logan-Greene and Mickey Sperlich describe their work exploring social work practice and our ability to decrease gun violence. With calls to "send in the Social Workers rather than the police" filling the national dialogue related to racial disparities in policing, our guests discuss why the Social Work profession might be best suited to prevent gun violence.

In this podcast, our guests Laura Lewis, PhD, and Daniel Fischer, MSW, discuss how the COVID-19 disruption not only created unprecedented challenges for social work field education, but also forced social work instructors to think creatively about how to deliver content and experiences in different ways for students. They describe new models of learning and innovative instructional paradigms that were developed, and highlight the importance of working collaboratively and creatively to meet social work competencies and foster student learning and success.

Welcome back! In this episode, our guest Dr. Robin Leake - Project Director for National Child Welfare Workforce Initiative (NCWWI) discusses how social workers are navigating the impact of the Coronavirus on child welfare systems, the people they serve, and the workers who serve them. She details how workers are attending to their core mission, how they are supporting families, and how they are struggling with the impact on their own lives as they adapt to the severe disruptions the pandemic has introduced.

In this episode, Dr. Felicity Northcott, an expert in international child welfare, describes her work with International Social Services - USA. ISS is a global child protection and social service network of social workers and lawyers who connect vulnerable children, adults and families separated by an international border to the support, information and services they need.

In this episode, our guests Dr. Kelly Jackson and Dr. Gina Miranda Samuels discuss the topic of multiracial cultural attunement and deliberate why the issue of multiraciality lacks prominence in social work literature and research. Given the growing multiracial population, the importance of going beyond the black-white dichotomy is emphasized in order to address the disproportionate challenges and risks multiracial individuals and families face. The episode concludes with a discussion on Multiracial Cultural Attunement, a book designed to help social workers apply skills and tools to leverage the strength and resilience of multiracial individuals and families.

In this episode, our guest Elaine Birchall, MSW describes her work with this under-researched and under-served population. Challenging myths, she defines the disorder, reviews prevalence data, describes risk and safety concerns and the prognosis for those afflicted. Referencing human rights, Ms. Birchall discusses key assessment criteria and the treatment process.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Ashley Curry discusses her research exploring turnover within the child welfare system and the lived experiences of individuals impacted by relationship disruptions. Originating from a multi-method qualitative approach, Dr. Curry’s findings highlight the perspectives of three distinct groups experiencing turnover within a child welfare organization: specifically, agency administrators, agency workers, and youth receiving care. Key implications and recommendations for child welfare organizations undergoing worker turnover and staffing changes are considered.

In the second of a two-part podcast, our guest Dr. John Gallagher elaborates on the racial disparities his research is revealing related to drug court outcomes. He describes the four main themes he has identified via qualitative research with African-American drug court participants and recommendations for practice based on this work.

The inSocialWork® Podcast Series is taking a break for the holidays. This short message, recorded by our hosts, offers holiday wishes on behalf of our team.

In this episode, our guest Lakshmi Iyer discusses her work at FSG, a mission-driven consulting firm that is dedicated to advising corporate, foundation, and nonprofit leaders. She describes how philanthropy and corporations can be viewed skeptically and are often misunderstood by social work and explains how for-profit organizations can help solve social issues and create an impact through collaborative partnerships. Models of social innovation and entrepreneurship are summarized and examples of how social workers can serve as change agents are discussed. Social change approaches utilized by organizations and their connection to social work education, research and practice - including how these strategies address current silos - are explored.

In the first of a two-part podcast, Dr. John Gallagher discusses his teaching, practice and scholarly activity with drug courts and their outcomes. Beginning with an overview of drug courts and how they work, he introduces a conversation related to racial disparities in outcome studies that he will elaborate on in part two of this podcast.

In this episode, our guest Victoria Grinman describes the history, logistics, and aspects of post-traumatic growth, and the difference between post-traumatic growth and resilience. She discusses her research involving post-traumatic growth experiences among parents of young adult children with autism, and emphasizes the importance of training practitioners to identify the signs to post-traumatic growth as well as consider relational aspects in order to treat the family and child more holistically.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Christina Mogro-Wilson provides us with her research insights into the "Latino paradox" and what makes Latino populations so resilient despite comparatively lower overall socioeconomic status. Specifically, she describes her research focused on Latino fathers - their role, and how their culture affects their parenting and interactions with their children.

In this episode, our guests Dr. Ashley Davis and Dr. Rebecca G. Mirick discuss the dynamics of power and privilege in relation to teaching and social work education, with an emphasis on the experiences of conservative students. They describe their research involving students’ perceptions of microaggressions within classroom, and provide compelling examples of how conservative students have experienced marginalization. Strategies for creating a more inclusive and affirmative learning environment are considered.

In this episode, our guests Tracey Feild and Cynthia Weiskittel describe their experience with programs they implemented that utilize data-driven processes to measure the quality and impact of service delivery. They discuss the challenges to using data and fostering buy-in to measuring service provision. Our experts conclude with describing how providers can bring this process to bear in their own organizations.

In this podcast, our guest Professor Susan A. Green discusses the increased interest among organizations and systems to provide a trauma-informed approach to care and to plan for, implement, and sustain trauma-informed organizational change. She describes what it means and why it is important for an organization to become trauma-informed, the experiences of organizations as they transformed into being trauma-informed, and the benefits of becoming trauma-informed. The episode concludes with a short discussion on the Trauma-Informed Organization Change Manual, which is available through the Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (ITTIC).

In this episode, our guest Dr. Will White highlights his career combining his background as a social worker and his passion for experiential, specifically outdoor, therapy. He describes what adventure-based therapy is and the evolution of the model to its current-day expression. Dr. White discusses the empirical support for the approach, why it’s therapeutic, and the rationale for utilizing this innovative modality.

In this episode, Dr. Judith Herman discusses research on justice from the perspective of trauma survivors, how this is related to the #MeToo movement, and why individuals who are victims of abuse choose to speak out. She considers the progress and relevance of changes within DSM-5 PTSD diagnostic criteria, how chronic shame is related to dissociation and PTSD, and the consequences of forming an insecure attachment. The episode concludes by providing examples on how resilience can be built through community-based interventions and lead to more secure attachments.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Victor Manalo describes his early inspiration for a career as a social worker in the political arena and looks back and forward over his innovative career. Capitalizing on the Social Work core value of and focus on relationships, he discusses the perfect fit with the "it's who you know" reality of political life.

In this podcast, our guest Dr. Robert T. Muller describes his clinical work with individuals who have experienced trauma. He discusses why trauma survivors engage in avoidance within close relationships, why they use specific coping strategies, and challenges that can occur in psychotherapy. Using case examples, Dr. Muller illustrates several therapeutic approaches, techniques, and strategies that can be beneficial in work with trauma survivors and in promoting posttraumatic growth. He also compares his perspective to other forms of trauma work.

In this episode our guest R. Bong Vergara describes how he utilizes innovation and social enterprise to build sustainable social impact and build wealth for impoverished communities. He weaves social and physical sciences perspectives to challenge conventional approaches and invites both social workers and citizens alike to move from being a technology consumer to a technological innovator.

In this episode, our guests Dr. Lorinda F. Parks and Dr. Robert H. Keefe describe ‘Centering Pregnancy’ and how this multi-faceted group-based care model can be particularly beneficial when working with at-risk populations. The forms and symptoms of postpartum depression along with the relationship between postpartum depression and societal costs are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the social work profession’s role in establishing and maintaining interventions and supports within low-income communities, particularly with new mothers of color.

Can a public library be conceptualized as a human service organization? In this episode, our guests Carrie Draper and Dr. Kirk Foster describe how they are leveraging the library's familiarity and resources by placing social work interns and professionals in these non-traditional settings. Our guests describe the natural fit and the challenges inherent in this approach and what they are learning about how services and roles change in this creative endeavor.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Nancy Kusmaul defines trauma-informed care within residential long-term care, and describes regulations that will soon require skilled nursing facilities receiving federal funding to incorporate trauma-informed principles into person-centered care. Dr. Kusmaul compares and contrasts how trauma-informed care is viewed in residential long-term care settings as opposed to other social work settings, and why trauma-informed care is critical when working with older adults. The episode concludes by emphasizing social work’s role in long-term care, and how social workers can create environments that eliminate or mitigate triggers that have the potential to cause re-traumatization.

In this episode, our guest Lisa Reyes Mason, PhD, takes the Social Work mantra of "person-in-environment" and describes her work related to Global Environmental Change. Applying a social and economic justice perspective, she discusses the impact that Social Work research, education and practice has on shaping our responses to challenges that will continue to challenge those of us living on Planet Earth.

In this episode, our guests Dr. Stephanie Elias Sarabia and Dr. Kathleen Ray describe the Ramapo College study abroad program, and how exposure to Portugal’s system has heightened students understanding of the political, legal, and social context of decriminalization. They provide an overview of Portugal’s drug decriminalization policy, and compare and contrast how the US differs from Portugal in regards to approaching substance abuse. Drs. Elias Sarabia and Ray emphasize the need for social workers to challenge our current belief systems regarding drug addiction and treatment, and provide strategies for educators interested in building an international program.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Alan Delmerico - a health geographer and economist, describes how he is gathering data and using it to help researchers and practitioners account for the interaction between people and their geospatial contexts (social workers: think person in environment). He discusses how these interactions shape outcomes and help inform interventions that assist in promoting improved healthcare promotion, accessibility, and prevention efforts.

Cross-systems youth, or youth who experience homelessness, child welfare involvement, and educational difficulty, often suffer due to lack of continuity and stability in their school and home lives, as well as in service provision. These children are at risk for a number of negative outcomes, which are in part a reflection of the failure of multiple systems. In this episode, three members of the University at Buffalo School of Social Work faculty (Anna Ball, Betsy Bowen, and Annette Semanchin-Jones) engage in a discussion on cross-systems youth. They highlight their research involving the perspectives and experiences of youth and service providers in relation to multiple systems – education, child welfare, and housing and social services – and provide suggestions to improve and promote collaboration.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Sandra Lane employs an anthropologist’s eye to the intersection of community health and community violence. Weaving a path of research, professional and personal experience, and a keen appreciation for the dynamic relationships among populations and environments, Dr. Lane connects the dots to a thorough application of an ecological perspective to address health, mental health, and economic problems. Specifically, Dr. Lane addresses issues of infant mortality, reproductive health, gun violence, street addiction, and describes the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on the biological, neurological, and educational functioning of affected community residents.

In this podcast, our guest Jodie Bargeron describes progressive frameworks that have shaped self-neglect (SN) research - specifically, whether SN is an old age phenomenon or life course issue, and the difference between intentional versus unintentional SN. She discusses her research pertaining to whether Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), intrusive parenting, and/or self-control are related to SN among both elderly and non-elderly adults. The episode concludes by stressing the need for social workers to treat SN from a life course perspective, and to consider the use attachment-based therapy to adequately address these behaviors and avoid adverse consequences.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Lawrence Palinkas discusses his research seeking to identify the best methods not only to develop evidence-based practices for helping people but also to be sure that these practices are implemented in practice. From a transdisciplinary and social justice perspective, he describes his interest in solving social problems that are rooted in cultural differences, with emphasis on promoting evidence-based practices and social responses to extreme environments in the context of child welfare services.

In this episode, our guest Dr. D. Crystal Coles discusses her research pertaining to privatization within child welfare and the trajectory of experiences of children in the foster care system. She describes the different levels of privatization between and within state foster care and how these multisystemic variances can impact service delivery. Dr. Coles stresses the need for stakeholders to work together to understand the implications of privatization and to develop new and innovative ways to enhance service delivery.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Christopher Larrison describes his work utilizing smartphone technology to help people with mental illness connect, build relationships, and develop supportive networks. He discusses what he is learning about how smartphones can be used as a conduit to reduce clients' isolation and increase their access to useful information about themselves and their condition.

The inSocialWork® Podcast Series is taking a break for the holidays. This short message, recorded by our hosts, offers holiday wishes on behalf of our team.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Philip Hong describes his work exploring how welfare reform efforts play out through the eyes and in the lives of people living them. Utilizing a social justice and person-in-environment perspective, he discusses what he is learning about the role of hope and psychological self-sufficiency as articulated by client recipients.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Lauren McInroy discusses her research exploring the relationship between participation in online fandom communities among LGBTQ+ youth and certain aspects of identity development. She explains how online fandom can foster resilience, heighten well-being, and help LGBTQ+ youth navigate challenges. The episode concludes by stressing why social workers need to recognize the importance of online communities for marginalized adolescents and young adults.

In this episode, our guests Dr. Hilary Copp and Dr. William Koehler discuss their work examining urban and rural middle and high school teachers' attitudes and observations of their LGBT students. Our guests describe the challenges faced by schools, policymakers, and practitioners as they attempt to help LGBT students navigate their environments with acceptance, safety, and dignity.

In this episode, our guests Dr. Richard Smith and Dr. Amanda Lehning discuss aging in place and why it is important to understand how older adults experience their communities, in particular their physical and social environments. Our guests describe their research examining the effects of remaining in gentrifying neighborhoods on older adults' self-reported health and mental health, and highlight why social workers need to be concerned with how the sense of place and community impacts the aging population.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Louanne Bakk discusses her research examining how the enactment of Medicare Part D changed the lives of recipients. While the benefit assisted some, the costs borne by low-income participants appears to have fostered cost-related nonadherence with prescription medication use, which appears linked to racial and ethnic disparities.

In this episode, our guest Stephanie Diez discusses the relationship between Internet gaming disorder and other addictive behaviors, and how Internet gaming is categorized within the DSM-5. National and international social policy initiatives designed to address this public health issue are described, and resources and suggestions on how social workers can more effectively identify and address this disorder are provided.

In this episode, our guest Carol Scott, MSW, discusses her work examining emerging adults' social media use and the risks to their well-being. She describes the importance of understanding the distinction between frequency and engagement in the study of social media use and offers guidelines for talking with emerging adults about their use of social media.