Human migration is a natural phenomenon as old as humanity. Some people leave their places of origin to escape natural or human-caused calamities. Others leave to find better economic circumstances. And, for some, it may be the adventure of new and exciting experiences. In this episode, Arati Maleku discusses current trends in human migration, explains some of migration's challenges and opportunities, and offers suggestions on social work practice with migrant populations.

In this episode, Dr. Mimi Abramovitz discusses the privatization of human services and the rise of New Public Management. She reviews evolving economic conditions, historical changes in U.S. social welfare policy, and the subsequent impact on human service agencies, their workforce and, ultimately, the clients they serve.

In this episode, Dr. Lawrence Shulman discusses the influence of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) on practice behavior. He describes how to integrate EBP concepts and interventions while maintaining Social Work's unique role as well the worker's personal artistry. Dr. Shulman addresses the "false dichotomy" of science vs. art with a number of anecdotes and practice examples.

While working at an inpatient psychiatric facility early in her career, Dr. Erin Kelly became interested in workplace violence, struck by the tension of maintaining staff and patient safety. She also developed an appreciation of the importance of building relationships with patients and other staff in such a challenging environment. In this episode, Dr. Kelly discusses her research on the impact of workplace violence on staff at a large psychiatric hospital. Dr. Kelly suggests a number of strategies to ameliorate staff conflict as one method of reducing staff-patient conflict. She also makes suggestions for the individual clinicians working in settings with elevated levels of conflict.

When asked about the word "entrepreneurship," most people are likely to think about business-oriented activities, perhaps, more specifically, using business innovation as a route to develop or enhance a business enterprise. However, most people probably have not considered using social consciousness as a foundation for engaging in entrepreneurial activities. In this podcast, Professors Rukshan Fernando and Andy Germak will explore using entrepreneurship as a method to address social change.

In this episode, our guest Dr. Venus Tsui describes the pervasive shame that male victims of intimate partner abuse experience and their common belief that the services that do exist aren't built for them. The resulting alienation and hopelessness present powerful barriers to seeking support. Dr. Tsui describes the extent to which existing services are utilized by men and which formal and informal helpers they find most beneficial.

According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, people who identify as transgender are estimated to comprise between one quarter and one percent of the U.S. population. Often targeted for overt discrimination, a transgender person may, rightly, feel the need to protect themselves from the intolerant or rejecting responses they are subjected to. However, the need to be open and engaged is critical to ensure appropriate health care. In this episode, members of the Pride Center of Western New York discuss how the Center's Transgender Health Initiative meets the health care needs of transgender people.

In this episode, our guest Michael Langlois addresses the pervasiveness of technology -- specifically video games -- in our clients' day-to-day lives. Concurrently, he notes how direct social work practitioners have been largely hesitant and dismissive about utilizing video games in their work. Speaking from a cultural competency perspective, Mr. Langlois describes how he utilizes video games in his clinical work and builds an argument for their use in a 21st century practice environment.

In 2013, two agencies (Kidslink, a children’s mental health provider, and Mosaic Counseling, which offered a variety of services to children, men, and women) merged to form Carizon Family and Community Services. Our guests in this podcast explore the newly-formed agency’s experience incorporating trauma-informed care into its treatment philosophy and provision of service.

In this episode, Chandran Chetan continues our previous discussion of India's "invisible maids" and the human trafficking that is fostered by the demand for these workers. Here, our guest describes how the National Domestic Workers Movement builds institutional support for the workers and how they promote social action and change through the direct participation of the women in speaking out on their own behalf. Fr. Chetan highlights the movement's work in organization and unionization activities and outlines the current activity and challenges on behalf of this exploited population.