Listen.Up.People.

School social workers play an increasingly important role in fostering students’ social and emotional well-being for productive learning in the classroom. Kerry Doyle, associate teaching professor, and MSW alumna Maria Ruelas, district social worker for the Lawndale Elementary School District, have experienced many different sides of social work in educational settings, in the training and education of school social workers and on the ground in classrooms.

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Over half of individuals who die by suicide do not have a known mental health condition, and given that 50 – 60% to not tell anyone beforehand, and a core challenge of suicide prevention is identifying those most at risk of falling through the cracks. Carl Castro, professor and director of military and veterans programs, and John Blosnich, associate professor, are creating upstream interventions to illuminate and address this crucial gap in suicide prevention.

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Health interventions in social work go beyond hospitals and medical facilities to shine a light on how social determinants can impact specific health conditions, and how interventions can be modified to reflect the culture and experience of the patient. Shinyi Wu, associate professor, and Jane Lee, associate professor, are conducting novel research with practical applications at the intersection of social work and physical health.

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An estimated 27 million people are exploited for labor, services and commercial sex globally. Annalisa Enrile, teaching professor, and Holly Priebe Sotelo, associate teaching professor, have dedicated their careers to preventing and combatting human trafficking, with a vision to eradicate trafficking in all its forms.

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More than ever, the disproportionate impact of climate-related disasters and pollution on marginalized communities is making climate change a significant social determinant of health. Michelle Zappas, director of the Master of Science in Nursing program, and Rick Newmyer, senior lecturer, are members of the sustainability faculty workgroup at USC Social Work that is addressing issues around environmental justice and impact.

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For over 10 years, the Interprofessional Education and Collaboration for Geriatrics (IECG) has trained USC students across the five health sciences schools to provide coordinated, team-based and patient-centered care specifically tailored to the needs of older adults. Dawn Joosten-Hagye, teaching professor at USC Social Work, and Tatyana Gurvich, associate professor of clinical pharmacy at the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, are members of the IECG faculty who are putting theory into practice across seven health professions.

Read more about IECG's research on the impact of interprofessional education:

Journal of Interprofessional Care

Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy

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Sports can serve as a protective factor for at-risk populations from elementary school to professional athletes. Steve Hydon, teaching professor of practicum education, and Aimee Odette, associate teaching professor, are members of a collaborative faculty group that created the Transformative Power of Social Work and Sports course at USC, demonstrating how the integration of social work and sports can promote inclusivity, personal growth and foster positive change within communities and society.

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In 2024, 48.4 million people aged 12 or older struggled with substance use disorder in the past year. Olivia Lee, associate professor, and Jennifer Lewis, teaching professor, are members of the USC Institute for Addiction Science which aims to revolutionize the way substance use is discussed, treated and prevented, including the development of the first Master of Addiction Science degree at a major university melding social work, pharmacy and medicine together.

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Approximately 80% of calls to police are social service related, including situations involving people experiencing homelessness, youth-involved crime or de-escalation of a disturbance. Rosemary Alamo and Rick Ornelas are the creators of the Social Work and Public Safety Program, a first-of-its-kind capacity-building partnership that integrates social work with law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations.

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Active-duty service members and veterans experience their greatest challenges and vulnerabilities at key points of transition in their military careers. Carl Castro, director of military and veterans programs, and Sara Kintzle, research professor, are improving care for service members, veterans and military families during transitions by impacting policy - focusing not just on meeting their needs but ensuring they are equipped to thrive.

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