Social Work & Politics

Maintaining a professional practice, raising children, serving as County Commissioner, and running for State Representative, Dr. Felicia Brabec does it all! Hear how she does it, what it all means to her, and why it's so important for social workers to engage with the political system.

Baby bonds, a 3% wealth tax, debt-free college. The Democratic Presidential primary is playing host to many ideas to reduce wealth and asset inequality in the United States. Drs. Trina Shanks and Willie Elliott discuss historical antecedents to present wealth disparities, the state of wealth inequality, and policies and interventions that aim to level the […]

2018 saw the election of Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to the U.S. Senate. She joins Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) as the two Senators with MSW degrees. How else did 2018 go for social workers in politics? What does 2019 look like? Justin Hodge and Lindsey Matson discuss, plus they break down Hodge’s campaign for Washtenaw County Commissioner. […]

Who is deserving of entry into the United States, and becoming a citizen? Nick Espitia, PhD Candidate at the University of Michigan, and Catalina Rios, MSW candidate at the University of Michigan, discuss the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and the larger immigration debate in the United States. Please visit the following organizations to […]

Nepal recently banned corporal punishment. The U.S.? 19 states still allow it in schools. Associate Professor Andrew Grogan-Kaylor discusses the relationship between corporal punishment and child development, and the international movement to end the practice.

Shannon Lane and Suzanne Pritzker discuss their book, Political Social Work: Using Power to Create Social Change

Charles Lewis, President of the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy (CRISP), discusses training social workers to run for office and the field's connection to politics.

What are children separated from their parents experiencing? What about their parents? Julie Ribaudo, Sara Stein, and Paige Safyer discuss the trauma of family separation.

John Doering White, PhD candidate at the University of Michigan, discusses Central American migration, migrant shelters in Mexico, and more.

The inaugural podcast of Social Work & Politics. Meet Justin Hodge, LMSW and candidate for County Commissioner in the 5th District of Washtenaw County.