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

Brian Farragher, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Andrus Children's Center, discusses the impact of trauma and repetitive stress on staff and organizations and the quality of service they provide. Mr. Farragher presents the Sanctuary Model as an antidote to trauma and describes the process and outcomes of the organization-wide transformation to reflect Sanctuary Model principles at Andrus.

In this episode, Dr. Patricia Shannon discusses her research related to the impact of war trauma and torture on the mental health of resettling refugee communities. Our guest describes research on the state of mental health screening practices based on a recent national survey and findings from her recent focus groups on the mental health of Karen, Bhutanese, Oromo and Somali refugees. Dr. Shannon describes efforts to develop community capacity for meeting the mental health needs of refugees and how community based healing can be utilized as a strategy to address the larger context of international human rights.

Child welfare has a strong crossover with the disability field, yet there has been little critical examination of child welfare services through a disability lens and no substantial examination of how its policies and programs affect people with disabilities and their family members. In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Lightfoot discusses her research on the impact of child welfare policies on parents with disabilities.

As the field of traumatology has grown, it has become increasingly apparent that the effects of psychological trauma extend beyond those that directly experience traumatic events. In this episode Dr. Bride discusses the term Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) and the conceptual issues that arise when talking about and researching STS. He provides an overview of current research on prevalence, risk, and protective factors associated with STS and concludes by addressing implications and recommendations for practice.

Microfinance is recognized as an anti-poverty tool and a conduit for financial assistance and capacity building. In their research, Drs. Rebecca Thomas and Jill Witmer Sinha examine differences between the benefits provided by nonprofit and for-profit microfinance institutions specifically as they pertain to women. Drs. Thomas and Sinha present findings from a case study of one program in Kolkata, India highlighting the array of complementary services offered to microloan clients and their potential for bridging the gap between the "haves and have-nots."

Drs. Jan Ivery and M. Lori Thomas discuss the findings of their research with the often overlooked older adult homeless population. Our guests describe the challenges of meeting the unique needs of this population and the contradictions that are raised as the older adult homeless population burgeons.

In this episode, Katherine Montgomery, MSSW and doctoral student, reports on the findings and implications of her recent study on domain-specific factors that distinguish "throwaway youth" from delinquent youth. Ms. Montgomery also describes how understanding specific individual and relational factors may inform more individualized, evidence-based treatment planning among this unique population of adolescents.

In this episode, Dr. David Patterson describes the Three Sisters and other core ideas that informed the creation and evolution of the Native American Center for Wellness Research. This discussion explores how the Center builds programs that enhance the educational experiences of Native American students, researches and promotes Native American wellness, and collaborates in peace and social justice ceremonies in the community.

Drs. Patricia Carlson and Nancy Humphreys discuss findings of state and national studies examining the phenomenon of women who leave the welfare rolls and become employees of social service agencies. This conversation addresses prevalence, impact, and ethical implications.

This is the second of two episodes in which Dr. Michael Reisch describes how the past is the present, and how "master narratives" about historical events have come to frame how the social work research agenda has been set, how its been done, and how its findings have been implemented. Dr. Reisch continues his historical overview from the 1930's to present day, touching on the eras of McCarthyism, Marxsim, Scientific Positivism, and Post-Modernism. He concludes with provocative observations and challenges for current research and practice.

Behaviors like sexting are not new phenomena. However, technology increases the ease and risks of such behaviors. This podcast explores the prevalence of sexting and discuss an appropriate and balanced approach to practice and policy intervention.

This is first of two episodes in which Dr. Michael Reisch describes how "the past is the present" and how "master narratives" about historical events have come to frame how the social work research agenda has been set, how it's been done, and how its findings have been implemented. Dr. Reisch begins with the Progressive Era and concludes part one with the New Deal period.

Field education is a signature pedagogy of the social work profession. Professor Marion Bogo discusses what informs this approach to educating social work professionals; the factors that lead to high-quality, effective field instruction; and ongoing challenges to providing it.

In this episode, our guests discuss their research that attempts to respond to and understand how housing policy influences not only its clients, but the neighborhoods in which they reside. They describe, amongst other programs, the Home Ownership Program in Denver, Colorado; their longitudinal research; their findings; and the continuing challenges to sustaining home ownership and its effect on poverty.

Dr. Faye Mishna discusses her research on cyber bullying among youth, its prevalence, its effects, and what social workers can do to begin to address this growing problem.