Listen.Up.People.

The practices of social work and dentistry have common threads rooted in well-being. Roseann Mulligan, DDS, the Charles M. Goldstein Professor of Community Oral Health and associate dean of dental public health and community outreach at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC, and Margarita Artavia, teaching professor at USC Social Work, created an interdisciplinary collaboration and internsh...

For four decades, research has proven that Housing First – an evidence-based approach based upon principles of consumer choice, harm reduction and immediate access to permanent independent housing – produces higher rates of persons exiting homelessness than any other approach that’s been studied. Yet, these results are now being challenged by the federal government. Ben Henwood, professor, and Sam...

Public child welfare is one of the most misunderstood areas of social work practice, and which also tends to generate the most publicity. Debra Waters-Roman, teaching professor, and Richard Carranza, MSW '15 and supervising children’s social worker for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, collectively bring 40 years of experience working with LA DCFS to dispel some of...

Use of the arts can be an important tool for improving mental health in social work practice, often acting as a bridge to build trust between client and therapist. Michal Sela-Amit, associate teaching professor, and Danielle Brown, associate teaching professor, are advancing the use of art and expressive practices to improve health and wellness. music by The Intimate Yellers, available on Spotify...

Tech and AI are everywhere – even in social work. Jennifer Parga, associate teaching professor, and Jenebah Lewis, associate teaching professor, are creating pathways for ethical uses of technology in social work training and practice, preparing the next generation of professionals. music by The Intimate Yellers, available on Spotify , Apple Music , Amazon Music and YouTube

People experience and interact with the world around them in many ways, with no one "right" way of thinking, learning and behaving. Christina Paddock, associate teaching professor of practicum education, and Mona Kay, PhD '01 and founder of Neurodiverse Love, focus on the positive aspects of neurodiverse children and adults, helping them address challenges and empowering them to thrive. music by T...

Community violence and trauma disproportionately impact marginalized youth populations. Studies show that youth who become involved with the juvenile justice system often begin their lives with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) or involvement with Child Protective Services. Robert Hernandez, associate teaching professor, and USC MSW alumna Angela Montijo who works with Girls Empowerment Network...

It is often community response, such as mutual aid and collective action, that mitigate the most immediate impacts following a natural disaster. Michàlle Mor Barak, Dean Endowed Professor of Social Work and Business, and Bistra Dilkina, Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Early Career Chair in Computer Science at USC Viterbi School of Engineering, are collaborating on a study that combines social sci...

A social worker’s ability to inform policy can often bridge the gap between community needs and government action to build a more just society. Sam Mistrano, associate teaching professor, and PhD alumna Melissa Bird who is running for congress in Oregon's 4th district, discuss how social work and public policy are deeply intertwined. music by The Intimate Yellers, available on Spotify , Apple Musi...

People living with HIV and AIDS today are the first generation to age with this disease and pioneer a path for what that means. Sara Schwartz, associate teaching professor, and Paul Nash, instructional professor of gerontology at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, focus on this population of people aging with HIV/AIDS, and how our systems can best support them. music by The Intimate Yell...

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 educati...

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 t...

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 o...

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. music by The Intimate Yellers, available on Spotify , Apple Music , Amazon Music...

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 enviro...

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...

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...

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 majo...

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...

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...

We have been the most intelligent species by far for tens of thousands of years. Now we created something that could compete with us in the very near future. John Oberg, DSW ’22 and CEO of Precina Health, and Josiah Bryan, chief technology officer for Precina Health, use AI to improve health and well-being, yet are deeply concerned about the role of AI in the workplace and how it may impact our da...

Studies have shown that individuals who survive a violent crime or traumatic event will experience social and emotional problems as a result. Ruth Supranovich, associate dean for community and clinical programs, and Sarah Caliboso-Soto, clinical director of the Telebehavioral Health Clinic, are the creators of the Trauma Recovery Center – the first dedicated trauma center at USC - helping survivor...

Every year, roughly 600,000 children spend some time in foster care. Julie Cederbaum, associate professor, and Sara Jimenez McSweyn, senior lecturer, delve into the issues related to experiences in the foster youth system, what happens when they age out of foster care, and support and resources needed for foster youth to thrive. music by The Intimate Yellers, available on Spotify , Apple Music , A...

Overall, LGBT individuals experience significantly higher rates of mental and behavioral health problems than their heterosexual peers, yet efforts to address these disparities in the research world are lacking. Through their own research, John Blosnich, associate professor, and Gabriel Robles, assistant professor, envision of a world that promotes the physical, emotional and social well-being of...

For many people, homelessness is an issue that appears unsolvable and the best we can hope for is to mitigate it. Ben Henwood, professor and director of the Center for Homelessness, Housing and Health Equity Research, and Seth Pickens, managing director of the USC Homelessness Policy Research Institute, unapologetically believe it is within our reach to end homelessness in the United States, and d...