The Social Workers Radio Talk Show

We were joined by Marcus Stallworth, LMSW, and Qur-an Webb, MSW, of Welcome 2 Reality, LLC about their work on domestic minor sex trafficking.    Bios: Marcus Stallworth, LMSW Marcus Stallworth, LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker), is the Director of Director of Learning and Organizational Development at Welcome 2 Reality, LLC. Marcus operates with an assertive hands-on approach. Spending close t...

We are joined by Benjamin Brubaker and Kate Gillespie of White Bird Clinic in Oregon. Both share their expertise in crisis intervention and discuss the CAHOOTS model (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets). Bios: Benjamin Brubaker works as Administrative Coordinator of WhiteBird Clinic. He began serving White Bird in September 2006. Ben first started as a full-time Crisis Worker (Qualified...

Serve Albany aims to make it easy for interested members of the Albany community to find a place to get involved, to volunteer, and to make a difference in their city. With kids home from school and limited in-person contact with individuals like teachers and coaches, now more than ever we need volunteers to be tutors and mentors. And that is what Serve Albany is focusing on in this week-long volu...

We were joined by Lakia Green who discussed Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma-informed care, with a particular focus on cultural and historical trauma.  Bio: Lakia Green is the owner of One Spark Consulting, which specializes in in providing training, facilitation, and consulting services to organizations focused on advocacy, social justice, and societal change. She has over 25 years...

We were joined by three guests from the Spina Bifida Association of Northeastern New York - Executive Director Julia Duff, Heather Horwedel, and Michelle Miller. They discuss the agency, their upcoming Walk-N-Roll fundraiser, and why SBANENY is a great resource to those living with Spina Bifida and their families. 

Dr. Phyllis Kosminsky's work focuses on grief, loss and trauma. She joined us today to discuss how Covid-19 changed the face of grief, both in the relation to death and non-death losses.    Bio: Phyllis Kosminsky is a clinical social worker in private practice in Westchester, New York, and at the Center for Hope in Darien, Connecticut, where her work focuses on grief, loss and trauma. Over the pas...

Tammy LaBrake, LCSW, is a therapist who specializes in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). She discusses the disorder and the treatment methods that she uses in her clinical practice.   Bio:  Tammy LaBrake is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years experience in a variety of settings. In 2006 she dedicated her outpatient private practice to the treatment of OCD. Befo...

Incoming MSW student, Cassie Lotker, speaks about relocating to Albany during the pandemic and protests, why she chose to move forward with her education during this time of so many unknowns, and why she's excited about starting her graduate work at UAlbany. 

We are joined by Julie Bailey, LCSW, who discusses how to manage anxiety with children, roadblocks clinicians face when helping children cope with anxiety, activities for children to help them manage anxiety, and how we, as adults who are not immune to our own anxiety, can help children with their anxiety. Julie does regular workshops through the School of Social Welfare’s Continuing Education pro...

Alumna Natalie Turner discusses her experience as a BSW and MSW graduate, with a particular focus on her time in the Internships in Aging Project.  Bio: Natalie Turner is a case manager at the Alzheimer’s Center of Albany Medical Center. She received her BSW from the University at Albany in 2017 and continued on to get her MSW from the UAlbany, as part of the Internships in Aging Project. She has...

Kevin O’Keeffe, Hilary Charles, and Cathy Vasquez are all licensed social workers at Albany Medical Center. They shared their experience about being medical social workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss the importance of the social work profession. Social Workers are Essential Workers.    Bios:  Kevin O'Keeffe is a LMSW who graduated with his MSW in 2015 from U-Albany. He has been workin...

"Throughout history, sages, mystics, and philosophers called the place between certainty and 'what's around the corner,' 'the unknown.' Anticipating the unknown, 'the not knowing,' evokes anxiety when we lose sight of the harbor of our perceived safety. During this pandemic, social distancing, and isolation, 'what you thought you knew is dissolving,' according to Charles Eisenstein. The desire and...

“Meditation is about orientating ourselves to what is. When I sit down to meditate, I’m not trying to stop what is going on. I am trying to come into relationship with what is going on." Karen Beetle, LMHC, is a therapist and mindfulness teacher in private practice in Albany, NY. She discusses how, in this time of uncertainty, we can incorporate mindfulness and meditation into our practice and our...

UAlbany School of Social Welfare faculty members, Dr. Mary McCarthy and Dr. Catherine Lawrence, discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the child welfare workforce and the child welfare system itself, with a particular focus on tribal communities. Both Mary and Kate are involved with the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute, a collaborative organization that promotes organizational interventions f...

New York State now allows adult adopted persons and their descendants to request and obtain the adoptee’s original birth certificates. With this new law, the amount of adoption reunions may increase. Alumna Marie Dolfi, LCSW, is an Albany-based adoption counselor who works with all members of the adoption triad – adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents. Through her work with all members of t...

We virtually sat down with the National Association of Social Workers - NYS Chapter Executive Director, Dr. Samantha Fletcher, to discuss how the chapter is engaging with, and providing resources for, its members during this time of COVID-19. We discuss the role of social workers during this pandemic and how we can be at the table when addressing the inequities that are apparent during this pandem...

We were joined by Nick Pattison and Cassandra Grandeau, both 2nd year MSW students at UAlbany who are graduating this month. Nick was in the Albany Internships in Mental Health (AIMH) program and Cassie was in the Internships in Aging Project (IAP). They speak about their experience in each of their respective programs, why they wanted to work in the field, and how they are moving forward during t...

Sarah Mountz is an Assistant Professor at UAlbany’s School of Social Welfare and a faculty advisor of Fostering Leaders of Our World, a UAlbany student group composed of students with foster care backgrounds and their allies. She is joined by Selena Snow, the student Vice President of F.L.O.W., and they speak about the barriers to foster youth in higher education, how COVID-19 has impacted college...

In this segment, we interviewed Kristen Giroux who is the Deputy Director at IPH, formerly Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless. She discusses how IPH is responding during the COVID-19 outbreak, what this pandemic has shown about areas of need for the homeless population, and how individuals can support IPH. Kristen Giroux is a licensed master social worker with 14 years’ experience working in...

In this episode we are joined by former journalist and reporter, Liz Benjamin, who shares information on how social workers can engage the media, navigate the political world for macro level change, and even create their own media content to get their message out.  About our guest: Liz Benjamin currently is the Managing Director at Marathon Strategies, a communications and research firm. Before th...

We were joined by UAlbany alumna, Erin Casey Pellegrino, who is the Vice President of Communications, Events & Marketing at the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE). She discusses her work at RISE, which is a nonprofit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations.  About our guest:  As Vice President...

This segment focuses on caring for our senior population during COVID-19. In part one, we are joined by Greg Olsen who is the acting director of the New York State Office for the Aging. The second segment features UAlbany School of Social Welfare alumna, Eden Hunter, who is employed at Shaker Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.   Greg Olsen is the acting director of the New York State Office...

In this episode, we discuss the UAlbany Big Event that occurred this past weekend... virtually. In the first half of the segment, we speak with the Dr. Martha  Asselin who is the Director of the UAlbany Center for Leadership and Service and the Assistant Director, Cheryl Simmons. The second half we are joined by Dr. Mary Ellen Mallia who is the Director of the Office of Environmental Sustainabilit...

This student spotlight feature highlights UAlbany BSW senior, Sebastian Vidal. Sebastian a member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Presidential Honor Society, Psi Chi National Psychology Honor Society and Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. Sebastian serves as a Peer Career Advisor, is the Vice President of the Baccalaureate Social Welfare Association, and a mento...

Joe Bonilla is the managing partner, Senior Media Director and cofounder of Relentless Awareness, an Albany-based communications firm that specializes in Crisis Communication.  Joe Bonilla joined us recently and discussed all of the messages we have been getting from businesses, brands, and organizations, as well as what we can do to support local businesses and non-profits during this time. With...