Our Podcast Series: inSocialWork®

Abortion is no longer a constitutionally-protected right. What are the implications for the field of Social Work, our clients, and where do we go from here?

To the surprise of pretty much no one, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in the Dobbs case, finding that the Constitution does not confer any right to an abortion, and for good measure, went on to overrule both Roe v. Wade and the Casey precedents. The ruling literally takes away the legal right granted to women by the court almost 50 years ago.

In anticipation of the court’s decision, we reached out to guests Dr. Erica Goldblatt Hyatt and Dr. Mery Diaz, who agreed to record this episode four days after the June 24th decision. Our guests are two scholars who, for the last decade, have each advocated, written, trained and taught Reproductive Justice. In this conversation, Peter Sobota steps aside and passes the microphone to Hyatt and Diaz, who are long-time friends and dedicated Social Workers. They discuss their initial reactions; what the decision’s impact on vulnerable communities is likely to be; what is needed now from the greater community of social workers; and, what are the most practical ways social workers and others can take action in the near and long-term future.

Episode 283 - Dr. Robin Leake: Child Welfare and COVID-19: Ensuring safety and well-being in a global pandemic

In this episode, our guest Dr. Robin Leake - Project Director for National Child Welfare Workforce Initiative (NCWWI) discusses how social workers are navigating the impact of the Coronavirus on child welfare systems, the people they serve, and the workers who serve them. She details how workers are attending to their core mission, how they are supporting families, and how they are struggling with the impact on their own lives as they adapt to the severe disruptions the pandemic has introduced.

It is an exciting time to be a social worker! New and innovative uses of technology are opening up possibilities for better serving our clients. inSocialWork® and the UB School of Social Work have many opportunities to learn more about creative ways that social workers are using technology and explore the latest information on how you can incorporate technology into your practice.

Listen to the podcasts below to find out more about how social workers are leveraging different kinds of technology to build upon client strengths and increase the impact of their agencies. These podcasts cover a wide range of technologies, ranging from text messaging to social media, and even video games!

You can also check out the Technology in Social Work Resource Center, which contains links to a variety of websites, video, podcats, and articles that explore how technology is making a difference in social work practice. You can even submit your own suggestions for items to include in the Technology Resource Center! 

Here at the University of Buffalo School of Social Work, we are proud of our Trauma-Informed and Human Rights Perespective!

inSocialWork® offers a variety of podcasts on trauma, trauma-informed care, human rights and social justice. You can browse these podcasts at the links below. You can also download flyers highlighting just a few of our podcasts on these topics.

Social workers need a variety skills and a knowledge base to successfully navigate the diverse landscape of our increasingly global world. The University at Buffalo School of Social Work provides many opportunities to acquire the skills and knowledge needed for professional practice and global citizenship. Follow the links below to learn more about these opportunities, and to listen to some of our podcasts on cultural competence and international social work.

Self-care is an essential part of sustaining good social work practice.

At inSocialWork®, we encourage social workers to explore, develop, and engage good self-care to enrich both their lives and their profession.

Here, you can find links to our podcasts related to social worker self-care, explore a variety of self-care resources in UB School of Social Work's Self Care Starter Kit, and view inspiring photos of social workers engaging in self-care submitted by listeners to our Self-Care Photo Contest. Be sure to 'Like' our Facebook page for updates on new episodes and information on inSocialWork®!

From mental health to substance abuse, from ethics to cultural competence, there is a variety of podcast topic categories to explore.

Enjoy this sample of top picks from among our most popular topics:

Are you a social work practitioner, researcher or educator doing innovative or cutting-edge work? Do you have an idea for a future podcast? Do you have questions about inSocialWork®? We would love to hear from you!

Write us at insocialwork@buffalo.edu with your ideas, suggestions, and questions!