Our Podcast: inSocialWork®

“This is an incredible opportunity for a social worker to show up. And when we do, because of how we are uniquely trained, things get better. Because we do see the person and environment context, and we’re not just thinking about remediation of symptoms if you will. We’re looking at the structures that help perpetuate or create that person’s struggle to begin with.” - Dean Michael A. Lindsey, PhD, MSW, MPH

“What’s goin’ on?” Black children and adolescent suicide rates in the U.S. increased 75% and injury by attempt rose by 122%, based on data collected from 1991 to 2017. By contrast, suicide rates among youth in all other racial and ethnic groups fell during the same period. In 2019, Black teenagers were found to be more likely to attempt suicide without showing any external signs of ideation than their white peers.

Michael A. Lindsey is the dean and Paulette Goddard Professor of Social Work at the NYU Silver School of Social Work, and an Aspen Health Innovators Fellow. He is a noted scholar in the fields of child and adolescent mental health, as well as a leader in the search for knowledge and solutions to generational poverty and inequality.  Lindsey led the group responsible for the Congressional Black Caucus Emergency Task Force on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health, which created the report, “Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America.”  Policy resulting from this work is making its way through the legislative process. 

In this episode, our guest Carlos Velazquez, MSW, shares his personal and professional journey, which began with an attraction to the profession working at the macro level, and led to leadership positions, including his current role as executive director of the New York City Police Athletic League. He will also discuss how social workers need to think beyond traditional career paths and employment settings to get the work done.

It is an exciting time to be a social worker! Innovative technology has opened up new possibilities to better serve our clients. 

On inSocialWork®, you can discover how social workers are leveraging technology in creative ways to build upon client strengths and increase the impact of their agencies. Our episodes cover a wide range of technologies—from telehealth and apps to text messaging, social media and even video games.

Here at the UB School of Social Work, we integrate a trauma-informed and human rights perspective into all of our programs. inSocialWork® offers a variety of podcasts on trauma, trauma-informed care, human rights and social justice.

Social workers need a variety of skills and a strong knowledge base to successfully navigate the diverse landscape of our increasingly global world. The UB School of Social Work provides many opportunities to acquire the skills and knowledge needed for professional practice and global citizenship.

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

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

From mental health to substance abuse, from ethics to cultural competence, you can explore a variety of topics with inSocialWork®.

Are you a social work practitioner, researcher or educator doing innovative work? Do you have questions or an idea for a future podcast?

We would love to hear from you. Write to us at insocialwork@buffalo.edu.