inSocialWork® is the UB School of Social Work’s monthly podcast series. Our purpose is to engage practitioners and researchers in lifelong learning and to promote research to practice and practice to research. 

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Our Latest Episode

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“There are social workers [...] that declare that spirituality is a vital part of human development. My question there is, I cannot think of, off the top of my head, any other component of human behavior and human development that we accept simply by declaration.”

Social work’s historical origins are intertwined with spiritual leanings, followed by a more secular approach as the field “professionalized.” More recently, it is easy to find plenty of support for infusing spirituality in social work education and practice.

In this episode, Edward H. Taylor, MSW, PhD, opens a conversation about the place of spirituality in social work practice and education. He addresses potential ethical issues and asks if spirituality, as defined by social work and popular culture, is a fundamental aspect of human development. Taylor suggests that the profession would benefit from adopting an evidence-based concept of spirituality and establishing accountability standards for its application.

Popular Topics

Technology in Social Work

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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.

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Trauma-Informed and Human Rights Perspective

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.

Global Social Work

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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

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.

Top Downloads

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

The topics with the most downloads are:

  1. Macro Social Work and Community Issues
  2. Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care
  3. Social Work Practice and Interventions
The Most Downloaded inSocialWork® Podcast

Episode 147 - Dr. Rukshan Fernando and Andy Germak: Social Entrepreneurship as a Social Work Practice

When asked about the word "entrepreneurship," most people are likely to think about business-oriented activities, perhaps, more specifically, using business innovation as a route to develop or enhance a business enterprise. However, most people probably have not considered using social consciousness as a foundation for engaging in entrepreneurial activities. In this podcast, Professors Rukshan Fernando and Andy Germak explore using entrepreneurship as a method to address social change.

Our Top Pick in Macro Social Work and Community Issues

Episode 48 - Robert Whitaker: Rethinking Psychiatric Care: If We Follow the Scientific Evidence, What Must We Do to Better Promote Long-term Recovery?

In this episode, author and journalist Robert Whitaker discusses what he has discovered through studying the evidence used to guide the treatment of psychiatric illness. With a critical eye, he describes the paradoxes in the conventional wisdom and practice in this field and how faithfully "following the evidence" would transform care for the drug-based treatment of mental illness.

Our Top Pick in Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care

Episode 10 - Dr. Sandra Bloom: The Sanctuary Model: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Treatment and Services

Sandra L. Bloom, MD, co-creator of the Sanctuary Model, discusses a trauma-informed approach to treatment and systems change. Dr. Bloom describes the paradigm shift needed to understand the psychobiology of trauma and its impact on recovery from mental illness.

Our Top Pick in Social Work Practice and Interventions

Episode 5 - Models of Supervision: Parallel Processes and Honest Relationships

Peter Sobota, clinical assistant professor at the UB School of Social Work, speaks with Dr. Lawrence Shulman, professor and dean emeritus of the UB School Of Social Work, about the nature of supervision in direct practice and administration.

Contact Us

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.