GCSW News
Social Work Leadership Roundtable Joint Statement
on Peace for Israel and Palestine
Members of the Social Work Leadership Roundtable, including the GCSW, have issued a joint statement calling for peace and safety, and against terrorism and the intentional and atrocious violation of human rights and harm.
The statement reiterates their commitment to safety, security, and dignity for all within a context of peaceful coexistence and extends profound sympathies to students and educators in our member programs who have been affected directly or indirectly by this violence.
The group supports the courageous and compassionate social workers in Israel and Palestine who have made a difference in the lives of the individuals, families, and communities suffering from this conflict. Finally, they affirm their belief in people’s right to a dignified life free from fear and hope for peace among Israelis and Palestinians and all peoples.
Read the full statement.
New GCSW Leadership Board Members
We are excited to announce five new members of the GCSW Leadership Board:
- Quincy Bloxom, DSW, MSW, CFSW, Founder and Director, EraseTheRedline Inc.; President and Owner, Erase The Divide LLC
- Jandel Crutchfield, PhD, MSW, Associate Professor, School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington
- Schnavia Smith Hatcher, PhD, MSW, Dean, University of Alabama School of Social Work
- Desmond Patton, PhD, MSW, Brian and Randi Schwartz University Professor, University of Pennsylvania
- Amy Ward, DSW, LCSW, Assistant Professor and Program Director, Social Work at East Central University
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 Get Involved:
Sign Open Letter in Favor of Child Tax Credit Policy
Members of the Grand Challenge to Reduce Extreme Economic Inequality invite you to lend your voice and expertise to a pressing issue that has far-reaching implications for family well-being and social justice: the expiration of the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC).
The network has organized an open sign-on letter urging for the immediate reinstatement of the expanded CTC, a policy that has proven instrumental in reducing child poverty rates. After its expiration, the rate of child poverty more than doubled. Reinstating the expanded CTC would be a cost-effective and ethically imperative step towards social justice.
Learn more and sign the open letter here!
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  New Podcast Dives Deep into Asset Research, Policy, and Strategy
William Elliott III, PhD, MSW, GCSW Leadership Board member and Policy/Programs Committee member, has launched the podcast, Tangible Hope: Leveraging Assets to Bring Dreams within Reach with co-host, Melinda Lewis, MSW. Episodes will examine the evidence of assets’ transformative effects on children’s outcomes, debate policy options for delivering tangible hopes for families’ futures, and address evolving issues about opportunity, equity, and the American Dream. Learn more about the series and listen to the first episode here.
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Social Work Organizations Taking Action
Check out the links below for policy positions, news, and opportunities to act on a variety of issues relevant to the social work community:
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 Innovative Project Empowers
Child-Welfare Involved Youth
Photovoice for Change is a project led by NYU Silver School of Social Work (GCSW Premier Sponsor) Professor Michelle Munson, PhD, LMSW, network co-lead for the Grand Challenge Ensure Healthy Development for All Youth, in partnership with current and former foster youth to empower them through photography and the written word. Photovoice is a community-based method in which participants express themselves through photographs and text capturing aspects of their lives and environments, a process that has been found to empower youth while reducing their mental distress and improving their overall well-being. Learn more.
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NPR Podcast Focuses on the Demand for Social Workers
The Indicator from Planet Money, an NPR podcast, released an episode investigating the increasing demand for social workers, where this need is coming from, and whether it can actually be met. Listen here.
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 Network Co-Lead
Speaks at U.N. Event
Ernest Gonzales, PhD, MSSW, spoke about productive aging and intergenerational cohesion at the United Nations in New York City to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons. The theme was "Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations." In his remarks, Gonzales emphasized the importance of bringing generations together to solve critical issues facing society. Watch here.
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Exciting Emerging Research Projects
The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work (GCSW Sustaining Sponsor) has a number of researchers working on upcoming projects related to the Grand Challenges:
- Can Law Enforcement Training Address Racial and Ethnic Disproportionality? An Experimental Evaluation of Effective Youth Interactions led by Leah Jacob, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor
- Caring Connections for Youth: Evaluation of a Countywide Pre-Arrest Diversion Initiative to Reduce Racial/Ethnic Disparities conducted by Professors Sara Goodkind, PhD, MSW, and Jeff Shook, PhD, MSW, JD
- Connected through Coaching for Flourishing Families led by Assistant Professor, Deborah Moon, PhD, MSW, MS
- Evaluation of Assisted Outpatient Treatment in New York State, a collaboration between Assistant Professor Nev Jones, PhD, MA, and Bevin Croft, PhD, MPP, of the Human Services Research Institute
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 Study Examines Factors
Affecting Mental Health Service Uptake
Beth Tripi, MSW, PhD candidate, and Annette Semanchin Jones, PhD, of the University at Buffalo School of Social Work (GCSW Sustaining Sponsor) published a new study in the Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. “Facilitators and Barriers: Engagement, Retention and Treatment of Young Children in Outpatient Mental Health Services” enhances understanding of the factors affecting the engagement and retention of children and families in outpatient mental health care from the perspective of young children, parents/caregivers and clinicians.
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  Network Co-lead Delivers NIH Lecture
on Gender and Climate Adaptation
Praveen Kumar, PhD, network co-lead for the Grand Challenge to Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment, is an inaugural NIH Climate and Health Scholar. He recently facilitated an NIH-wide lecture, “Environmental Justice and Well-Being: Centering Women’s Empowerment to Improve Energy Access Among Poor Communities of Rural India.” The lecture was featured in an op-ed in NIH’s biweekly newsletter, Record. Watch the recorded lecture here.
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ICYMI: Child Development Account
Research and Policy Event
The recording is now available from the October 3rd event on Child Development Accounts, the long-running SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment, and a vision for global Child Development Account policy. The event was co-organized by the Social Service Research Centre in the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore, and the Next Age Institute and the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis (GCSW Premier Sponsor).
Watch the video here.
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 ICYMI: Parts 1 & 2 of the GC to Harness Technology for Social Good Webinar Series
The network leadership of the Grand Challenge to Harness Technology for Social Good has hosted two lectures as part of an ongoing webinar series.
Part One, “Social Work Education with Generative AI: School Policies and Syllabus Statements” was held on September 22nd and moderated by Johanna Creswell Báez, PhD, LCSW and M. Sebrena Jackson, PhD, LICSW. Watch it here.
Part Two, “ChatGPT in the Classroom: the New Teacher's Aid?” was held on October 10h and moderated by Jonathan Singer, PhD, LCSW. Watch it here.
The series will continue in February and March of 2024—click here for more information!
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Call for Participants:
FCAB Education Survey
The network leadership for the Grand Challenge to Build Financial Capability and Assets for All is conducting research to understand the current landscape of financial content in the social work curriculum and utilize the results to inform its efforts to expand such content.
Researchers are seeking social work faculty willing to share their experience teaching financial content in social work classes. Click here to participate in this 10-minute survey.
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Environmental Justice: Through the Social Work Lens
November 1–2
Online Event: Get more information and register here.
Attend the 2023 NASW Virtual Forum and discover how social work can play a transformative role in addressing pressing environmental challenges. Experts will share insights about the intersection of social work and environmental justice, empowering participants with a deeper understanding of the impact we all can make. Keynotes, plenaries, and breakout sessions will address topics such as mental health/climate anxiety, ecosocial work, environmental health disparities, activism, racism, ethics, and more. CE will be available.
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NASW Advocacy Trainings
Online Events: Get more information and register here.
The NASW-Missouri Chapter will be hosting a series of trainings over the next two months. This training is not restricted to NASW members.
Advocacy Basics and NASW 2024 Priorities
November 6 | 11 am–12 pm ET
December 14 | 2:30–3:30 pm ET
This training will provide a brief overview of the legislative process and discuss the value of meeting with your legislators in the community and tips for scheduling/preparing for meetings. It will also provide a 2024 session preview and highlights of NASW's priorities.
Committee Hearing Basics
November 7 | 2:30–3:30 pm ET
December 13 | 11 am–12 pm ET
This session will cover: the role of committee hearings, committee process, and how to find information on hearings; what to expect for in-person testimony and best practices; and process for submitting written testimony.
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NLIHC: Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign Event
November 9
2:30 pm ET
Online Event: Get more information and register here.
Opportunity Starts at Home, a campaign from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, presents “Multi-Sector Advocacy: A Look Ahead,” a virtual event that will unveil the campaign’s plans for 2024 and explore how advocates can become part of the movement for housing justice. The event will also feature a series of live interviews with leaders in the faith, climate justice, local government, and food security sectors.
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 Veterans and Police Response Model Webinar
November 9
8–9:30 am
Online Event: Get more information and register here.
Attend this webinar hosted by Wayne State University (GCSW Sustaining Sponsor) to learn about different models across the country that law enforcement agencies are using to respond to veterans in mental health crisis. Models include Veterans Response Teams, Military Liaison Group, and Veteran Justice Outreach.
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The International Conference on Social Work and Social Research: Financial Capability and Asset Building for All
November 24–25
Baku, Azerbaijan and Virtual
Get more information and register here.
Join researchers and practitioners for a global convening on current issues in social work, research, and social policy. Gain insights for elevating the well-being of vulnerable populations through exchanges across borders and cultures. The event is organized by Azerbaijan University, the Center for Social Development at Washington University (GCSW Premier Sponsor), Sakarya University (Türkiye), and the Social Research Center (Azerbaijan).
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2023 AFCPE Symposium
November 29–December 1
New Orleans, LA
Get more information and register here.
The Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE) Symposium brings together professionals working across the personal finance field to explore the intersection of financial education, research, and practice. Keynote speakers include Matthew Desmond, PhD, Preston Cherry, PhD, and John McNamara, MBA.
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 The Social Worker’s Guide to Effective Policy Advocacy:
Writing & Placing Op-Eds
December 5
12 pm CT
Online Event: Get more information and register here.
The Grand Challenges for Social Work is pleased to present a webinar about writing op-eds as a strategy to influence policy and policymakers. Panelists will discuss why op-eds are an effective medium for advocacy and provide practical advice about how to write an op-ed and get it published.
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“Financial Capability and Asset Building:
Innovations in Social Protection and Development”
A chapter in the newly published Handbook on Social Protection and Social Development in the Global South discusses the evidence and potential of financial capability and asset building innovations in social development within the global South and in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Authors include Jin Huang, PhD, MSW, and Margaret Sherraden, PhD, co-leads of the GC network to Build Financial Capability and Assets For All. Read the chapter.
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Social Work and Interpersonal Violence
Resource Text
Interpersonal Violence: The Social Work Response proposes that it is essential for social workers to understand the evolving and persistent landscape of interpersonal violence (IPV) and encourages a three-pronged approach, one that is trauma informed, culturally responsive, and survivor centered. Covering a wide range of environments in which social workers work with IPV, contributors explore specific areas of IPV and offer a variety of innovative methods for working with victims.
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FCAB and Youth Educational Outcomes:
Systematic Review
Researchers for Financial Capability & Asset Building in Africa, a project of the Center for Social Development in the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis (GCSW Premier Sponsor) and the schools of social work at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (GCSW Sustaining Sponsor) and University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign (GCSW Sustaining Sponsor), published a systematic review examining 15 studies reporting on economic empowerment interventions for youth. The findings identify the methodological shortcomings of the studies and the strengths of examined interventions. Read here.
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Thank You to All of Our Sponsors
Funding supports the initiative’s infrastructure, the 13 Grand Challenge networks, and increasing cross-network collaboration and communications efforts, including webinars, social media, our monthly newsletter, and the website.
To pledge your support, contact Kira Silk.
Premier Sponsors
Arizona State University | New York University | University of Maryland
University of Washington | Washington University in St. Louis
Sustaining Sponsors
Boston College | Boston University I Case Western Reserve University
Colorado State University | Columbia University I Fordham University
Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work
Howard University | Indiana University | Loyola University of Chicago
The Ohio State University | University of Alabama
University at Buffalo | University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Los Angeles | University of Chicago
University of Denver | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Kansas | University of Michigan
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania | University of Pittsburgh
University of Tennessee | University of Utah
University of Wisconsin-Madison | Virginia Commonwealth University
Wayne State University
Contributing Sponsors
University at Albany | University of Louisville
Grand Challenges Legacy Society
Richard Barth & Nancy Dickinson | James & Maureen Lubben
Michael & Margaret Sherraden
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