Innovation Matters
A Message from the Dean
As the old adage says, “the only constant is change.” Today’s world is changing faster than we can keep up, and with it, the realization that there are societal issues we have yet to adequately address, as well as new issues we haven’t engaged with before. Social work, more than any other helping profession, leads the initiatives to address these challenges; but in order to do so, we must equip ourselves to carry out established practices differently and incorporate new and novel practices. In a word, social work must “innovate.” In this issue, learn about the many ways the College of Social Work and the University of Utah are using innovation to address the challenges and opportunities before us.
— Philip Osteen, PhD
Interim Dean
We acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes. The University of Utah recognizes and respects the enduring relationship that exists between many Indigenous peoples and their traditional homelands. We respect the sovereign relationship between tribes, states, and the federal government, and we affirm the University of Utah’s commitment to a partnership with Native Nations and Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.
Innovation Now
How Elevating Justice-Involved Women's Voices Makes a Difference
“If we’re going to talk about smart decarceration, we need to talk about decarcerating women.”
A Grandmother Epistemology
“My grandma was the first social worker I ever experienced. She would take me on visits to family, friends, and neighbors' homes, listen to their problems, and do what she could to help them. She was my original social worker.”
Picturing Changing Perceptions of Place
“We could not only hear participants voice their experiences in interviews, but through the photos that they chose to take, we could also see what aging in the right place literally looks like for them.”
Innovate with Us
The University of Utah College of Social Work is currently seeking dynamic tenure-track and career-track faculty candidates to contribute to the strategic growth of the College. A leader in social work education in the Intermountain West, we offer an inclusive and challenging learning environment where BSW, MSW, and PhD students are encouraged to collaborate with faculty, peers, and community partners in analyzing and resolving critical social challenges. Find out more here!