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UK College of Social Work

UK Social Work Researcher Helps Caregivers Navigate Alzheimer’s Challenges

This article was originally published by UKNow.

For one researcher, her passion is helping some of the most vulnerable Kentuckians. Allison Gibson, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the College of Social Work and an affiliate faculty member at the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. Her work focuses on helping people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, both the diagnosed individual and their caregivers, through supportive programming.

“The population I’m probably most passionate about is people who live alone with Alzheimer’s. I think it’s an area that we, as health care professionals and social service providers, don’t have a good handle on,” said Gibson. “You need to strike the balance of honoring their independence and supporting them living in their own home with ensuring they’re safe with their basic needs covered.”

Gibson has worked on a variety of programming options suited for different populations of patients needing different levels of care from developing educational resources and workbooks, to group-style intervention for people affected by a mild cognitive impairment (the early symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s), to telehealth interventions connecting people in rural Kentucky to occupational therapists.

Gibson’s latest project builds off an interdisciplinary collaboration between social work and music therapy to find ways to improve the well-being of older adults.

She and Alaine E. Reschke-Hernández, Ph.D., an assistant professor in music therapy at the School of Music in the UK College of Fine Arts, have been awarded the prestigious Arthur Flagler Fultz Research Award by the American Music Therapy Association to further this project.

During the pair’s pilot study, funded by the Igniting Research Collaborations program under the Office of the Vice President for Research, music therapy was offered to a group of older adults over eight weeks with the opportunity to connect with a social worker on the team at the end. Gibson and the team would identify areas where people were struggling, like in their health or social engagement, and then help them find continuing support within the community.

“We had one gentleman who was having a hard time seeing over the course of the telehealth intervention. After getting to talk to him, we realized he needed glasses but didn’t have the financial resources, and we were able to find a clinic in his community that could help with those services,” said Gibson.

“That’s an example of how improving the health and well-being of an older adult in short-term minimal ways can have huge implications for that individual,” she said. “With this new iteration of the intervention, we’re really hoping to really test the combination of music therapy and social work services.”

Outside of her clinical and teaching spaces, Gibson is a new mother navigating the challenges of balancing high-intensive research with responsibilities at home.

“Other female scholars and clinicians have been incredibly helpful and supportive in this new chapter,” said Gibson. “My advice to other women in research: You should definitely have other women scholars, other women scientists in your life whom you can lean on for research and everyday life support.”

Gibson credits part of her journey in working with some of the most vulnerable Kentuckians to supportive female mentors.

“During my doctorate education program, a lot of people said not to pursue the ‘people living alone with Alzheimer’s’ population, saying ‘It’s too difficult, there are too many challenges.’ I had a wonderful mentor who told me, ‘We’re going to figure it out. We’re social workers. That’s what we do. That’s part of the job is we navigate the mess.’”

In her time at UK, Gibson has been part of more than 20 funded research projects along with dozens of publications, all while guiding students through field practicums and supporting patients with thoughtful interventions.

“I will say it makes me proud to be a woman doing this type of work. Historically, Alzheimer’s and dementia work has been predominantly male. It’s also been very focused on pharmacological treatment, which, of course, is super important. We need ways to either slow this disease or prevent it,” said Gibson. “But it’s also important that we have options for people who are currently affected by these types of diseases. That’s where I really feel like I’m offering something new and something that’s important.”

UK College of Social Work

UK Social Work Faculty Co-Authors Study on Experiences of Black Faculty and Staff in Higher Education

Analysis co-authored by University of Kentucky College of Social Work Assistant Professor Laneshia Conner, Ph.D., shows clear takeaways for supporting Black faculty and staff in higher education and highlights the impact of their underrepresentation in leadership positions. This study was published in the Journal of Social Work Education and was featured in the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Compass Newsletter.

A growing focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education was a driving factor behind the researchers’ interest in identifying the experiences of Black faculty and staff. As the study notes, “just 7% of higher-education administrative positions, such as department heads and deans were held by Black individuals, according to a report from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (Seltzer 2017.)” Recent reports highlighted in the publication have also illuminated the specific challenges Black faculty encounter which can impact their mental and physical health, as well as professional advancement.

The study delved into the experiences of Black faculty and staff in social work departments supervised by a Black administrator (current and previous) and looked at the range of their experiences, including various research supports and risk factors. More than 50 participants were surveyed, with clear takeaways for the advantage in well-being experienced by these individuals who had the opportunity to work with Black administrators. Connection, shared experiences, and understanding challenges were common reports. Many participants indicated they felt encouraged, and that their administrators were culturally competent.

“Social work is a profession that values diversity and inclusion, and we believe it is important to understand the experience of Black faculty and staff in this field in that context,” Conner said. “As a result of this study, our team better understands the experiences of Black faculty, for example the support they have received from these administrators, and how that could inform building a better and more inclusive professional environment. Social connectedness is intrinsically important as people value inclusion. As such, it is important to examine social connectedness among this group, and how connection profiles affect their experiences professionally.”

Co-authors on the study include Yarneccia Dyson, Ph.D., department head and associate professor, North Carolina State University, V. Nikki Jones, DSW, and assistant professor, Spalding University, and Vanessa Drew, Ed.D. and assistant professor, Elon University.

UK College of Social Work

UK Social Work Launches Virtual Reality Child Welfare Investigation Simulation

This article was originally published in UKNow.

The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) has developed a new virtual reality (VR) simulation to better prepare students and practitioners to conduct child welfare investigations.

The simulation is the latest innovation from the CoSW eService Learning Initiative.

The cutting-edge, VR technology offers “hands on” training — providing learners the opportunity to interact with and adapt to fluid scenarios. Additionally, the simulations were built in partnership with practitioners who have decades of experience.

The goal is to help current and future social workers build competency and confidence.

Jay Miller, dean of the CoSW, has previous experience conducting child abuse investigations and understands the challenges practitioners face.

“To be clear, no one can ever be fully prepared to conduct a child abuse investigation,” Miller said. “But this simulation project allows one to garner experience with best practices, and it affords child welfare researchers and supervisors the insights to more effectively support children and families.” 

During the simulation, participants initiate virtual home visits, conduct interactive interviews, and assess risks and symptoms of child maltreatment. The VR experience also incorporates multiple knowledge checks and learning scenarios designed to match the participants expertise, as well as provide real-time feedback.

“In the field, every investigation is different,” Erin Mayhorn, clinical faculty instructor and Public Child Welfare Certification program coordinator, said. “This simulation will prepare students and practitioners with a diverse array of interactions.”

Novelty aside, Miller knows the benefits and potential of using cutting-edge technology in the classroom.

“At the end of the day, we are crystal clear about the purpose of this project, as well as the entire eService Initiative, more broadly,” Miller said. “We are preparing people to engage with, serve, protect and treat the most vulnerable Kentucky children and families. Ultimately, this simulation initiative is yet another tool to help us do that in the most skillful way possible.”  

Last year, the college also launched a VR support group for foster teens. The setting gives participants who are homebound, have social anxiety, live in rural areas, have busy schedules or prefer anonymity the opportunity to connect with mentors and peers.

You can learn more about the CoSW online.

UK College of Social Work

Social Work Innovation in the Era of ChatGPT and AI

Karen Magruder, UK College of Social Work DSW Student, on Researching Use Cases for AI Technology in the Field of Social Work

Even before recent revelations about ChatGPT’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) software, UK College of Social Work Doctor of Social Work (DSW) student Karen Magruder was investigating the opportunities—and challenges—posed by the technology.

Part of Magruder’s decision to earn her DSW mid-career was to gain a deeper understanding of how the field of social work is evolving, and how innovations like AI can be used to improve the profession.

“For my capstone, I’m focusing on artificial intelligence and the implications for social work practice. An example use case would be telehealth and chat bots in mental health applications,” Magruder said.

As an assistant professor of practice at the University of Texas, Arlington, Magruder has already stepped up to engage with other educators and students about the use of AI and best practices in the field.

Career Strategy: Skill Building and Field Practice

Magruder began her career in the nonprofit space, having studied business management as an undergraduate at the University of Arizona. Her first job after college was with the American Cancer Society, where she regularly encountered social workers and was inspired to pursue a career in the field.

“I was doing fundraising and volunteer management and event planning. I saw our patient navigators who were working directly with the patients and helping them with resources–it just seemed like such a cool role.” Magruder said.

She decided to pursue a Master of Social Work and graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington in 2015, putting her degree to work in a variety of roles, from hospice to refugee resettlement to working with individuals who are incarcerated to teaching.

“I am the epitome of showing how broad and eclectic social work can be,” Magruder said. “I’m a nerd and a lifelong learner, and so I’d always thought about a doctorate. In my faculty role now I love teaching, so the Doctor of Social work was perfect because it is practice oriented and I can gain skills in my clinical practice and in teaching as well.”

Magruder applied and was accepted to UK College of Social Work’s online DSW program and is expected to graduate in 2025. She said the flexibility of learning online has been helpful, and added she was surprised at how connected she has been to members of the DSW cohort and faculty who are states away.

“I worried about losing that networking and friendship piece of being ‘in person.’ I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how intentional UK College of Social Work has been at helping me connect with my peers and colleagues,” Magruder said. “It’s been nice making connections with people in Kentucky and all over the country.”

Magruder said she is already applying her learnings from the program in her practice and her own teaching—and her course of study has enabled her to participate fully in the current debate over the use of AI in social work and education.

AI: A New Frontier for Social Work and Education

When ChatGPT was released, Magruder instantly began investigating the software and realized her own research could be used to help understand and inform best practices, in social work and beyond.

“Right after it was released, I tried it to see how the software would perform in discussion, prompting it with answers from my classes that I teach. And for the most part, it was spot on in giving a cohesive summary of information,” Magruder said. “What a powerful learning tool, but also, yikes. As an educator, I just really thought this is huge and it is going to change everything.”

Magruder sprang into action, writing a resource guide for faculty and participating in a training session to explain the software and the opportunities and challenges presented by AI in education. She credits her DSW studies with helping her level up in expertise and says the online program has given her the flexibility to continue working while pursuing this ongoing research.

Magruder is an active participant in the debate around AI applications and how they will impact social work and the field of higher education. Recently, her article on the topic was published in Social Work Today, and she was accepted to present at the upcoming National DSW Conference on “The Age of Artificial Intelligence has Arrived: Implications for Social Work Education.”

“There are certainly concerns and questions about these types of tools that we need to really work through, but with the promise of having a better ability to care for people who typically might not be able to afford or access services, it’s important to investigate these opportunities,” Magruder said. “As I move towards my capstone for the DSW, it’s a fascinating opportunity to think about how we best use this in the field of social work.”

UK College of Social Work

UK College of Social Work Dean Jay Miller Elected to NACC Board of Directors

The National Association of Counsel for Children recently announced the appointment of University of Kentucky College of Social Work dean Justin “Jay” Miller, PhD, to the association’s board of directors, effective January 1, 2023.

“I am deeply honored,” said Dean Miller said of the appointment. “The work done by the National Association of Counsel for Children is extremely vital to child and family wellbeing. I look forward to working alongside the board of directors in helping further the association’s mission of advancing children’s and parent’s rights.”

Founded in 1977, the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rights and opportunities of children in the child welfare system by ensuring they have the right to effective assistance of counsel. NACC is the only national organization accredited by the American Bar Association to certify attorneys as Child Welfare Law Specialists.

“Dean Miller is an exciting addition to NACC’s Board of Directors – his cutting-edge research and leadership expertise will be an incredible asset to the organization and its mission to ensure justice for children and families in the child protection legal system”, said Kim Dvorchak, NACC Executive Director.

Miller has developed an innovative line of scholarship exploring the legal representation of youth in foster care. Recently, he co-authored a chapter in the newly released Child Welfare Law and Practice: Representing Children, Parents, and Agencies in Neglect, Abuse, and Dependency Cases, 4th Edition.

About the University of Kentucky College of Social Work

For over 80 years, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work has been a leader in social work education. Our mission is clear: Through rigorous research, excellence in instruction, and steadfast service, the College works to improve the human condition. Always, in all ways. To learn more about the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, visit socialwork.uky.edu/portal/sw/.

UK College of Social Work

UK College of Social Work Student Kiarah Raglin Pens Black History Month Op-Ed

This article was originally published by UKNow.

Kiarah Raglin, a student in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky, reflects on the meaning of Black History Month in the following op-ed.

Black History Month marks an occasion of solemn remembrance and promising prospects — a reminder of where we came from and the path we’ll forge.

February is also a dull reminder of the dishonor a single month gives. We owe more stories of the individual, the group and the world than a mere 28 days (sometimes 29) allows. This allotment of time does not set the stage for the impact of a narrative — let alone the full picture. Everybody has a story that deserves to be told and heard.

The chronicle that is Black history is worthy of an intentional stage.

The story of an individual is meticulous, personal and uniquely crafted. My own journey, a Black woman’s growth into success, is one that came with time and patience.

I was born into a white world — in my hometown of Lexington, Kentucky. I was curls among straight hair. My skin multiple shades darker than my classmates. I felt as if I was always standing in front of the structures of a past hardly acknowledged.

I constantly watched the waters of my ever-changing future flow around my feet — the cemented sands of a distant past behind. But they were much closer than I had believed them to be.

Eventually, I learned you cannot fully appreciate the beach without the full picture, which includes the complicated sands.

After 20 years of waiting for my stage to be set, my image is finally aligning into a single sentence:

I am a proud Black woman.

This used to not be my story. I had to repeat those six words until I felt them for myself. My reality consisted of being viewed as “too Black” to be white and “too white” to be Black — an obvious contradiction ruling my actions and my thoughts.

I used to think, “how could I be anything else when all I see is this world?”

The answer lies in the art of discovery — an embrace between the past and future. The farther backward you look, the farther forward you are likely to see.

I found myself searching for the answer to who I was at 18-years-old, after arriving at the University of Kentucky. Suddenly, there were more of me — a wider understanding of me.

The most striking change came from working at the Martin Luther King Center. The personal development that came with the affirmation of one’s birthright is understated — sharing a common identity beyond my Lexingtonian world birthed a confidence I could only dream of.

I also found myself through leadership with the College Democrats of UK and the College Democrats of Kentucky. Expanding my want for human connection and civil disagreement, I created an award-winning political debate series.

Reflecting on my love for people and politics, I was able to create something lasting. This action bled into my passion for social justice, so I decided to tie them together by representing the College of Social Work as a senator for the Student Government Association.

I’ve discovered what I enjoyed through experiences, such as working for the Congressional App Challenge in Washington, D.C., attending the Ignite Retreat through the Sullivan Foundation and meeting other changemakers from many different colleges and forging forever connections.

I was no longer hiding from these passions that were overshadowed before — now I am fully leaning into them. I have come so far, because I remembered the adventurous, creative history I had, and this propelled me forward, unashamed. Drawing from strengths I suppressed for the sake of conformity, I’m proudly watching all these paths converge into one.

Thank you for allowing me to read part of my script on this stage — sharing the truth that we so often run from. The past can be difficult, vague and foreign. Mine was awkward, unclear, yet full of potential.

The Black stories and figures from the past all had histories filled with pain and uncertainty, and they used their realities to drive their convictions forward.

I can only continue to believe in my abilities, build from my reflections and welcome the beauty of my seashores.