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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.

UK College of Social Work

How UK College of Social Work Graduate Elizabeth Trebelhorn Relaunched Her Career Helping Families Impacted by Incarceration

To say Elizabeth Trebelhorn is a force of nature is an understatement. Her passion for the social work field and desire to advocate for change radiates as she describes her professional path.  

“During my childhood, my brother was in the juvenile justice system. Then he went into the adult system. That’s where my interest in this field of study came from. I was trying to understand how it could be so different, two people from the same household,” Trebelhorn said.

Learning by Doing

After earning a bachelor’s degree in Juvenile Justice and Adult Corrections from Eastern Kentucky University, Trebelhorn joined the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board for the State of Kentucky. There, she got her first glimpse of how the juvenile justice system works. “I thought ‘this is where I want to be in 40 years,’” Trebelhorn said, “My life goal is making this big level change.”

But first she needed to get to the “front lines.” Trebelhorn began working at a group home for children with histories of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and/or family trauma. She later worked at a juvenile detention facility, which she says inspired her to focus even more attention on racial disparities in incarceration.

After getting married and becoming a mother, Trebelhorn stepped back from her career pursuits and focused on running a household. As the children grew, Trebelhorn applied to the master’s in social work program at the University of Kentucky to continue her education.

In 2016, tragedy caused her to step back after her husband died by suicide. “I had two kids, so I had to leave the program,” Trebelhorn said. “I realized I could not give 100% to the work that I felt so passionately about. And when you’re passionate and you have to say I’m not the best person to push this forward right now, that was hard to do.”

It would be several years before she returned to her calling—at an inflection point in the U.S. over race and justice. “I went to the March on Frankfort Black Lives Matter protest and that put me back on fire,” she explained. “I said OK, it’s time to get back to work.”

A Fire Reignited

Trebelhorn contemplated returning to her master’s studies, but thought she waited too long to go back to the classroom. A friend suggested trying the UK College of Social Work online Master of Social Work program. “I thought that dream was kind of dead, but the online program gave me the opportunity to come back in and finish my degree.”

As a student, Trebelhorn completed her field practicum at The Wanda J. Robinson Foundation. There, she helped to identify funding opportunities that would enable the foundation to further their mission—a contribution that would earn her a permanent position as the Director of Development.

“We’re really grateful for Elizabeth’s commitment, the passion that she brings with her, and her love for creating best practices that ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion policies that are family-centered,” Amy Snow, Director of the Wanda Joyce Robinson Foundation, said of Trebelhorn’s efforts.

For Trebelhorn, working with The Wanda J. Robinson Foundation is another step towards her goal of making a positive impact on individuals affected by the justice system. Co-founded in 2018 by Dale Robinson, a former prisoner turned successful business owner, The Wanda J. Robinson Foundation partners with schools, community agencies, and other non-profits to provide resources, services, and mentorship to prisoners and their families as part of a holistic approach to breaking the generational cycle of incarceration. It’s a big problem: 7.3 million youth in the U.S. have one or both parents incarcerated. Without effective intervention, 70% of these children are at risk of following their parent’s path into jail or prison.

In her new role, Trebelhorn, who graduated with her Master of Social Work degree in December 2022, will oversee a program that provides resources to strengthen and expand the commitment to end generational incarceration in Kentucky by working within the county jail to facilitate contact visitation, provide weekly video visitation and transportation assistance to facilities across the state.

“I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for years,” Trebelhorn said, “But now that I finished my masters, I can hit the ground running.”

UK College of Social Work

From FBI Agent to Social Worker: Why Joel Chose Social Work for His Next Career Act

This article was originally published by UKNow.

Joel didn’t begin his career in education with any intention of pursuing a job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) — let alone studying for his master’s degree online at the University of Kentucky. 

“I taught for 13 years as a high school science teacher. My wife and I were having our second baby and determined we didn’t make enough money to have another child,” said Joel (to protect his identity, we are only referencing Joel using his first name). “So, I decided to get a job at a lab, because I had a biology degree.”

But a surprise was in store.

After announcing to his class he wouldn’t be returning the following year, a student’s parents — who were employed by the FBI — suggested he consider a career with the agency.

“I went ahead and applied,” Joel said. “A year later, I headed off to the academy.”

Fast forward 19 years, he is making another career change — this time to serve the growing need for mental health services and resources for law enforcement and first responders.

Joel credits his own career and life experience as the inspiration behind his decision to specialize in social work.

“In this type of career, you see a lot of things that people shouldn’t have to see, and it accumulates over time. I was having difficulty processing that, and I didn’t know how to deal with it,” he said. “Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in the FBI was a beneficial resource for me. I became an advocate for EAP and was interested in helping others. As I got closer to the end of my career, I thought I wanted to continue this type of this work.”

Enter the UK Master of Social Work (MSW) program.

Joel currently serves as FBI EAP peer and the EAP coordinator for the San Antonio Division where he is based. With a demanding schedule, having the opportunity to pursue an online degree has been essential.

 “There was no way I could promise I could be in class in-person, because my job takes me away for weeks at a time,” he said.

The MSW is completely asynchronous, which means the interactive curriculum can be completed when it’s convenient for the student. However, instructors offer opportunities for “live” support through optional synchronous classes, as well as through online office hours.

“Joel is a great example of the versatility of the Master of Social Work degree,” said Kalea Benner, associate professor and associate dean for academic and student affairs in the College of Social Work (CoSW). “His desire to better support the individuals and families impacted by trauma and loss is commendable and certainly reflects his dedication to the people he serves.”

In addition to the coursework, Joel completed a hands-on field education experience at an alternative law enforcement center.

“I learned there are many different roles a social worker can play — even within just one organization,” he said.

The opportunity to help law enforcement deal with mental health calls, collect research for a new program and assist with therapy sessions gave Joel a new perspective.

While he admits returning to the classroom was not without challenges, Joel encourages non-traditional learners to pursue their passions.

“The biggest advice I can give a prospective student is just to be patient — it’s all going to be new at first,” he said. “Remember to focus on the end product, not on how hard it is this week, but what it’s leading to.”

As he works to complete his degree, Joel’s end goal serves as an important reminder — mental health matters.