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School of Social Policy & Practice
The state of U.S. democracy
The state of U.S. democracy
On the eve of a presidential inauguration following a historic election and its aftermath, experts from across the University weigh in on where we stand as a country.
Two Penn faculty named Hastings Center Fellows
Two Penn faculty named Hastings Center Fellows
Scott D. Halpern and Jennifer Prah Ruger are acknowledged for their outstanding accomplishments in ethics and health.
Engaging Minds showcases Penn’s very best bringing theory to practice
Engaging Minds showcases Penn’s very best bringing theory to practice
Alumni tuned in from across the world to hear Daniel Gillion discuss the power of protests, Amy Castro Baker give a crash course on the impact of guaranteed income, and Ezekiel Emanuel detail the intricacies of distributing a COVID-19 vaccine.
New seminar series addresses Racism and Anti-Racism in Contemporary America
New seminar series addresses Racism and Anti-Racism in Contemporary America
A new series organized by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Paideia Program at Penn includes 13 conversations focusing on inequalities across on economic, political, social, and cultural systems. (Pre-pandemic image)
Understanding poverty and data
Understanding poverty and data
Regina Smalls Baker of the School of Arts & Sciences and Amy Castro Baker of the School of Social Policy & Practice explore how data can be better used to analyze and address poverty.
Housing initiative fuels cooperation between cities during pandemic
Housing initiative fuels cooperation between cities during pandemic
Vincent Reina and Amy Castro Baker are working with the U.S. cities, including Philadelphia, through the Housing Initiative at Penn to design a housing assistance plan both during the pandemic and after.
Penn Dental and SP2 partner to address racism, reconciliation, and engagement
Penn Dental and SP2 partner to address racism, reconciliation, and engagement
A new, online course for incoming SP2 students entitled “The Penn Experience: Racism, Reconciliation and Engagement” was created in collaboration with Penn’s School of Dental Medicine and launched in July.
Marching against racism and police violence
Marching against racism and police violence
Students, faculty, and staff from the School of Social Policy & Practice took part in the recent Commitment March in the nation’s capital.
Penn Vet expands timely dual degree during COVID-19 pandemic
Penn Vet expands timely dual degree during COVID-19 pandemic
The interdisciplinary “One Health in Practice” curriculum positions veterinarians for new career pathways in human, environmental health.
Side gigs for good endure amid a pandemic
Side gigs for good endure amid a pandemic
The Penn community’s altruism shines as the pandemic’s effects stretch on.
In the News
Seattle Times
How much will homelessness rise? Grim study shows possible ‘impact of doing nothing,’ researchers say
Dennis Culhane of the School of Social Policy & Practice commented on a study that found that homelessness in the U.S. could increase dramatically if a recession follows the pandemic. “This report certainly is a warning alarm for the potential impact of doing nothing,” he said.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Tracing Montco’s decades-long shift from GOP stronghold to boon for Biden
Obed Arango of the School of Social Policy & Practice spoke about the diversification of Norristown, Pennsylvania. “I am one of the few Latinos, or perhaps the only Latino, who participates in a county commission,” he said, “When you have lack of representation, the agenda that is set will benefit the groups that are represented there. Many times, I’ve had to bring that perspective.”
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U.S. News & World Report
Residents in these states donate the most to charity
Femida Handy of the School of Social Policy & Practice said the pandemic has made charitable giving more challenging. "Individuals wishing to volunteer must find new ways to do so while paying attention to their own health needs alongside that of the communities they serve," she said.
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CNBC
$300 unemployment benefits end in at least 9 states as stimulus hopes fade
Ioana Marinescu of the School of Social Policy & Practice spoke about the absence of a second stimulus detail and its impact on unemployed Americans. “This is going to be hardest on more disadvantaged, lower-income individuals and communities of color because they’ve been disproportionately impacted by job loss,” she said. “Also, a dollar means more to a poor person than a rich person. Losing those precious dollars is really a meaningful loss for those people.”
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Domestic violence an increasing concern in Philadelphia area because of COVID-19, study suggests
A report co-authored by Susan Sorenson of the School of Social Policy & Practice linked Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home orders, school closures, and declaration of emergency with a decrease in calls to domestic violence hotlines. “Was it because women don’t think it’s safe for them to call? Maybe they didn’t have a safe space from which to call from,” she said. “We didn’t take the not calling as an indicator of a lack of violence in the home.”
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