Social Work

Penn Vet dual degrees: The student experience

The expansion of the dual degree program is timely, given the recent perfect storm of a pandemic; growing awareness of social, racial and economic inequity; and increased impact of climate change .

From Penn Vet

The world according to Walter Palmer

The educator, organizer, and alumnus discusses his six decades of activism, growing up in the Black Bottom, studying and teaching at Penn, his work at CHOP, the student strike of 1967, the Vietnam War, Frank Rizzo, Donald Trump, school choice, gun violence, the Chauvin trial, and why he thinks racism should be declared a national public health crisis.

Greg Johnson

Fighting poverty with cash

Amy Castro Baker has helped deliver promising data out of Stockton, California, about the effects of giving people no-strings-attached money every month. Now boosted by a new research center at Penn that she’ll colead, more cities are jumping on board.

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.

Brandon Baker



In the News


The New York Times

When Kentucky bans homeless camps, where do people go?

Dennis Culhane of the School of Social Policy & Practice says that criminalizing street camping will simply force homeless people to sleep somewhere else, saddling them with bench warrants and unpayable fines.

FULL STORY →



CBS MoneyWatch

AI helps organization send poorest households impacted by Helene and Milton $1,000

According to Stacia West of the School of Social Policy & Practice, research on guaranteed income programs shows that recipients spend the money on essential needs.

FULL STORY →



Associated Press

AI is being used to send some households impacted by Helene and Milton $1,000 cash relief payments

Stacia West of the School of Social Policy & Practice says that no one budgets better than a person in poverty.

FULL STORY →



Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles is at a crossroads on homelessness

Dennis Culhane of the School of Social Policy & Practice says that rental-assistance programs are a less expensive solution for homelessness than building new housing, with lessened administrative costs and burdens.

FULL STORY →



Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles’ $22-billion homelessness problem gives leaders a choice: Double down or change strategies

Dennis Culhane of the School of Social Policy & Practice says that Los Angeles should shift its focus from supportive housing construction to helping homeless and at-risk Angelenos pay their rent on the private market.

FULL STORY →



AARP.org

Why we should normalize therapy for grieving caregivers

Lauren Rhodewalt of Penn Medicine shares what spousal caregivers facing a loss need to know about navigating a path forward with therapy.

FULL STORY →