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Facing and enduring a natural disaster such as a hurricane, flood, or tornado can be a frightening and challenging experience. It’s also a fact of life for most people who live in the Southeast United States.
Dr. Richard Ager is a good listener. “I’ve always known that I wanted to do some kind of work in the area of counseling people,” he explains. At a young age, he had a distinct knack for talking with people, listening to their needs, and serving as a sounding board for others.
In the 21st century, crime TV shows such as Law and Order: SVU, Criminal Minds and CSI: Miami have captured the public's fascination with the legal and criminal justice system. An episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit that was aired in 2015 brought to light the impossibly high caseloads required of Child Protection Services (CPS) workers. The caseworker supervisor—played by comedian, TV talk show host and Oscar Award-winning actor Whoopi Goldberg—voiced the challenges of working in a field that is often times used as a scapegoat for society’s major problems such as poverty, drug addiction and crime, often leading to child abuse and neglect.
Police officers and social workers have a long-standing history of working together to ensure the safety of communities and their residents. The discipline of social service has become a necessary aspect of community policing, as police officers do much more than enforce laws and fight crime.
Many are familiar with the famous Mahatma Ghandi quote, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” But far fewer individuals turn those words into action. Among those that do, social workers are a force to be reckoned with. Historically, they have fought for the rights of employees, the mentally ill, and those living in poverty.
Catherine McKinley, an assistant professor at the Tulane School of Social Work, has followed her heart and her academic interests. Today, she is developing a body of knowledge about the resilience of the United States’ Indigenous peoples.
Reggie Ferreira's interest is in the types of disasters that create destructive storms, humanitarian crises, and large-scale systemic abuses. Learn more.
Who says virtual reality has to be all fun and games? Dr. Patrick Bordnick, dean of Tulane University’s School of Social Work, is proving that VR also has the potential to transform lives. His innovative VR applications help therapists bring real-world environments into the clinical setting. Now, patients working through addiction issues can practice coping skills and relapse prevention techniques in a virtual environment that looks like a neighborhood bar, for example, rather than a therapist’s office.
The Tulane University Social of Social Work recently received great news! Our accrediting body for the MSW program, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), has accepted and approved our online program option. The accreditation of Tulane’s MSW Online program is the result of hard work and dedication, and is a huge milestone worthy of celebration.
Though the appeal of a career in social work is usually the opportunity to help others and leave a lasting impact on local communities, social work positions can also reward professionals with lucrative salaries.