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What is The United States Criminal Justice System? The Justice system is a network of federal, state and local agencies who enforce, investigate, and administer punishments for breaking/violating set laws. The US Justice system in not one system but a … Continued

“Decolonization”. It’s a popular buzzword for people on either side of the political spectrum. But what does it really mean, and how does it relate to the field of social work? Paul Michael Garrett has some thoughts. Who is Paul … Continued

The judicial system can be confusing for anyone who has not spent their education and career studying the ins and outs of this government system. It is something I seem to learn more about every time it is brought up. … Continued

Jill Stein is a doctor who became a politician, she is known for being a part of the Green Party. The Green Party is a smaller political group that focuses on the environment and health issues. Jill Stein ran for … Continued

When I used ChatGPT 3.5, it gave me a lot of good information on Jill Stein’s advocacy for gender equal rights and I learned that from advocating for equal pay to fighting against gender-based violence, Stein’s dedication to advancing the … Continued

Let’s take a stroll through the fascinating journey of Dr. Alex Belser, a psychologist who’s been riding the wave of change in the world of mental health treatment.  Let’s imagine this: It’s the 90’s, and the talk about psychedelics is … Continued

 In 1985, the bombing in West Philly that claimed the lives of 11 individuals and displaced 61 families served as a harrowing wake-up call for Philadelphia. The incident spotlighted deep-rooted tensions between the city’s police force and the radical group … Continued

Abyd Quinn Aziz on Social Work in Wales In this captivating episode of “The Critical Social Worker,” Christian Ace Stettler engages in a deeply insightful conversation with Abyd Quinn Aziz, a prominent figure in social work at Cardiff University, delving … Continued

Overview of Belser’s emphasis on the holistic nature of psychedelic medicines In the realm of mental health treatment, psychedelic medicines offer a holistic approach that goes beyond just managing symptoms. Compaired to conventional psychiatric treatments, which normally just focus on … Continued

Introduction This weeks lesson was centered around substance use and mental illness. It covered a brief history of mental illness, followed by a brief history of substance use. The remainder of the chapter was aimed at educating students on the … Continued

A Reflection on Vikki Reynolds and the Critical Social Worker Podcast

The year 1987 was only 37 years ago, and many topics related to race and injustice are still very prevalent in daily conversations because they affect our lives, both those of color and not. The war between the police and … Continued

The war on drugs was declared by President Nixon in the 1970’s. With attempts made to defer individuals from using substances failing and a growing population of those who use or are dependent on substances, social workers and other professionals … Continued

I was watching this YouTube video called “I’m Black & I Paid For Robin DiAngelo’s Training Course So I can “Be Less White” and I heard that he did something to hurt a black man when he didn’t even mean … Continued

Who Is RFK Jr By David Shelton Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an independent candidate with a strong activism history. As a Kennedy family member, he follows the legacy of his father and uncle and is committed to public service … Continued

Many of us have heard the term “ADA” referenced, but what does that even mean? What protections does it afford any of us who are (or become) disabled? Let’s dive into this subject! “ADA” is the commonly used acronym for … Continued

THE CRITICAL SOCIAL WORKER: Josie Heyano, LMSW This episode of the Critical Social Worker was hosted by our Professor Christian Stettler and guest Josie Heyano, a licensed master social worker. Josie Heyano is an Alaskan Native that is committed her … Continued

Aging Population According to the textbook chapter 8, the Baby Boomers are the biggest contributing factor to the fast-paced growth of the aging population. The Baby Boomers are the generation of individuals born in the years following WWII. These babies have … Continued

Social work has been a staple in the space of therapeutic practices for quite some time now. The rights of citizens among different groups have also been able to get more rights as a whole. these rights ensure protections for … Continued

I was delighted to join the podcast “The Power of Curious Inquiry,” hosted by Christian Ace Stettler alongside guest Dr. Benjamin Lukey. Dr. Lukey, a professor of philosophy at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, is at the forefront of … Continued

The United States Census Bureau defines a family as “a group of people (two or more) that are related in various ways including birth, marriage, or adoption, and share residence with one another.” Families are the beginning of who we … Continued

 I had the opportunity to listen to a captivating podcast, The Power of Curious Inquiry, with host Christian Stettler and guest Dr. Ben Lukey, a professor of philosophy at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He also works with Hawaiian … Continued

Redefining Child Welfare Child Welfare’s technical definition is “a field of services that aims to protect children and ensure family have the tools to care for their children successfully.” However, if we take a look at the direction Child Welfare … Continued

is there a unified way to move past our past? I have not read any of Kendi’s books, nor have I read White Fragility, by DiAngelo, and I honestly probably won’t (despite owning a copy of White Fragility that is … Continued

Myths and Misconceptions The upEND podcast hosted by Josie Pickens and Jaison Oliver brings a new conversation to the topic of child welfare. Committed to challenging the child protective systems, they discuss how abolishment done right can bring autonomy, safety, … Continued

Reading the chapter this week in 6 about homelessness, is what some people experience from every walk of life in America, regardless of sex, age, gender, etc.. The Department of Health and Social Services uses this definition as; “A homeless … Continued

FAI hosts an Elder and Youth Conference each year as well as the Howard Rock & Ted Stevens Smokehouse Gala. Alaska Native peoples have access to an inherent knowledge and wisdom that comes from the relationship developed with the land. … Continued

The guest in this week’s podcast was Dr. Amana Mbise who is a professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage . Dr. Mbise teaches in the Social Work program, and he focuses a lot of his efforts on studying social … Continued

First Alaskans Institute (FAI) is a non-profit advocacy organization aimed at enhancing and expanding the lives and cultural identity of Native Alaskan people. FAI values community and cultural tradition, which is echoed in their core values: Integrity, respect, Native knowledge, … Continued

Hello everyone! With political elections flooding daily news channels and your social media feeds, I am sure there is so much for you to consider and I hope I can help lessen the burden even the tiniest amount with providing … Continued

Meet the Cast of this Weeks Podcast Meet Amana Mbise, PhD: Our guest for this weeks podcast. He’s currently an assistant professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage in the school of social work department. Mbise attained his PhD at … Continued

  Marianne Williamson rose to fame as one of the premiere teachers of A Course In Miracles.  This is a new age spiritual text that the authors claim to be channelled directly from Jesus Christ.  When I was studying the … Continued

For the podcast this week, the discussion will be about the man Amana Mbise who was the guest for this episode. Amana has a Ph.D. in social work having graduated in 2017 from the University of Illinois and got his … Continued

Often times in life we get so caught up in the moment that we forget to breathe. The breath is so important to us, without it there is no life. Zenia Mihevc BSW, MSW, RSW Founder and Clinical Director of … Continued

Stigmas and stereotypes are pervasive in our society and have a profound impact on individuals and communities. Barriers, perpetual discrimination, and hindering social progress are all found in stigmas and stereotypes. This blog explores the harmful effects and highlights the … Continued

This week, I read “A Grow Your Own Approach in Social Work; Shaping Alaska Future.” The Authors were Laverne Demientieff, Carol Renfro, and Retchenda George-Bettiswerth. It is about the GYO (grow your own) Rural Cohort program at the UAF for … Continued

Donald J. Trump is the 45th president of the United States and founder of the Trump Organization. He was president for one full term (2016-2020). Today I want to focus on his views not if they are good or bad … Continued

Thinking about becoming a social worker? Well, my goal with this post is to facilitate you information on how to reach that goal and introduce you to the great amount of job opportunities this field has to offer. Let’s start … Continued

Talking about being against racism isn’t enough. In the podcast Finkelstein is hinting that we’re missing the big picture. We’re all focused on the flashy, surface-level stuff—hashtags, social media call-outs, and who’s got the most woke badge. But what about … Continued

Addressing and Dismantling Systematic Racism & Structural Injustice Mollie Bernhoft On this episode of the Bad Faith Podcast host Brianna Joy Gravy is joined by guest Norman Finkelstein for the discussion “Is Ibram X Kendi’s Anti-Racism a scam?” The conversation … Continued

I really hope y’all get a chance to listen to this particular episode of “The Critical Social Worker.” Mishon’s digital letter to her daughter was powerful, touching and encouraging. Her ability to survive her past, and in spite of her … Continued

To better see Michon’s bio, please click on the bio image below to zoom in. The Critical Social Worker, a revolutionary storytelling podcast, hosted by Professor Christian Stettler, is a Conscious Party production made possible by the University of Alaska … Continued

There is a lot to be said about President Donald J. Trump that can be seen as both good and bad for our country. He is probably one of the only president who have as much haters and he does … Continued

This blog showcases the thoughts and insights shared in a conversational podcast from two revolutionary social workers who use their experiences, cultural humility, and self reflection to offer knowledge and support to their communities. Christian Stettler, the host of the … Continued

When I first saw this prompt for blogs, I rushed to take the spot. When I first started working at Alaska Behavioral Health, I was very ignorant of psychotic disorders in the beginning. My image of people who suffered from … Continued

In “Colorblindness is counterproductive” written by Adia Harvey Wingfield, the topic of colorblindness it tackled. Wingfield begins by commenting on phrases we have all most likely heard in our lives such as “I don’t have a racist bone in my … Continued

As people experience mental health and substance abuse, we, as social workers are there to help those in need during their healing journey. A trauma disorder is a mental health condition that can occur during or after a traumatic event. … Continued

Much of social work’s history – and indeed, history in general – has been told through an incredibly white-centric perspective. Throughout centuries, the wisdom of Indigenous peoples has been ignored, erased, and silenced. Today, I had the incredible opportunity to … Continued

Elizabeth Jackson What is a personality disorder? Each of us have different ways of experiencing emotions, forming thoughts, and communicating them. Often, this distinctiveness is seen as a personal trait or a unique aspect that distinguishes us. It is our … Continued

While reading the article ‘Colorblindness is Counterproductive,’ published in 2015, I thought extensively about the opening paragraph. It explicitly addresses individuals who attempt to demonstrate or show to others that they accept people of all colors and do not judge … Continued

What are ACEs? “Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years). For example: experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect witnessing violence in the home or community having a family member attempt or die by … Continued

         Host Christian Stettler, a clinical professor of social work for the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and host of “The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary Storytelling” Podcast had the privilege of engaging in a profound conversation with Ilarion Merculieff, a … Continued

In A blog by Alia Harvey Wingfield titled ” Colorblindness is counter productive, Alia describes a common situation or experience we have all seen or found ourselves in, where we don’t think we are racist or judge people by their … Continued