SSSP-SOCIOLOGY, SOCIAL WORK, AND SOCIAL WELFARE DIVISION SEASON’S GREETINGS! We hope that your Fall has been going well and continues to do so. < : There are a few exciting opportunities coming up in the near future that we wanted to remind you of before the holiday break! We have put these time-sensitive items at the top, with accolades and other potential items of interest below. ‘Wishing you all wonderful end of the year celebrations, or just time with family, friends, or on your own to recharge! Thank you for being a member of our division! There is no us without u!   Erica & Miriam Co-chairs and Newsletter Editors SSWSW TIME-SENSITIVE ITEMS Renew Your Membership??https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sssp1.org%2Findex.cfm%2Fm%2F255%2Ffuseaction%2Fssspmember.portal&data=05%7C02%7Ce.jablonski%40unh.edu%7Ce71afab7078e4b7c7ab508de38b52866%7Cd6241893512d46dc8d2bbe47e25f5666%7C0%7C0%7C639010547898214252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JmYstQmOSH%2B87un4sKVv8BWtYqEE07Nvd%2Fuk2NUhaLM%3D&reserved=0 ?? Deadline: 12/31/25 Submit abstracts for 76th Annual Meeting Sociology, Social Work, and Social Welfare Paper Sessions https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sssp1.org%2Findex.cfm%2Fm%2F1044&data=05%7C02%7Ce.jablonski%40unh.edu%7Ce71afab7078e4b7c7ab508de38b52866%7Cd6241893512d46dc8d2bbe47e25f5666%7C0%7C0%7C639010547898233724%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=S%2Fk%2FBlB%2F%2BeH9ktE%2BEBIAw1qnDUrr5ihI7tVvyClFrnc%3D&reserved=0 Deadline: 1/31/26 Anticolonial Social Movements Caregivers, Care Recipients, and Health Rural Spaces and Services Weaponization of Child Welfare Please see session descriptions below IV. Graduate Student Paper Award Deadline: 1/31/26 https://www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/pageid/1721/ Please see details below V. Virtual Poster Mini-Conference  Deadline: 2/15/26 https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sssp1.org%2Findex.cfm%2Fpageid%2F2666&data=05%7C02%7Ce.jablonski%40unh.edu%7Ce71afab7078e4b7c7ab508de38b52866%7Cd6241893512d46dc8d2bbe47e25f5666%7C0%7C0%7C639010547898251656%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=99vYLAIpnble%2BRMoG7KET4N%2BthX1QuAw6MJpaPqWFYE%3D&reserved=0 Please see details below 76th Annual Meeting Sociology, Social Work, and Social Welfare Paper Session Descriptions Anticolonial Social Movements Anticolonial social movements have been a significant force in the fight for freedom and self-determination. These movements have emerged from various regions around the world, driven by the desire for cultural pride, political independence, and the end of oppressive systems. They have utilized a range of strategies, from non-violent resistance to armed struggle, to challenge colonial rule and promote the rights of colonized peoples. Colonization, in all its forms, depends on and requires processes such as objectification, commodification, corporatization, financialization, criminalization, militarization, and bureaucratization, among others. Papers in this session may address how anticolonial social movements have resisted the colonization of lifeworlds throughout time, and how they continue to have an impact today. Caregivers, Care Recipients, and Health The session will focus on research on the nature of or alternatives to current policies and practices regarding the provision of either formal or informal caregiving to persons with health issues. As such, presentations may be at any jurisdictional level (national, state, or local) and either present research-based details of the current policy or practice and its impact on health, or present research on both a current policy or practice and research examining an alternative policy or practice to improve caregiving and health outcomes. Rural Spaces and Services This thematic session explores the unique challenges and opportunities for change shaping rural communities. Rural spaces face persistent issues of inequality, limited access to resources, and structural barriers in health, education, housing, and social services. At the same time, these communities generate creative forms of resilience, care, and solidarity that deserve sociological attention. Presentations in this session highlight the structural opportunities and constraints associated with rural environments; how policies, practices, and politics affect service delivery; and how rural residents navigate, resist, and reimagine systems of support. By examining rural spaces through the lenses of sociology, social work, and social welfare, this session underscores the significance of rural life for understanding broader questions of justice, equity, and social well-being. Weaponization of Child Welfare This session will look at how child welfare systems often operate as a tool of control and surveillance to regulate lifeworlds. In the present child welfare systems, marginalized families and BIPOC communities are disproportionately surveilled, investigated, and separated. Under the guise of “protection”, policies and practices hold power to dismantle kinship networks, impose white, middle-class family norms, and punish families for systemic inequities beyond their control. Panelists will share how these patterns reflect colonial practice and dominant carceral systems while overlooking community-driven solutions. Discussants will explore ways to resist harmful colonialist practices and imagine new approaches to child and family well-being rooted in dignity, solidarity, and collective care. https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sssp1.org%2Findex.cfm%2Fm%2F1044&data=05%7C02%7Ce.jablonski%40unh.edu%7Ce71afab7078e4b7c7ab508de38b52866%7Cd6241893512d46dc8d2bbe47e25f5666%7C0%7C0%7C639010547898233724%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=S%2Fk%2FBlB%2F%2BeH9ktE%2BEBIAw1qnDUrr5ihI7tVvyClFrnc%3D&reserved=0 Graduate Student Paper Award Details Winner will receive: One year student membership $200 cash award Waiver of 2026 conference registration fees Certificate of recognition Recognition at SSSP Awards Ceremony Paper topics can focus on various aspects of sociological, social welfare or social work research. Quantitative and qualitative analyses, applied research, and theoretical papers are all acceptable. For more information see here: https://www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/pageid/1721/ SSSP Virtual Poster Mini-Conference  March 26-27 Posters are welcome from SSSP members that share findings from completed studies or those in progress. Submissions Due: 2/15/26 Posters should engage directly with SSSP’s stated purpose. See Flyer here https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sssp1.org%2Ffile%2FVirtual_Poster_Mini-Conference.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Ce.jablonski%40unh.edu%7Cb7213f8e183442ec364408de31cd7493%7Cd6241893512d46dc8d2bbe47e25f5666%7C0%7C0%7C639002955686657232%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BerPudMDvPTrrGb5phqYPpHpPatJjJEfabkEx4guLHM%3D&reserved=0 Extended abstracts of 200-500 words should include: Poster title Research methods Citation list Brief study and findings summary https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sssp1.org%2Findex.cfm%2Fpageid%2F2666&data=05%7C02%7Ce.jablonski%40unh.edu%7Ce71afab7078e4b7c7ab508de38b52866%7Cd6241893512d46dc8d2bbe47e25f5666%7C0%7C0%7C639010547898251656%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=99vYLAIpnble%2BRMoG7KET4N%2BthX1QuAw6MJpaPqWFYE%3D&reserved=0 To attend the virtual poster mini-conference without presenting at it, please register here: https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftennessee.zoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2F4KQsvFX7QtWgmO_pdZXy1w%23%2Fregistration&data=05%7C02%7Ce.jablonski%40unh.edu%7Cb7213f8e183442ec364408de31cd7493%7Cd6241893512d46dc8d2bbe47e25f5666%7C0%7C0%7C639002955686642132%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=NCRw3QTe874sRVCweUo4J2PPR46pNaNavPdcZ0axiyg%3D&reserved=0 For questions, please contact Dr. Atticus M. Wolfe, Program Committee at awolfe@agnesscott.edu JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS Professional-track Faculty Lecturer position, University of North Carolina-Greensboro The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at UNC Greensboro is hiring a professional-track faculty lecturer position in Health and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies starting in August 2026. As an interdisciplinary program, WGSS invites applicants who work in critical health studies broadly construed. Areas of focus might include disability studies, health access and equity, social medicine, trans health studies, health sovereignty, decolonial approaches to medicine, and the environment and health. The position is for one academic year with the possibility of renewal. Review of applications will begin January 15, 2026. For more information and to apply for this position #13903, please see: https://spartantalent.uncg.edu/ Please direct inquiries to Dr. Danielle Bouchard at DMBOUCHA@uncg.edu Assistant Professor, Tenure Track DePaul University Specializations in immigration, gender, stratification, the practice of social work, or the dynamics of non-profit/non-governmental organizations. Department of Sociology Position to begin September 26, 2026 Application deadline January 12, 2026 https://academics.depaul.edu/faculty-jobs/Pages/position-detail.aspx?dpusearchbyid=855722 Professor of the Practice, Sociology and Anthropology Fairfield University Specializations in nonprofit management, policy implementation & program evaluation, and strategic planning. Sociology and Anthropology Department Position to begin September 2026 Application deadline January 19, 2026 https://ffd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EmploymentOpportunities/details/Professor-of-the-Practice--Sociology-and-Anthropology_JR0003025-1?jobFamilyGroup=744fdc6270fe01eb4c7fbb71b6825329 Other Opportunities American Journal of Public Health  Calls for paper submissions to promote innovative and high-quality science on key public health priorities.  Four active Calls for Papers with topics ranging from: Responsible artificial intelligence use (1/2/26) Relationship between public health and politics (2/1/26) Bereavement as a global health concern (3/1/26) Training Opportunities 2026 Michigan Integrative Well-Being and Inequality (MIWI) Training Program The MIWI Training Program is a state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary methods training program that prepares participating scholars to investigate the intersection of mental and physical health, with an emphasis on how this intersection relates to health disparities. The training encompasses conceptual frameworks, study designs, data collection needs, and analytic approaches necessary to conduct this innovative research. The program includes an intensive 3-day summer institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan, followed by ongoing collaboration with a mentorship team. Funding and Eligibility MIWI is supported by the OBSSR and NIMH training grant R25MH136652. Participation is limited to early career scholars with a doctoral degree. How to Apply For detailed information and application instructions, please visit https://sph.umich.edu/mental-physical-health-training/join-us/index.html. Key Dates * Application Deadline: 2/1/26, at 11:59 p.m. ET * Program Date: 5/11–14, 2026 2026-2027 Health and Aging Policy Fellowships The one-year Fellowship runs from October 1 – September 30 and has full-time and part-time tracks. It is conducted as a hybrid program of mentoring, networking, learning, and practicum experiences. Health and Aging Policy Fellows work across diverse fields of aging and develop lifelong partnerships and networks. Individually and collectively, they are improving the lives of older adults around the country. PROGRAM TRACKS * The Residential track * The Non-Residential track * The VA Track * The Caregiver Policy Track * The Behavioral Health Policy Track WHO SHOULD APPLY? The program has a broad interdisciplinary focus, and Fellowship cohorts have included newly minted PhDs to senior professors and community leaders from academic and practice settings. Submission deadline:  Monday, March 16, 2026 https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvfl6o6qab.cc.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001o6rtsD4Uh6N1aRHqeYYOUj26hwORd4OoQubXuzh9v0akOvTKydFj1cImycWbYIH7qxkmEx70P4M8LAn7-SsT9geusGfjSYF0O3TWm6Ilk-Ho0henhaaD5YoTS4cwX0JFvTmguSm3qyxKN9x0AoZWczmiCueoOrPtw2LuTlZUgHb2YJG3HYYnFtdlO5mgmF5RdesmBnb6q_axRv0za27mBe2g965ZUJVP%26c%3Djvx8QM5skeOVrQRhvNwm_JDwJ9SndBcv7h-dJ-AIAzlSzMTWYgJnvg%3D%3D%26ch%3DhahVLWR5bUnooa443_ziRchtsXtpD6SzjRURlIXcCClGer3cIGTTpw%3D%3D&data=05%7C02%7Ce.jablonski%40unh.edu%7C9003f72aa5eb4171c77908de3c08e395%7Cd6241893512d46dc8d2bbe47e25f5666%7C0%7C0%7C639014206048685163%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=B8Nbp3O6ipUmZQern1%2BRvUL2bTCUg32sw5fNS3XOcyU%3D&reserved=0 Other Opportunities Help Medical Researchers Futures in Academic Medicine: A Survey for People in / Seeking Careers in Academic Medicine Researchers who are either:  a) currently employed by an academic medical institution or b) seeking employment by an academic medical institution Deadline: 1/1/26 Primarily interested in characterizing and quantifying perspectives on careers in academic medicine in the current sociopolitical environment, including perspectives on job security, confidence in a future in academic medicine, and potential pivots people are making in their careers. Through this research, there is interest in exploring potential differences in these experiences.     Asking people meet the eligibility criteria and are primarily based in the US if they could take ~15 minutes to complete this anonymous survey, and share with their colleagues. https://redcap.mountsinai.org/redcap/surveys/?s=Y9AJ97R7DKWNXDH8 Please feel free to contact Dr. Devin Madden at 212-659-9552, with any questions. DIVISION MEMBER NEWS New Position: * Erica Jablonski, Ph.D., Member, Board of Directors, Boston Senior Home Care Erica Jablonski, Ph.D., Adjunct Instructor, Southern New Hampshire University Member Publications: Published: * Littman, D.M., Milligan, T., Bender, K., Cook, D. J. (2025). Games as a method to engage young people in research: Learnings from The Future of Third Places Game. Co-Design. Https://doi.org/10.1080/15710882.2025.2565283.  * Littman, D. M., Cook, D. J., & Thurber, A. (2025). Using geographic interviews to conduct community assessments—insights for MSW pedagogy. Social Work Education, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2025.2458032 In Press (Book Chapter): * Cook, D.J. & Banks, S. (In Press). Period Poverty and Menstrual Health in a Global Context. In Global Agenda for Social Justice 3 (2026 ed.). Policy Press. University of Bristol. Awards: * SSSP Lee Student Support Fund - Travel Award Peer-reviewed presentations for 2025: * Cook, D. J. (presented, October 2025). Understanding Student Sense of Belonging at a Commuter University. Council on Social Work Education. Denver, CO. * Cook, D. J., Littman, D.M. (presented, August 2025). Young Adults’ Prioritization of Needs in Third Places. The Society for the Study of Social Problems. Chicago, IL. * Littman, D.M., Cook, D.J. (presented, August 2025). Youth Homelessness in Utah: Needs Assessment of the Mountainland and Balance of State Continuums of Care (CoCs). The Society for the Study of Social Problems. Chicago, IL. * Lau, C., Palmer, L., Cook, D.J. (presented, January 2025). Mandated Reporting Policy, Practice, and Outcomes: A Closer Look at a Hotly Debated Topic. Symposium. Society for Social Work and Research. Seattle, WA. Other News: Denae Cook successfully defended her qualifying exam and entered PhD Candidacy. Her qualifying exam, titled "Governing the Poor – Poverty, Perception, and Child Welfare Reunification (A Scoping Review of Poverty Bias in Child Welfare between 2015-2025)," explored literature to better understand the prevalence of class-based bias in decision-making, particularly in U.S. child welfare systems with families seeking reunification. She will be diving deeper into this topic for her dissertation. < : Because we are always interested in spreading the word about our division, here are ways you can help us thrive and grow: * Tell friends and colleagues about us; * Participate in division student paper and conference session submissions; * Invite others to check out our division webpage and/or Facebook page! * Submit contributions or ideas for newsletters, surveys, and divisional meeting topics (e.g., awards, presentations, grant announcements, calls for study participants). Erica (e.jablonski@unh.edu) and Miriam (miriam-landsman@uiowa.edu)