Vitae: Social work and dance mix in scholarly endeavor

Department of Sociocultural and Justice Sciences Assistant Professor Michael Clarkson-Hendrix and Department of Theater and Dance’s Assistant Professor Paula J. Peters presented “Teaching Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Through an Example: Educational Implications from The Empowerment Through Movement and Stillness Workshop,” at the New York State Social Work Education Association’s 51st Conference on Oct. 4 and 5, in Saratoga Springs.

The presentation shared findings from a pilot study of a novel intervention integrating dance and social work to promote self-efficacy, capacity for choice and optimism in adults living with severe and persistent mental health conditions. Education implications involve bringing together social work and dance students alongside service participants to co-create interventions to promote the liberation of this population.