Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping

Reflections from the Guest Editors: Navigating Change in a Time of Uncertainty

Kenya C. Jones, Anthony T. Estreet, James T. Freeman — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This first Issue in the Special Series affirms that helping professionals cannot remain neutral during periods of social and political upheaval. Instead, the reflections gathered here demonstrate the need for justice‑centered, culturally responsive, ethically grounded, and action‑oriented practice that responds directly to the realities shaping marginalized communities and the professionals who serve alongside them. Through narratives of advocacy, resistance, healing, leadership, education, and community engagement, readers are invited to reflect on the responsibilities of helping work during divisive times and to consider how advocacy, ethics, and collective care remain central to professional practice.

An Act of Love: Building a Collaborative for Reproductive Justice and Abolition Amidst Tumultuous Times

Crystal M. Hayes, E. Goldblatt Hyatt — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Within the impending threat of a second Trump presidency, two social work academics and activists–one Black, one white–deeply committed to reproductive justice and abolitionist frameworks, created a collaborative dedicated to these values prior to the 2024 election. This collaborative, born out of shared histories of marginalization, is grounded in the belief that reproductive justice and abolition are acts of love. Through this collaborative, the authors empower social workers—particularly students—to engage in grassroots advocacy, education, and policy work that challenges systemic harm and centers Black and marginalized communities. This paper explores the authors’ personal and professional journeys, the development of the collaborative, and their ongoing efforts to foster accountability and action among social workers during politically turbulent times. In doing so, it highlights the critical importance of embedding reproductive justice and abolition within social work practice, education, and advocacy as a necessary response to this political climate.

Navigating Care: LGBTQIA+ Affirmation and Mental Health in a Challenging Political Landscape

Elizabeth Francis — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article explores the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in accessing affirming mental health care within an increasingly restrictive political climate. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Kansas, I discuss the ethical dilemmas of navigating care under state and federal laws that conflict with best clinical practices. The paper examines the profound psychological impact of policies restricting such care, including heightened anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, and emphasizes the importance of trauma-informed, evidence-based care. It highlights the role of mental health professionals in advocating for equitable, inclusive care, utilizing frameworks such as minority stress theory to understand the mental health risks faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals. Furthermore, it explores strategies for fostering resilience, self-care, and community support, underscoring the need for collaboration within interdisciplinary teams to address healthcare inequities. Ultimately, this work calls for advocacy, education, and policy change to ensure a refuge within healthcare for this marginalized community.

Midnight Watch for Rogue Waves: Experiencing Faculty Intimidation in Florida

Douglas Robertson — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In a 2023 emergency investigation, the American Association of University Professors reported: “What is unfolding in Florida is horrifying. It should serve as a cautionary tale to all in higher education.” Highlights of cascading events in Florida public higher education include elimination of tenure, keyword searches upon faculty syllabi, course removals from Common Core, elimination of references to Diversity-Equity-Inclusion, union-busting legislation, and mandated accreditation shopping. In this context, my general question is this: How does intimidation affect faculty experience in Florida’s public universities? My specific question is this: How is intimidation lived by me? I have written extensively about college teaching as an educational helping relationship and see this conceptual essay as central to the work of professional helping. Joining other first responders’ scholarly writings on the Florida emergency, this essay puts a personal face on the currently raging ideological war in American higher education and the encompassing American culture.

Navigating Ethical Advocacy: Adaptive Leadership and Moral Courage in Politically Charged Contexts

Darrin E. Wright — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Helping professionals constantly struggle to navigate the complexities of ethical dilemmas while promoting just and equitable policies in the current unstable political environment. With emphasis on how social workers and other helping professionals can evaluate and resolve conflicting policies to advance social justice, this essay examines how moral courage and adaptive leadership are essential to this work. Drawing on an ethical decision-making model and incorporating Afrocentric principles such as humanistic values and autonomy, the essay provides a framework for understanding the empowerment and self-determination necessary for effective advocacy. Reflecting on these concepts can help professionals sharpen their approach to ethical leadership and drive meaningful change. The essay concludes with three thought-provoking questions to strengthen ethical advocacy and decision-making in today’s politically volatile world.

Marcus Garvey: A Pioneer in the Empowerment of the Oppressed

Llewellyn Cornelius — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

“Empowerment” has recently become a buzzword in the social sciences and has come to be connected with the notion of helping the disenfranchised find the resources to improve their circumstances. However, contemporary discussions of empowerment understate the early empowerment pioneer Marcus Garvey and his Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). At a time when African Americans were defined as second-class citizens, the UNIA succeeded in fostering positive self-esteem and self-determination among over 2,000,000 individuals through the world. This reflection essay documents these achievements both during the height of the UNIA movements as well as in the decades that followed.

Funding Needs in Public Schools: Social Workers Advocating for Ethical Decision-Making

Jaelyn Childs, Christopher Robinson — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sustainable funding plays a pivotal role in the effectiveness and longevity of educational systems, with particular emphasis on public schools. This article explores the concerted efforts of mental health professionals, dedicated educators, community leaders, and diverse advocates who are working tirelessly to drive meaningful improvements within the public school system. As recent legislative changes and regulatory measures have led to significant reductions in funding, it is increasingly vital to prioritize the stability and future of children enrolled in these schools. Ensuring that every child has access to a robust and supportive education is essential for their development and well-being.

Delivering Accessible Reproductive Care in a Post-Dobbs Era: A Social Worker’s Narrative on Policy, Ethics, and Practice

Kaylisa Estes — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This narrative analysis examines the professional, ethical, and structural challenges of delivering reproductive healthcare in the United States following Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Drawing on clinical experience, policy analysis, public health literature, and RStudio analysis of the 2022–2023 National Survey of Family Growth, I explore how the post-Dobbs landscape has reshaped clinical practice and access to essential services. Grounded in social determinants of health and reproductive justice frameworks, my article examines contraceptive care deserts, digital misinformation, insurance barriers, and restrictive policies as interconnected threats to reproductive autonomy, with disproportionate consequences for marginalized populations. It identifies digital health literacy as an increasingly important determinant of reproductive health and calls for a coordinated response encompassing legislative advocacy, digital care navigation, interdisciplinary partnerships, and systems-level reform. Within, I urge social workers and other helping professionals to strengthen ethical, equitable, and accessible reproductive healthcare within an evolving policy landscape.

No Time to Rest: Purposeful Approaches to Systemic Racism and the Ongoing Struggle for Justice in Social Work Education

Annette Grape, Peggy Lane — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This reflective paper explores our experiences as two social work educators confronting systemic inequities intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, political unrest, and ongoing racial injustice. Drawing from our classroom experiences and student narratives, we examine how trauma, marginalization, and disillusionment manifest in student behavior and engagement. We critically analyze how traditional academic policies and Eurocentric curricula can unintentionally perpetuate harm, particularly for students from historically oppressed backgrounds. In response, we implemented intentional, equity-focused changes in pedagogy, course content, and classroom culture to foster psychological safety, empower student voice, and promote civic action. Against the backdrop of a second Trump presidency and increased policy threats to marginalized communities, we underscore the urgent need for educators to move beyond neutrality. This paper calls for a deliberate, justice-centered approach in social work education to support students navigating oppression while preparing them to lead meaningful, systemic change.

Navigating Field Education in a Politically-Evolved America

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Field education is widely recognized as the signature pedagogy of social work, connecting classroom learning to professional practice. At Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), field education is closely centered on social justice, advocacy, and equity. However, the current political climate has made field placements more difficult, especially because of laws and policy changes affecting LGBTQ individuals, immigrants, reproductive rights, and communities of color. These challenges can make it harder for students to find placements that match their values and may also create concerns about their safety. Because many HBCU students come from marginalized communities, these challenges can limit their opportunities to gain meaningful learning and advocacy experience. In response, social work programs are strengthening oversight, implementing safety protocols, and exploring innovative placement models. This reflective essay examines how politics shape field education at HBCUs and highlights the need for flexibility, innovation, and continued commitment to social work values.

Reclaiming Our Future from MAGA: Infrastructure and Self-Reliance in the Black Community

Eyitayo Onifade — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In this paper, I examine the historical and contemporary infrastructure challenges facing Black communities in the United States through a social work lens. I explore how systemic racism, policy shifts, and political volatility have shaped Black responses over the past century—from Pan-Africanism to civil rights and contemporary DEI efforts. I propose a strategic vision of self-reliance, collective empowerment, and transnational solidarity rooted in Afrocentric social work and anti-oppressive practice. My argument is that true empowerment must involve community ownership of institutions, long-term structural planning, and a commitment to systemic innovation that goes beyond symbolic inclusion or reform.