Social science

A new study done at Arizona State University has, for the first time, quantified the health-care cost of women in Arizona who experienced trauma as children, pegging the amount at $260 million for 2019.

The research, done by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, showed that exposure to three or more “adverse childhood experiences,” or ACEs, such as drug abuse or violence in their homes, was associated with $260 million in Medicaid spending – about 16% of the total for 2019.

James Herbert Williams plans to keep a full schedule that includes editing two books and traveling to Africa once he concludes his four years as director of the Arizona State University School of Social Work this summer.

“Prior to coming to ASU I had several collaborations in eastern and southern Africa, and I would like to reconnect with my African colleagues. I spent the last decade working with tribes in Africa on conflict mediation and sustainable development,” Williams said.

The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, the nation’s largest comprehensive public service college, was recognized today with elite rankings for its schools of public affairs and criminology. With highly rated programs in each of its four schools, Watts College presents vivid evidence for the core claim of Arizona State University: excellence and inclusion go hand in hand. Indeed, half of the 14 ASU graduate-degree programs ranked in the top 10 are found in Watts College, ASU’s most diverse unit.

Elizabeth Lightfoot will become the next director of the ASU School of Social Work (SSW) on July 1, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions Dean Jonathan Koppell announced today.

Lightfoot, a University of Minnesota Distinguished Global Professor who has directed UMN’s doctoral program in social work since 2006, has been a member of its faculty since 1999.

Those who work with young people in the child welfare system occasionally will look up from that work and glance at the calendar, which reminds them that one day, every one of these children must leave their care in one way or another.

Some are adopted, but many will “age out” of the foster system and be on their own at age 18, or older based on other factors such as enrollment in school.

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