what’s happening at sp2

In a look at the challenges and opportunities currently facing economists, SP2 Associate Professor Ioana Marinescu speaks about the central role of data in the work of contemporary economists and shares her experience working as the principal economist in the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division. Dr. Marinescu is director of SP2’s Master of Science in Social Policy Program.

Consistently eating less meat is a meaningful way to support the environment and become healthier, writes Marissa Perrico, an SP2 student in the Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health dual degree program. She suggests starting small by choosing one meatless day per week and trying new plant-based recipes.

The United States has seen an 18% rise in the number of people experiencing homelessness, the largest annual increase since the data was first collected in 2007. SP2’s Dr. Dennis Culhane points to migration and natural disasters as drivers of the numbers.

How can better collaboration improve outcomes for patients with complex needs? SP2’s Dr. Tamara Cadet explains the critical role of care team coordination and its impact on patient health. Dr. Cadet is co-director of SP2’s PhD in Social Welfare Program.

In a joint class within SP2 and the Annenberg School for Communication, Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor Desmond Upton Patton invites students to seek fulfillment in less tangible forms and dream big. “Joy, for me, is the ability to see and understand the future, the now, and your history — and how you can leverage that collective to have a meaningful and happy life,” Patton says.

Responding to new research showing that people under the age of 35 represented three-fourths of heat-related deaths in Mexico over a period of approximately 20 years, SP2’s Dr. R. Jisung Park tells The New York Times that it is unknown whether the trend exists in settings where air conditioning is more prevalent and labor practices differ.

The BOOST guaranteed income program in Los Angeles is meant to build a pipeline of health care professionals by offsetting the expenses of community college students who are pursuing health careers. SP2’s Dr. Stacia West describes how guaranteed income payments help people to meet basic needs.

Improvements to homeless shelters in King County, Washington, have resulted in longer stays for fewer people. SP2’s Dr. Dennis Culhane says that the key to helping people move on is to ensure permanent housing opportunities are available.

Across the country, schools are experiencing cycles of student violence fueled by text messages, videos, and social media. SP2’s Dr. Desmond Patton weighs in about the troubling pattern from the perspective of his research, speaking about the need to develop guidance that helps educators shift student behavior.

SP2’s Dr. Dennis Culhane and Dr. Malitta Engstrom have been awarded grant support for the project “Engagement and Enrollment in Transitional Housing: Perspectives among People Living with HIV and Service Providers.”