Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
@melaniesage.bsky.social
Consultant, researcher, trainer, social worker, sometimes professor. Tech in social work, harnessing AI, Motivational interviewing, org culture, child welfare. Ex-Meta Equity Sr UX Researcher. Chaotic good. #swtech #highered #edtech #fairAI
Pinned
I left academia 2 yrs ago after 12 years tt. I took a senior research job at Meta to work on tech equity. Was part of a mass layoff after a year. I started a training center/consultancy specializing in (1) motivational interviewing training for non-profit/govt staff (2) tech consulting.
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Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
Excited to receive this fabulous book edited by
@melaniesage.bsky.social and @laurelhitchcock.bsky.social
101 Things to Do with a Social Work Degree. It’s a great resource for any #socialwork student or social worker — This degree opens up so many paths for making a difference in people’s lives
@melaniesage.bsky.social and @laurelhitchcock.bsky.social
101 Things to Do with a Social Work Degree. It’s a great resource for any #socialwork student or social worker — This degree opens up so many paths for making a difference in people’s lives
April 29, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Excited to receive this fabulous book edited by
@melaniesage.bsky.social and @laurelhitchcock.bsky.social
101 Things to Do with a Social Work Degree. It’s a great resource for any #socialwork student or social worker — This degree opens up so many paths for making a difference in people’s lives
@melaniesage.bsky.social and @laurelhitchcock.bsky.social
101 Things to Do with a Social Work Degree. It’s a great resource for any #socialwork student or social worker — This degree opens up so many paths for making a difference in people’s lives
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
Calling all educators & community partners! @nathaliejp.bsky.social @melaniesage.bsky.social & I are updating our Community-Engaged Learning Student Workbook & are looking for reflective tasks, case studies & more.
Due: June 30, 2025
Details: bit.ly/43XFbwS
Submit: forms.gle/V7A6uA2pWGJb...
Due: June 30, 2025
Details: bit.ly/43XFbwS
Submit: forms.gle/V7A6uA2pWGJb...
Submission for Professionalism for Community-Engaged Learning Student Workbook .pdf
bit.ly
April 30, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Calling all educators & community partners! @nathaliejp.bsky.social @melaniesage.bsky.social & I are updating our Community-Engaged Learning Student Workbook & are looking for reflective tasks, case studies & more.
Due: June 30, 2025
Details: bit.ly/43XFbwS
Submit: forms.gle/V7A6uA2pWGJb...
Due: June 30, 2025
Details: bit.ly/43XFbwS
Submit: forms.gle/V7A6uA2pWGJb...
Glad to have Jonathan and 100 other social workers tell us about work they do! This 400-page book is a great collection for people considering social work and social workers considering a job shift!
Honored to contribute a chapter on podcasting as one of 101 Things to Do with a Social Work Degree by @laurelhitchcock.bsky.social and @melaniesage.bsky.social. amzn.to/42tkQ1n
April 23, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Glad to have Jonathan and 100 other social workers tell us about work they do! This 400-page book is a great collection for people considering social work and social workers considering a job shift!
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
New resource out from OASH on Ethical Review and Inclusion of LGBTQI+ Participants in Human Subjects Research: www.hhs.gov/sites/defaul...
Includes recs on ethical, legal, regulatory, & contextual considerations; research environment; & design, review & conduct of LGBTQI+ research
Includes recs on ethical, legal, regulatory, & contextual considerations; research environment; & design, review & conduct of LGBTQI+ research
www.hhs.gov
January 3, 2025 at 7:24 PM
New resource out from OASH on Ethical Review and Inclusion of LGBTQI+ Participants in Human Subjects Research: www.hhs.gov/sites/defaul...
Includes recs on ethical, legal, regulatory, & contextual considerations; research environment; & design, review & conduct of LGBTQI+ research
Includes recs on ethical, legal, regulatory, & contextual considerations; research environment; & design, review & conduct of LGBTQI+ research
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
Social workers - Join me on February 4, noon-1pm CT, for a dynamic and interactive webinar "Chat Bots and AI Image Generators: Practical Tools for Today’s Social Work Practice" @jcreswellbaez.bsky.social @laurigoldkind.bsky.social
naswwi.socialworkers.org/Events/NASW-...
naswwi.socialworkers.org/Events/NASW-...
January 3, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Social workers - Join me on February 4, noon-1pm CT, for a dynamic and interactive webinar "Chat Bots and AI Image Generators: Practical Tools for Today’s Social Work Practice" @jcreswellbaez.bsky.social @laurigoldkind.bsky.social
naswwi.socialworkers.org/Events/NASW-...
naswwi.socialworkers.org/Events/NASW-...
Check out this paper that I helped write with great colleagues who evaluated ways to use AI as social work profs.
New study on social work educators use of generative #AI - #SWTech! 6 #SocialWork professors tracked their use of #ChatGPT over a semester to provide ideas for others. Great collab with mentors @melaniesage.bsky.social & @laurelhitchcock.bsky.social. #NASW @cswe.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/1043...
Social Work Educators Innovating With Generative AI: An Exploratory Study
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining traction across various fields, yet its adoption within social work remains limited. This study explores the use of ChatGPT by social work educato...
doi.org
January 4, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Check out this paper that I helped write with great colleagues who evaluated ways to use AI as social work profs.
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
This needs to be EVERYWHERE - LOUD AND CLEAR!! #ChuckandJim #ThePoor
December 16, 2024 at 10:45 PM
This needs to be EVERYWHERE - LOUD AND CLEAR!! #ChuckandJim #ThePoor
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
If you didn’t order free Covid tests through the mail this Fall, now would be a good time to do so.
I’m not holding my breath on this program continuing next year.
covidtests.gov
I’m not holding my breath on this program continuing next year.
covidtests.gov
Free Covid tests through the mail are back!
I’m putting this into today’s lecture, both as an example of distributive policy action, and so that students know about it.
covidtests.gov
I’m putting this into today’s lecture, both as an example of distributive policy action, and so that students know about it.
covidtests.gov
ASPR COVID-19 Testing
NAVIGATION
ASPR provide details on how U.S households can order free at-home COVID-19 tests, emphasizing the importance of testing and the ease of access.
covidtests.gov
December 15, 2024 at 6:54 PM
If you didn’t order free Covid tests through the mail this Fall, now would be a good time to do so.
I’m not holding my breath on this program continuing next year.
covidtests.gov
I’m not holding my breath on this program continuing next year.
covidtests.gov
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
North Carolina’s Atrium Health says it will forgive the debts of 11,500 people — less than a week after NBC News reported that the company has aggressively pursued former patients’ medical debts, placing liens on their homes to collect on bills.
'Like a miracle': N.C. couple free of nearly $100,000 medical debt after 15 years
The lien on Donna and Gary Lindabury's home for a 2009 heart surgery debt was among 11,500 wiped away by Atrium Health after an NBC News report.
www.nbcnews.com
December 13, 2024 at 12:27 AM
North Carolina’s Atrium Health says it will forgive the debts of 11,500 people — less than a week after NBC News reported that the company has aggressively pursued former patients’ medical debts, placing liens on their homes to collect on bills.
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
An important read! Great issue brief @kff.org ! Medicare Spending was 27% More for People who Disenrolled from Medicare Advantage than for Similar People in Traditional Medicare. No surprise given all those #Denials @signaturedoc.bsky.social #MedicareAdvantage #Accesstocare
Medicare Spending was 27% More for People who Disenrolled from Medicare Advantage than for Similar People in Traditional Medicare | KFF
This analysis looks at traditional Medicare spending among people who choose to disenroll from Medicare Advantage and obtain coverage under traditional Medicare during the annual Medicare open enrollm...
www.kff.org
December 12, 2024 at 1:36 PM
An important read! Great issue brief @kff.org ! Medicare Spending was 27% More for People who Disenrolled from Medicare Advantage than for Similar People in Traditional Medicare. No surprise given all those #Denials @signaturedoc.bsky.social #MedicareAdvantage #Accesstocare
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
Very excited to share this from my colleague at SJU, Dr. Delgado!
#SocialWork
#Liberation
Working with Dr. Delgado is one of the reasons I'm excited to come to work every day. We're hiring one more faculty this spring! (and next year if recruitment keeps up)
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#SocialWork
#Liberation
Working with Dr. Delgado is one of the reasons I'm excited to come to work every day. We're hiring one more faculty this spring! (and next year if recruitment keeps up)
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Liberating the Intake Assessment
Published in Journal of Progressive Human Services (Ahead of Print, 2024)
www.tandfonline.com
December 10, 2024 at 2:55 PM
Very excited to share this from my colleague at SJU, Dr. Delgado!
#SocialWork
#Liberation
Working with Dr. Delgado is one of the reasons I'm excited to come to work every day. We're hiring one more faculty this spring! (and next year if recruitment keeps up)
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#SocialWork
#Liberation
Working with Dr. Delgado is one of the reasons I'm excited to come to work every day. We're hiring one more faculty this spring! (and next year if recruitment keeps up)
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
Struggling to teach social policy for social workers amid current political events? Keefe’s 1978 article offers a historical-materialist framework that can help: Beyond Radicalism: An Historical-Materialist Framework for the Social Policy Curriculum. www.jstor.org/stable/23038...
December 12, 2024 at 8:20 PM
Struggling to teach social policy for social workers amid current political events? Keefe’s 1978 article offers a historical-materialist framework that can help: Beyond Radicalism: An Historical-Materialist Framework for the Social Policy Curriculum. www.jstor.org/stable/23038...
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
Ok here are the four books I’m debating between for my community practice class. Given the election I want to focus on social change, building community, and community care. What do folks think? #SocialWork #SocialChange #Macro
December 12, 2024 at 1:26 PM
Ok here are the four books I’m debating between for my community practice class. Given the election I want to focus on social change, building community, and community care. What do folks think? #SocialWork #SocialChange #Macro
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
Don't let the name fool you - #selfcare is a community effort and an organizational responsibility. Listen to Erlene Grise-Owens, Jay Miller, and Mindy Eaves talk about planning, dedication, and support partners on Ep 118. Transcript on the website: socialworkpodcast.blogspot.com/2018/03/self...
Self care for Social Workers: Interview with Erlene Grise-Owens, Justin “Jay” Miller, and Mindy Eaves
Today's episode of the Social Work Podcast is about self-care. I talk to Erlene Grise-Owens, Justin “Jay” Miller, and Mindy Eaves, the editors of the The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers a...
socialworkpodcast.blogspot.com
December 11, 2024 at 5:27 PM
Don't let the name fool you - #selfcare is a community effort and an organizational responsibility. Listen to Erlene Grise-Owens, Jay Miller, and Mindy Eaves talk about planning, dedication, and support partners on Ep 118. Transcript on the website: socialworkpodcast.blogspot.com/2018/03/self...
The murder of the Unitedhealth CEO has served as a lightening rod for how people feel about healthcare. People didn’t know the name of this guy and are now heckling his death. This is the level of powerlessness and grief that otherwise reasonable people have about our health insurance system.
One thing I didn’t expect in the wake of the CEO shooting is the sudden attention on health insurance policy. I have seen this video and the BCBS policy itself go viral on almost every platform. People are waking up. Real lasting change in healthcare is coming. youtube.com/shorts/vWA2a...
No More General Anesthesia
YouTube video by Dr. Glaucomflecken
youtube.com
December 6, 2024 at 9:03 PM
The murder of the Unitedhealth CEO has served as a lightening rod for how people feel about healthcare. People didn’t know the name of this guy and are now heckling his death. This is the level of powerlessness and grief that otherwise reasonable people have about our health insurance system.
Congrats to Dr Desmond Patton, keynoting at SSWR! I don’t know a social work prof who has balanced research innovation, external service, mentoring, and leadership the way that Dr Patton does. You can’t bottle that talent! @dupatton.bsky.social #swtech
December 6, 2024 at 2:21 PM
Congrats to Dr Desmond Patton, keynoting at SSWR! I don’t know a social work prof who has balanced research innovation, external service, mentoring, and leadership the way that Dr Patton does. You can’t bottle that talent! @dupatton.bsky.social #swtech
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
Fellow social work policy educators - please join us in conversation next week to support each other and share ideas and resources as we start preparing for the Spring semester.
We'd love to know what you're most hoping to hear & talk about - feel free to share in the replies
We'd love to know what you're most hoping to hear & talk about - feel free to share in the replies
December 4, 2024 at 6:49 PM
Fellow social work policy educators - please join us in conversation next week to support each other and share ideas and resources as we start preparing for the Spring semester.
We'd love to know what you're most hoping to hear & talk about - feel free to share in the replies
We'd love to know what you're most hoping to hear & talk about - feel free to share in the replies
I had a gut reaction too when I heard the CEO of United Healthcare was murdered this morn in a targeted attack before a shareholder meeting in nyc. The assassin escaped on a bike. We can only speculate but possible motives seem clear.
December 4, 2024 at 4:08 PM
I had a gut reaction too when I heard the CEO of United Healthcare was murdered this morn in a targeted attack before a shareholder meeting in nyc. The assassin escaped on a bike. We can only speculate but possible motives seem clear.
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
This is the most extreme anthromorphization I've seen. Even if LLMs or some future magical model that doesn't yet exist even in research can experience suffering, the meaning and reasons of that suffering would be completely alien compared to how animals experience it
Something real odd about ai welfare concerns when your tech is contributing to the deterioration of human welfare.
Anthropic hires its first “AI welfare” researcher
Anthropic’s new hire is preparing for a future where advanced AI models may experience suffering.
arstechnica.com
November 11, 2024 at 6:37 PM
This is the most extreme anthromorphization I've seen. Even if LLMs or some future magical model that doesn't yet exist even in research can experience suffering, the meaning and reasons of that suffering would be completely alien compared to how animals experience it
Confession- I still go to x to monitor Trump posts and bc I am a community note rater/writer, which allows me to review/write fact checks on Trump/Elon posts. I use this fairly w accurate sources and fact checks, but these guys post a lot of disinfo that require community notes.
December 2, 2024 at 1:08 AM
Confession- I still go to x to monitor Trump posts and bc I am a community note rater/writer, which allows me to review/write fact checks on Trump/Elon posts. I use this fairly w accurate sources and fact checks, but these guys post a lot of disinfo that require community notes.
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
As a society we believe that safety exists on the other side of change but my firmest belief is that it's almost impossible to change unless you create safety first. This backward approach shows up a lot with addiction and homelessness and recidivism, and it's often rooted in eye for an eye thinking
Denver gave people experiencing homelessness $1k/month. A year later, nearly half had housing.
They also had fewer ER visits, nights spent in a hospital, and jail stays.
The report estimates that this reduction in public service use SAVED the city $589k.
www.businessinsider.com/denver-basic...
They also had fewer ER visits, nights spent in a hospital, and jail stays.
The report estimates that this reduction in public service use SAVED the city $589k.
www.businessinsider.com/denver-basic...
Denver gave people experiencing homelessness $1,000 a month. A year later, nearly half of participants said they had housing.
Participants in Denver's basic-income program reported having more-secure housing, though results were similar in the trial and control groups.
www.businessinsider.com
November 27, 2024 at 4:35 AM
As a society we believe that safety exists on the other side of change but my firmest belief is that it's almost impossible to change unless you create safety first. This backward approach shows up a lot with addiction and homelessness and recidivism, and it's often rooted in eye for an eye thinking
Reposted by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW
Chris Rufo, architect of the conservative takeover at New College Florida, will present President-elect Trump with a plan to strip colleges of federal funding if they do not pull back campus diversity initiatives, the WSJ is reporting. www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
Christopher Rufo Has Trump’s Ear and Wants to End DEI for Good
From his perch outside Seattle, the 40-year-old documentary filmmaker and writer has become one of the country’s most influential culture warriors, waging public fights against diversity, equity and i...
www.wsj.com
November 25, 2024 at 5:23 PM
Chris Rufo, architect of the conservative takeover at New College Florida, will present President-elect Trump with a plan to strip colleges of federal funding if they do not pull back campus diversity initiatives, the WSJ is reporting. www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
House MD gave me unrealistic expectations about doctors wanting to discover the cause of my symptoms.
M*A*S*H gave me unrealistic expectations about how quickly I would be seen by a doctor.
Gillian’s Island gave me unrealistic expectations about the possibility of dying in quicksand…
November 29, 2024 at 6:04 AM
House MD gave me unrealistic expectations about doctors wanting to discover the cause of my symptoms.
Zuckerberg met with Trump at Mar a Lago this week. Seems he’s been warming up to Trump. I worked at Meta for a year before Zuck laid off the whole safety-equity team (to bump the stock price and reduce protections, as far as I’m concerned).
November 28, 2024 at 3:46 PM
Zuckerberg met with Trump at Mar a Lago this week. Seems he’s been warming up to Trump. I worked at Meta for a year before Zuck laid off the whole safety-equity team (to bump the stock price and reduce protections, as far as I’m concerned).