Melanie Nadon
@mnadon.bsky.social
Postdoc at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work. Mixed methods researcher focused on how poverty, place, & race shape child welfare and social policy implementation and experiences. Lover of nature, gardening, cats, & crochet.
Pinned
Melanie Nadon
@mnadon.bsky.social
· Mar 3
I've been sitting on some good news & thought we could use some positive content... I am moving to #Detroit this fall to start a job as an assistant prof. at Wayne State University! Given the ongoing assault on higher ed/science, I feel so lucky & grateful to share this news! #academicsky #phdsky
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
We live in a country where the government honors insurrectionists who sacked the Capitol, and defines peaceful protest, even before it occurs, to be terrorism.
They know their position is weak, they know they are unpopular, which is why they are seeking to stamp out dissent.
They know their position is weak, they know they are unpopular, which is why they are seeking to stamp out dissent.
Mike Johnson: "We're so angry about it. I mean, I'm a very patient guy, but I've had it with these people. The theory we have right now -- they have a hate America rally that's scheduled for October 18 on the National Mall. It's the pro-Hamas wing and antifa people ... "
October 10, 2025 at 3:24 PM
We live in a country where the government honors insurrectionists who sacked the Capitol, and defines peaceful protest, even before it occurs, to be terrorism.
They know their position is weak, they know they are unpopular, which is why they are seeking to stamp out dissent.
They know their position is weak, they know they are unpopular, which is why they are seeking to stamp out dissent.
Thanks for the shout out, SSR!!
📣 Our September issue is live!
This issue’s free article, by Melanie Nadon, explores how place shapes street-level decision-making in child welfare investigations and ultimately affects outcomes for families.
@mnadon.bsky.social
🔗 Read it here!
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
This issue’s free article, by Melanie Nadon, explores how place shapes street-level decision-making in child welfare investigations and ultimately affects outcomes for families.
@mnadon.bsky.social
🔗 Read it here!
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Street-Level Disparities: How Place Shapes the Process of Frontline Child Welfare Investigations | Social Service Review: Vol 99, No 3
Abstract Street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) define policy implementation and outcomes through their direct interactions with clients and their discretionary decision-making. SLB choices, though generally...
www.journals.uchicago.edu
September 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Thanks for the shout out, SSR!!
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
Just Trump declaring war on a US city, a normal Saturday
September 6, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Just Trump declaring war on a US city, a normal Saturday
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
"Street-level disparities: How place shapes the process of frontline child welfare investigations" -- new research by Melanie Nadon @mnadon.bsky.social -- www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1...
University of Chicago Press Journals: Cookie absent
www.journals.uchicago.edu
August 5, 2025 at 3:53 PM
"Street-level disparities: How place shapes the process of frontline child welfare investigations" -- new research by Melanie Nadon @mnadon.bsky.social -- www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1...
I am thrilled to share my 1st peer reviewed dissertation article! I use qualitative data to explore the decision-making of frontline child welfare workers in urban, suburban, & rural areas. I find that place both directly & indirectly shapes worker choices. www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Street-Level Disparities: How Place Shapes the Process of Frontline Child Welfare Investigations | Social Service Review
Abstract Street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) define policy implementation and outcomes through their direct interactions with clients and their discretionary decision-making. SLB choices, though generally...
www.journals.uchicago.edu
July 31, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I am thrilled to share my 1st peer reviewed dissertation article! I use qualitative data to explore the decision-making of frontline child welfare workers in urban, suburban, & rural areas. I find that place both directly & indirectly shapes worker choices. www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
Faculty who wrote to defend their president and object to a DOJ investigation of their university...are now being investigated by the DOJ.
The most banal defense of free speech and academic freedom will trigger the full wrath of the US government now.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/u...
The most banal defense of free speech and academic freedom will trigger the full wrath of the US government now.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/u...
Faculty Support of George Mason’s President Draws Federal Investigation
www.nytimes.com
July 29, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Faculty who wrote to defend their president and object to a DOJ investigation of their university...are now being investigated by the DOJ.
The most banal defense of free speech and academic freedom will trigger the full wrath of the US government now.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/u...
The most banal defense of free speech and academic freedom will trigger the full wrath of the US government now.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/u...
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
This should terrify and enrage you.
This is an executive order that lays the groundwork for sending homeless people and people with mental illness to concentration camps to be "civilly committed." It was never going to stop with immigrants.
This is horrifying beyond words.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
This is horrifying beyond words.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose and
www.whitehouse.gov
July 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This should terrify and enrage you.
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
Here’s a New York Times photo of the Chicago “No Kings” rally. NYT said the march that followed spanned at least 10 blocks.
June 14, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Here’s a New York Times photo of the Chicago “No Kings” rally. NYT said the march that followed spanned at least 10 blocks.
Chicago's #NoKings protest today. Massive crowd, peaceful and powerful despite what the media will probably say. #Chicago #dumptrump
June 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Chicago's #NoKings protest today. Massive crowd, peaceful and powerful despite what the media will probably say. #Chicago #dumptrump
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
HAPPENING NOW: A MASSIVE crowd has gathered at Daley Plaza in Chicago for a “No Kings Day” rally against Donald Trump (Video: Luis Emora)
June 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
New #childwelfare op-ed: imprintnews.org/opinion/pove...
"Some have expressed concerns that families involved in the child welfare system will spend money recklessly... This is an old stereotype, and one that smacks of the myth of the welfare queen."
"Some have expressed concerns that families involved in the child welfare system will spend money recklessly... This is an old stereotype, and one that smacks of the myth of the welfare queen."
Poverty, Neglect, and Finding the Right Answers
It’s time for policymakers, advocates, clinicians and researchers to recognize the broad role that poverty plays in neglect.
imprintnews.org
June 2, 2025 at 5:14 PM
New #childwelfare op-ed: imprintnews.org/opinion/pove...
"Some have expressed concerns that families involved in the child welfare system will spend money recklessly... This is an old stereotype, and one that smacks of the myth of the welfare queen."
"Some have expressed concerns that families involved in the child welfare system will spend money recklessly... This is an old stereotype, and one that smacks of the myth of the welfare queen."
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
MAGAs ban Affirmative Action, ban foreign students from Harvard, yet embrace Legacy admissions, which is how 43% of white students are admitted—3/4 of whom don't qualify on merit
Banning qualified BIPOC & foreign students but accepting unqualified white students isnt meritocracy—its white supremacy
Banning qualified BIPOC & foreign students but accepting unqualified white students isnt meritocracy—its white supremacy
May 22, 2025 at 9:27 PM
MAGAs ban Affirmative Action, ban foreign students from Harvard, yet embrace Legacy admissions, which is how 43% of white students are admitted—3/4 of whom don't qualify on merit
Banning qualified BIPOC & foreign students but accepting unqualified white students isnt meritocracy—its white supremacy
Banning qualified BIPOC & foreign students but accepting unqualified white students isnt meritocracy—its white supremacy
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
this utterly clueless clown lecturing other people to “get your act together” lol
after announcing that foreign students are being banned from Havard, Noem warns "this should be a warning to every other university to get your act together."
May 22, 2025 at 9:38 PM
this utterly clueless clown lecturing other people to “get your act together” lol
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
Trump shut down a Biden-era program to end sewage backups into Alabama homes, labeling the infrastructure “illegal DEI.”
The White House also moved to end environmental justice in the EPA, which would hurt similar communities nationwide—the majority of which are where Trump supporters live.
The White House also moved to end environmental justice in the EPA, which would hurt similar communities nationwide—the majority of which are where Trump supporters live.
Trump Kills “DEI” Program Stopping Human Waste From Flooding in Homes
How in the world is this DEI?
newrepublic.com
May 2, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Trump shut down a Biden-era program to end sewage backups into Alabama homes, labeling the infrastructure “illegal DEI.”
The White House also moved to end environmental justice in the EPA, which would hurt similar communities nationwide—the majority of which are where Trump supporters live.
The White House also moved to end environmental justice in the EPA, which would hurt similar communities nationwide—the majority of which are where Trump supporters live.
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
Ok so yeah, this has quickly become the #1 misunderstanding about the canceled grants
the grants are not “subsidies” or “entitlements” to Harvard or Princeton or whatever
they aren’t going into universities’ endowments
they are competitive contracts won by these universities to do research
the grants are not “subsidies” or “entitlements” to Harvard or Princeton or whatever
they aren’t going into universities’ endowments
they are competitive contracts won by these universities to do research
There is a PR narrative quickly emerging about “entitlement” of elite universities, as if this $ is some sort of subsidy
Harvard & others must counter this quickly
The $ doesn’t flow into Harvard’s coffers - this is grant money, most of which goes to research the govt has agreed has social value
Harvard & others must counter this quickly
The $ doesn’t flow into Harvard’s coffers - this is grant money, most of which goes to research the govt has agreed has social value
April 18, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Ok so yeah, this has quickly become the #1 misunderstanding about the canceled grants
the grants are not “subsidies” or “entitlements” to Harvard or Princeton or whatever
they aren’t going into universities’ endowments
they are competitive contracts won by these universities to do research
the grants are not “subsidies” or “entitlements” to Harvard or Princeton or whatever
they aren’t going into universities’ endowments
they are competitive contracts won by these universities to do research
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
Please share! A U.S. born citizen has been arrested in Florida and placed in an ICE hold!! They want to transfer him to immigration detention DESPITE acknowledgment he is a citizen. This is happening in Leon County and we were at his hearing earlier this morning.
🚨A U.S. born citizen was arrested in Florida for entering the state as an “unauthorized alien.” His mother and a community advocate showed his birth certificate during a hearing in Leon County. The judge said she had no authority to release him.
April 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Please share! A U.S. born citizen has been arrested in Florida and placed in an ICE hold!! They want to transfer him to immigration detention DESPITE acknowledgment he is a citizen. This is happening in Leon County and we were at his hearing earlier this morning.
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
took a few days off for my brain and one pretty alarming observation i have is just how easy it is to not hear about the bad stuff that is happening if you don't explicitly dip into specific information streams (not a new problem but feels orders of magnitude more siloed than even 2-3 years ago)
April 15, 2025 at 5:49 PM
took a few days off for my brain and one pretty alarming observation i have is just how easy it is to not hear about the bad stuff that is happening if you don't explicitly dip into specific information streams (not a new problem but feels orders of magnitude more siloed than even 2-3 years ago)
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
There is, unfortunately, nothing more on brand for the Trump administration than canceling grants designed to combat violence against women.
New— Trump's crusade against the American Bar Association continues, this time terminating all grants via DOJ's Office of Violence Against Women.
This morning a webinar on trauma-informed representation was canceled moments before starting. ABA sent email attachment to participants (shared w/ me):
This morning a webinar on trauma-informed representation was canceled moments before starting. ABA sent email attachment to participants (shared w/ me):
April 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
There is, unfortunately, nothing more on brand for the Trump administration than canceling grants designed to combat violence against women.
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
trump is engaged in an open war against women who report domestic violence and assault and the media just don't consider it newsworthy. non profits that work on this are getting defunded left and right. the final nail in the coffin will be defunding legal services corp.
April 15, 2025 at 7:09 PM
trump is engaged in an open war against women who report domestic violence and assault and the media just don't consider it newsworthy. non profits that work on this are getting defunded left and right. the final nail in the coffin will be defunding legal services corp.
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
We fired a bunch of park rangers and cancer researchers to build concentration camps.
Request is for 13x the current annual custody budget. Not sure people are preparing for the scale of the domestic gulags this administration wants to build and how many more people will be snatched if this operation gets up and running.
this is a staggering amount of money to build camps—suggesting that building & running a gulag will be the primary function of the otherwise gutted Trump-state
in last fiscal yr: "D.H.S. allocated about $3.4 billion for the entire custody operation overseen by ICE"
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/u...
in last fiscal yr: "D.H.S. allocated about $3.4 billion for the entire custody operation overseen by ICE"
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/u...
April 8, 2025 at 7:20 PM
We fired a bunch of park rangers and cancer researchers to build concentration camps.
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
We're at "Richard Nixon was too woke"
Trump is set to freeze federal grants that provide birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing to low-income people "while it investigates whether the money was used for DEI efforts."
The Title X program—signed into law by Nixon—is literally about equity.
(via @paleofuture.bsky.social)
The Title X program—signed into law by Nixon—is literally about equity.
(via @paleofuture.bsky.social)
Exclusive | Trump Administration Plans to Freeze Family-Planning Grants
Tens of millions of dollars in federal funding for Planned Parenthood and other groups would be cut off while the administration examines their DEI efforts.
www.wsj.com
March 25, 2025 at 9:54 PM
We're at "Richard Nixon was too woke"
Lost amidst the chaos of Signalgate is this...
"'[I]t appears as though this is another one of the administration’s building blocks in an attempt to avoid having to face the voters in 2026'..."
www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
"'[I]t appears as though this is another one of the administration’s building blocks in an attempt to avoid having to face the voters in 2026'..."
www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Trump Signs Order in Attempt to Vastly Reshape U.S. Elections
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
March 25, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Lost amidst the chaos of Signalgate is this...
"'[I]t appears as though this is another one of the administration’s building blocks in an attempt to avoid having to face the voters in 2026'..."
www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
"'[I]t appears as though this is another one of the administration’s building blocks in an attempt to avoid having to face the voters in 2026'..."
www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Reposted by Melanie Nadon
Mahmoud Khalil released his first statement since he was unlawfully detained by ICE for his activism in support of Palestinian rights, and it's a must-read.
‘I am a political prisoner’: Mahmoud Khalil says he’s being targeted for political beliefs
Exclusive: Palestinian activist and green card holder speaks out from Louisiana detention for first time
www.theguardian.com
March 19, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Mahmoud Khalil released his first statement since he was unlawfully detained by ICE for his activism in support of Palestinian rights, and it's a must-read.
Called the capitol switchboard to tell my rep to oppose the #SAVEAct. A human answered the switchboard call and I was so taken aback I had to pause for a second...
ANYWAY, contact your reps and tell them no SAVE Act (HR 22). Link courtest of @aclu.org or call 202-224-3121 act.aclu.org/a/save-act
ANYWAY, contact your reps and tell them no SAVE Act (HR 22). Link courtest of @aclu.org or call 202-224-3121 act.aclu.org/a/save-act
Tell Your Representative: Vote NO on the SAVE Act!
The SAVE Act is a direct attack on voting rights, and we must stop it from passing!
act.aclu.org
March 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Called the capitol switchboard to tell my rep to oppose the #SAVEAct. A human answered the switchboard call and I was so taken aback I had to pause for a second...
ANYWAY, contact your reps and tell them no SAVE Act (HR 22). Link courtest of @aclu.org or call 202-224-3121 act.aclu.org/a/save-act
ANYWAY, contact your reps and tell them no SAVE Act (HR 22). Link courtest of @aclu.org or call 202-224-3121 act.aclu.org/a/save-act