Episode 48 Abolitionist Social Work | Challenging the Status Quo with Dr. Alan Dettlaff

The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary Storytelling Podcast

In this compelling episode of The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary Storytelling Podcast, host Christian Ace Stettler engages in a transformative conversation with Dr. Alan Dettlaff, a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement within social work. Dr. Dettlaff shares profound insights into the challenges and aspirations of this transformative approach.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction and Background (0:00)
• The UpEnd Movement (5:00)
• Can Social Work be Abolitionist? (10:15)
• The Shift in the Abolition Movement (15:25)
• The Challenges of Social Work (20:50)
• The Role of Higher Education (22:09)
• The Future of Social Work (25:06)
• Challenges in Social Work Education (27:31)
• Removal as Dean (38:11)
• Concerns about Cop City (32:30)
• Israel-Palestine Conflict (44:59)
• Faculty Opposition (40:37)
• Responsibility to Talk About Palestine (44:52)
• Silencing and Challenging the System (47:43)
• Provocation and Pushback (50:01)
• Personal Experience and Questions (56:24)
• Preparing for a Future in Social Work (1:06:56)
• Supporting Parents in the Child Welfare System (1:08:25)
• The Harmful Effects of the Child Welfare System (1:12:01)
• The Power Imbalance in Child Welfare (1:16:05)
• Supporting Parents and Addressing Harm (1:20:43)
• Imagining a Future Without Oppressive Systems (1:24:25)

Meet Dr. Alan Dettlaff: Dr. Alan Dettlaff, a leading advocate for the abolitionist movement in social work, brings his extensive expertise to the discussion. He introduces us to the UpEnd Movement, dedicated to dismantling the child welfare system as a mechanism of family policing that perpetuates inequality. Dr. Dettlaff eloquently articulates the broader abolitionist mission to dismantle oppressive systems, including prisons, policing, and the child welfare system, to pave the way for a more just and equitable society.
Listen, learn, and let's revolutionize our approach to social work together.

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