Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University (EMU) and the Ypsilanti District Library (YDL) have partnered to enhance social work services for the community, following a 2023 Washtenaw Community Survey that highlighted difficulties residents face in accessing essential services like medical care and affordable housing. The collaboration involves a three-year contract funded by Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, which will support a full-time social worker dedicated to providing critical resources at three YDL branches.

The library social worker will offer information, support, referrals, and follow-through assistance to individuals facing challenging circumstances. They will help patrons access various community resources including mental health and substance use services, as well as housing, food, education, and other social services.

Margaret Ann Paauw, assistant professor of Social Work at EMU stated: “For social workers to be effective, they need to meet people where they are. Many traditional clinic-based services are difficult to access, but by placing social workers in non-traditional settings like libraries, we can bridge that gap and connect people to vital resources.”

The funding for this initiative builds on the success of an earlier student internship program established by EMU and YDL with support from Chelsea Muto and Paauw. This program has already made a significant impact across all three YDL locations.

In addition to these efforts, Sarah Shea from EMU's School of Social Work piloted a comprehensive five-module trauma training program for YDL staff during 2023-24. This training improved staff responses to community members in crisis and encouraged further education on sustainable self-care and crisis intervention techniques.

Under the new contract terms, Paauw will collaborate with YDL on establishing the social work program while conducting a pilot evaluation. Shea will continue designing ongoing trauma training sessions for library staff aimed at addressing secondary trauma exposure impacts.

For more information about EMU’s social work program or Eastern Michigan University itself—founded in 1849 as Michigan's second oldest public university—visit their respective websites.