EMU Today

YPSILANTI — A  2023 Washtenaw Community Survey revealed that many residents struggle to access essential services, such as medical care and affordable housing. In response, the Ypsilanti District Library (YDL) has selected Eastern Michigan University as the subcontractor for a three-year contract from Washtenaw County Community Mental Health. The contract will fund a full-time social worker to provide critical resources to the Ypsilanti community.

A dedicated library social worker will be available at three of YDL's branches to provide various services. These include information, support, referrals, and follow-through to individuals facing challenging life circumstances. The social worker will also assist patrons in accessing various community resources, from mental health and substance use services to housing, food, education, and other social services.

“For social workers to be effective, they need to meet people where they are,” said Margaret Ann Paauw, assistant professor of Social Work at EMU. “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 a full-time social worker is a testament to the success of a social worker student internship program that EMU and YDL established a few years ago with the support of Chelsea Muto, social work field coordinator for EMU and Paauw. This program has already made a significant impact, providing community members with essential resources at all three YDL locations. 

Furthermore, EMU School of Social Work professor Sarah Shea,  piloted a comprehensive five-module trauma training program for YDL staff in 2023-24. This initiative significantly enhanced library employees' responses to community members in crisis and sparked a keen interest among staff in further education on sustainable self-care and crisis intervention techniques.

As part of this new contract, Paauw will work with YDL to establish the social work program and conduct a pilot evaluation. Shea will design and implement ongoing trauma training and reflective consultation for YDL staff to address the impacts of secondary trauma exposure.  

For more information about EMU’s social work program, visit the webpage. 

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, EMU is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.