Michael Wolf-Branigin, MSW, PhD, PStat®

Michael Wolf-Branigin, MSW, Ph.D., PStat® is a Professor of Social Work at George Mason University. His research focuses on complex adaptive systems and their application to social work practice specifically with disabilities and behavioral health populations. These applications include developing new program evaluation methods, investigating the built environment using spatial analytic methods, and facilitating the discipline to move toward a complex systems orientation. He received his BA in psychology and sociology from Western Michigan University's Honors College, received a graduate diploma in economics from Stockholms Universitet, completed his MSW in social program evaluation from the University of Michigan, and earned his Ph.D. from Wayne State University in research and evaluation. 

For more than two decades Dr. Wolf-Branigin worked in the addictions and disabilities fields. He served to facilitate the deinstitutionalization of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities prior to working in planning, administrative, quality improvement, contracts management, and evaluative capacities relating to behavioral health services. Dr. Wolf-Branigin has consulted for governmental and non-governmental organizations in the United States and abroad. For 18 years, he served as an accreditation surveyor with CARF International. He is an Accredited Professional Statistician through the American Statistical Association, has a book published titled Using Complexity Theory in Research and Program Evaluation (Oxford University Press), has written over 50 peer-reviewed articles, and currently reviews and serves on the editorial boards of several academic journals. 

Research

Research Interests

• Intellectual/developmental disabilities and addictions

• Applications of complex systems theory in social service delivery 

Select Publications

• Lee, J. & Wolf-Branigin, M. (2019). Innovations in modeling social good.: A demonstration with juvenile justice intervention. Research on Social Work Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731519852151

• Allahyari, T. & Wolf-Branigin, M. (2018). Quality of life of adults with Down syndrome in Virginia. Journal of Down Syndrome & Chromosome Abnormalities, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.4172/2472-1115.1000128

• Inoue, M., Wolf-Branigin, M. & Wolf-Branigin, K. (2017). Dissemination of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder information by health professionals. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 17(3), 275-290. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1533256X.2016.1243124

• Kennedy, W. G., Ihara, E. S., Tompkins, C. J., Inoue, M., & Wolf-Branigin, M. E. (2015). Computation modeling of caregiver stress. Journal of Policy and Complex Systems, 2(1), 31-44.

• Pycroft, A. & Wolf-Branigin, M. (2015). Integrating complexity theory and social work practice: A commentary on Fish and Hardy. Nordic Social Work Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/2156857X.2015.1123459

• Ihara, E. S., Kennedy, W. G., Tompkins, C. J., & Wolf-Branigin, M. E. (2015). Long-term dementia care: Modeling the decision process. Proceedings of the 24th Annual Behavior Representation in Modeling and Simulation Conference (BRiMS), 59-62.

• Wolf-Branigin, M. (2013) Physical disabilities. Oxford Bibliographies in Social Work. http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195389678/obo-9780195389678-0190.xml?rskey=zrCmW4&result=105&q=

• Wolf-Branigin, M., LeRoy, B., Kwok, J., & Leung, S. K. Ng, H. S., So, C., Luk, R., & Wolf-Branigin, K. (2013). Comparing travel training innovations in the United States and Hong Kong. Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 12(4), 295-308. https://doi.org/10.1080/1536710X.2013.834785

• Wolf-Branigin, M. (2012). Introduction to complexity theory: A new research paradigm for social work. Journal of Social Service Research, 38(5), 580-581. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2012.723977

• Wolf-Branigin, K. & Wolf-Branigin, M. (2012). The price of specialized transportation: Does government policy decrease cost and increase community participation? TRANSED. Washington, DC: U.S. Transportation Research Board.

Book Chapters

• Wolf-Branigin, M., Kennedy, W., Ihara, E., & Tompkins, C. (2018). Chapter on "Applying Complexity Science to Social Programme Evaluation" In E. Mitleton-Kelly, A. Paraskevas, & C. Day (Eds) The handbook of research methods in complexity science and application. London: Edward Elgar.

• Wolf-Branigin, M. & Hirtz, K. (2017). Chapter on "The background and roles of The Salvation Army in providing social and faith-based services" In B. R. Crisp (Ed) Routledge handbook of religion, spirituality and social work (pp. 157-163). London: Rutledge.

• Wolf-Branigin, M. (2014). Chapter on "Disability Services." In L. H. Cousins (Ed.) Encyclopedia of human services and diversity. Los Angeles: Sage.

• Wolf-Branigin, M. (2014). Chapter on "Complexity and the Emergence of Social Work and Criminal Justice Programmes." In A. Pycroft & C. Bartollas (Eds.) Applying complexity theory: Whole systems approaches in criminal justice and social work (pp 79-96). Bristol, UK: Policy Press.

• Wolf-Branigin, M. & Campbell, S. (2008). Image manipulation project, Appendix # 5.2. In J. A. Regan, &. P. P. Freddolino (Eds.). Integrating technology into the social work curriculum (pp 41-43). Alexandria, VA: CSWE Press.

Books

• Wolf-Branigin, M. (2013). Using complexity theory in research and program evaluation. New York: Oxford University Press.

• Wolf-Branigin, M. Guest editor (2012). Special mini-issue on complexity theory in social work. Journal of Social Service Research, 38(5), 579-636.

• Feun, L., Harrison, S., & Wolf-Branigin, M. (2001). Collaborative action research in Michigan: A guide for implementation within the State Improvement Grant. Lansing, MI: Michigan Department of Education.

Honors and Awards

• Faculty Study Leave, Spring 2013, Provost’s Office, George Mason University
• Journal of Social Work Education: Best Reviewer, 2010, Council on Social Work Education
• Volunteer of the Year, 2007, The Salvation Army Harbor Light (SAHL), Washington, DC
• Outstanding Service Award, 2006, SAHL, Washington, DC
• Long-term Service - Field Instruction, 2002, University of Michigan, School of Social Work
• Outstanding Performer, 2001, CARF International
• Erdős Number of 5 (Felzenbaum, A. G., Hochberg, Y., Blair, R. C., Sawilowsky, S.), The Erdős Number Project
• Outstanding Leadership Award, 1999, The Salvation Army, Detroit, MI
• Award of Recognition, 1988, Detroit City Council

Affiliations

Degrees

• PhD, Evaluation and Research, Wayne State University
• MSW, Social Program Evaluation, University of Michigan
• Graduate Certificate Diploma, Economics and Social Welfare, Stockholms Universitet, Stockholm, Sweden, International Graduate School
• BA, Sociology and Behavioral Psychology (Minor: Social Work),, Western Michigan University