How social workers use AI to help unhoused teens | Anamika Barman-Adhikari | TEDxMileHigh

For decades, social workers and researchers have grappled with the problem of high substance abuse among youth experiencing homelessness. Adolescents tend to resist help from adults, and peer-led groups (while often effective) can sometimes turn toxic and lead to more drug use. Anamika Barman-Adhikari shares how social workers can now harness the predictive power of AI to assess a teen's risk profile and place them in the group that best supports their mental health and long-term sobriety.

Dr. Anamika Barman-Adhikari is an associate professor of Social Work at the University of Denver. Her research focuses on preventing HIV & substance use among high-risk youth and other vulnerable populations. She studies how young people's social relationships, both in-person & on social media, shape their behavior. Her programs use innovative technology to improve social connections and prevent harmful behaviors. When she isn't geeking out about data and technology, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and watching movies with her husband and two daughters. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx