2009 Ph.D. Cohort at SSW Orientation
From left, Jen Keast, Suzie Weng, David McLeod, Jason Lowe, Bryan Boyles and Johnnie O'Neal
PhD Program Orientation
Program Director, Dr. Kia Bentley, with 2009 Cohort
Dean Ann Nichols-Casebolt, Program Director Kia Bentley and Doctoral Student Association President Katherine Filipic welcome 2009 PhD Cohort, faculty and guests at annual Welcome Dinner
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by Anita Petty, 2nd Year MSW Student
"How I spent my summer" is a common essay topic for this time of year as students return to school from the carefree days of summer vacation. I can honestly state that the summer of 2009 was one of the best of my life; never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that I would be fulfilling an internship in the executive branch of our government, the White House. This particular intern class was in itself unique, as it was the inaugural internship class of the Obama administration. One of the hallmarks of the administration, and reiterated by the President and First Lady repeatedly, is that the White House is the "people's house." It was encouraging to witness the manifestation of this sentiment in that the interns truly represented the picture of diversity that is America. A myriad of demographic indicators, the 2009 summer intern class included African Americans, Native Americans, European Americans, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, women, men, transgender, homosexuals, heterosexuals, the differently-abled, Ivy Leaguers, community college students, religious believers, atheists, military service members, traditional and non-traditional students alike. The composition of the class alone was enough to inspire a social work student like me who is looking for social justice and inclusiveness.
The Obama administration believes young people have the capacity to move America forward. This internship was developed to provide a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience, build leadership skills, and strengthen young adults' understanding of the Executive Office in order to prepare them for future public service opportunities. While I am a non-traditional student and, depending on the audience not always considered a "young adult," I appreciated the opportunity to work in the White House and for the Obama administration.
Intern assignments on any given day included conducting research, managing incoming inquiries, attending meetings, and writing memos. I was assigned to the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs which is responsible for building relationships with advocacy groups, non-governmental organizations, and all currently elected state officials. The Office of Public Engagement is also the primary channel through which the public relates to the White House. Staffers work with elected officials and advocates to ensure the President's agenda is supported. As an intern, I worked alongside two Deputy Associate Directors to build new and maintain current relationships with state elected officials and national advocacy leaders, prepared for presidential trips around the country, prepared for elected and advocacy group briefings in the White House, and assisted in other tasks as necessary.
There was never a dull moment this summer as current events such as the Supreme Court Justice nomination, and healthcare, education and energy reform, drove the schedule and my daily assignments. I had the opportunity to attend various meetings hosted by some of the most powerful people in America, and to hear the agenda from an insider point of view. I also attended a hearing on Capitol Hill to hear testimony by the leaders of Puerto Rico's political parties concerning HR 2499 - the Puerto Rican Democracy Act. Always looking for the social justice angle, I daresay I enjoyed the experience mostly because those who testified were passionate about a civil rights issue: being a U.S. "territory" is more like modern day colonization.
While every intern's experience varies depending upon office placement, all interns have the chance to supplement their time by attending a weekly lecture series with senior White House staff members. President Obama, First Lady Obama, Secretaries Clinton and Duncan, Chief of Staff Emmanuel, Senior Advisors Axelrod, Jarrett and Barnes, indicated the importance of inspiring this group of young leaders by taking time from their busy schedules to address the group of interns.
Interns also have the unique opportunity to volunteer to help with events hosted by the White House such as the 2009 Congressional Luau, the 4th of July event on the White House South Lawn and the Medal of Freedom ceremony in the East Room of the White House. I had the honor of serving at the 4th of July event where the President and First Lady honored some of the nation's service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. As a military retiree and regardless of my personal opinion of the wars we are fighting, I was proud to be a part of the Obama administration's effort to acknowledge the sacrifices made by service members and their families.
Embodying the diversity of the American public, interns serving at the White House also serve the American people. Although not at the forefront of the administration, interns make a significant contribution to the daily operations of the White House and without their commitment to service, the functions they support would not be complete. This was indeed a summer of service for me, and an enriching, unparalleled learning experience that I am sure I will be writing about for years to come.
The fifth annual Graduate Student Research Symposium was held April 21, 2009 with more than eighty graduate students taking part. Sharon Foreman-Kready, GSA Symposium Chair, and committee facillitated the day-long event. Read The View article and see more symposium photos in the GSA Photo Gallery.
Sharon Foreman-Kready, GSA Symposium Chair
Poster presentation by Linda Love, A survey research project examining VCU's MSW alumni knowledge of the current civil commitment legislation § 37.2-80, with Dr. Holly C. Matto at the 2009 Graduate Student Research Symposium
Jessica Jagger with poster, Why are children being restrained? Understanding current practice issues to develop targeted restraint reduction strategies
Dear Fellow Social Worker,
Are you interested in being a Field Instructor for the School of Social Work?
For the past several years we have witnessed a national shortage of the number of social workers necessary to address major social problems, especially the needs of children and the elderly. Center for Workforce Studies However, given the present state of the economy, soon-to-be undergraduates apply to graduate schools in anticipation of fewer available jobs and for those whose jobs are in jeopardy or even ended, others decide that now is the time to seek a graduate degree. So, it was no surprise that we have an increase in applications to our MSW program, as well as in the numbers of undergraduates who declared social work as their major. This is good news that we truly can make a difference by helping to address the work force shortage. The challenge is that, to respond to this increased demand for social work education, we have had to cap undergraduate enrollment and become more selective in MSW admissions, yet still grow our enrollment.
And for those who we admitted and who plan to enroll full time this fall, we now must ensure that we can offer the highest quality field agency placements. We hope that you will take a few minutes to consider whether or not you are ready to become a VCU field instructor, or to take more students if you already serve in this capacity.
Who is qualified to be a VCU field instructor?
We prefer that our field instructors have a minimum of two years of post-MSW work experience. Licensure is not required to field instruct, however.
What must an agency provide?
The answer is simple: An opportunity for the student(s) to meet the objectives of the field course which can be found in the Field Instruction Manual, page 46.
If you are interested, please go to the Field Instruction Manual, page 51, where you will find the standards for field instructors as well as for agencies and students.
What is gained through field instruction?
In addition to VCU library privileges, most of which are on-line, being a field instructor has other advantages:
Every fall new field instructor training is provided. Our continuing education opportunities are available to field instructors at a reduced rate and offer CEU's. We have greatly expanded our CE offerings. Agencies benefit from their relationship with the School of Social Work where an increasing number of faculty are providing agency consultation and assessment of needs and outcomes.
What we hear most is that, through the role of teacher as a field instructor, one's own knowledge and skill increases and the professional value of service is actualized.
At the end of each school year field instructors are invited to an appreciation luncheon, where, in addition to a fine meal, field instructors are provided with a rich opportunity to reunite with former friends and coworkers as well as network professionally.
How do I become a VCU field instructor?
Contact either Ms. Randi Buerlein (rwbuerle@vcu.edu; 804.827-4342 ) or Ms. Shanza Isom (isomsa@vcu.edu; 804.828-0188) to request that you and your agency be considered a field placement site. If you know a colleague who you would recommend, please encourage them to become a field instructor or forward the name to us to contact.
We appreciate your continued commitment to the VCU School of Social Work and its students.
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Welcome to our doctoral students who are currently teaching and serving as Faculty Liaisons in our Advanced Standing MSW Summer Program! The PhD Program Director and PhD faculty advisors have all supported the MSW Program teaching and liaison assignments. Neal Masri, a 2nd year student, is teaching a section of the ASP 608 Macro Practice Course in collaboration with Dr. David Fauri who has taught the course for several years. Robert Broce, a 3rd year student, is teaching a section of the 607 ASP Practice Course in collaboration with Dr. Delores Dungee- Anderson, who has taught this course for the past several years. New to the ASP program model is faculty field liaison, Jennifer Shadik, who will be entering her second year of doctoral study in the fall. Jennifer is assigned to serve as the liaison for 10 ASP students for the summer session. In addition, a grand total of nine (9) of our SSW PhD students will be teaching MSW Program Courses in the fall and spring 2009-10 semesters. Such a large number of students ready to assume adjunct faculty teaching roles at one time is an exciting first time occurrence for the MSW Program! We welcome the opportunity and privilege of the contributions from our outstanding and well-prepared doctoral students to MSW adjunct faculty teaching roles.
Spring 2009
BSW PROGRAM
Largest Senior Class to Graduate in 2009 The BSW program is strong with 280 students--and we anticipate graduating the largest senior class in the history of the program at the May 15th School of Social Work commencement.
Bridging the Gap BSW program representatives are in process of developing articulation agreements with both J. Sargeant Reynolds and John Tyler Community Colleges in order to facilitate Human Services Associate Degree holders' ability to more easily transfer into VCU's BSW professional curriculum and earn their undergraduate degree in social work.
MSW PROGRAM
New Trauma Elective Course A new trauma elective course, Social Work Practice with Trauma Survivors: Theory, Assessment and Intervention, has been approved by the MSW Program Committee. Students have expressed mounting excitement about the course and the opportunity to learn about the connection between trauma and problems in living. The course will be offered in the fall and spring semesters of the 2009-2010 academic year.
Alternative Course Formats The MSW Program heard the cry of its part time students! Dr. Lib Hutchison chaired the MSW Program Committee (2007) that surveyed our part time MSW students concerning their program needs. A strong collective student response was, "We need courses to be more accessible to us!" The MSW Program listened, and we now offer several courses in nonstandard delivery formats, e.g., online, hybrid (online/classroom) and on weekends. And, we are doing more! The Child Welfare Course and the School Social Work Course will be offered totally in online format beginning in the Fall 2009 semester.
MSW PROGRAM -- NoVA
In-residence Elective Course An exciting, innovative and intensive "In-Residence" elective course, Washington D.C. Seminar: Exploring the Policy Environment, is going to Washington, D.C. ! Dr. David Stoesz and NoVA campus "In-Residence" students will explore the national policy environment and political culture of our nation's capital in 5 fast-paced days! Students will visit national prominent Think Tanks and Advocacy Organizations to see first-hand policy practice at work! Course dates are June 1- 5, 2009.
Hutchison Retirement Announced Dr. Elizabeth Hutchison has announced that she will retire at the end of the current academic year, culminating a 22-year career with the VCU School of Social Work. Hutchison's invaluable contributions to the school as BSW Program Director (1987-89), a distinguished professor and effective student advisor in both the MSW and Ph.D. programs, and as field liaison, whose work took her expertise out of the classroom and into the community, and brought the community into her classroom in meaningful ways, are but a small part of her distinguished career.
Hutchison has provided outstanding curriculum development leadership, especially in areas of human behavior and the social environment [HBSE], and social justice and policy. A gifted author whose HBSE texts have guided our students, as well as students in social work programs across the country, she has embraced the intellectual challenge of presenting the interdisciplinary knowledge base necessary for social workers to gain the broad understanding of human behavior called for in a profession with so much breadth to it. Dr. Hutchison has brought integrity, dedication, leadership and excellence to the School and to the social work profession, and her campus presence will be greatly missed.
PhD PROGRAM
Virginia Graduate Student Research Forum Doctoral candidate Gerry S. Meeks was invited to represent VCU at the Fourth Annual Virginia Graduate Student Research Form held recently at the Library of Virginia in Richmond where representatives from Virginia's thirteen public universities made presentations before state legislators, other government officials and the general public. Meeks' poster presentation, Faith-based Social Services in Central Virginia, was well received, as the topic of faith-based public assistance organizations was of special interest given current unemployment and economic conditions.
Hans S. Falck Doctoral Dissertation Scholarship Natsuko "Nana" Ryosho, MSW, Doctoral Candidate, has been named recipient of the 2008-09 Hans S. Falck Doctoral Dissertation Scholarship. The $1,000 endowed scholarship is awarded annually to a student engaged in the dissertation phase of the Ph.D. program. Ryosho's research regarding improvement of quality of work life and quality of elder care will entail examination of factors affecting job satisfaction of long-term care workers. She will defend her dissertation proposal later this semester.
Phi Kappa Phi Scholarship Mariette Klein, a first year doctoral student, was recently awarded the 2009 Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Doctoral Scholarship Award for outstanding achievement in scholarship and leadership. Klein was Director of Volunteerism for AARP in Washington, D.C. before entering the Ph.D. program in Fall 2008.
FIELD INSTRUCTION
Student Intern Numbers Increase For Fall 2008/Spring 2009 we placed 496 students in more than 400 different agencies across the state and in Washington, D.C. and Maryland. With an expected additional 75 placements this summer, the number of students doing internships at VCU will have increased nearly 15% over the previous several years.
4th Annual Community Partners Appreciation Luncheon to be Held May 1st Over the years, VCU School of Social Work has been involved with the community in a variety of ways. We annually place more than 500 students in agencies across the state, offer continuing education training workshops to professionals both regionally and worldwide, assist agencies with program evaluations, as well as offer several international experiences for students and alumni. This annual event is an opportunity to celebrate these activities and to honor participating community partners. Save the date! Additional details will be posted to the announcements blog on the SSW website Field Instruction main page.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Save These Dates ! Continuing Education is offering three spring semester programs beginning March 27, 2009 with The Marriage of Neuroscience, Trauma and Dissociative Disorders, followed by the Pinkus-Schwartz Symposium: Therapy with Oppressed Families on April 24th, and Surviving in Challenging Times: Assessing, Sustaining, and Changing Programs and Organizations on May 1st. Program details can be found on the Continuing Education page of the SSW website.
Professional Development Webcasts Four professional development webcasts on topics related to Gerontology and Long-term Caregiving are in development and are expected to be launched later this semester. Sign up to become a member of the ListServ and receive email notification of all upcoming events and webcasts.