2012 Climb Up the Ladder to Success in Social Work

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School of Social Work Chester Building - 3rd Floor 2300 Chester Ave Cleveland, OH 44114-3696 216-687-4560 P 216-687-5590 F bsw@csuohio.edu msw@csuohio.edu www.csuohio.edu/socialwork

School of Social Work Newsletter

Reviewed and Edited by: Prof. Edith Anderson and MSW Student Andrew Arbogast Graphic Editor: Audrey Wiggins

Highlights MESSAGES FROM THE: DIRECTOR ......................................................................... .2

PROVOST .............................................................. ……….….2

DEAN OF CLASS ................................................................. 2

MSW PROGRAM DIRECTOR .............................................. 3

BSW PROGRAM DIRECTOR ............................................... 3

FACULTY NEWS ................................................................. 4

WELCOME NEW STAFf…………………………………………………..7

STUDENT NEWS ................................................................ 8 Meetings with President Obama ............................. 8

ALUMNI COMMENTS ...................................................... 10

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK VISITING COMMITTEE ......... 11

CONTINUING EDUCATION DIVISION .............................. 11

SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE .............................................. 12

CUYAHOGA COUNTY CONFERENCE……………………………..12

BOARD ACCREDITATION FOR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELING PROGRAM ................................................ 13

DR. ELIZABETH LEWIS SCHOLARSHIP .............................. 14

ENTERLINE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP……..……………..14

DR. RALPH BRODY MEMORIAL HONOR SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP……………………………………………………………...15

PHI ALPHA NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK HONOR SOCIETY.15

CAREER SERVICES ....................................................... .…15

CSU LIBRARY…………………………………………………..…………...15

PEACE CORPS……………………………………………………….….……16

A TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR MARY STRATTAN….. ...... ..….17

IN MEMORY OF JUDITH NAGEL……………………………….…..17

IT’S ABOUT THE STUDENTS………………………………………….18

PICTORIAL ………………………………………………………………….…19

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Message from the Director Murali D. Nair

Last year carved into history as a time of economic hardship for millions of people. As practitioners, students, and educators, we should be raising the question of how to be

helpful to those in need. What can you do? What can I do? What can we do together to help ease the burden of this situation? We cannot simply talk about how awful things are without some concrete action toward the betterment of our fellow human beings.

As we read newspapers, listen to news, and read web sites, there are numerous examples describing what can be done. Will you be able to see your action listed among the many responses? Will you be able to see your professional or personal response from the perspective of humanity? When you look back into the past years, will you be able to remember good deeds or non-action?

Whether the issue is one of economic disparity or other human limitations, social workers are persons with expertise. We are available and ready to assist those in need, regardless of the circumstance. We stand ready to enter any system requiring our assistance. We maintain our involvement until the system is ready to become independent or self- sustaining. Self enhancement and independence are goals to reach toward.

I sincerely hope that all of us will gain knowledge and insight regarding the true meaning of the social work profession during the coming years. Social work is an engaging profession and advocates for those in need therefore; let us prepare to be the very best.

Message from the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Geoffrey S. Mearns

With the start of a new year upon us, I would like to welcome you back to campus. CSU is committed to attracting, retaining, and graduating a student population that reflects the diversity of the Northeast Ohio community. In September 2010, CSU’s Board of Trustees approved the Diversity Action Plan prepared by the President’s Council on Diversity. This plan provides a

roadmap and a commitment to the University’s mission to encourage excellence, diversity, and engaged learning. The full report can be found online at www.csuohio.edu/committees/diversity/actionplan.pdf.

This commitment is exemplified in the School of Social Work, which is a strong and vibrant program in our university. In fact, the MSW program is the largest graduate program in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

With this in mind, I am impressed by the hard work and dedication of our students to serve the needs of our community and to participate in service-learning activities that will enhance their academic experience and prepare them for a professional career in social work. Each year, our students spend about 5,000 hours per semester participating in outreach activities to non-profit organizations as part of their field experiences. This relationship between the University and the Greater Cleveland community serves an important purpose and helps to advance the individual and collective goals of our campus community.

I encourage all graduating seniors and alumni to take advantage of the computer-based review sessions offered by the School to practice for the state social work licensure exam. Passing the exam is an important step and a notable accomplishment toward obtaining a successful and rewarding career in the field of social work. Best wishes for continued success.

Message from the Dean of CLASS Dr. Gregory Sadlek Spring came early this year. It’s a time of renewed life and hope, and most of us are feeling uplifted by the unseasonably mild

weather. But many of our friends and neighbors—those who are still out of work, those caught in poverty, those who suffer from debilitating personal problems, those whose families or neighborhoods do not function as well as they should—may not experience the same feelings of well being that the rest of us take for granted each spring. But that is where social workers play a key role, for it is the role and mission of social workers to reach out to the least fortunate among us and nurture conditions making those springtime feelings of renewed life and hope possible.

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That’s why social work is such a noble profession. Social workers exemplify the best our society offers, and social work students are models of CSU’s most intense “engaged learning.” So I welcome you back, and wish you continued success in your hope-affirming studies.

MSW Program Director Dr. Maggie Jackson

The Joint MSW Program began in 1995 with twenty-four students, twelve from Cleveland State University and twelve from The

University of Akron. This was a joyous moment as it represented the culmination of two faculties working for a common goal. Each school wanted to offer the MSW degree and the Board of Regents at that time, was not granting permission for new programs in universities within a 50 mile radius of one another. The idea of a joint program was born out of the desire to provide an opportunity for the MSW degree to be earned for our graduates, many of whom were personnel in community agencies. The Joint Program has grown and graduates are in leadership roles across Northeast Ohio.

We celebrate the growth and development of this joint effort. The key recipients of this effort are those agencies who have enhanced their service delivery systems. The gratitude shared and provided through feedback, overwhelmingly affirms the importance of this program. The supports provided by graduates enable persons to enhance their well-being. Through the helping process, impacting the lives of all of humanity of Northeast Ohio, graduates are creating means for the ordinary persons to lead extraordinary lives. The faculty and staff of the Joint MSW Program are to be congratulated for their commitment to students. These tireless giants work daily to provide students with firm foundations of knowledge, values, and skills. They want to ensure the readiness of students as they enter the work of a professional social work practitioner. There is understanding that students will always be the best public relations entity. If our graduates are satisfied customers, this message will be given as they move through the professional community. What a joy for us to know that messages given have been positive. Applauses are earned by faculty and staff and they have labored to ensure the development of graduates and have instilled the importance

of being proud of one’s work. Seventeen years have passed since the beginning, what a great celebration to be had if the next seventeen years yield such sweet outcomes. As we reflect upon the past, we see this as a milestone for the Joint MSW Program.

BSW Program Director Dr. Christopher Mallet Welcome to the BSW Program Corner. As part of your School leadership team, with Dr. Murali Nair as our School Director and Dr.

Maggie Jackson as our MSW Director, I am pleased to highlight a number of areas within our undergraduate Program. We are continuing to be a strong BSW program with over 360 social work majors who are learning and being trained across scores of different social service disciplines. The depth and breadth of our students’ work, and their eventual entry into the profession, are quite impressive - helping children, youth, adults, and seniors with difficulties ranging from the impact of poverty and disenfranchisement, addictions, mental health problems, school failure, health care needs, community disorganization, housing problems, and many other areas. Most BSW Majors take the state social work license examination, and the BSW Program has been integrating licensure training into the senior year course work; in addition, the School offers a licensure examination training program. So, seniors and alumni, be sure to participate in these computer-based review sessions where you can assure yourself of passing the exam the first time! To do this, contact the social work office at (216) 687-4560 or email socialwork@csuohio.edu. Do your best, and do it thoughtfully.

Field Coordinator Professor Valerie Treisch-Chirdon

During Spring Semester 2012, the Field Education program has approximately 221 BSW and MSW

students combined completing internships throughout Northeastern Ohio. Social work students contribute 16 hours per week for 15 consecutive weeks equaling a total of 80, 970 hours of internship in a single semester! These internship placement sites range from court systems, prisons, habilitation and rehabilitation centers and hospitals

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to employee assistance programs, congressional districts and a disaster management site. Not to mention, both public and charter schools, mental health organizations, nursing homes, supportive housing programs, child welfare system, and homeless shelters.

The Social Work Major is one that is comprehensive, all inclusive and far- reaching throughout the community. Our most recent addition this past year has been the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s Employee Assistance Program under the supervision of the Manager of Talent Acquisition and Employment, a MSW graduate of Columbia University. In addition, ongoing collaboration occurs on a regular basis to integrate changes, expansions and contraction of service delivery. A recent meeting was held at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus to identify the various hospital sites wanting students for next Fall Semester 2012.

The Field Education Program is always on the hunt for new and innovative internship practicum sites for our students. For example, a recent collaboration meeting was held last week with the chief magistrate and staff attorney of a Cleveland Municipal Court – Housing Court to discuss the need for social work interns to assist in dealing with defendants in need of mental health services and or linkage to resource assistance as a result of “hoarding behaviors” bringing them in front of the court for possible eviction.

The Field Education Program hosts two separate Field Convocations at the BSW level in the Fall and Spring Semesters for all BSW students currently in field settings and their agency field instructors. Field instructors are awarded free Continuing Education Credits for their attendance and their invaluable and free contribution of time in mentoring new students in the profession of social work. Field instructors are required to spend minimally 1 hour of face-to-face supervision with a student each week for 15 consecutive weeks totaling a minimum of 3,315 hours of their time in a single semester. The Spring BSW Field Convocation is scheduled for Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Student Center.

In addition to Field Convocations, the Field Education Program hosts Field Instructor Training Sessions each year at both the BSW and MSW levels in order for agency field instructors to understand the requirements in the student completion of a learning contract to understanding practice behaviors and competencies as mandated by the Council on

Social Work Education. Once again, field instructors are awarded free Continuing Education Credits for their voluntary time and commitment to students.

FACULTY NEWS Dr. Edward McKinney, Professor and Former Chair of the School of Social Work intend to retire at the end of the Spring semester 2012 after 31 years of dedicated service. Over the years he

has been a mentor to thousands of social work students and faculty members. He is a two time Fulbright scholar, instrumental in establishing social work degree programs in Kenya (1998-1999) and Botswana (1988-1989). Dr. McKinney was a “Scholar in Residence” at the University of Botswana from 2007-2008.

Dr. McKinney served two terms on the Council of Social Work Education. Dr. McKinney played a significant role in the growth and development of the Social Work profession.

One of his graduate students Veda N. Wise reflects: “Dr. McKinney is a Professor who creates a lasting impression. I have had the opportunity to experience his teaching and instruction both in the classroom, and as a Graduate Assistant. Each opportunity has provided me with educational AND inspiring experiences."

My first course at CSU was on Social Welfare Policy I with Professor McKinney. While fulfilling the academic requirements of the MSW program, Dr. McKinney helped me to become equipped with tools to make effective changes in our society.

While working with Dr. McKinney as a Graduate Assistant, I have witnessed the role of a true Social Worker, who continually empowers his students to work at their full potential. Students are clearly informed, grades are given according to performance, and encouragement—to seek past textbook knowledge—is given liberally. This experience has increased my appreciation and gratitude for the high expectations he has for his students.

I believe, that like myself, every student who has experienced the instruction of Dr. McKinney has received a seed of inspiration to excel beyond Cleveland State University to create change.

Thank you Dr. McKinney for the inspirational attributions to my tablet!”

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Dr. Craig Boitel chairs the social work licensure committee which was created in August 2011. In this initiative he has been examining how to better prepare our students for the licensure examination. With the students’ helpful feedback we have

begun to implement several steps to assist them in this important endeavor. Dr. Boitel and Laurentine Fromm, M.D. have submitted two articles on Field Education as a Signature Pedagogy and another on Using First-Person Narratives in Teaching Mental Health Practice. They have also submitted a paper proposal on Signature Pedagogy to the Council on Social Work Education's annual fall conference. Dr. Boitel and Linda Quinn, PhD, from the CSU Department of Mathematics are busy at work on another manuscript on Measuring Learning in Field Education.

Along with Dr. Stoddard-Dare and Dr. Mallett, Dr. Boitel is the third author of “Association Between Mental Health Disorders and Juveniles Detention for a Personal Crime,” an article that will be published in an upcoming issue of The Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health.

Dr. Michael A. Dover served as the coordinator of the second Annual Cuyahoga County Conference on Social Welfare held on March 23, 2012 at the CSU Student Center. Each year more than 450 professionals and students participate at this successful

conference. In the past he has served as Guest Editor of a special issue of Reflections on Social Work and the Workplace. Dr. Dover was selected as the “Social Worker of the Year 2012” by region 3 of the National Association of Social Workers.

Dr. Larry Foster is lead and corresponding author on the research article “Validating the Positive Impact of In-Hospital Lay Care-Partner Support on Patient Survival in Allogeneic BMT (Bone Marrow Transplant): A Prospective Study,”

which is in review in the peer reviewed medical journal Bone Marrow Transplant. The article is pivotal in his research at the Cleveland Clinic as it is based on five years of longitudinal research that validates findings from his prior retrospective research; the psychosocial risk factor of having an in-hospital lay-care-partner was found comparable to biomedical risk factors. Dr. Foster is also co-author on four recently published research abstracts: 1)

“Comparison of Quality of Life Outcomes and Psychosocial Functioning Between Patients Undergoing Myeloablative or Reduced-Intensity Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Myeloid Malignancies,” Blood. 2) “Optimal Duration and Frequency of In-Hospital Lay Care-Partner Support for Positive Impact on Patient Survival in Allogeneic BMT,” Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 3) “The Relative Importance of Inpatient Lay Care-Partners to Patient Illness Adjustment in Allogeneic BMT,” Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 4) “Quality of Life and Psychosocial Functioning After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (allo-HSCT) from Matched Sibling Compared to Unrelated Donors,” Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Dr. Foster recently presented a workshop for social workers at the Wade Park Veterans Administration Hospital in Cleveland and served as panel moderator on health care for the 3rd Annual Community Based Practice Conference at the Friendly Inn Settlement in Cleveland. He will be presenting latest findings from his care-partner research, conducted collaboratively with Cleveland Clinic, at the 28th Annual Conference of Association of Oncology Social Work, Boston, MA; this presentation links the psychosocial variable of lay care-partner (CP) status to the medical outcome of patient survival. Revealed are cut-points in frequency and duration of CP in-hospital visits that best predict patient survival, as are elements in the CP-patient relationship that have survival value. Dr. Foster was recently invited to serve as a grant reviewer for institutional internal grants program at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and he reviewed a grant proposal titled Coordinated Care to Improve Symptoms of Blood & Marrow Transplant Treatment. He continues to serve as consulting editor for the NASW Journal, Social Work, and recently was invited to serve as a reviewer for the Journal of Nursing Education and Practice (JNEP), an international peer reviewed academic journal. He also continues to serve as a non-discipline mentor for a McNair Scholar who is a Health Science major and serves on the Dissertation Committee for a doctoral student in the College of Education and Human Services. Dr. Foster is a Family Support Group Facilitator for the Living with Transplant Support Group; this group is a collaboration with Cleveland Clinic, University Hospital, and The Gathering Place, under the auspices of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Northeast Ohio Chapter.

Dr. Andrew Edwards presented a paper “Divorce Recovery: Moving From Despair and Confusion to Emotional and Spiritual Renewal” at the National Association of Christian Social Workers at their 61st Convention in Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania on October 21, 2011.

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Dr. Edwards is the co-writer of a mini-grant funded by the Cleveland Foundation which is now in its second year. The grant, Project ACCESS: Capacity Building is for faith-based social service organizations. Fellowship Human Development Center was the recipient of the grant. The grant provided for computer hardware, software, fiscal consultation, and tuition for staff to pursue graduate study in social work.

Dr. Edwards has initiated a study which focuses on values and value conflict. The name of the project is, “An Exploratory Study of Personal Values and Value Conflicts for Social Workers and Social Work Students.” The study is now in the data collection stage.

The other writing project which Dr. Edwards is pursuing is his book entitled After Divorce: Despair, Confusion or Emotional and Spiritual Renewal. It is intended to be a supplement to HBSE: Micro as well as Social Work Interventions and Social Work Practice with Families and Children.

Dr. Lonnie R. Helton was promoted to full professor in the fall of 2011. Dr. Helton is chairing the University Strategic Planning Committee and also took the leadership in developing the CLASS Diversity Committee, which he currently chairs.

This new ad hoc committee is comprised of faculty from the major academic divisions of CLASS. He continues to serve on the Minority Affairs Committee. Dr. Helton continues to advise the Master of Social Work Student Association. He has been chosen by the CSU MSW students to be the faculty speaker at the May 3, 2012 MSW Graduation Celebration.

Dr. Helton and Dr. Maggie Jackson continue to work on a textbook manuscript, Social Work Practice with Families: Diverse Perspectives in Assessment and Intervention, to be published by Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. Dr. Helton’s recent publication is now available through the online journal, The Journal of Contemporary Rural Social Work: Helton, L.R. (2010). Faculty Perceptions of Differences Between Teaching Appalachian and Urban Social Work Students, Journal of Contemporary Rural Social Work, 2, 66-74.

Dr. Helton presented a paper entitled, “Oral Histories of Older Women of Appalachian Heritage: Stories of Urban and Rural Life” at the Annual National Appalachian Studies Association Conference at Indiana University of Pennsylvania on March 23, 2012. He has also submitted a paper proposal for the National Oral History Association Conference for fall, 2012.

Dr. Helton is an active member of the Appalachian Studies Association and a member of the Rural Social Work Caucus. He is also a member of the Ohio Association of Appalachian Studies Faculty in Higher Education. He is developing a special topics elective course for the MSW program entitled, “Appalachia and Persons of Appalachian Cultural Heritage: Implications for Social Work Policy and Practice.”

Dr. Maggie Jackson, MSW Program Director, is a member of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities. She is the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (Delaware). At the national level, she is vice president of the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. She serves on the Board of Trustees of Northwestern College (Iowa). At the international level, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of Africa University of Zimbabwe. She serves as chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Dr. Christopher A. Mallett serves as the BSW Program Director. He has continued his scholarly productivity in the area of child and youth disabilities (mental health, substance abuse, special education, and trauma victimization) and the link from these difficulties to juvenile delinquency. He has five publications, three co-authored with Dr Patricia Stoddard-Dare; two book chapters, Mental Health Issues of Child Maltreatment and Specialized Detention Facilities; a Technical Assistance Training Brief, 7 Things Every Juvenile Court Should Know About Learning Disabilities, that is being distributed to juvenile courts nationwide. He has one book forthcoming in Summer 2012 Youth with Disabilities, Detention, and Incarceration: From Punishment to Rehabilitation, Lynne Reinner Publishers. In addition, Dr. Mallett has been invited to present this research at national conferences (The American Society of Criminology; American Public Health Association; The Society for the Study of Social Problems) and state-wide trainings for juvenile court judges, magistrates, and other personnel (Family Court of Delaware; The North Dakota Supreme Court).

Dr. Murali Nair is the principal author (along with Dr. Pratt) of a new book Engaged Learning, Gregory Publishers, Wheaton, IL. Columbia University School of Social Work selected Dr. Nair to be inducted into their Alumni Hall of Fame at a special function on May 4, 2012.

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Dr. Stoddard-Dare has co-authored four articles that have been accepted for publication since the last newsletter: Welch-Brewer, C., Stoddard-Dare, P.A., and Mallett, C.A. (2011). Race, substance abuse, and mental health disorders as predictors of juvenile court outcomes:

Do they vary by gender? Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 28 (3), 229-240. Mallett, C.A., Fukushima, M., Stoddard-Dare, P., and Quinn, L. (2011). Significant race differences in factors related to the detention of youthful offenders. Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice. In Press. Mallett, C. A., Stoddard Dare, P., Quinn, L. (2011). Significant gender differences in factors related to the detention of youthful offenders. Women & Criminal Justice. In Press. Mallett, C. A., DeRigne, L., Quinn, L., and Stoddard Dare, P. (2011). Discerning reported suicide attempts within a youthful offender population. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behaviors Journal. In Press.

Dr. Stoddard-Dare continues to serve as the coordinator for the Chemical Dependency Certificate Program.

Dr. Mamadou Seck has successfully submitted a proposal for the XXXIV Annual International Symposium of the AASWG, Long Island, New York, June 14th to June 17th, 2012. He will focus his presentation on his analysis of the

“Outcome of Social Work students’ Group Work Field Research”. Dr Seck has been doing the groundwork for a Study abroad program in Africa, so CSU students could experience Africa and African cultures for three weeks; this is in line with a web course he is teaching entitled “The African American Experience in a Contemporary Society”. He has also been advising “Social Work in Action”, a student association committed to provide students with leadership skills through volunteering within the University, in community agencies, and other organizations. Dr Seck has been selected by the National Institute on Aging to attend a summer training workshop on African American Aging which will be held June 6th- 8th at the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR) University of Michigan.

Professor Julius Simmons continues his advocacy work in the area of prison reform. He facilitates parenting groups for incarcerated women. At present he is involved in analyzing written and tape-recorded autobiographies and life histories of

incarcerated men and women to understand their pathway to prison and the impact of prison on them, and developing a compilation of poetry, drawings, and personal narratives of incarcerated women. Professor Simmons has been collecting poetry, personal narratives, and drawings of detained youth and incarcerated men and women for over thirty years.

Dr. George S. Tsagaris is the National Juvenile Court Services Association’s (NJCSA) President –Elect. He is also the Editor of Rapport Newsletter – the official newsletter of NJCSA which circulates nationally among juvenile justice practitioners.

Dr. Tsagaris has developed two-week training modules in staff supervision, staff development and supervising diverse staff for certification in a Professional Juvenile Justice management Program sponsored by NJCSA funded by a grant through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

Dr. Tsagaris is the Coordinator of the School of Social Work Continuing Education Program.

Prof Marsha Mitchell-Blanks, Adjunct Faculty, published a new article as a chapter of a book (along with Rivera-Mosquera and Lopez-Garcia), “The Future of Immigrant Families Working with Immigrant Families: A Practical Guide

for Counselors.” Edited by Adam Zagelbaum,and Jon Carlson. Publisher: Routledge, 2011

WELCOME NEW STAFF The School of Social Work would like to introduce the newest members of our staff

Lori O’Laughlin: Administrative Assistant I Ms. O’Laughlin is the secretary for Dr. Murali Nair. She participates in coordinating the work of the support staff and students. She joined the Cleveland State staff after extended

experience in working in various colleges and universities. Ms. O’Laughlin was the Administrative Support Assistant and Graduate Program Assistant in the Department of Communication Studies and Journalism California State University, Sacramento, CA. In this experience she

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coordinated activities in communication studies and the graduate program. Upon returning to Cleveland, she worked as the Executive Assistant in the Office of the Dean at Lake Erie College. Ms. O’Laughlin’s wealth of experience and knowledge has been demonstrated in the manner in which she has functioned with the School of Social Work. She states that she welcomes the opportunity to work in the School of Social Work at Cleveland State University and that she enjoys working with the students. The faculty, staff, and students appreciate the skills and talents that Ms. O’Laughlin brings to us.

Aubrey Wiggins: Secretary

Ms. Wiggins comes to us with over 25 years administrative and event planning experience, and has been with the University for nearly five years. She was administrative assistant with the Greater Cleveland

Educational Development Center in the College of Education and Human Services, and worked previously with the CSU Honors Program where she was recognized for her graphic design expertise and was asked to serve as staff adviser for Honors Newsletter Writing Course for three years, and as guest speaker for the Learning Community promoting entrepreneurship. The School of Social Work is pleased to have Ms. Wiggins as part of our team.

Linda Johnson Crowell, Ph.D, MSSA: Coordinator of the University Partnership Program with The Child Welfare Initiative

Dr. Crowell joins the School of Social Work at Cleveland State University with a wealth of experience in various universities

and agencies. She most recently worked with the joint MSW program with Cleveland State University and the University of Akron as a faculty member where she taught courses in research, racism, and policy. Dr. Crowell worked with Case Western Reserve University Mandel School of Social Work as Research Associate and Director of Admissions and Career Services. Prior to her work with universities, she has extensive experience with the protective services area of Cuyahoga County Department of Human Services. While all of these experiences prepared Dr. Crowell for the Coordinator of the University Partnership Program, her demonstrated experience at Child Welfare will serve her well in this position. She developed knowledge, skills and values in working with children in

need of protective services. Her responsibility of coordinating the University Partnership Program will require her to work directly with county child welfare agencies in Northeast Ohio. This is a funded scholarship program which gives her an opportunity to work with those students who have been accepted to enter this field of practice.

The School of Social Work is honored to have the expertise that Dr. Crowell has in the field of child welfare.

STUDENT NEWS Meetings with President Obama Students from the School of Social Work were invited to attend the conference and Round Table Meetings with President Obama and members of the White House Cabinet when they visited Cleveland State University a few weeks ago. Beth Litz, a BSW major and President of Social Work in Action was honored to attend the White House Roundtable with Youth Leaders. The meeting was lead by Kalpen Modi, Assistant Director of Public Engagement and Liaison to Young Americans. In attendance were a few other student s from Cleveland State University and leaders from the external community. The agenda covered: 2011 overall concerning the issues, advocacy, and engagement of today’s youth. The White House asked opinions on “What issues matter to you most?” “What are you working on?” and “What can we do to help you in your efforts?”

Some of the initiatives that were discussed regarding the cost of education were tax credits, FAFSA simplification, and loan forgiveness. A large portion of time was spent on Start-UP America, Women Across, America Program, the Private and Non-Profit Sectors, Green Companies, and Entrepreneurship. Ways to engage in the opportunities and programs and staying current with the White House efforts as well as keeping them involved in local efforts was also an item of discussion. A permanent link has been establishes as well as an invitation for student to join the network

President Obama’s Closing Forum Elisabeth Korosec, MSW student & President, Social Work Honor Society Member

“Winning the Future, A Forum on Small Business” was President Obama’s third visit to CSU since his 2008 campaign. On this visit he was accompanied by members of his Cabinet. The visit was organized into opening statements, breakout sessions and closing remarks. Each breakout session was led by a member of the Cabinet. The breakout sessions were smaller groups of attendees that addressed separate issues. In each session, small business

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owners discussed areas of opportunity to be more successful.

When I heard that I was among the students chosen to attend the Closing Forum, I was overjoyed. As a social worker, it is a part of our work to understand political policies that affect human needs. This requires us to be attentive to issues in local, state, and federal political arenas in order to promote social change on behalf of our clients comprised of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Observing a political forum at the Presidential level was a great learning experience.

On a personal note, I must have spent most of the previous night deciding on an outfit. Watching people arrive for the closing forum at the Wolstein Center was fascinating. Everyone was taking pictures of themselves in front of the stage where the President was to speak. The room was filled with anticipation. Obviously, the most thrilling part of the experience was the President’s speech. I never imagined ever seeing the President in person. He was a very charismatic speaker and at times humorous. It was easy to see that he embodied the unique qualities of a national leader. Foremost, it was an experience I will always remember and cherish. My Experience in Spain

Melinda Carmenm, MSW Student I would like to share my experience of travelling overseas. I stayed in Spain with a host family. My host-mother Ana treated me like a member of her own family. She would come home from work during her siesta every afternoon and we would eat together. She also took a special interest in helping my conversational development and took care of me by providing a good home environment.

In Spain art is everywhere. Museums, castles, paintings, statues, knights, swords, ancient architecture and beautiful geographic gardens are found all over the country. Graffiti art is elaborate and detailed. An interesting cultural tradition found in Spanish cities is the plaza, which is a large circular building that is open in the middle and has entrances all around the outside. Inside people shop, eat, watch the street performers, or just sit and relax. Conas y Tapas is another tradition only found in Spain. People come together and drink small glasses of beer called conas alongside mini-appetizer platters called tapas.

In Spanish culture it is not considered rude to stare. You will notice in your peripheral vision someone looking at you and when you turn to look at them and expect them to break their gaze first, you will always loose the staring contest. People will not look away. As an American, I

found this difficult to get used to. I would look at someone and wait for them to look away, but it was not like that. I wondered how obvious it was that I was an American. Becoming immersed in a culture where so many foreign languages are spoken every day, has sparked my interest and I find that now I enjoy hearing people speak in different languages. Learning a second language is quite impressive, but when people become fluent in three and four languages, it is hard to think of a more worldly and wise individual. Art Expressions Ruzanna Tovmasyan, BSW Student Assistant Treasurer, Student Government Association and Chair of Diversity Committee President, Trinity Love Social work students should get involved in the arts because social work is an art. You need to be creative in order to truly help people. Speaking at someone will not help everyone, but relating to them in artistic ways may open doors to rehab and treatment for them. I help students to learn how to act, dance, sing and recite poetry. This helps them feel like they have a sense of control over something. It empowers them too feel that they can accomplish something in their life which leads them to work up to bigger goals. Also, knowing the arts will help you be culturally aware of what is around you. Not everyone learns the same and referring someone to dance class just may be the answer to the depression in their life.

I started a performing arts organization called "Trinity Love" in Fall 2011. We tell plays through different performing arts such as singing, dancing, acting, rap, poetry, miming and anything else you can think of. Our play that we performed on Feb 28, 2012 is called Set Free. It was about different people going through very bad situations in their life and they were "set free" from those burdens that were chaining them down. I am the director, I write the plays, choreograph it and make sure everything gets put together. I do have an awesome team that helps me make my vision come true. I am a junior in the social work program. www.trinitylove.org is our website. Students’ perceptions of Higher Level Social Work Reflections of students in Dr. Dover’s Introduction to Social Work Course online course.

The following questions were posed to Dr. Dover’s class introduction to social work course:

“If you were to become an MSW-level social worker,

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would you want to work at the micro, mezzo or macro level? Why?”

Following are excerpts: we think you’ll agree that our students will bring a lot of energy and caring into the profession

I am excited to be a part of "tomorrow".

I simply want to uplift those who been on the same road and journey I have been through and let them know that you can always do better.

I embrace the idea of working with larger systems to make things better for all in a community.

I believe all 3 levels are intertwined and show many opportunities for change and intervention at all levels.

I am drawn more to the plight of the individual. I believe that through getting to know a client and spending time with them one-on-one better leads to a thorough understanding of the situation that led them to seek assistance in the first place. Without the micro level area of social work, how could one see the bigger picture at all?

If I were to obtain an MSW, I would want to work at the micro/mezzo levels. I would like to work in a clinical setting, preferably with discharge planning. An astounding number of people don't have any where to go when they're discharged from hospitals and nursing facilities.

I want to work with women being released from prison.... I believe that by helping these women to reestablish their life and relationships with their children, I will be contributing to improving the community.

I want my work to matter and make a great difference in the lives of individuals, while equally affecting the systems created to help them. I want to do something I enjoy and I enjoy "making a difference.

MSW Student reflection on getting ready for the Social Work Licensure Examination As a master student in my final semester, I was going through a lot of anticipation, stress, and worry about taking the licensing examination as all of my fellow classmates are. I planned to study extensively with my extra time over winter break and take it early in the Spring semester. In my Psychopathology course last semester, we had a book that was a comprehensive guide to the DSM IV made special for social workers. I took advantage of reading this book and the quizzes it offered online for free to students. I then took advantage of the Masters level study books in the reserve section of the Schwartz library. The books break

down different theories that are commonly found on the LISW examination and there are, also, several full length examinations in these books that I utilized. I, also, purchased one online examination from the LEAP website to use when the university closed for the holidays. However, I feel the most effective thing I had done for myself while preparing for the Clinical level examination was going to the Social Work computer lab. I was surprised to find that a lot of my classmates had no knowledge of this lab. It is located on the 4th floor of the Main Classroom building and can only be accessed by asking the social work office to unlock it. There are 4 full length exams on the computers and they give you explanations for why your answers are wrong; which I found to be the most effective out of anything I had studied because it gives you rationale behind each question. I took the practice tests until I could achieve 90% on each one. Studying for this was something I took very seriously; if I was going to pay $260 dollars for the examination, I wanted to only take it once. I studied for nearly two months knowing that the LISW had such a low pass rate. Test day came and as I hit the submit button, my stress melted off my back as PASS flashed onto the screen.

I would like to thank Dr. Nair and the social work program for providing such excellent study tools in the lab and in the library. I hope that my classmates take full advantage of these when preparing to take their Bachelors or Clinical exams. If you aim to pass the examination, these materials are exactly what should be used to help you prepare; they helped me! Social Work Licensure Examination

Alumni Comments Jane Lewis, LSW MSW Graduate

To all my fabulous professors at Cleveland State and those affiliated; my sincere gratitude for all you have taught me. So many of you have gone out of your way to help me through the academic portion of my social work career.

I loved CSU the moment I arrived and will sorely miss my daily attendance. You all made my days bright and I truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your dedication is stellar and your kindness and brilliance grand.

I work as a Therapist at New Directions Dual Diagnosis in Cleveland which is a residential chemical dependency and mental health treatment center. I will be conducting individual treatment, family therapy and group facilitation.

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Dreams do come true and you have all helped me to realize mine. Now, I hope to help empower others to fulfill theirs with sincere gratitude.

Extending the Program By Ed Magist

When I was a graduate student of the Cleveland State University School of Social Work, I began to develop a sense of community that extended the meaning of college for me. Beyond the bricks and mortar of the classrooms and the topics of social work, the women and men who were the faculty and students have grown into the colleagues who supported me through my doctoral studies. As I began work on my doctoral degree in urban education, these colleagues became critical and essential in exploring and expanding the meaning of social work in my life. Many of the faculty and classmates have contributed to my degree work – ranging from the rousing pep talk Dr. Williams gave me on my way to my research comprehensive exam, to the regular meetings with Dr. Foster exploring the depths and breadth of social work ethics, to Dr. Jackson’s calls to reality, with gentle chiding to keep putting one foot in front of the other, as well as classmates who check in on me to see how it is going – all have been a tremendous source of strength and support. Now, as I complete my doctoral work, I only hope that I can give to others that which has so freely has been extended to me.

School of Social Work Visiting Committee The School of Social Work is privileged to have a distinguished group of advisors that represent multiple sectors of the Greater Cleveland community. The social work profession is a composite representing multiple interests that are all oriented towards addressing society's needs and improving the quality of life.

Our Committee members are drawn from the social work profession, professional organizations, community-based programs, state government, non-governmental organizations, and the corporate sector. Together they constitute an energetic and powerful entity that serves the School by promoting social work education locally and globally.

The Visiting Committee was created by the faculty of the School of Social Work for the purpose of serving as links between the School and its many constituencies both public and private. They provide ongoing counsel to the social work faculty on academic and administrative matters.

Visiting Committee members:

Goldie Alvis (Chairperson), Former Senior Program Manager, Cleveland Foundation

Paul Alandt, Former Executive Director, Golden Age Centers

Joseph Aquilina, Director, Chief Social Work Manager, Veteran Administration Hospital

Paula Atwood, Vice President, Beech Brook

Mitch Balk, President, Mt Sinai Foundation

Michael Benz, President & CEO, United Way of Greater Cleveland

Phyllis Brody, Co-founder, Creativity for Kids

Paul Hill, Jr., CEO & President, East End Neighborhood House

Barbara Janovitz, Chair, Estate Planning Practice Group

Jeffrey S. Jeney, Executive Director- Parmadale & Former CEO of St. Vincent Charity Hospital

Lorenzo Norris, Social Worker - Pastor, Concord Baptist Church

Stephen Rowan, Senior Pastor, Cleveland's Bethany Baptist Church

Alice M. Scesny, Former Director of Medical Social Work – Cleveland Clinic

Zak Schiller, Research Director, Policy Matters Ohio

Chris Warren, Office of the Cleveland Mayor, Chief of Regional Development

David Feinerman, Manager Talent Acquisition & Employment, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

Continuing Education Division: History in the Making The School of Social Work’s Continuing Education Program launched its 2011 Fall Semester. During the 2011Fall Semester, there were 102 participants who attended seven workshops. The workshops were:

• “Values, Ethics and Professional Use of Self in Social Work Practice” ,

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• “Professional Supervision as a Component of Managerial Practice”

• “The Practice of Program Evaluation for Social Work Practice: Types, Processes, and Models

• “Understanding the Appalachian Culture: Implications for Social Work”

• “Understanding the Medicare System: Application for Social Work Practice”

• “Social Work Licensure Examination Review Workshop”

The workshops were well-received. We also provided a continuing education workshop in Ethics at a special request for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD). Thirty-seven staff attended this session. Some of the workshops for 2012 include:

• Social Work Licensure Examination Review Workshop

• Social Work Supervision • Social Work Ethics in evidence-based research • Trauma, Combat Stress, and Readjustment of War

Soldiers: Practice Implications with Veterans and Their Families

• . Working with Children with Sexualized Behaviors: Social Work Practice Dilemmas

• The Affordable Care Act: Implications for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities

• Social Work Practice with Co-Occurring Disorders: Dual Diagnosis of Mental Health and Substance Abuse with Adolescence

• Social work practice issues on the impact individuals and families of incarcerated parents, STD’s and domestic violence

• Social work issues in developing programs for funding

• Prescription drugs abuse • hoarding issues of the elderly • Webinars and home study courses for social work

practionars

Anyone interested in attending the workshops should contact Dr. George Tsagaris, coordinator of the Continuing Education Program in the School of Social Work: (216) 523-7474.

Social Work Licensure Committee With the support of Provost Mearns the CSU School of Social Work established a Licensure Committee in August

2011 to examine licensure passage rates and to strengthen preparation of students for licensure examinations. The committee, chaired by Dr. Boitel, has met bi-monthly. It includes University of Akron faulty – Drs. McGarragher, Professors McCardle, White & Thornton and CSU faculty – Drs. Jackson, Mallett, Nair, Stoddard-Dare, & Professor Treisch-Chirdon.

Licensure has been an area of discussion at every faculty meeting. Mr. Doug Warren, Ohio Social Work Board member was a guest at one of our faculty meetings. Associate Dean Heidi Robertson, who coordinates the licensure program at the Cleveland Marshall School of Law, also met with our faculty to share her experience. CSU faculty participated in a full day of licensure preparation training conducted at CSU by Ms. Kaynor Heineck, a trainer for the Association of Social Work Board (ASWB), the exam sponsoring organization. The ASWB is described on their website as “a nonprofit association of social work licensing boards in the United States and Canada. The Association owns and maintains the licensing examinations used by its member boards, and also provides services to boards and social workers.” (www.aswb.org).

In Ohio, The Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board (OCSWM&FT; www.cswmft.ohio.gov) is the agency responsible for the regulation of counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists. The Ohio Board uses ASWB exams for Ohio SW’s. The three examinations applicable to our BSW & MSW students are as follows: LSW (Licensed Social Worker): This is a basic test for social workers with at least a BSW and no post-degree experience.

LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker). There are two very different LISW examinations. One is Advanced Generalist, an examination for social workers with an MSW and two years of post-degree experience in non-clinical settings. The other is Clinical, an examination for social workers with an MSW and two years of post-degree experience in direct clinical practice settings.

The LSW exam is often referred to as the BSW exam. Most MSW students eschew taking this examination, opting instead to take the LISW examination, either before or shortly after completing their MSW education. Without sufficient post-MSW experience they are at a disadvantage because the LISW exam is weighted heavily on applied, experience-dependent practice. Not realizing that they need only the LSW to begin post-MSW practice and concerned about the cost of both preparing for and taking two examinations, they take and often fail the LISW exam. In other words, many students are taking the wrong exam

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at the wrong time. An exception to sit for the LISW exam prior to graduation can be made by the OCSWM&FTB if a school of Social Work approves such. A related concern is that the two years of post-MSW practice experience that is important preparation for the LISW exam is not required to sit for the exam. (report prepared by Dr. Craig Boitel, Chairman of the Social Work Licensure Committee)

2nd Annual Cuyahoga County Conference on Social Welfare

The School of Social Work hosted the inaugural Cuyahoga County Conference on Social Welfare (CCCOSW) in March 2011, with the theme Human Services and Economic Development and Partners in Addressing Human Needs.

Once again this year CSU hosted the 2nd Annual Conference with the theme being: Human Services: An Economic Anchor in Our Community (Governmental, Nonprofit, For-Profit, Faith-Based). Both last year and this year, 450 social workers, human service workers and social work faculty and students gathered to attend over two dozen workshops. Adding to the large presence of social workers and social agencies at CSU that day, the School also sponsored its 16th Annual Social Work fair, attended by two dozen agencies as well as The Columbia University School of Social Work.

Building upon the history of the profession of social work and social welfare, including the century-long tradition of the National Conference on Social Welfare, the forum heard from CWRU President Barbara Snyder and CSU Vice President Stephanie McHenry. Among their points were that in its collective impact, the human services in which social workers play an important part rival the economic impact of large “anchor institutions” such as hospitals. When aggregated, the number of employees of small and medium size social agencies is as great as two of the largest hospital facilities in the region. Also speaking at the opening plenary was CSU BSW student and 2012 CCOSW Policy Issues Coordinator Maggie Iverson.

CSU School of Social Work faculty, students and field instructors played a major role in the conference. In the AM workshops, Prof. Kate Usaj and MSW student Mary Kay Weston presented at the workshop on passing legislation to require school social work. CSU field instructor Kitty Leung co-facilitated an AM workshop on child poverty. Prof. Fannie Johnson-Baxter and CSU Field Instructor Linda Elliott teamed up for the second year to co-facilitate a workshop on continuity of care after inpatient health/mental health hospitalizations. CSU BSW

Student William Maddox, President of the CSU Chapter of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work, teamed up with CSU Field Instructor Julius Toth of Oriana House to co-facilitate the substance abuse workshop. Prof. Deborah Willis facilitated a workshop on persons with disabilities.

The luncheon heard Gregory M. Sadlek, Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, speak about social work’s role in addressing “human materiality,” a fascinating concept. BSW student Lovell John Custard, who was 2012 CCCOSW liaison committee co-chair & is President & CEO, Murtis Taylor Human Services Center, recognized the many elected officials and other special guests, which included Prof. Walter Zborowsky. CSU field instructor Molly Martin announced the NASW Region III awards at lunch. They included BSW Student of the Year, Bruce Jones, who serves as Co-President with Annette Rudolph of CSU’s NASW Student Chapter, as well as Prof. Michael Dover, who is Social Worker of the Year.

At a post-lunch plenary panel, Prof. Michael Williams moderated an important panel discussion, “Something for Us!” which addressed the value of employee assistance programs and attention to stress reduction within human service agencies. In the afternoon workshops, Prof. Alice Scesny Palmer presented a workshop on achieving ethically competent practice. Prof. Geraldine Burns presented a workshop on community organizing. Prof. Burns was introduced as the Closing Plenary Speaker by Prof. Paul Hill, Jr., who was year’s closing plenary speaker.

In the important Moving Forward workshop in the afternoon, AM workshop representatives helped collate and organize the policy, advocacy and research recommendations coming out of the morning workshops and helped identify action steps. Helping to lead that workshop were Co-Coordinator Melissa Bilancini, BSW student Maggie Iverson, Field Instructor Kitty Leung, and MSW student Denise Robinson. BSW student Annette Rudolph and MSW Student Keith Kearney joined Field Coordinator Valerie Treisch-Chirdon in serving as proceedings coordinators for that important workshop.

Keith Kearney received Special Thanks in the CCCOSW Program for his role as Intern to Co-Chair Semanthie Brooks of Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and for taking

minutes of 2012 Annual Conference Committee and Liaison Committee meetings. Also receiving Special

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Thanks was Dr. Murali Nair, for his steadfast support for the conference. The program also noted the important roles of BSW student RaShonda Lee, work-study student in Fall and Spring for the conference, and Cheryl Mays, MSW alumna, for her role as Volunteer Coordinator. The program recognized CCCOSW Field Instructor Molly Martin, who supervised BSW Student Larry Deitcher, who did an internship for the CCCOSW under the task supervision of Prof. Michael Dover, Conference Co-Coordinator. Larry is also BSW Student Representative to the NASW Ohio Board of Directors. Also serving on the Annual Conference Committee were BSW students Elaine Jackson and Ruzanna Tovmasyan, who served as co-chairs of the Volunteer Committee, as well as BSW student Mutajah Hussein and MSW alumna Veronica Taraska.

Board Accreditation for Chemical Dependency Counseling Program

Cleveland State University is the first Ohio institution to receive master’s level accreditation from the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professional Board for its Chemical Dependency curriculum. The joint program in Chemical Dependency Counseling is a 12-credit-hour certificate sponsored by the College of Education and The School of Social Work at Cleveland State University. The program is designed to provide master's level students in social work with all the academic training required for licensure as a chemical dependency counselor. State accreditation is important because it signals that the program is providing state-of-the-art training in addictions work with individuals, groups, and families, ensuring that persons who complete these degrees will meet educational standards for licensure.

Please contact the social work coordinator for this program, Dr. Patricia Stoddard-Dare with any questions at p.stoddarddare@csuohio.edu or (216) 687-4568.

Partnership Program in Child Welfare

It is a collaborative partnership between the Cleveland State University School of Social Work, Ohio Department of Children and Family Services, the Public Child Service Association of Ohio, the Institute for Human Services, and the Public Child Service Agencies of Ohio,

The benefits of this program for social work students are to have specialized educational training within this area, have core training waived once hired at a public child service agency, incur various employment opportunities within the field of child welfare, network with other child welfare professionals within the State of Ohio and receive $5,000 to $10,000 financial reimbursement. The stipulations are

being hired in a public child welfare agency with the commitment of one to two years of employment.

More information, please contact: Dr. Maggie Jackson at mag.jackson@csuohio.edu or (216) 687.4599.

Dr. Elizabeth Lewis Scholarship

We are happy to announce the establishment of the Dr. Elizabeth Lewis Scholarship in the School of Social Work. Professor Lewis devoted more than thirty years in social work practice and teaching. She was instrumental in introducing the community development and group work sequence in the curriculum. Her friends and colleagues established the Dr. Elizabeth Lewis Scholarship fund to honor her long and dedicated services to the social work profession. A community based practice scholarship has been established in the School of Social Work, Cleveland State University, in honor of Dr. Elizabeth Lewis. The scholarship has been created to encourage and assist BSW students in the School of Social Work who choose to focus on community based social work practice with a special affinity for working with groups.

Dr. Lewis was a professor at Cleveland State University in the School of Social Work from 1973 – 1990. She retired from Cleveland State University after 17 years of teaching in the undergraduate program. In addition to teaching, Dr. Lewis made significant contributions to the social work program as curriculum chairperson and in program development.

Prior to her time at Cleveland State, Dr. Lewis was a community based social work practitioner serving the neighborhoods and communities of Cleveland. She was the Executive Director of League Park Centers and became the Associate Director of the Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association.

Dr. Lewis strongly believed that social work with groups was the backbone of community based practice and the most effective way for individuals and families to take control of their lives and communities. She encouraged her social work peers not to abandon community based practice, and always believed in people and their abilities to bring about change in the neighborhoods and communities. Prior to retiring Dr. Lewis was a champion of social work with groups both in her teaching and through her work with the International Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups.

The idea for establishing the community based scholarship generated from several current executive directors of neighborhood centers in the Greater Cleveland area. They wanted to honor Dr. Lewis in a lasting way that would be

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representative of her contributions as a practitioner as well as a professor of social work practice.

Contributions to this scholarship fund may be made through the University with a clear indication that funds are intended to further develop the Betty Lewis endowment in The School of Social Work.

The scholarship committee will consist of two agency directors, two faculty from the School of Social Work, and a member of the School of Social Work Alumni Association.

The Enterline Foundation Scholarship Mr. and Mrs. Larry Enterline established this scholarship to improve the lives of individuals with special needs who are intellectually disabled and developmentally disabled. The recipient of the Enterline Foundation Scholarship shall be a graduate student enrolled in the School of Social Work with a minimum GPA of 3.50, with preference to students inducted into the Phi Alpha Honor Society. Once awarded, the scholarship recipient will be required to complete internship hours at a stipulated non profit organization working with the developmentally disabled population.

Dr. Ralph Brody Memorial Endowed Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society Scholarship Every year this scholarship is awarded to our BSW graduate with the highest GPA continuing the MSW program at CSU.

National Social Work Honor Society– Delta Zeta Chapter

The purpose of the Phi Alpha Honor Society is to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into its membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.

Qualifications for Membership:

An undergraduate student is eligible for membership after completing the following requirements:

• Declared social work major • After having enrolled or completed SWK 385 • Achieved an overall grade point average of 3.5 (on

a 4.0 scale)

Those graduate students who are enrolled in SWK 603 or SWK 604 are eligible for membership after achieving a

minimum grade point average of 3.75. For additional information, contact Dr. Nair at 216-523-7477.

Career Services Students and Alumni are invited to open the door to your career success in the world of social work by participating in many career center services:

• Career advising • Resume reviews • Cover letter assistance • Videotaped mock interviews and interview

practice • Career fairs (fall & spring) • Employer recruiting • Job search development • graduate school advising • Etiquette Dinner & other networking events • CSC Website of information, resources, and links • Choices Planner assessment • Extensive library of career-related materials • CSU Careerline Experience Recruiting job search

site and communication network • Resume, Interview and Job Search Preparation • Please visit Career Service Office for help with

your career development and decision-making needs. RW (Rhodes West) 280 or call (216)687-2233.

Kim O’Ryan, M.Ed. Social Work and CLASS Coordinator, Career Services Center, k.oryan@csuohio.edu www.csuohio.edu/career

Orientation to new Social Work Majors Every month we offer an orientation session in Chester Building Room 315. More information, contact (216) 687-4560 to make an appointment or come to Chester Building # 303. Professor Mallett is the faculty advisor to all students who have not yet declared their major in social work.

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CSU Library These days’ libraries are much more than places to keep books and the Michael Schwartz Library is no exception. Did you know that the Library:

• Lends students digital cameras, camcorders, and audio recorders for a 1-day loan period.

• Has a Presentation Practice Room (304) for students and anyone else in the CSU community to rehearse group or individual presentations; it has a Smart Board and a PC.

• Has a new Student Collaboration Room (402) with a large screen monitor, laptop hook-up, large work table and 6 chairs. The perfect place for students’ group meetings.

Call Multimedia Services at 216-687-9337 for further information or to reserve the rooms. And remember, the library comes to you every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:15-3:00 p.m. when Fran Mentch is available in the adjunct faculty office in the School of Social Work on the 3rd floor of the Chester Building. Stop in with your questions/concerns, or just to say hello. Fran Mentch f.mentch@csuohio.edu 216-687-2365

Peace Corps

In 2011, Peace Corps celebrates 50 years of promoting peace and friendship around the world. Since 1961, over 200,000 Americans have served in 139 countries around the world. Put your social work degree to good use in the Peace Corps! Help a community by engaging in projects related to at-risk children or youth, adult literacy, health or HIV/AIDS education, environmental awareness, development of libraries and resource centers, and information technology. Interested candidates can go to www.peacecorps.gov/application to apply online.

Benefits include full health/dental coverage while in service, graduate school opportunities, federal employment advantage and international development experience. Volunteers return home as global citizens, with cross-cultural, leadership, language, teaching and community development skills that position them well for advanced education and professional opportunities.

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A Tribute to Professor Mary Strattan

There comes a time when we must say good-bye Looking beyond while searching for greatness

There is no time limit on death As I leave you behind

My memory will never leave your thoughts. My Departure was very unexpected but as I travel on

I have given you Motivation to push through all obstacles

You will succeed I leave with you dedication:

I have instilled in you a positive direction. Knowing that there is no mountain

that you can’t climb. And I say to you: stay on track and don’t lose focus

We thank-you professor for your loving kindness

You have equipped us with the courage to Conquer all that will be put in our paths

Your inner Beauty demonstrated Intelligence Your compassion to help others will be truly missed. Your devotion to your clients and your students gave

Hope that there is a brighter tomorrow. You always provided encouraging words even

When situations seemed to be at its worst You allowed us to express our thoughts and concerns

And you would follow-up with “Well, you know you have to look at the bigger picture”.

But now it’s time to say farewell, you have touched a lot of hearts

Knowing you are in a much better place with your Lord and Savior

God has now embraced you in his arms You were once an Angel on Earth

But now you are an Angel that watches over all.

You will be truly missed, but never forgotten….

December 9, 2011 Written by: Shuntaya Howard

BSW Student

In Memory of Judith L. Nagel

Judith Nagel was introduced to the School of Social Work during her tenure with First College. She was assisting in the closure of the programmatic thrust of First College. It was observed that the efficient manner in which Judith was able to move forward with a task that was not always pleasant. Interacting with her led to a working relationship and a respect for ability to complete tasks. When a position became available in the School of Social Work, it was natural to request Judith as a replacement.

Therefore, the faculty, staff, and students wish to express appreciation of Judith L. Nagel for her loyal and dedicated service to the School of Social Work. Her door was always open to provide consistent and enthusiastic support to all individuals, especially to the MSW students throughout their matriculation in the School.

Her lost to the School has impacted the flow of work and task completion. She is missed for the quietness exhibited in her leadership role. Her presence guided and directed the manner in which the workforce for the School carried out daily responsibilities. Judith, we miss you.

In Memoriam

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It’s about the Students!

The School of Social Work occupies a central place in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and with its large commitment to community service, it exemplifies the University’s motto of “engaged learning.” Our graduates become the backbone of successful social work agencies throughout our community, Ohio, and the country.

Scholarship support is the best way to provide our students expanded opportunities.

You can help by making an investment in support of scholarships, research, or programs. Give online at www.csuohio.edu/offices/advancement/donate or mail your investment to CSU Foundation, Advancement Services, 2121 Euclid Avenue, KB300, Cleveland, OH 44115-9897. Don’t forget to indicate that your gift is for the School of Social Work.

The School of Social Work occupies a central place in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and with its large commitment to community service, it exemplifies the University’s motto of “engaged learning.” At present there are 600 students studying in Social Work (365 in the BSW undergraduate program and 235 in the MSW graduate program) making the School one of the largest in the State of Ohio. Our graduates become the backbone of successful social work agencies throughout our community, Ohio, and the country. CSU’s School of Social Work graduate program was recently ranked in the top third of all social work graduate programs nationally by US News and World Report.

As we look forward to future successes, and, in honor of National Social Work month, please consider a gift to the School of Social Work for scholarship or other program support. Your generous gifts help our students achieve their educational and career dreams.

Phi Alpha National Social Work Honor Society

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CSU Phi Alpha Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Gallery

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School of Social Work 2121 Euclid Avenue, CB 303 Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2214