Social Work News
Students, faculty, staff participate in Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the School of Social Work in Falk College, the Syracuse University community was invited to participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 16 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Syracuse Model Neighborhood Association and the Rescue Mission. More than 60 volunteers from Falk College and all across the Syracuse University campus sorted and packed boxes of clothing, prepared sandwiches for delivery to the Samaritan Center, and assisted with special kitchen and office projects.
“In celebration of our 60th anniversary, we thought it was fitting to engage in service activity on a day that most people view as a day off. Our Day of Service was instead a ‘day on,’ allowing students, faculty, and staff to engage with the greater community in a way that was meaningful, tangible, and fits with the philosophy of Dr. King,” says Professor Keith A. Alford, School of Social Work chair and graduate program director. “For our students, this event brought into focus that academe is more than laptops, lectures, and exams. Without a doubt, our students saw the significance of believing in the dignity and worth of humankind. This is a core value of the social work profession that our program instills in its courses and field work.”
As part of the Day of Service efforts organized by the School of Social Work and Falk College in collaboration with the Greater Syracuse Labor Council/AFL-CIO and the United Way of CNY, a donation drive also took place. Donations of winter coats, jackets, warm blankets, non-perishable food, formula and diapers were collected.
“The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a day meant to move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community” says Deborah Ducett, director of field instruction in the School of Social Work and one of the event organizers.
Falk student-athlete Justyn Knight finds connections in social work and sports
Social work student Justyn Knight ’18 is noticing what it takes to work in the helping professions. By learning about others, and about himself, Knight says he is feeding his passion for lifting others up. “The thing I enjoy most about social work is helping others achieve the goals they set out for themselves,” he says. “Sometimes all people need is some guidance to help them get on the right track.”
Knight is used to giving others encouragement as a student-athlete on the Syracuse University men’s cross country team. This season, Knight was honored with the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Male Performer of the Year honor for cross country for the second year in a row. His near-perfect season consisted of win after win, aside from one second-place finish. The team took home the national title. This year, they finished third.
Knight says the skills he’s learning in the classroom have made him a better leader for the team. “Social work has taught me how to accommodate everyone’s individual needs to help them get the leadership and encouragement they need.”
“The School of Social Work is proud of Justyn. He is most deserving of this athletic honor,” says Director of the School of Social Work Keith Alford, Ph.D., A.C.S.W. “Social work is a profession that promotes the worth and dignity of all humankind. It is not surprising that Justyn has effectively parlayed his social work acumen to his athletic network. He is an outstanding team leader, builder, and player. This is a winning combination on and off the field!”
After graduation, Knight hopes to become a guidance counselor in the educational environment.
Social work students explore gun violence at James L. Stone Legislative Policy Forum
Students in Syracuse University’s School of Social Work in Falk College recently explored one of the most complex and difficult issues in America today: the unsettling interactions between gun violence, community relations, trauma and racial justice. With a focus on implications for public policy, community responses, and social work practice, the 18th Annual James L. Stone Legislative Policy Forum brought students together with neighborhood, community and political leaders, and other experts to discuss the trauma, pain, and disruption of gun violence, and what is being, and should be, done to address this issue.
“As social workers, we understand that the reality of gun violence in our society cannot be ignored. It is a major issue that is fraught with competing elements. The unthinkable trauma experienced by children, mothers, fathers, and community members, in general, must be acknowledged and treated,” says Keith A. Alford, associate professor, School of Social Work chair and graduate program director. “As a society and even as a local community, we must sadly recognize, not always in an accusatory way, that certain communities have been marginalized and in many cases, forgotten. Proactively addressing rage resulting from feelings of powerlessness and igniting resilience will be crucial if we really want to see positive turnarounds. It is a collective matter that requires our full attention, compassion, sensitivity, and follow through. This is the clarion call we all must answer,” adds Alford.
Keynote speaker, David Alexander Bullock, presented, “The Crisis and Trauma of Gun Violence in the City.” Bullock is the pastor of the Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church in Highland Park, MI, and founder of the Change Agent Consortium, a national coalition of faith, labor, civil rights organizations and active citizens committed to social change by combining the power of direct action, public policy, and local projects.
Of the event, MSW student Jen LoPiccolo noted, “as social work professionals, it’s imperative that we stay abreast of the political landscape paralleling our work. The Symposium provided an opportunity to listen to unwavering community leaders building an anti-violence movement and creating a space for student activists to contribute. As a native Detroiter, the issues of gun violence, racial justice, and community activism are personal and important to me. This was a humbling and invigorating day that challenged participants to ask themselves: how will I influence policy and be an agent for change?” Guest speakers and panelists included Pam Hunter, Assemblywoman, New York State Assembly, Timothy “Noble” Jennings-Bey, Founder and CEO, Street Addiction Institute, Inc., and Helen Hudson, Syracuse Common Councilor at Large and President Pro Tempore, among many other community leaders.
The day-long event, held at the Onondaga County Courthouse, was organized by Professor Kingson, in collaboration with Professors Keith Alford, Kenneth Corvo, Nancy Mudrick, Matthew Spitzmueller and other social work faculty, and MSW graduate assistant and conference coordinator, Jelilat Williams as well as Sandy Lane, a professor in Falk College’s public health program whose work has addressed the conference topic for more than a decade. School of Social Work alumnus, James L. Stone, MSW ’64 created an endowed fund to support this event into the future and was involved in this year’s event.
“Once again, the School of Social Work has brought together an informative panel of experts, law makers and committed community leaders who bring clarity, understanding, and passion to a significant issue that is relevant to social work practice and policy. We are indebted to James Stone for his generosity in endowing this event,” says Diane Lyden Murphy, Dean, Falk College.
Falk College has on-going collaborative efforts in the community to assist those impacted by violence. In addition to developing trauma-informed care programs in the community and preparing future practitioners in this area, including a Certificate of Advanced Study in trauma-informed practice, research and practice in the field of trauma are a focal point in Falk College.
YWCA Recognizes Two from University with ‘Spirit of American Women’ Honors
From Jaclyn D. Grosso with SU News.
Two Syracuse University leaders were honored at the YWCA of Syracuse and Onondaga County’s “Spirit of American Women” Awards on Nov. 3 at the Genesee Grande Hotel. Liz Liddy, dean of the School of Information Studies, and Tatiana Williams ’16 G’17, a student in Falk College’s M.S.W. program, were recognized for their advocacy and commitment to advance women in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, social justice and academic initiatives. The YWCA works to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families and strengthen the Syracuse community.
“Liz and Tatiana have forged new pathways for women through their commitment to STEM education and community service,” says Fanny Villarreal, executive director of the YWCA. “They are strong women who are not afraid to tackle real-world issues and work to solve problems of inequality that still exist in today’s society. We are fortunate to have them in our community.”
Liddy, who received the STEM Enrichment Award, founded and led a software startup company, TextWise, and as CEO grew it to 50 employees, winning the prestigious national Tibbetts Award from U.S. Small Business Administration. She was the founding director of the iSchool’s Center for Natural Language Processing, which advanced the development of human-like language understanding software capabilities for government, commercial, and consumer applications. The holder of eight software patents, Liddy has led 70 research projects, authored more than 110 research papers and given hundreds of conference presentations on her work. Liddy was also the founding faculty advisor of Women in Information Technology (WIT), a student group that supports and mentors female IT students.
Williams, who received the Volunteer of Excellence & Service Award, served as a class marshall at her 2016 Commencement, has dedicated much of her time to community service. She founded a nonprofit volunteer organization called Making a Difference for You (MAD4U) that supports teen moms, and also designed an interactive learning program on argumentation, debate and trial skills for youth in the City of Syracuse. Williams has also earned the Princeton Prize in Race Relations from Princeton University for her volunteer activity.
Get started on a career path that makes a difference with Nov. 4 Information Session
When students think graduate school, they think curriculum, campus, community, but most of all, what the degree will mean for their lives. It’s not until after completing their degree that Falk College graduate students realize the profound difference it made not just for themselves, but for the lives of those around them as they discover new and exciting opportunities to have a positive impact. That’s what a graduate degree from Falk College means: it means our graduates can do more—more for the community, for society, and for the world. And they do!
Join prospective Falk College graduate students interested in child and family studies, food studies, public health, marriage and family therapy, nutrition science, social work and sport management at Falk’s Graduate Program Information Session on Friday, November 4, 2016 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Grant Auditorium in White Hall, part of the Falk College Complex.
The presentation will provide detailed information on Falk College graduate programs in:
- Child and Family Studies M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
- Marriage and Family Therapy M.A., Ph.D.
- Addiction Studies M.A.
- Food Studies M.S.
- Global Health M.S.
- Nutrition Science M.A., M.S.
- Public Health M.S.
- Social Work M.S.W.
- Sport Venue and Event Management M.S.
- Dual Degree Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy M.A./M.S.W.
Information and advising will be available regarding Falk’s Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programs including child therapy, trauma-informed practice, addiction studies, food studies and global health.
Falk hosts November 4 Graduate Program Information Session
When students think graduate school, they think curriculum, campus, community, but most of all, what the degree will mean for their lives. It’s not until after completing their degree that Falk College graduate students realize the profound difference it made not just for themselves, but for the lives of those around them as they discover new and exciting opportunities to have a positive impact. That’s what a graduate degree from Falk College means: it means our graduates can do more—more for the community, for society, and for the world. And they do!
Join prospective Falk College graduate students interested in child and family studies, food studies, public health, marriage and family therapy, nutrition science, social work and sport management at Falk’s Graduate Program Information Session on Friday, November 4, 2016 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Grant Auditorium in White Hall, part of the Falk College Complex.
The presentation will provide detailed information on Falk College graduate programs in:
- Child and Family Studies, MA, MS, PhD
- Marriage and Family Therapy, MA, PhD
- Addiction Studies, MA
- Food Studies, MS
- Global Health, MS
- Nutrition Science, MA, MS
- Public Health, MS
- Social Work, MSW
- Sport Venue and Event Management, MS
- Dual Degree Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy, MA/MSW
Information and advising will be available regarding Falk’s Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programs including child therapy, trauma-informed practice, addiction studies, food studies, global health, and intercollegiate athletic advising and support.
Your chance to have an impact: What a graduate degree means at Falk College
When students think graduate school, they think curriculum, campus, community, but most of all, what the degree will mean for their lives. It’s not until after completing their degree that Falk College graduate students realize the profound difference it made not just for themselves, but for the lives of those around them as they discover new and exciting opportunities to have a positive impact. That’s what a graduate degree from Falk College means: it means our graduates can do more—more for the community, for society, and for the world. And they do!
Join prospective Falk College graduate students interested in child and family studies, food studies, public health, marriage and family therapy, nutrition science, social work and sport management at Falk’s Graduate Program Information Session on Friday, November 4, 2016 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Grant Auditorium in White Hall, part of the Falk College Complex.
The presentation will provide detailed information on Falk College graduate programs in:
- Child and Family Studies M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
- Marriage and Family Therapy M.A., Ph.D.
- Addiction Studies M.A.
- Food Studies M.S.
- Global Health M.S.
- Nutrition Science M.A., M.S.
- Public Health M.S.
- Social Work M.S.W.
- Sport Venue and Event Management M.S.
- Dual Degree Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy M.A./M.S.W.
Information and advising will be available regarding Falk’s Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programs including child therapy, trauma-informed practice, addiction studies, food studies, global health, and intercollegiate athletic advising and support.
Social work professor discusses effects of bullying with HealthLink on Air
With over 30 years of experience working with children and adults as a practicing family therapist, Ellen Walser deLara, Ph.D., LCSW-R., ACSW, BCD, focuses on the lasting impact of bullying on children, adolescents and adults in her recently released book, Bullying Scars: The impact on adult life and relationships.
In a recent podcast by Upstate Medical University’s HealthLink on Air, deLara discusses the long-term effects of bullying.
deLara describes the profile for children most commonly targeted by bullies as anyone “demonstrating difference of any kind,” such as those in the disabled or LGBT communities. For children, she explains, bullying can happen at school with teachers or at home by parents or siblings. The long-term effects, she says, are more severe than other forms of child maltreatment.
Unfortunately, victims of bullying sometimes become abusers and bullies themselves. Others turn to the misuse of substances. There are victims, however, who say they’re stronger as individuals because of their experiences. deLara explains that a surprisingly high percentage of victims say bullying impacted their moral development, and sometimes their experiences have led them to careers that involve helping others.
deLara advises victims and bullies may need the help of a professional to overcome the impact in their lives. In her recent article, “Talking with Children about Bullying and Violence,” deLara explains that dialogue is key in helping children and teens manage their exposure to violence at school, at home, and also through the media.
Falk College attends graduate school fairs across New York, U.S. this fall
Falk College will attend many graduate school fairs this fall to connect with prospective graduate students in person and discuss interests and opportunities. This season’s travel schedule will take Falk College graduate admissions staff to many regional events in New York State and to major cities across the United States, such as Philadelphia, Boston, San Diego, and Washington D.C.
Falk College highlights graduate programs at November 4 information session
Syracuse University faculty, staff and current students will welcome potential graduate students interested in Falk College graduate studies in child and family studies, food studies, public health, marriage and family therapy, nutrition science, social work and sport management during its Graduate Program Information Session on Friday, November 4, 2016 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Grant Auditorium in White Hall, part of the Falk College Complex.
The presentation will provide detailed information on Falk College graduate programs in:
In addition, information and advising will be available regarding Falk’s Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programs including child therapy, trauma-informed practice, addiction studies, food studies and global health.
There will be time for a question-and-answer session, as well as a time to meet with faculty, staff and current students. Light refreshments will be served.
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