Social Work News
Professor Ken Corvo Receives FHL Foundation Grant to Advance Domestic Violence Research
Additional research project on intimate partner violence with University of Granada to be funded by government of Spain
School of social work associate professor, Dr. Ken Corvo, has received a three-year, $50,000 grant from the Frederick H. Leonhardt (FHL) Foundation. This latest grant from the FHL Foundation follows Dr. Corvo’s decade-long professional collaboration with Frederick Leonhardt, foundation president and a former therapist.
The grant award supports Dr. Corvo’s research and writing in the area of theory development in domestic violence and includes the development of academic articles on domestic violence theory and the presentation of conference papers, as well as a possible book over the next two years. The first paper, “Neurotransmitter and Neurochemical Factors in Domestic Violence Perpetration: Implications for Theory Development,” was completed this summer.
Corvo recently received an invitation from a team of psychologists at the University of Granada to participate as co-investigator in a research project award made by the Spanish government for the study, “Neuropsychological and brain functioning in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) perpetrators.”
Dr. Corvo’s areas of academic and research specialization include family and youth violence, theory development, organizational development and leadership, and organizational issues in social work education. His on-going work in theory development provides a scientific framework for policy and practice in social work, criminal justice, and other human service responses to domestic violence.
“Eyewitness to History: First-Hand Accounts of Sages of the Profession” Features Dr. Alejandro Garcia
Professor of social work, Dr. Alejandro Garcia, was invited to contribute to the special edition of the publication Advances in Social Work. Entitled “Eyewitness to History: First-Hand Accounts of Sages of the Profession,” this special issue details the heritage of the social work profession and its educational initiatives as seen through the eyes of those who have actually lived and contributed to that heritage. The editorial board felt that the best way to document some of these critical events would be to invite a group of nationally recognized scholars to provide first-person, eyewitness accounts of their observations and direct involvement with the events as they unfolded.
The introductory editorial by special issue co-editors Gerald T. Powers and Virginia Majewski, entitled “Sages of the Profession: Celebration of our Heritage” offers additional background about the publication and the significance of the insights provided by the individuals featured in it.
Recent Graduate Interns with the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI)
Joshua Berman named 2014 Nathan J. Stark Intern for Non-Profit Development
Josh Berman, a recent graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Social Work program at Falk College’s School of Social Work, has been accepted as the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) 2014 Nathan J. Stark Intern for Non-Profit Development. Josh will be working with the NASI this summer learning how non-profit organizations work, from the board of directors and staff to how they raise funds and achieve their goals. While attending Syracuse University he has spent significant time serving youth populations through internships with Toomey Residential & Community Services and Elmcrest Children’s Center – Casey’s Place. Josh carries a deep commitment to non-profit administration, and while completing a policy minor he developed a passion for income inequality reform and social assistance programs. In the fall, Josh will continue to pursue these interests through the administrative Master of Social Work program at the University of Pittsburgh. He is excited to join the National Academy of Social Insurance for the summer, and hopes to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively impact people and communities through the work of non-profit organizations.
Falk College Seed Grants awarded for 2014-15
Each year, the David B. Falk College Research Center, in collaboration with the Dean’s Office, awards seed grants on a competitive basis to assist faculty with completing preparatory work for research projects that have a high likelihood to compete for external funding. The 2014-15 seed grant recipients include:
Development and evaluation of a mind-body awareness intervention to enhance self-regulation as a mechanism to promote healthy weight among young children.
Dessa Bergen-Cico, assistant professor, Public Health
Rachel Razza, assistant professor, Child and Family Studies
Cultivating food justice: using photovoice to document the outcomes of a pilot food system intervention program for youth
Evan Weissman, assistant professor, Food Studies
Housing and LGBTQ youth
Maria Brown, professor of practice, School of Social Work and Aging Studies Institute
Deborah Coolhart, assistant professor, Marriage and Family Therapy
How do Iraqi refugees experience and make sense of family relationships as they resettle in a host country?
Rashmi Gangamma, assistant professor, Marriage and Family Therapy
Examining Social Security’s Future
Professor of social work Eric Kingson was interviewed July 28 by WBUR/Boston Public Radio’s Here and Now program about the future of Social Security in the context of the federal government’s recently released predictions.
A faculty affiliate with Syracuse University’s Aging Studies Institute, Kingson is founding co-director of Social Security Works, and co-chairs the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, a coalition of over 300 national and state organizations. His scholarship examines the politics and economics of population aging, Social Security policy, the baby boomers, and cross-generational obligations. His research also examines the distributional effects of changes in retirement age.
Aging Studies Institute Hosts Gerontology Education Workshop
The Aging Studies Institute at Syracuse University hosted a Gerontology Education Workshop June 1-5. The workshop included 33.5 contact hours of substantive presentations on a variety of topics related to public policy and aging, preparation for and execution of two group assignments, and professional networking. SU faculty from Falk, Maxwell, and the Law School were on the program along with a keynote address by a colleague from Boston University. According to ASI Center director, Janet Wilmoth, 15 faculty members from other universities from across the U.S., five SU graduate students, one visiting scholar and Falk College Dean, Diane Murphy, attended the event. The event was sponsored by ASI’s Center for Aging and Policy Studies, which has core support from NIA Grant # 1P30AG034464.
ASI hosts Changing Face of Aging in New York State
The Syracuse University Aging Studies Institute (ASI) hosted, “The Changing Face of Aging in New York State: Education & Networking Opportunities for Students and Practitioners” on April 10. The event included a keynote presentation by Greg Olsen, executive deputy director, New York State Office for the Aging entitled, “New York State of the State in Aging.” A panel presentation followed, including panelists Maria Brown, assistant research professor, Aging Studies Institute, Cynthia Stevenson, Caregiver Services, Onondaga County Adult & Long Term Care Services, Gwendalyn Minton, Syracuse VA Medical Center, Amanda Norton, quality improvement consultant, and Chari Mayer, Constituent Services, Representative Dan Maffei, NY-24.
Social work students inducted into Phi Alpha Honor Society
On April 14, the School of Social Work held its Phi Alpha Honor Society, Zeta Gamma Chapter, induction ceremony at Maxwell Auditorium. Nineteen undergraduate and 17 graduate social work students joined Phi Alpha this academic year. Professor of practice, Tracey Marchese, was the keynote speaker. Awards were presented by Bette Brown Thoreck, director, Baccalaureate social work program. The concept of a National Social Work Honor Society came from a group of undergraduates at Michigan State University. In November, 1960, a National honor Society Committee was formed and in 1961 the society came into being. The Syracuse University Zeta Gamma Chapter was founded in 1996 as part of the School of Social work’s 40th Year Anniversary Celebration. The charge and purposes of the Phi Alpha Honor Society are:
- To recognize and encourage scholastic achievement among the students who are majoring in social work.
- To improve and further the goals and objectives of social work by encouraging objectivity and awareness of current developments and practices in the various fields of social work.
- To improve and further the goals and objectives of social work by stimulating research in preparation for a career in social work.
This year’s inductees are:
Undergrads:
Tasha Benjamin
Joshua Berman
Jessica Ciemniecki
Cora Cool-Mihalyi
Richard Dobbins
Erica Dutelle
Colleen Downey
Rachel Gewirtz
Gabriella Goodsell
Hannah Hauser
Jessica Landsman
Sara Miller
Frederick Morse
Kyle Pooler
Davina Przygoda
Raymond Simmons
Della Smith
Breanna Turner
Tatiana Williams
Graduates:
Shannon Alvord
Sally Ames
Gina Brewer
Jane Bumgarner
Jenna Curtain
Monette Goodridge
Sharon Gordon
Joann Kaisa
Amber Lassally
Matthew Lowery
Caitlin Moody
Jessica Root
Matthew Scheuer
Melissa Snizek
Sheila Weaver
Vanessa Watts
Stephanie White
Falk College honored with 2014 Chancellor’s Awards for Public Engagement & Scholarship
The Falk College is pleased to announce that its students representing 21 courses, student organizations, field placements/internships and community efforts, and their faculty-staff advisors, were recognized with 2014 Chancellor’s Awards for Public Engagement and Scholarship (CAPES) during a ceremony April 23. The Chancellor’s Awards for Public Engagement and Scholarship are given each year to Syracuse University students and groups who exemplify the highest ideal of sustained, quality engagement with citizens in our community.
Social work student, Joshua Berman ’14, received a Chancellor’s Citation. He is an active leader serving as a Falk College peer advisor, teaching assistant for the first-year social work gateway course, and co-executive director and board member of Orange Seeds first-year leadership program. He is also active with SU Collegiate Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service, and Elmcrest Children’s Center.
Over the years, many students indicated the desire to honor special faculty, staff or community partners who have been motivating to them as they made their way into the community. A 2014 Inspiration Award was presented to Bette Brown Thoreck, B.S.S.W. program director.
FST 402—Feeding the City received an honorable mention in the category of Innovation in Academic Achievement. This course investigates the relationship between food systems and cities, including a deliverable item for a community partner. The Falk College received several honors in the category of Legacy Award for Academic Achievement for meaningful and sustained engagement:
Students enrolled in the Department of Child and Family Studies’ internship courses (CFS 433, 493, and 494) were recognized for their service to the community. CFS internships place seniors in social service agencies, schools, and early childhood education facilities throughout Central New York.
Legacy awards were presented to the Department of Public Health, Food Studies and Nutrition for: HTW 307—Culturally Competent Healthcare; HTW 227—Healthy You; HTW 304—Public Health: Community Health Education; HTW 311—Health Literacy and the Genesis Health Project Network; NSD 511—Nutrition Education; NSD 513—Nutrition Education Experience: Orange Wrap, and; NSD 658—Participatory Program Planning. These groups were selected for their on-going, outstanding work in improving the health of others in the University and greater Syracuse community.
Second-year students in the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) were recognized for the more than 7,500 hours of individual, couple and family therapy provided. TheMFT Transgender Team, one of the largest transgender programs in upstate New York, was honored for providing access to care many clients might not otherwise be able to afford. School of Social Work students enrolled in field placement courses in the BSSW and MSW programs (SWK 435, 445, 671, 672, 771, 772) and SWK 301—Foundations of Social Work Practice received awards for their on-going, outstanding work in improving the quality of life in the greater Syracuse community.
Mirken gift expands New York City social work immersion program
For many years, generous support from Mr. Alan B. Mirken has made possible a three-day New York City educational immersion program for students in the Falk College’s School of Social Work. This recent gift from Mr. Mirken will expand programming this year—and in future years—in the annual “Roots of American Social Work” program.
This unique and innovative three-day educational opportunity brings students face-to-face with sites of significance to the history of social work, giving them a close-up view of contemporary practice. This social welfare history tour to such sites as the NY Tenement Museum helps students to learn how U.S. social welfare developed. The tour includes visits to Mount Sinai Hospital, the Goddard Community Center (which began as one of the first Settlement Houses in NYC), and the Ellis Island Museum, among other opportunities.
This year’s program will take place April 2-4.
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