The School of Social Work is excited to announce the upcoming third Annual Alumni/CE Conference. The topic of this year’s conference is Latinos in the new America: Responding to the needs of a diverse population. The conference will be held on Friday, March 6, 2009 at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. For more information contact Mr. Estelli Ramos at esramos@mail.ucf.edu.
 

The University of Central Florida will be hosting the 20th Annual Management Institute of the National Network for Social Work Managers at the Regal Sun Resort on April 30 and May 1, 2009. The theme for this year is: Managing in Turbulent Times. For more information contact Dr. Lawrence Martin at lmartin@mail.ucf.edu or visit www.socialworkmanager.org for registration and the conference program.

 Recent Event

The School of Social Work held an open house for prospective students on November 20, 2008. Over 60 prospective students for the 2009 school year attended the open house. Faculty and current students presented information on the school’s programs.

The School of Social Work, Alumni Association and NASW collaborated on a continuing education event in September. Dr. Shawn Lawrence presented Psychopharmacology: What every social worker should know! to over 120 professional social workers, social work students, and other mental health professionals. Special thanks to Dr. Lawrence and the event's sponsors: Accurate Clinical Trials, AGED 501, NASW-Florida, Arden Courts Assisted Living, VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, and the UCF School of Social Work. The money raised through the event will be used to host future alumni events and for School of Social Work scholarships!

The BSW Student Association was filmed along with other disciplines in the College of Health and Public Affairs for a public awareness advertisement on Tropical Storm Fay relief work. This ad brings awareness to the need for relief and to the scope of social work.

Dr. Denise Gammonley, Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar, and Robin Kohn, BSW Program Coordinator, received a grant from the Council on Social Work Education Gero-Ed Center to continue the integration of gerontological content in the foundation curriculum via the Curriculum Development Institute Program.

Dr. Ana Leon was featured on the NASW website as part of the national Hispanic Heritage Month, as an outstanding Hispanic social worker.

Dr. Maralee Walsh was recently inducted into Rotary International, Flagler Club.

Ms. Jacquie Withers was appointed to serve on the Board of Friends of Children and Families in Orlando.

The School of Social Work faculty actively engages in individual and collaborative research resulting in high quality publications and presentations. There is considerable breadth to the scope of work, encompassing women, youth, immigrants, health, mental health, aging, disability and sexuality.
 

Dr. John Bricout presented Creating disability-inclusive learning spaces in the distributive workplace, at the University of Alabama’s Social Work Colloquium Series on November 17, 2008.
 

Robin Kohn’s paper entitled, Accessing abilities: A strengths perspective to working with persons with disabilities, has been accepted for presentation at the Baccalaureate Program Directors' (BPD) annual conference for March 2009.

Dr. Olga Molina presented a paper entitled, Abused Latina immigrants’ satisfaction with domestic violence groups, at the 13th International Conference on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma, in San Diego, California.

Dr. John Ronnau presented a keynote address at the Family Preservation Institute annual conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Michael Rothenberg was selected to present in Munich, Germany in November at the German Society for Social-Scientific Sexuality Research (DGSS) Conference on Sexuality and the Media. Dr. Rothenberg’s presentation was entitled, An exploration of sexuality and the media and the impact on client perceptions in clinical sexology practice.

Dr. Ana Leon has been selected to present in Athens, Greece in July 2009 at the 4th International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. Her presentation is entitled, Hispanic/Latino cultural values in the United States and their impact on the separation-individuation process in Latino toddlers.

Recent Faculty Publications

Abel, E.M. & Greco, M. (2008). A preliminary evaluation of an abstinence-oriented
empowerment program for public school youth. Research on Social Work Practice, 18(3), 223-230.
 

Abel, E.M. & Campbell, M. (2008). An evaluation of a student-centered teaching

approach in graduate social work education using mixed methods. Social Work Education, 1-15.
 

Bricout, J.C., Pollio, D.E., McBride, A.M. & Edmond, T.E. (2008). Macro practice teaching and

curriculum from an evidence-based perspective. Journal of Evidence-based Social Work,5(3/4).
 

Kohn, R., & Adcock, R. (Feb 2008). Caregivers 101. Action (a publication of United Spinal Association, Jackson Heights NY).
 

Leon, A.M., Lawrence, S., Molina, O., & Toole, E. (2008). When children weep:

Integrating ecological thinking in child welfare. Illinois Child Welfare Journal, Vol. 4.
 

Leon, A.M. & Knapp, S. (in press). Involving family systems in critical care nursing: Challenges and opportunities, Dimensions in Critical Care Nursing.

Research and Community Involvement
 

Kathryn Frahm, a doctoral student in public affairs – social work specialization, is currently investigating social work staffing in nursing homes and the psychosocial care provided for nursing home residents with a mental health history. Of her research Frahm reports "I am particularly interested if the quality of mental health care provided for residents is influenced by family support in the nursing home."

Rebekah Hazlett, also a doctoral student in public affairs – social work specialization, is currently a member of an interdisciplinary research team, partnered with the Office of the State Attorney for Orange and Osceola Counties to study juvenile violent crime in Central Florida. Hazlett reports that as she continues her dissertation research she is interested in studying the influence of gender different needs and experiences on the commission of violent crimes by juveniles.

Rebekah Hazlett’s Fall 2008 BSW Macro Roles and Interventions class demonstrated outstanding innovation and involvement in community projects throughout the semester. Students became involved in many diverse causes. One community project involved BSW students Kerrian Angel, Kim Humphrey, and Rachel Sadlemire in equality for the GBLT population through their involvement with the Metropolitan Business Association of Orlando and the Come out with Pride Parade on October 12, 2008. A second community project involved BSW students Heather Boyle, Angelina DiCandia, Kailela Doran, Clodiane Guillume, and Marjorie Rivera in the needs of at-risk female juveniles. These students worked with the PACE Center for Girls of Orlando to implement a “Khaki Pants Drive” and to increase community awareness of PACE. A third community project focused on the issue of poverty. BSW students Yohana Cruz, Yohana Cortes, Daniel Perez, Xavier Persad, and Jamie Osorio involved themselves with this issue through Rock for Hunger. Rock for Hunger is a nonprofit organization created five years ago by a fellow UCF student to provide an array of services to Orlando’s impoverished. These BSW students impacted community awareness through their steady participation in the planning and implementation of the Rock for Hunger Concert fundraiser.

BSW Student Association

The BSW Student Association has been keeping busy during the fall semester with numerous community projects. Officers for the 2008-2009 school year include: Andrea Predl, Sally Ten Eyck, & Breanne Tucker, Co-chairs; Shawna Sweetman & Massiel Acosta, Co-Treasurers; Michael Morrison & Tiffany Gabriel, Co-Secretaries; Carolyn Wry, Communication Chair; Heather Alvis; Heather Driscoll; Jodi DeGrandchamp; and Annie Hershberger.   

The Association has been busy with The Angel Tree Project which culminated on December 1st with the student wrapping party. Agencies that will benefit from the Angel Tree include: New Hope for Kids, CHARLEE, Women's Residential Facility of the Salvation Army, and Kids House.  The Association has also been active with Tropical Storm Fay relief drive, collecting clothing, kitchen products, food, and other needed items. Frank Rivera, a BSW student has worked with Mayor Garcia of Debary to implement the delivery of goods. Andrea Predl, Co-Chair of the Association lead a group of BSW students to Arnold Palmer Hospital to provide continued support to a children’s arts and crafts project. The Association food drive continues through the next two weeks and will then be delivered to the Second Harvest Food Bank. The food drive will then resume and will continue through out the year. Over the holiday season the Association is honored to be sending hundreds of holiday cards to United States troops stationed overseas. This effort has been a collaboration with Kim Halliday of the Department of Health Professions, Athletic Training Track, whose son is stationed in Somalia. Association meetings have included distinguished guest speakers from Seniors First, the Office of Diversity Initiatives, and Estelli Ramos giving an overview of the MSW Program. In the spring semester the Association plans to host guest speakers from Habitat for Humanity, Lobby Day, and Graduation/celebration.

The School of Social Work welcomes Mr. Chuck Miceli, Ms. Judith Thames, Mr. Mark Brewer and Ms. Uschi Schueller as new council members. The council had a successful and energizing meeting on November 19 and the next meeting is scheduled for February 18, 2009. To learn more about our community advisory council - click here

The social work alumni chapter will resume monthly meetings in January 2008 to plan future continuing education, social, and service activities. To receive emails about the chapter's meetings and events, please contact Katie Korkosz in the COHPA Alumni Office at kkorkosz@mail.ucf.edu or visit www.ucfalumni.com and go to the chapter/club section.

Social Work Works! is produced by the faculty, staff and students of the School of Social Work with assistance from the Office of External Relations. Please email your comments and news to be included in the next issue to socialworknews@mail.ucf.edu.