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AUSSW Community Messenger
Contents:
- Farewell & Thank You
- Interim Director's Report: The End of Another Academic Year in the SSW
- Field Instruction
- Leadership and Community Practice - M.S.W. Concentration
- Child Welfare Specialization
- School Social Work Specialization
- Addictions Specialization
- Gereontology Specialization
- "Shout Out"
- M.S.W. Program at GWC
- B.S.W. and M.S.W. Programs at AU
- 2009 SSW Admissions
Farewell & Thank You
by Fred McKenzie, Dean of the College of Professional Studies
It is with bittersweet emotions that I write my last message for the Community Messenger. It has been my privilege, honor and blessing to serve as the Director of the School of Social Work (SSW) at Aurora University for the past three years. I have been fortunate enough to work with some truly outstanding faculty, staff, field instructors, adjunct professors and alumni in developing what I consider to be a top-notch social work program.
The development of the clinical and leadership and community practice concentrations was in response to the very real needs of the constituents that we serve, as well as a careful examination of the important benchmarks and social work theory and practice standards in the profession today. In addition, I believe that our SSW is on the cutting edge in the recent development of the addictions, gerontology, child welfare and M.B.A. leadership specializations.
I have had the good fortune to bring many talented people to the SSW over the last few years. Alison Arendt, M.S.W., has been doing a tremendous job as the Director of Field Instruction. Charles Zastrow, Ph.D., has been equally impressive as the Assistant Director of the M.S.W. program at the GWC campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. His many years of experience working with the Council on Social Work Education was invaluable and one of the key factors in our successful reaccreditation this year. Randy Fisher, Ph.D., has been a solid School Social Work Coordinator and helped initiate that specialization at GWC, as well as the strong program on the Aurora campus. Robert Daugherty, Ph.D., has quickly become a very strong educator in social policy and the leadership and community practice concentration, as well as a solid community collaborator since coming to the SSW. Rob Castillo, M.S.W., has been nothing short of remarkable in developing the addictions specialization in the SSW, enabling B.S.W. and M.S.W. students the opportunity to acquire the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor after graduation. Julie Bach, Ph.D., has demonstrated strong enthusiasm in developing the gerontology specialization. Brenda Barnwell, M.S.W., has brought tremendous professional experience, enthusiasm and limitless energy in developing the new child welfare specialization. Finally, I am very proud and excited to have been able to bring Dr. Chris Bruhn to the SSW this fall to lead the research education component.
I have felt especially honored to be the first GWC alumnus to serve as the Director of the School of Social Work. Now Donette Considine, Ph.D., will become the first AU alumna to assume the position. The future of the SSW looks very bright. Dr. Considine, the Interim Director of the SSW, and Brenda Barnwell, the new B.S.W. Program Director, are two experienced and energetic individuals capable of continuing the strong development of the SSW at AU.
I will continue in my role as Dean of the College of Professional Studies, which houses the School of Social Work, the Dunham School of Business and the School of Nursing. I anticipate working closely with Donette as she assumes the leadership role in the SSW. Thanks for all of your support and encouragement in my time as director. I hope to stay in touch with all of you.
Interim Director's Report: The End of Another Academic Year in the SSW
by Donette Shore Considine, Interim Director of the School of Social Work
Before sharing with you the events of spring semester, as well as an overview of the academic year, I would first like to thank Dr. McKenzie for his outstanding leadership of the School of Social Work for the past three years. During his tenure as director, he worked with the faculty to improve the curriculum, led the school in its reaccreditation process with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), reached out to strengthen community relationships, developed interdisciplinary projects with other schools in the university, organized an advisory board for the school, and in the midst of that, authored a book. Those accomplishments are only a few of the feats that Dr. McKenzie has accomplished over the past three years. His leadership and vision has taken the school to a new level.
With Dr. McKenzie's shift to serving as the Dean of the College of Professional Studies, the SSW has reorganized a part of the administration. Effective April 1, 2009, I became the Interim Director while Brenda Barnwell, Assistant Professor of Social Work, moved into the role of B.S.W. Program Director. I look forward to working with the faculty and administration in carrying forward the mission of the School of Social Work.
Perhaps the most important news from this academic year is the school's reaccreditation by the CSWE. In February, the school was notified that it received reaccreditation for the full eight-year cycle. Receiving full reaccreditation without the necessity of changes or an interim report is quite an accomplishment and speaks to the excellence of the B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs.
As you read through the Community Messenger you will learn of the many other successful ventures in the SSW, such as the approval of the addictions and child welfare specializations in the M.S.W. program. The faculty had a busy year with the site team visit, working on projects in the community, contributing to university events and many other ventures. Before ending, I would like to thank the faculty, administration, and students in the School of Social Work for a successful year. The school's success is a reflection of the talent and dedication of so many committed individuals such as you.
Field Instruction
by Alison Arendt, M.S.W., Director of Field Instruction
To celebrate the conclusion of the academic year, as well as successful completion of field placements, the Field Instructors' Recognition Luncheon was held on Friday, April 24, 2009. Social work students, field instructors, field liaisons, as well as faculty came together to recognize dedicated field instructors, placements and students.
Miranda Tobias received the B.S.W. Field Student of the Year Award, while Dan Knapp was presented with the M.S.W. Field Student of the Year Award. The Field Agency of the Year Award was presented to Cornell Interventions of Woodridge, Illinois. Annice Kennedy-Hanlon, of VITAS Innovative Hospice of Lombard, Illinois, received the Harold F. Schrage Field Instructor of the Year Award.
As the enrollment in the SSW grows, so does our field program. Exciting new field placement opportunities have been developed in the M.S.W. concentrations of clinical practice and leadership and community practice, as well as in the specializations of addiction treatment, gerontology, and school social work. This summer, the school will be busy collaborating with new placements and learning about new field opportunities.
Leadership and Community Practice - M.S.W. Concentration
by Robert Daugherty, Assistant Professor of Social Work
During the past year, I have been involved in the interdisciplinary and community-based Healthy Living Council (HLC) through Aurora University's Institute for Collaboration. The council is a joint collaboration between the Institute and the Robert Crown Center for Health Education. It was established in September 2008 with university and community agency representatives from more than 15 community agencies.
In late November 2008, the HLC submitted a $30,000 grant, which I co-authored, to the Kane County Health Department to develop comprehensive planning for childhood obesity in the two major school districts in Aurora. The HLC was awarded the grant in February and, with student assistance, will be conducting research and information and resource collection and analysis during the summer and fall. The planning grant will be completed by the end of December 2009.
In collaboration with Tom Berliner, Assistant Professor of Business, I developed a proposal for a joint M.B.A.-M.S.W. degree to be offered at Aurora University. Work on this project was completed and recommendations were sent to Dean McKenzie in May 2009. If approved, this program will allow students who meet the prerequisites for both master's programs to earn a joint M.S.W.-M.B.A. degree in two years.
Child Welfare Specialization
by Brenda Barnwell, B.S.W. Program Director, Chair, Child Welfare Specialization
The child welfare specialization in the SSW was approved by the university in April 2009. Course descriptions and objectives will focus on six primary areas. The specialization will begin in the M.S.W. program during the 2009-2010 academic year with the following courses offered: Child Welfare Services; Expressive Therapies; Social Work Practice with Vulnerable Children and Families; and Effects of Trauma.
In the near future, the SSW will offer the child welfare specialization in the B.S.W. program, as well as a post-M.S.W. certificate. The specialization will increase the skills of social workers, allowing students to gain experience and knowledge to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families.
School Social Work Specialization
by Randy Fisher, School Social Work Coordinator
Educators from five of the eight schools of social work that train Illinois school social workers met in January 2009, to exchange information related to school social work education. When combining the numbers of M.S.W. and post-M.S.W. students in the school social work specialization at AU, the SSW is currently training more future school social workers than any other program in Illinois. From that, it would be fair to say that AU is training more school social workers this year than any program in the United States.
The foundation of the SSW's program is the experience of our adjunct faculty and professors. Faculty members who teach in the school social work specialization and/or who supervise the school social work interns, have an average of 20+ years of experience as a school social work practitioner. That experience, along with the strong curriculum, means that we do a great job in preparing students to be independent school social work practitioners.
During the 2007-2008 academic year, the SSW began offering the school social work specialization at George Williams College (GWC) in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. For the first two years, the specialization at GWC was offered to students to become school social work practitioners in Illinois. In 2009-2010, GWC students will also have the option to be certified as school social workers by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Addictions Specialization
by Robert Castillo, Assistant Professor of Social Work and Addictions Training Director
The addictions specialization in the SSW has grown tremendously in its first two years. Internship sites have been extremely pleased with the SSW interns and many of the placements have requested additional AU interns. Some interns were offered employment opportunities at their field placements upon graduation. Within the next few months, the first graduates from the addictions specialization will take the state Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor test.
This year, the addictions specialization was approved for the M.S.W. program, as well as a post-M.S.W. certificate. The specialization in the M.S.W. program began during the 2008-2009 academic year, and the post-M.S.W. certification will begin this fall.
The School of Social Work (SSW) was represented during the annual Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc. (IAODAPCA) conference in March 2009. M.S.W. students in the addictions specialization program attended the conference to represent the SSW, as well as participated in professional networking opportunities.
In May 2009, the SSW offered the on-campus continuing education conference, "Integrative Approaches to the Challenges of Addiction." In addition to a keynote address by Mark Sanders, several breakout sessions were offered throughout the day, as well as a panel presentation. The event was well attended by nearly 100 community members, SSW alumni, students and faculty.
Gerontology Specialization
by Julie Bach, Assistant Professor of Social Work and Chair, Gerontology Specialization
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program and SSW
Since 2002, the Dunham School of Business has partnered with the Internal Revenue Service under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to offer free tax assistance to the Aurora community. The VITA program offers free tax help to individuals who cannot afford professional assistance. Faculty and student volunteers from the Dunham School of Business help prepare basic tax returns for taxpayers with special needs, including individuals with disabilities, non-English speaking persons and elderly taxpayers.
As a result of an increased focus on interdisciplinary efforts within the College of Professional Studies, faculty and students of the School of Social Work (SSW) and the School of Nursing participated in the VITA event during the six-week period between February and April 2009. Brenda Barnwell, Assistant Professor of Social Work, worked with the Dunham School of Business and School of Nursing in planning the VITA program for 2009. She also joined me and Susan Ross, Professor of Social Work, in coordinating and overseeing the SSW activities. Students from the SSW provided memory screenings and community resource information on food pantries, older adult services, and topics including elder abuse. More than 40 social work students volunteered at different VITA sessions. More than 50 memory screenings were completed by students in the SSW with participants of many ages.
Careers in Aging Week
A Careers in Aging event was held in April 2009 at AU. The event included a poster session highlighting careers in aging, as well as a panel of older adults sharing their experiences and thoughts on aging.
"Shout Out"
by Donette Shore Considine, Interim Director of the School of Social Work
"Shout Out" is a new section in the Community Messenger to inform you about faculty and student involvement in different projects, awards and activities. Faculty and students are engaged with the community and many agencies, extending the learning experience and service beyond the classroom walls.
Brenda Barnwell, B.S.W. Program Director, Assistant Professor of Social Work
The Kendall County Youth Service Board, Inc. was developed in 1985 in response to House Bill 1500. Barnwell has served on the Board in many capacities since 1989. Currently, as a member of the proposal committee, Barnwell is assisting with funding decisions about children's programs in Kendall County. The programs vary from prevention to intervention services. "Serving as a volunteer for the past 20 years has been an honor," said Barnwell.
Henry Kronner, Assistant Professor of Social Work
Kronner coordinated the third annual "Transition Day" event in April 2009. The SSW offers this event to help B.S.W. and M.S.W. students bring closure to their experiences at AU and transition to a new phase in their lives. The event covered transitions, licensure, job search strategies, financial aid, and professional organizations and associations. The event was well attended and rated highly successful and helpful by students.
Rob Castillo, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Addictions Training Director
In March 2009, four students from Castillo's B.S.W. Addictions Counseling class attended Plano Middle School for the school's annual "Passport to Health" Fair. AU students prepared a prevention brochure, an educational poster, a simulated healthy and cirrhotic liver, as well as provided a demonstration with DUI glasses.
Castillo attended and presented at the Latino Social Work Organization conference in Chicago in March 2009. His presentation was titled, "Using Narrative Therapy with the Addicted Population."
Don Malec, Adjunct Instructor, Addictions Specialization
Malec formed the Illinois affiliation of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) that advocates for the treatment of alcoholism as a medical disease. Affiliates typically provide education, information, help and hope at the community level. Thirteen students in Malec's B.S.W. course, Drugs and Human Behavior, worked on developing a new prevention program, NIMS (Not in My School), aimed at empowering high school students to reduce underage drinking and illegal drug use through education (for students and parents) and voluntary random student drug testing. Students from Malec's class are also exploring the possibility of forming an on-campus student organization to carry out the important work of NCADD.
Charles Zastrow, Professor of Social Work, Assistant Director of GWC M.S.W. Program
During the academic year, Zastrow made two accreditation site team visits to schools of social work at Galludet University in Washington, D.C., and Hawaii Pacific University. Zastrow provided accreditation training to social work educators in September 2008, and again in April 2009, in Washington, D.C. In March, he participated in panel presentations at the Bachelorette Program Directors (BPD) conference on CSWE's Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).
M.S.W. Program at GWC
by Charles Zastrow, Professor of Social Work and Assistant Director of the M.S.W. Program at GWC
The M.S.W. weekend program at George Williams College continues to expand in terms of numbers of admitted students and numbers of applicants. There are approximately 70 students enrolled in the GWC M.S.W. program.
The M.S.W. program is a part-time weekend program with most of the students already working in social work-related positions. The weekend program allows students to work full-time, while pursuing an M.S.W. degree. The program uses a compressed educational format, which involves students taking one course at a time, over a seven-week period. The program's compressed educational format was highlighted in a professional journal. The format is becoming increasingly popular at a number of other institutions of higher education in the United States. If you are interested in visiting our picturesque campus on the shores of Geneva Lake, please give us a call at 262-245-8587.
The university offers a number of innovative educational experiences for students during May Term. This year, M.S.W. students from the GWC campus participated in a 10-day study abroad program (for credit) in China with me and Mary Tarling, Assistant Professor of Accounting. The course was a joint-offering for M.S.W. students and students in the Dunham School of Business.
B.S.W. and M.S.W. Programs at AU
by Brenda Barnwell, B.S.W. Program Director, Assistant Professor of Social Work, and and Donette Shore Considine, Interim Director of the School of Social Work
The B.S.W. program graduated the first group of students from the addictions specialization. In the M.S.W. program, the first group of students from two specializations, addictions and gerontology, graduated in May 2009. The child welfare specialization is off to a solid start with several students enrolled in the courses for next year.
In addition to students enrolling in courses, alumni may audit courses in the SSW, including those in the specializations, at a reduced tuition rate. Alumni may choose to return to complete the concentration advanced practice courses in clinical practice and leadership and community practice, as well as elective courses.
Both the B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs at the Aurora campus grew in enrollment during the 2008–2009 academic year. The School of Social Work has approximately 400 students (100 B.S.W., 300 M.S.W.). In spite of the economy, enrollment is strong for next year, which may be reflective of an increased emphasis on higher education d
egrees in the job market, as well as the increased need for social workers. The demand for social workers continues to increase at a higher rate than other human service fields. Students in the B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs on the Aurora campus have the option to attend day or evening classes, or a combination of the two. More students are enrolling in a combination of the two to accommodate their jobs and internships.
Commencement was held in May 2009 with approximately 120 M.S.W. graduates and 40 B.S.W. graduates. A pinning ceremony for GWC graduates was held the week before commencement on the GWC campus. Rachel Dunn, an M.S.W. student, was selected as the graduate speaker to represent the class of 2009. Rachel did an excellent job; she expressed the importance of social workers, the challenges that social work graduates will face, as well as the rewards. In addition, she talked about the strength and support that students receive from their peers while completing the program.
The School of Social Work's enrollment is strong, and admissions for 2009-2010 are underway. The B.S.W. program works closely with the Office of Admission, particularly transfer admissions, to assist incoming students with a smooth transition to the university and SSW for the fall semester. The M.S.W. program admits students to begin the program in summer and fall semesters. Admissions for both programs are open and candidates are encouraged to apply. This is an exciting time to be a student in the SSW with the concentrations, specializations and community involvement.
For information on the B.S.W. program, please contact Tracy Phillippe, Director of Transfer Admission, at tphillip@aurora.edu or 630-844-5263. For the M.S.W. program, please contact Melissa Yovich-Whattam, Director of Graduate Admissions, at myovich@aurora.edu or 630-844-5292.
