News :: School of Social Welfare

Associate Dean Anne (Ricky) Fortune Elected to National Council on Social Work Education

Anne E. (Ricky) Fortune was recently elected to represent graduate faculty on the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting body for B.A. and M.S.W. programs in the field.

ALBANY — Kim Corker is a wife, a mother of seven children, a caseworker for Schenectady County and now, a recipient of a master’s degree in social work. Corker was one of 934 people who received graduate-level degrees from the University at Albany during a Saturday ceremony at the SEFCU Arena. Undergraduate degrees were awarded on Sunday.

The 2009 John E. Burton Lecture & Distinguished Public Service Awards Ceremony

The Honorable P. David Soares, Albany County District Attorney to receive the School of Social Welfare’s Distinguished Public Service Award at the 2009 John E. Burton Lecture & Distinguished Public Service Awards Ceremony. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. in the Page Hall Auditorium at the University at Albany (Downtown Campus). Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch, New York State Board of Regents, will give the Burton Lecture.

The University at Albany's School of Social Welfare will spearhead the new $16.5 million National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI), established to support the workforce in public, private, and tribal child welfare systems through leadership development. The institute is a partnership between UAlbany and the universities of Denver, Fordham, Iowa, Michigan State, Michigan, North Carolina and Southern Maine, and the National Indian Child Welfare Association.

Healthy Hearts on the Hill Coalition’s community project recently received a Legacy Grant from the Bronx Health REACH and the Centers for Disease Control to implement a diabetes prevention and management initiative. Over a twelve month period, community members will be encouraged to take steps toward making healthy choices by engaging in exercise, nutritional and health care screening activities and by establishing necessary community supports to sustain these activities.

The Healthy Hearts on the Hill Coalition was co-founded in 2007 by the School of Social Welfare’s Center for Excellence in Aging Services and Koinonia Primary Care, a faith based healthcare provider that serves Albany’s West Hill community. Membership includes representation from Albany United Methodist Society, Albany Community Action Partnership, Healthy Capital District Initiative, the West Hill Ministerium, the West Hill Neighborhood Association, two local senior housing developments, the American Cancer Society, and several local faith based groups and food pantries as well as Pfizer and FidelisCare.

School of Social Welfare Alumnus Haein Son, MSW ’99
Receives Emerging Social Work Leader Award

School of Social Welfare Alumna Haein Son, MSW ’99 received the Emerging Social Work Leader Award from the National Association of Social Workers-New York City Chapter. This award was presented in recognition of his visionary and exemplary work. He was an international student from South Korea and is now working as a social work supervisor at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, which is one of state-operated psychiatric hospitals in Queens.

Distinguished Professor Shirley Jones and Associate Professor Robert Miller Chosen to Serve on an Interdisciplinary Exploratory Team to South Africa

Distinguished Professor Shirley Jones and Associate Professor Robert Miller have been asked to serve on an interdisciplinary exploratory team to South Africa by the New York State National Guard (January 31-February 8, 2009). Their major role will be to meet with selected people and organizations in Pretoria and Cape Town to explore possible collaborative partnerships. These partnerships will address such issues/concerns as: health, social development, education and other social, economic and cultural concerns that are also related to security.

The recommendations that the exploratory team makes will serve to develop the mission and goals of the National Guard’s partnership program with South Africa and to establish collaborative partnerships with universities in the United States and South Africa.

Other members of the exploratory team include: School of Public Health Clinical Associate Professor Carol Whittaker and Assistant Professor Alvaro Carrascal and SUNY Cobleskill Director of International Education Dr. Susan Jagendorf-Sobierajsli.

School of Social Welfare Alumna Pamela Wiener’s Work
Draws Distinction in Florida

The Florida Council on Aging has awarded a 2008 Quality Senior Living Award to the West Palm Beach Housing Authority in honor of the work of Elder Care & Crisis Manager Pamela Wiener, PhD ’03. The award category was “Service to Seniors by an Organization,” which aims to recognize organizations that provide outstanding service to seniors even when their missions do not call for it.

ALBANY, N.Y. (January 21, 2009) -- University at Albany Interim President George M. Philip recently signed an agreement with Rector Nadezhda A. Shaidenko, of Tula State Pedagogical University of Russia, to deepen and expand collaborative efforts between the two universities. The formal agreement is the first of its kind between the two institutions, and is a culmination of previous collaborations initiated through the longstanding Albany-Tula Alliance.

"We are deeply honored to continue our partnership with Tula State University," said Philip. "This collaboration has helped both institutions develop and expand programs in such fields as social welfare, public health, and public policy." Philip noted the two universities have much in common, with both playing key roles in the capitals of their states and regions.

The ongoing relationship between UAlbany and Tula State has resulted in faculty exchanges and international conferences in social welfare, helping the two universities build programs in gerontology, disaster response and social work. The new agreement expands the social work initiatives to include new student service learning projects, study tours, and international field placements. In addition, UAlbany's schools of Education, Business, and Public Health will explore collaborative opportunities with counterparts at Tula State.

Ronald Toseland, professor and director of the Institute of Gerontology, was in Russia last year, giving a keynote talk at a conference on disasters. Toseland is a Senior Fulbright Specialist. While in Russia, he also presented on social work education in the U.S. and lectured at Tula State. In 2003, he brought a delegation to Russia for a two-day conference on aging, the result of which was the first book on social work and gerontology in Russian. Since then, Toseland has co-edited or contributed to three more Russian books on social work and aging.

Anne E. Fortune, professor and director of the School of Social Welfare's Internships in Aging Project, also attended the 2003 conference, where she presented on innovative approaches to field education for social workers in aging. She contributed chapters on U.S. social work education and work with older persons for the four Russian texts. "The opportunity to contribute to development of social services and care for the elderly in Russia is gratifying, and faculty exchanges with Tula State have enriched our education at UAlbany," said Fortune.

UAlbany faculty serving on the Albany-Tula Alliance have played an active role in public health, public policy, the development of non-governmental organizations, and entrepreneurial, private sector innovations.

The Tula Alliance began in 1991 when Mayor Thomas M. Whalen III and Charlotte Buchanan established a steering committee and the City of Tula, Russia, was chosen as a sister city. Early in 1992, during the first harsh winter after the collapse of the Soviet Union and directed by Ray Joyce, 16,000 lbs. of clothing, food, and medications were airlifted from the Capital Region to Tula. Later that year, the first exchange of educators began. There has been a long history of exchanges in education, health, business, law, government, and the arts. UAlbany faculty have regularly participated in the exchange, including music Professor Emeritus Findlay Cockrell, who gave several piano concerts in the city from 1995 through 2004.

The next time you're about to dig into an unhealthy treat appealing to your taste buds but not your blood vessels, you'd better make sure Sandra Austin isn't looking.

Austin, an associate service professor at UAlbany's School of Social Welfare, is working with Voices of Wellness (VOW), the health committee of the Albany African American Clergy United for Empowerment. Assisted by a small grant from the Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities (CEMHD), Austin collaborated with four church health ministries to stage numerous workshops on how to self-manage diabetes.

"I used my community-building skills to collaborate with the churches in developing health ministries," Austin said. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) contributed a faith-based curriculum on diabetes, which was modified for use by health ministries in the African American communities of West Hill, Arbor Hill, and South End.

Austin received national recognition from ADA for her work as a volunteer who embodies the spirit of the ADA's mission: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by the disease. She will begin her role as chair of the Capital Region Albany American Diabetes Association Leadership Board in January 2009.

"Sandra's work shows that by marshalling the resources of the University, the CEMHD, and the ADA, we can help those who have diabetes to improve their health and quality of life," said School of Social Welfare Dean Katharine Briar-Lawson.

An estimated 12.3 percent of African Americans in New York State have been diagnosed with diabetes, almost double the rate for Caucasians (6.5 percent). Latinos and Asian Americans also have higher rates of diabetes than whites (7.5 percent and 7.1 percent, respectively).

"Sometimes there is a genetic predisposition, but Type II diabetes can be managed if healthy foods and exercise are a regular part of a person's lifestyle," said Austin.

The social welfare faculty member gave participants a research survey before and after they took the workshops. She also brought in nutritionists, diabetes educators, and podiatrists to answer questions.

The results were encouraging. One church started a walking group. Some changes were made in how church culinary staff prepared food. The churches came together for a holiday healthy food fair.

"Communities are no longer interested in simply being a subject of a study," said Austin. "They want to engage in a process with the researcher that helps them address some of the pressing issues they confront."

State's Healthy Families NY program proves effective in mitigating the incidence of low birth-weight babies

Home visits by trained practitioners can significantly reduce the incidence of low birth-weights in babies, according to a study by the University at Albany's Center for Human Services Research.

ALBANY, N.Y. (January 26, 2009) -- Home visits by trained practitioners can significantly reduce the incidence of low birth-weights in babies, according to a new study led by the University at Albany's Center for Human Services Research at the School of Social Welfare.

In the study, to be published in the February 2009 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, lead author and senior research scientist Eunju Lee found that a home visitation program can reduce the occurrence of low birth-weight (LBW) infants by as much as half in socially disadvantaged pregnant women.

The study was conducted to assess the state's Healthy Families New York (HFNY) program, which serves expectant and new parents who have been screened for such risk factors as poverty, teen pregnancy, and the possibility of child abuse. Low birth-weight infants are at greater risk for serious long-term health problems including infant mortality, and are more likely as their normal-weight peers to be placed in foster care or to be abused in the early years of life.

The study concluded that mothers who were visited on a regular basis during their pregnancies by home visitors trained in parenting practices, nutrition, child health, and child development were much less likely to deliver LBW infants.

• Home-visited mothers were half as likely to deliver LBW infants as control group mothers.
• The earlier in their pregnancies that at-risk mothers received home visits, the greater the reduction in LBW babies.
• The percentage of LBW babies for home-visited mothers met the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' "Healthy People 2010" national goal of reducing LBW prevalence to five percent.
• Home visitation strategies improve birth outcomes for pregnant women and adolescents who might lack strong social support networks and be reluctant or unable to seek assistance outside the home.

"This type of service holds promise for reducing LBW deliveries among at-risk women and adolescents," said Lee. "The study adds to a growing body of research evaluating the benefits of prenatal prevention programs targeting vulnerable populations with enhanced, multifaceted services."

According to Lee, despite the abundance of programs designed to address disadvantaged mothers during pregnancy, elevated LBW numbers among disadvantaged women and adolescents highlights the need for further rigorous research to identify approaches that are effective in serving the populations.

The study, which was initiated in 2000 in conjunction with the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and the Bureau of Evaluation and Research, was initially a three-year evaluation of the HFNY program extended to a seventh year after OCFS and the Center for Human Services Research received support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the National Institute of Justice. The evaluation used a randomized design involving a treatment group and control group, and was conducted on 1,173 women and their children in Buffalo, Ulster County, and Rensselaer County in upstate New York. Data was collected on the child's first, second, third and seventh birthdays.

The School of Social Welfare announced new scholarship endowments and honored its scholarship award winners and their donors during a luncheon Friday, Oct. 24, 2008.

The luncheon honored all scholarship awardees over the past six years. Our very generous donors include alumni and friends, as well as corporate and foundation sponsors, and federal and state agencies. Together over $1 million has been raised to support student scholarships. The School of Social Welfare provided 40 student scholarships this past year. Our new goal has been set at $3 million. Two scholarship winners, Elizabeth Ernst and Laura Bertini-Colon, were the event’s guest speakers.

“I am so pleased to showcase our scholarship honorees – who have such a bright future in social work – and I’d like to thank all those who have supported the endowments to make these scholarships possible,” said Dean Katharine Briar-Lawson. “That generosity supports the vital mission of UAlbany’s School of Social Welfare.”

Pictured above is George Hearst, President of the Board of Directors, Chairman, The University at Albany Foundation. Click Here to view photos from the event.

Courtney DeKorp, a graduate student at UAlbany, has won the Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany's first annual Ruth Walsh Smith Scholarship.

Smith, who died in 2006, provided money for the scholarship in her will with the intent that an award be made each year for five years to a legally blind woman pursuing higher education or career training.

DeKorp, who received her scholarship award from Christopher Burke, executive director of NABA, said she was "so honored and appreciative to be the 2008 recipient of the Ruth Walsh Smith Scholarship; the assistance will allow me to continue my education at the University at Albany.''

Ms. DeKorp, a native of Castleton, was diagnosed with diabetes in 1986 at the age of 8. She was declared legally blind in April 2004 due to diabetic retinopathy, shortly after finishing her undergraduate degree at The College of St. Rose. She feels "fortunate to live close to NABA and on the bus route. Without the services and assistance I have received, I would not have made it this far."

DeKorp has completed two-thirds of her master's degree in social work and hopes to be a school or medical social worker.

Smith was a lifelong resident of Albany. When she closed her family business, she began working at the Hand-To-Hand shop, located in the Empire State Plaza, which employed people with physical limitations in selling goods that were locally produced by people with physical limitations, including people with blindness or visual impairment.

It was through her work at the Hand-To-Hand shop that Mrs. Smith gained an appreciation for the important services that make it possible for people with blindness or visual impairment to life full, productive lives. Accordingly, she left money for both the memorial scholarship and for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, an organization that trains seeing-eye dogs.

Founded in 1908, NABA's mission is to assist individuals who are blind and visually impaired in achieving independence and growth.

Hillside House in Coeymans, N.Y. has donated $250,000 to the University at Albany to create a scholarship program for graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence or financial need.

Hillside House, one of the state’s first community residential programs for the developmentally disabled, was started by late UAlbany alumnus Frank J. Filippone in 1975. The scholarship is named in his honor.

At Thanksgiving time, School of Social Welfare Dean Katharine Briar-Lawson notified the school about an unprecedented demand for food at the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center pantry. She asked students, faculty, and staff to find a way to help.

Lani Jones, UAlbany associate professor of Social Welfare and vice president of Trinity Institution-Homer Perkins Center's board of directors, was among those receiving the e-mail. Jones passed the word to Trinity, which has food pantries in Arbor Hill and in Albany's South End, and fed 8,500 people last year. "How can you sit with your pocket half full when others have nothing in their pocket?" she said.

SSW Professors Evaluate, Strengthen Child Welfare Workforce with
$2.5M U.S. Health and Human Services Grant

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 6, 2008) -- School of Social Welfare Associate Professor Nancy Claiborne and Assistant Research Professor Catherine Lawrence received a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau to lead an organizational intervention, designed to evaluate and strengthen the professional child welfare workforce. The five-year project, in partnership with the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA), will work with private agencies in New York State who serve children and families in the public child welfare system.

The project, The New York State Child Welfare Workforce Initiative (CWWI), fills a significant gap in New York's continuum of care for children in the child welfare system by focusing on the workforce needs in voluntary agencies under contract with the public child welfare system. It is designed to create sustainable system changes that strengthen and support the professional child welfare workforce so they may better meet the needs of children and families and improve safety, permanency and well-being outcomes.

"This may be one of the first initiatives like this in the country which systematically works to build the child welfare workforce for the non profit sector," said School of Social Welfare Dean Katharine Briar-Lawson. "Since many child welfare families rely on services from the non profit sector, such capacity building is essential. I expect that the work underway may become a national model."

The child welfare field is experiencing a severe workforce crisis. In 2006, states listed worker recruitment and retention as the second most pressing problem after services to children and families. This crisis translates directly into negative consequences for children and families; recruiting shortfalls and high turnover have serious implications because they leave remaining staff with higher workloads. This in turn leads to delayed proceedings and investigations; less face-to-face contact with children and families; limited opportunities for relationship-building, and other factors that directly impact systems' capacity to achieve the safety and stability of children.

This project will build a statewide collaboration of government networks, agency leaders and community, family and youth representatives. The collaboration will develop a comprehensive workforce assessment, plan and evaluation, as well as implement and evaluate a child welfare scholarship program.

"It will be an honor to work with COFCCA to build support and stability for the individuals and agencies that care for some of our most vulnerable children," said Lawrence.

"Together we will build on existing strengths while addressing challenges that face these agencies and their communities in providing care to vulnerable children," said Claiborne.

The mission of the School of Social Welfare is to further social and economic justice and to serve people who are vulnerable, marginalized or oppressed, a mission implemented through education, knowledge development, and service that promotes leadership for evidence-based social work with a global perspective. The School was ranked 12th among social work schools nationwide in the most recent U.S. News and World Report. In addition, School of Social Welfare faculty consistently rank in the top five of all schools of social work nationally for their research and scholarship.

Educationally and culturally, the University at Albany-SUNY puts "The World Within Reach" for its 18,000 students. An internationally recognized research university with 56 undergraduate majors and 128 graduate degree programs, UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as public policy, nanotechnology and criminal justice. With a curriculum enhanced by 300 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers. For more information about this globally ranked University, visit www.albany.edu. For UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts, visit www.albany.edu/news/experts.shtml.

School of Social Welfare’s Center for Human Services Research
Receives $219,000 Grant

The Center for Human Services Research (CHSR), School of Social Welfare, recently received a grant from Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey (PCA-NJ) to design and develop a web-based Management Information System for Healthy Families New Jersey (HFNJ). The initial award totals $219,000 over 2 years and was obtained by Jeffrey Luks, Principal Research Support Specialist at the Center.

CHSR has received national recognition for its current data system of Healthy Families New York. Both Healthy Families programs are based upon a national model of home visitation being delivered in over 400 communities throughout the United States. Healthy Families provides education and supportive services to new and expectant parents, especially those families who are overburdened by stressors that put them at risk of child abuse and neglect. The Program identifies families who may be at risk of maltreatment using a systematic assessment process which screens prospective clients in the target community. PCA-NJ manages a system of 25 Healthy Family sites throughout the state with training, technical assistance and support to meet the Healthy Families America Credentialing standards.

The data management system will collect information on participant characteristics, services provided, and select outcomes utilizing standardized measures and instruments specially designed for this program. The data are collected by home visiting staff and entered at each program site. In addition to providing data for evaluation purposes, the system will produce a full package of reports that will assist the sites with program management and administration and provide monitoring information useful for state administrators.

The Center for Human Services Research has also developed and number of management information systems for other New York State programs to meet research, administrative and reporting needs.

School of Social Welfare’s Healthy Hearts on the Hill featured in
Albany Times Union

Healthy Hearts on the Hill, a project of the School of Social Welfare’s Center for Excellence in Aging Services located in Albany’s West Hill, was recently featured in an article in the Albany Times Union. The project is designed to promote high quality health care for older adults led by a coalition of health, faith and other community leaders who encourage patient education, cardiovascular disease screenings, direct physician referrals, and participation in
evidence-based health interventions.

After experiencing a shooting of a 10-year old girl in West Hill, 125 neighbors gathered at the Star of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, for a meal prepared by “Healthy Hearts on the Hill” and to address the problems of West Hill. “Our community is coming together in ways that counter all the negative things said about West Hill,” said Dr. Bob Paeglow, who runs a health clinic on Clinton Avenue and who lives in the neighborhood.

School of Social Welfare to Assist the New York State Office of
Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD)
Decrease Abuse Cases

After the death of a 13-year old autistic boy, and the assault of a blind and autistic woman, both at the hands of their O.D. Heck caregivers, OMRDD has committed to reduce the number of abuse cases at its own facilities as well as at those it contracts with.

OMRDD is planning a complete assessment of the culture of the agency, including hiring, training and internal investigation. The agency hopes to find staff truly interested in working and developing relationships with the disabled which would ultimately result in fewer abuse cases. To assist them with this work, OMRDD has joined with the School of Social Welfare’s Center for Intellectual Disabilities

Kristine Hazzard, who received her master’s of social work from the School of Social Welfare, was recently appointed as the next president of the Berkshire United Way in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Although at the United Way for only seven months, Hazzard has already made a very positive impact, and is highly regarded in the business and non-profit communities in the area. Hazzard has over 25 years of experience in social service and management positions, mostly in Connecticut, where she relocated from. The Berkshire United Way funds 40 member agencies and has invested $2,132,614 in the community during fiscal year 2008.

Students who received the President's Award for Leadership

Pictured above are Ashley Paniagua, Madeline Kennedy,
Kelly Martinson, Alyssa Lotmore, and Dawn Trotman.

Six students from the School of Social Welfare were presented with the President's Award for Leadership on March 16, 2008. They include Laura Bertini-Colon, Returning Woman Award; Madeline Kennedy, Community Service Leadership Award; Alyssa Lotmore, Women's Outstanding Leadership Award; Kelly Martinson, Outstanding Senior Award; Ashley Paniagua, Great Dane Award; and Dawn Trotman, Community Service Leadership Award.

On Monday, May 12, 2008 the School of Social Welfare's Center for Excellence in Aging Services, and the School's Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and OASIS lifelong learning program, sponsored “Volunteer…Make the Connection.” Gary Striar, CEO, American Red Cross of Northeastern New York, delivered the keynote address. Area organizations held a wellness fair, and lectures and workshops focused on healthy volunteering were conducted. The luncheon program also celebrated and recognized the volunteer services of the many older adults throughout the region who donate their time and talent to community service. UAlbany President George Philip opened the event of 600 attendees, mostly older adults, and Marcus Harazin, Deputy Director, Division of Community Services, NYS Office for the Aging, gave welcoming remarks.

School of Social Welfare Alumna Receives University at Albany Alumni Association’s 2008 Excellence in Public Service Award

Kathryn Zox, MSW ´83, after receiving the University at Albany's Alumni Association's Award for Excellence in Public Service.

On May 3rd Kathryn Zox, M.S.W. ´83, received the University at Albany Alumni Association's 2008 Excellence in Public Service Award. From Albany, Zox, a nationally recognized radio host, produces “The Kathryn Zox Show,” which airs on the VoiceAmerica Women's Network and WMET 11:60 AM in Washington, D.C. Her show covers significant health and social issues with a focus on women's concerns, such as parenting, aging, obesity, sex, relationships and mental illness.

Zox, a certified social worker, has trained doctors and medical students to communicate effectively with patients at Albany Medical College's Clinical Competency Program. She also trains New York State correctional officers to interact with mentally ill inmates. Some of her volunteer work and charitable causes include Human Rights Campaign, WMHT Public Television Print Disabled, National Recording Books for the Blind and Dyslexic, Planned Parenthood, Ronald McDonald House, New York State School Music Association and the University at Albany School of Social Welfare. She also is a well-known philanthropist to many community organizations.

Upon accepting her award, Zox especially thanked her professors at the School of Social Welfare “whose teaching has stood me in good stead professionally and personally to this day.” She went on to say “what a privilege it is to be able to use my School of Social Welfare education and experiences to help others find their voices,” referring to her radio work where she calls herself a “social worker with a microphone.”

School of Social Welfare Honors Harry Rosenfeld,
Editor-at-Large, Times Union at Burton Lecture

Katharine Briar-Lawson, Dean, School of Social Welfare,
Harry Rosenfeld, and Ann Rosenfeld at the Burton Lecture where
Mr. Rosenfeld was honored by the School of Social Welfare

On April 28, the 23rd Annual John E. Burton Lecture & Distinguished Public Service Awards Ceremony took place. The keynote address was given by United States Congressman Michael R. McNulty, who will be retiring after 39 years in elected public office. The School of Social Welfare honored Harry Rosenfeld, Editor-at-Large, Times Union, for his strong support and leadership of the School's Elder Network of the Capital Region and his extraordinary career dedicated to public service.

The annual lecture honors John E. Burton, New York State's Director of the Budget from 1943 to 1950. "Modernizing the budget process and advancing the notion of professionalism in government are two of his many contributions to New York State public service."

Katharine Briar-Lawson, Dean, School of Social Welfare, selected as a “Woman of Excellence” by the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce

Katharine Briar-Lawson, who has been dean of the School of Social Welfare since 2000, has just been selected by the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce as one of eight women to be honored as a 2008 Woman of Excellence. Specifically recognized for her Excellence in the Professions, Briar-Lawson, “for more than 30 years, has been a leader in child welfare, social welfare, and social work education, advocating for the vulnerable and oppressed persons and those who serve them.”

Katharine also serves as president of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Social Work (NADD), representing 200 schools of social work throughout the United States. “Over the past 15 years, she spearheaded university-community partnerships and family and interprofessional collaboration in more than 40 states. She recently helped to co-host the CWLA (Child Welfare League of America) Symposium on Community Building and Child Welfare.”

Katharine and her fellow honorees will be recognized on Thursday, June 26 at the 17th Annual Women of Excellence Awards Luncheon of the Chamber’s Women’s Business Council.

Eric Hardiman, Associate Professor, has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Charitable Leadership Foundation, which supports programs for low-income families in the areas of education, housing, and healthcare, and a $25,000 grant from the State Office of Mental Health. The awards will support the second phase of the Unity House Supported Housing Evaluation, conduct initial feasibility assessments for model replication sites, and assist with the development of training and technical assistance material. This new project will build on the findings in the initial evaluation and collaborative partnerships with local and state governments. The Unity House Supported Housing program in Troy, NY, provides community-based housing services to chronically homeless adults and families living with severe mental illnesses.

School of Social Welfare Graduate Speaks at the Unveiling of the University at Albany’s New Initiative “The World Within Reach”

On April 14, 2008, the University at Albany launched its first-ever branding initiative with the theme, "The World Within Reach." It showcases the University's distinctive qualities as a leading public research university that offers students a strong foundation for success and a broad world view. One of the featured speakers at the kick-off of the new brand was Kathryn Zox, MSW ’83, School of Social Welfare. Kathryn, who calls herself a “social worker with a microphone” has been producing and hosting The Kathryn Zox Show Lunchtime Talk in Albany, NY for five years and can now be heard in the Nation’s Capital. Kathryn has recently been selected to receive the University at Albany Alumni Association’s 2008 Excellence in Public Service Award.

Pictured above are Katharine Briar-Lawson, Dean, School of Social Welfare,
and Kathryn Zox, MSW ´83.

Above, Kathryn Zox, MSW ’83, delivering her address at the unveiling of UAlbany’s new initiative, “The World Within Reach.”

School of Social Welfare Students Attend 25th Annual Social Work Day at United Nations

On March 31, 2008, Barbara Rio, Assistant Chair, Undergraduate Program, and Director, Undergraduate Field Education, accompanied five School of Social Welfare students to the 25th Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations (U.N.) in New York City celebrating human rights and social work. Social Work Day gathers students, educators, and practitioners from around the world to discuss and learn more about the critical role of international social work and the important part the U.N. plays.

The speakers discussed many issues essential to being a social worker in the United States and worldwide. The students learned about the origin and history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the role of social work practice in helping women and children in an age of globalization, the role of psycho-social programs in the recovery process with victims of disaster and trauma, and finally social work’s contribution to social development in countries like Africa. The key message conveyed by all the speakers was the great impact that social workers can have both nationally and internationally.

As the students walked through the United Nations Plaza they were awed by all the colorful flags lining the sidewalk belonging to the member nations of the U.N. At that moment, they fully recognized the importance of being a social worker in today’s world and the impact they can have on the lives of those living all over the globe. As Heather Rice, an undergraduate student from Stephentown, NY stated, “We truly have an amazing role in shaping the world for future generations, helping and making a difference in the lives of those who may not be able to help themselves.”

Barbara Rio and School of Social Welfare students at the 25th Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations

Faculty, students, staff, alumni, and friends join New York State legislators for UAlbany Day in March, to celebrate and advocate for the University at Albany and the Capital Region.

Pictured above are Katharine Briar-Lawson, Dean, School of Social Welfare, Pierre Alric ’69, University at Albany Council member, New York State Senator Neil Breslin, and Stephanie Wacholder, Director, Special Projects and Strategic Partnerships, School of Social Welfare.

Pictured above are Gail Berley ’73, member of the Board of Directors, University at Albany Foundation, New York State Senator Neil Breslin, and Stephanie Wacholder, Director, Special Projects and Strategic Partnerships, School of Social Welfare.

Lisa Ferretti , LMSW, Director of Operations, Center for Excellence in Aging Services, had her project Healthy Hearts on the Hill , featured in the Winter 2008 issue of the national publication, Practice Change Bulletin . The Bulletin is published by Practice Change Fellows, an organization dedicated to promoting high quality health care for older adults. Ferretti's project focuses on the West Hill area of Albany and involves unifying those in the community and impacting the cardiovascular health of senior residents. A community wide approach led by a coalition of health, faith and other community leaders and advocates encourages patient education, cardiovascular disease screenings, direct physician referrals, and participation in evidence-based health interventions. Creating safe places for exercise, improving the range of foods available in local stores and food pantries and recognizing heart healthy success stories are the next steps for the project.

Ron Toseland has been selected to receive an Outstanding Researcher/Scholar Award from the SUNY wide Research Foundation. This very prestigious award recognizes Ron's enormous contributions and excellence in gerontological research. This special award will be bestowed to Professor Toseland at a SUNY wide ceremony on April 14th.

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WELFARE STUDENTS AID IN REBUILDING NEW ORLEANS -- Graduate students travelled to New Orleans -- joining in rebuilding a community -- Read More...

School of Social Welfare’s Dean Honored by Hallym University in South Korea

Katharine Briar-Lawson, Dean of the School of Social Welfare being presented her

On November 19, 2007, Katharine Briar-Lawson, Dean of the School of Social Welfare (SSW), received an award from Dr. Choongsoo Kim, President of Hallym University in South Korea. The Dean was recognized for her “dedicated efforts on behalf of the Hallym University’s School of Social Welfare.” Read More...

University at Albany conferred the Medallion of the University, UAlbany's highest honor on City of Albany Mayor Gerald D
Pictured above are Maryann Piscitella, Alyssa Lotmore’s grandmother, Mayor

Pictured above are Maryann Piscitella, Alyssa Lotmore’s grandmother, Mayor

On December 8th 2007, the University at Albany conferred the Medallion of the University, UAlbany's highest honor, on City of Albany Mayor Gerald D. Jennings for his extraordinary public service and leadership. The University at Albany also established The Gerald D. Jennings Class of '76 Scholarship Fund to benefit deserving students from the City of Albany.

The featured speaker for the evening was Alyssa Lotmore, a current MSW student at the School of Social Welfare (SSW), who was the recipient of two SSW scholarships. Alyssa's excellent example as an accomplished student, athlete and intern, as well as her enthusiasm for UAlbany illustrates the type of impact the Gerald D. Jennings scholarship fund will have in opening doors to the future for talented students. Read More...

Dr. Philip McCallion, Director, Center for Excellence in Aging Services featured in prominent newspapers
Dr. Philip McCallion, Director, Center for Excellence in Aging Services, is featured sharing his expertise regarding the aged in prominent newspapers around the country. Articles by or with quotes by Prof. Philip McCallion

November 9th, 2007 -- the Center for Excellence in Aging Services and the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society held a Women's Health & Intergenerational Caregiving Forum. The day long event focused the attention of over 100 participants on a variety of complex issues faced by women who care for others including the intersection of caregiving and issues such as poverty, immigration status, the caregiver's own health status and work-life balance. Presentations were delivered to frame each issue from both a research and experiential perspective, discussion groups followed and then critical issues and recommendations were presented to a public policy listening panel. The proceedings of the event will be disseminated widely to raise awareness about the need to address the challenges facing women as caregivers and to enhance support capacity.

THE UALBANY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WELFARE\RISK TAKERS 40th REUNION -- On a sunny Saturday afternoon in June a dozen hardy souls from the class of 1967 gathered at the Crooked Lake summer home of Ann Sheila and Dan Cook to renew friendships, walk down memory lane and remember those who have gone on ahead. These are the risk takers who gathered for the first time in September 1965 to launch the UAlbany School of Social Welfare unaccredited (then) MSW program. Although most had not seen each other in forty years, friendships were quickly renewed and the many war stories of graduate school were shared. The reunion organized by the Cooks and Gabe Viada has sewn the seeds for a “Risk Takers Club” of the School's alumni who value and support those who take risks in social work.

School of Social Welfare's Institute of Gerontology Program Honored -- Senior Services of Albany was recently honored at the 2007 National Family Caregiving Awards for its telephone support-group program. The program was originally developed collaboratively by the School of Social Welfare 's Institute of Gerontology and Senior Services of Albany. The award is sponsored by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the MetLife Foundation, and recognizes community-based programs that support family caregivers providing help to older adults.

Ronald Toseland Honored with Social Work Career Achievement Award -- Professor Ronald Toseland of the University at Albany's School of Social Welfare has received the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGE-SW) Career Achievement Award. AGE-SW is a membership society for social worker scholars and practitioners focused on improving the lives of older adults. AGE-SW gives the award to a person who has made an outstanding lifelong contribution to the field of gerontology. Toseland, director of the UAlbany Institute of Gerontology, has worked in the field since 1968. The award was presented at the 60th annual Gerontological Society of America meeting in November.

"Professor Toseland has dedicated his career to social work practice and improving the quality of life for older persons," said Katharine Briar-Lawson, dean of the School of Social Welfare. "We applaud Ron for his outstanding achievement, and thank AGE-SW for their recognition of his life-long commitment to social work education."

Toseland, a professor in the School of Social Work since 1979 and director of the Institute of Gerontology since 1990, has a compelling and sustained research record, both as a scholar and methodologist. An internationally recognized gerontologist, Toseland's research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health as well as by various other state, federal, and foundation sources. He has applied more than 30 years of concentrated interdisciplinary research principally to two areas: social work practice with groups, and effective interventions for problems faced by older persons - including dementia, multiple chronic health problems and the physical and emotional demands of providing care for an ill family member.

Josefina Carbonell, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging Recognizes OASIS Director, Meg McCarthy -- Meg McCarthy, OASIS Director for the New York State Capital Region, was recognized at the OASIS national conference by Josefina Carbonell, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging, for her “dedication, creativity and inspiring work” to improve the lives of mature adults.

SSW Sponsors 8 th Summer Study Tour to Africa -- The U.S.-Africa Partnership for Building Stronger Communities Project sponsored its 8 th Summer Tour to Africa. Thirteen students, a community based practitioner and the project director (Distinguished Service Professor Shirley J. Jones) visited Liberia, Senegal, and South Africa. Some of the highlights of the Summer Tour were: a meeting with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia (the first woman president on the African continent), establishing a “Pen Pal” Project with high school students (South Africa) and a school for the deaf (Liberia), distributing hand quilted blankets and supplies to orphanages (Liberia and South Africa) and visiting the Island of Goree (Senegal) that participated in slave trade to the Americas from 1563 – 1848. For Photo

Dr. Nam Soon Huh '97 Transforms the Way Koreans Care for Vulnerable Children and Families Since 1998, the School of Social Welfare has had a “sister university” relationship with Hallym University in Chuncheon, Korea. Each summer for three weeks, a group of Hallym University students and faculty visits Albany, where they hear lectures by SSW faculty, visit social service agencies, and live with or visit American families. Hallym faculty Nam Soon Huh (an '97 SSW Ph.D. graduate) and Hyunsuk Yoon, who both specialize in child welfare and aging, have spent up to a year on sabbatical at the School. SSW faculty who visited Korea for lecture tours include Vice President for Research Lynn Videka and Dean Katharine Briar-Lawson (children and family services); Professor Bonnie Carlson (family violence); Professor Anne Fortune and Social Work Education Consortium Director Mary McCarthy (field education); and Associate Professor Zvi Gellis and Research Assistant Professor Vicky Rizzo (aging). Outcomes of collaboration between SSW and Hallym faculty include: initiatives in the Korean child welfare system to provide child protective services; a multi-site community development project to reduce family poverty; use of task-centered practice in some agencies; and academic articles and presentations about international adoption, mental health attitudes, child welfare, aging, intergenerational relations, and field education. Dr. Huh is the Dean and Professor of Social Sciences at Hallym University in South Korea. Her research expertise is in the area of Family and Child Welfare. In June 2007, she received the University's 2007 Excellence in Public Service Award. Read full story: http://www.albany.edu/news/campus_news/2007/0707/nam_soon_huh.shtml

Three Doctoral Programs Rank in Top 10 Nationally
Doctoral programs in criminal justice, educational administration and social welfare at UAlbany have been named to the Top 10 list nationally in their respective disciplines, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Full story >>

School of Social Welfare Center Receives Grant to Study Shortage of Child Psychiatrists in New York State
The School of Social Welfare’s Center for Human Services Research has received a grant from the New York State Conference of Local Mental Health Directors to conduct a statewide needs assessment for child psychiatrists and to identify strategies counties can use to cope with the shortage. The Center also will assess trends to project future needs for child psychiatrists. Contact Dr. Cathleen Lewandowski, associate professor and director, at (518) 891-8784 or clewandowski@uamail.albany.edu for more information.

School of Social Welfare Joins with Black Churches to Improve Diabetes Management
School of Social Welfare Assistant Professor Sandra Austin and Associate Professor Nancy Claiborne are collaborating with The Voices of Wellness, a health committee of Albany’s African American Clergy for Empowerment, on the design and implementation of an eight-session workshop on diabetes self-management education. Austin and Claiborne will conduct research, funded by the Center for Ethnic Minority Health Disparities, on the participants’ enhanced health awareness.

Gellis Wins International Award
Zvi Gellis of the School of Social Welfare received the Outstanding Practice Research Award in December for his paper "Randomized Controlled Trial of Problem-Solving Therapy for Late Life Depression in Home Health Settings" at the fifth International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health in Hong Kong, China. Gellis is director of the Center for Mental Health and Aging and an associate professor.

Blown away: Grad student shocked by conditions in New Orleans
GLENS FALLS -- As if it wasn't hard enough, sifting through people's personal belongings, going through dresser drawers and sorting "Dear Grandma" greeting cards to see what could be salvaged ... As if it wasn't hard enough to empty refrigerators. Read More...

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