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It gives me great pleasure to present the first of what I expect to be regular updates on the Department's activities via our new Social Welfare Newsletter. I am proud and excited to be the incoming Chair of this great Department and to follow in the footsteps of a long line of exemplary chairs: Robert Schilling, Ted Benjamin, and Stuart Kirk. This year promises to be a momentous one: we are in the midst of several faculty recruitments, and our department shares the good fortune of the Luskin gift to the School. Both will add to our renowned faculty and provide us crucial resources. And we build on the successes of the past, including major curricular revisions which continue to be implemented this year; great success in the placement of our doctoral students in major research universities; continued high pass rates for our MSW program graduates taking the LCSW Exam; the significant impact of our training grants on the delivery of Public Child Welfare services; a rejuvenated alumni organization; and record levels of applicants for our MSW program.
Chairs Message
I look forward to working closely with our faculty in developing new goals for this academic year and relying on our exceptional staff to continue the efficient management of our Department. In addition, I plan to seek creative avenues for elevating the visibility and prestige of Social Welfare at UCLA and the tremendous scholarship, research, teaching and public service accomplishments of our faculty and students. Because we, as social workers, social policy analysts and public leaders recognize that no social problem can be addressed unilaterally, we will build closer partnerships with our sister departments: Urban Planning and Public Policy. Already, faculty from the Departments of Urban Planning and Social Welfare have developed joint professional development programs for our doctoral students. And on a more practical level - that of the physical plant in which all of these activities are taking place - we look forward to the completion of extension renovations in our building and the addition of high tech classrooms, appealing facilities and amenities for our students. Welcome to the new academic year and heres to great achievements in Social Welfare at UCLA.
Fernando Torres-Gil Department Chair and Professor of Social Welfare and Public Policy
Social Welfare Doctoral Student Megan Holmes is 2012 SSWR Doctoral Fellows Award Winner
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Social Welfare doctoral candidate Megan Holmes (MSW '08) has been selected to receive the 2012 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Doctoral Fellows Award for her dissertation proposal research titled, Effects of Maternal Parenting Quality on the Development of Social Behavior for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence. The Society for Social Work and Research established the award to recognize and support doctoral students who proposed dissertation research reflects innovative ideas and rigorous methodologies related to social work research, policy, or practice. The award committee commended Holmes research for the significance of the problem, the rigor of the analysis, and the contribution to knowledge in social work and social welfare, said Laura Abrams, associate professor of Social Welfare and Doctoral Program Chair. The award will be conferred to her at the SSWR annual program meeting in Washington, D.C., in January 2012. All recipients receive a $3,000 award to support the completion of their dissertation research, data analysis and the preparation of their final dissertation document.
year study that has her evaluating Homeboy Industries, shes convinced that jobs are the answer. To read more on Jorja, visit: http://bit.ly/ofn8Yw
JoAnn Damron MSW 88, Ph.D. 90, Heather Elliott, Erika Rivas, Stephanie Hair, Brandy Barta, and Rob Schilling
Rob Schilling Inducted into American Academy for Social Work and Social Welfare
The board of the American Academy for Social Work and Social Welfare has announced its list of 2011 inductees into the organization; among this select group is UCLA Social Welfare professor and chair Robert Schilling. In his research, Rob Schilling seeks to develop, adapt, and test sociobehavioral interventions designed to ameliorate social problems of low income populations. The bulk of Schilling's research is focused on substance abuse and HIV transmission, and his studies have been conducted in sites as disparate a small soup kitchen, street outreach programs, sexually transmitted disease clinics, emergency departments, and primary care, detoxification and methadone clinics. To read more on Rob Schillings induction, visit: http://bit.ly/tUPDik
During a time of increasing anti-immigrant sentiment in several states around the nation, California recently took a different stand by saying lets invest on the future of this state". The long battle to pass the California Dream Act, a state legislation that provides financial aid opportunities to out-of-state citizens and undocumented students, has finally risen victorious. For many of us that have been part of the immigrant rights movement this has been a long overdue victory. For future generations of undocumented immigrant youth this is a light of hope on the long journey of equal access to higher education and the American Dream. Today I look back and remember previous California Dream Act campaigns, most of
http://bit.ly/scFsTn
Dr. Nelba Chavez, MSW 71 is UCLA Luskin Social Welfares 2011 Joseph A. Nunn Alumnus of the Year
On April 16, 2011, over 75 Social Welfare alumni were in attendance, accounting for a little more than half of those attended.
Alumni, faculty, and esteemed guests all reunited for an enjoyable evening that featured live music, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, and the opportunity to network and reminisce with fellow alumni. This informal yet prestigious affair kicked off with a warm welcome from Frank Gilliam, dean of the Luskin School of Public Affairs, and was flanked by a short program honoring 2011's Joseph A. Nunn Social Welfare Alumnus of the Year and the Department's inaugural Social Welfare Community Service Award.
Joseph Nunn MSW 70, Ph.D. 90, Nelba Chavez MSW 71, and Rob Schilling
Social Welfares inaugural Social Welfare Community Service Award could not have been bestowed upon anyone more deserving than Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries. For over 25 years, Fr. Greg has been an advocate for at-risk and gang-involved youth in Los Angeles and around the world. Homeboy Industries traces its roots to Jobs For A Future when he saw the need to address the escalating problems and unmet needs of gang-involved youth, and has since then, developed positive alternatives, including establishing an elementary school, a day care program and finding legitimate employment for young people, amongst many other programs and intervention approaches. Fr. Greg will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame in December 2011. Dr. Nelba Chavez MSW 71 was honored as the 2011 Joseph A. Nunn Social Welfare Alumnus of the Year for her tireless dedication to mental health advocacy and believing the importance of ensuring that those who are affected the most by government policies have a voice in their creation. The Joseph A. Nunn Social Welfare Alumnus of the Year Award promotes contributions towards social welfare by honoring a member of the alumni community who has been impactful through community service, public service, University service, and professional achievement. By recognizing alumni in social welfare, the Joseph A. Nunn Social Welfare Alumnus of the Year Award hopes to inspire others to participate in a charitable cause, humanitarian efforts, and become the change they want to see in a better world. The Alumnus of the Year Award is named in honor of Dr. Joseph A. Nunn, alumnus and former vice chair and director of Field Education for the Department of Social Welfare whose principle goal is strengthening ties between the department and the community. The 2012 Joseph A. Nunn Social Welfare Alumnus of the Year Award Reception will be held on April 26, 2012. For more information or to nominate 2012s Alumnus of the Year, visit: http://bit.ly/gFMeGJ
Ahmanise Sanati MSW 10, Joy Crumpton MSW 80, Jolene Hui MSW 11
Upcoming Events
January 19, 2012 | Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times Columnist January 24, 2012 | Former CA Senator Sheila Kuehl, founder of Kuehl Consulting February 7, 2012 | Brad Sears, founding director and current executive director of the Williams Institute, and an Adjunct Professor at UCLA School of Law February 16, 2012 | Charles Ogletree, professor of Law at Harvard Law School (Inaugural event in the Luskin Lecture Series)
February 23, 2012 | Jonathan Metzl, director of Vanderbilts Center for Medicine, Health and Society April 26, 2012 | Joseph A. Nunn Alumnus of the Year Award Reception For more on upcoming events, visit: http://bit.ly/rv23M0
Faculty News
Alumni News
Dr. Laura Abrams recently published an article in the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, entitled: Envisioning life on the outs: Exit narratives of incarcerated young men. http://bit.ly/tUkAgw Dr. Abrams also co-edited (with Kirsi Juhila in Finland) the current special issue edition of Qualitative Social Work focusing on Constructing Identities in Social Work Settings. http://bit.ly/uRGwTC Dr. Steven Clarks article Integration of Supportive psychotherapy with case management for older adults with Borderline Personality Disorder was published in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work. The article attempts to demonstrate how supportive psychotherapy can serve as a companion therapeutic approach for case management activities with older adults suffering with borderline personality disorder. Justification for this approach is provided and techniques and interventions are identified. Bridget Freisthler, Ph.D. was awarded a five-year $2.7 million grant research grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse to study for a grant entitled "Evaluating the Geography of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries on Crime, Price, and Use." The aim of this study is to understand how regulations designed to reduce densities of cannabis dispensaries affects crime and use and to determine whether types of medical cannabis users cluster in dispensaries within communities, and whether clustering is increased in areas with many dispensaries, leading to increased problems. The short-term goal of the proposed research is to provide information about clients who use dispensaries, characteristics of the dispensaries themselves, and their relationship to crime and cannabis abuse and dependence. The long-term goal is to provide communities with specific guidance to regulatory processes that may ameliorate neighborhood problems related to cannabis dispensaries. Dr. Freisthler also organized a symposium at the Society for Prevention Research annual meeting in Washington D.C. (May 31 - June 3, 2011) on "Drug Market Activities and Social Problems: Emerging Topics and Avenues for Prevention Activities." She also presented a paper on "The Geography of Drug Market Activities and Child Maltreatment" at the same conference.
Stephen Cheung, MSW 06 was recently promoted to Managing Director of the International Trade & Clean Tech Sector for the Office of Economic & Business Policy with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa. Tracy Colunga, MSW 01 just accepted a new position with the City of Long Beach and will be in charge of developing the city's Violence Prevention Plan. Rachel Gannon, MSW 11 was awarded second place in the Lewis Center GIS Award Contest for her work, Mental Health Professional Shortage Designation Tool. Megan Holmes, MSW 08 will be presenting a paper entitled Aggressive Behavior of Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: An Examination of Maternal Mental Health, Maternal Warmth and Child Maltreatment In Three Age Groups during the 2012 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research to be held in Washington, DC from January 11-15, 2012. Linh Huynh, MSW 06 accepted a new position in Oakland as Chief of Staff at College Track . Nancy Williams, MSW 07 presented a paper entitled "A Study of the Ecological Relationship between Medical Cannabis Dispensaries and Crime" at the Society for Prevention Research annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on May 31June 3, 2011. Nancy also presented a poster entitled "Rethinking local neighborhood indicators of child maltreatment: Ethnic Heterogeneity and Economic Isolation" at the 16th International Conference on Violence, Abuse & Trauma, San Diego, CA. on September 11 - 13, 2011. Nancy was awarded a National Institute of Drug Abuse predoctoral fellowship with UCLA's Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP).
On Tuesday, October 4th, the Luskin School of Public Affairs was proud to kick off the 2011-2012 Social Welfare Lecture Series with Perry v. Schwarzenegger: The Constitutional Challenge to Proposition 8 to a packed audience in one of the Luskin Schools newly renovated 2nd floor smart classrooms. Christopher D. Dusseault (Partner) and Abbey J. Hudson (Associate) of the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, who represented who represented Perry and the other plaintiffs,
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Cindy Sangalang | PRESENTATIONS Sangalang, C.C. (2012). Effects of Racial Discrimination and Ethnic Identity on Depression among Cambodian American Adolescents. Paper presentation, Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC. Sangalang, C.C. & Stokes, C. (2011). Critical Race Theory: Looking Back and Moving Forward. Paper presentation, Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia. HONORS UCLA Graduate Division Dissertation Year Fellowship, 2011-2012 CSWE Minority Fellowship Program, 2011-2012 Diane Terry | Abrams, L. S., Terry, D., & Franke, T. (In press). Community-based juvenile reentry services: The effects of service dosage on juvenile and adult recidivism. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation.
Faculty Spotlight
"My ten years in the Department have been the most rewarding of my career: working with students in both the field and the classroom, and staying connected to them after they graduate, is a privilege. Although my role in the department has changed, supporting students and alumni will remain my first priority."
"Why is L.A. Stuck on Stupid When It Comes to Gangs?" Connie Rice Addresses the Gang Epidemic
November 18, 2010 To read a full recap, visit http://bit.ly/s07Ptj
Father Greg Boyle Touts Infusion of Hope and Help as Means to Turn Youth from Gangs
February 3, 2011 To read a full recap, visit http://bit.ly/vpNf7G
Sheriff Lee Baca Sees Adult Mentors, Positive Attitude as Key to Gang Intervention
March 31, 2011 To read a full recap, visit http://bit.ly/tQnhRK
For a complete list of speakers, video, and more on the Gangs Speaker Series, visit http://bit.ly/d9Votn
Senior Fellow Policy Briefing March 8, 2012 | Deputy Mayor Guillermo Cespedes, L.A.'s Go-to Guy on Gangs
His Gang Reduction and Youth Development program is hailed as 'one of the best things this city has done in the last 10 years.' To read about Jim Newton, Los Angeles Times Editor-at-Large and Luskin Senior Fellow, on Cespedes, visit http://lat.ms/swlloa
Laura Abrams Nominated to the Los Angeles Juvenile Justice Reentry Task Force
This year, Dr. Laura Abrams was the Principal Investigator for the Los Angeles County Young Offender Reentry Blueprint, commissioned by Los Angeles County Department of Community and Senior Services and funded by the US Department of Labor. Along with Dr. Bridget Freisthler, the blueprint laid out a series of countywide as well as district-based recommendations for improving and coordinating reentry services for youth and young adults exiting the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems. On account of this work, Los Angeles County CEOs office recently initiated a Los Angeles Juvenile Justice Reentry Task Force, and nominated me (Laura) to be a part of the group. For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/guk7E2
Contact Us
Social Welfare at UCLA 337 Charles E. Young Drive East Los Angeles, CA 90095 (310) 825-2892 http://publicaffairs.ucla.edu/social-welfare EDITOR Paul Phootrakul, Alumni Relations and Events Coordinator