The Social Work Society  has played an integral role in the CSUN Social Work department. They provide new graduate students with mentorship and promote students to partake in action programs that encourage change.

They put together extracurricular functions that further develop an  understanding and passion for social work.

We encourage you to become a member of  the Social Work Society.

For information, contact SWS at sws.csun@gmail.com.  

Graduating MSW Students Helping Create Legislative Bills   

Photo credit: Charlie Kaijo / Senior Photographer

MSW students, Amy Plaster, Katie Cianci, Jamie Biggs, Sandra Sharma, and Keven Trout were iinspired by one member's personal struggle, and introduced legislative bill SB 61 to help mend the issue of juvenile solitary confinement.

The students were driven to expand on Senator Leland Yee's 2012 bill, SB 1363, which did not pass, to lower the hours allowed for juvenile solitary confinement. "(Confinement) is not the only option", Cianci said. Through extensive literary research, this group of students were ready to pursue the local senators to reintroduce the bill.

Congratulations to the presenters of the 17th Annual Student Research and Creative Works Symposium. These women did a phenomenal job representing our program!

The following students gave oral presentations:

Tamarla Hardeman

Michelle Lewis (2nd Place Winner)

Karen McLeod

The following students gave poster presentations:

Noor Almaoui

Daniela Alvarado

Asma Asif

Shoshana Helfler (1st Place Winner) 

Ana Urena

Published Research 

Congratulations to Elizabeth Rose-Marini (Class of 2012), that had her research published by the Huntington Partnership for Aging Education in their student and alumni journal 'Generativity': http://www.nyam.org/social-work-leadership-institute/our-work/hppae/for-students/generativity-fall-2012.html

Graduate Fellowship for Research and Creative Activity

Congratulations to Christina Marin (Class of 2014), recipient of the distinguished Graduate Fellowship for Research and Creative Activity from the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. She will be receiving $5,000 to support her research.

Judith DeBonis, Ph.D.

Dr. DeBonis

Dr. DeBonis has received both federal and University sponsored research grants:

• Co-Investigator (25% effort), Bruce S. Jansson (Principle Investigator), "Improving Healthcare Outcomes through Advocacy," PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute) (PI-12-001 PCORI Pilot Projects); One of fifty chosen for funding out of 850 submitted; Amount: $664,852. This project is a collaborative between USC, UCLA and CSUN. 

• Curriculum Development Team Member, Practice Group, "Social Work and Integrated Behavioral Health Curriculum Project," SAMHSA and HRSA-funded Center for Integrated Health Solutions (CIHS) housed in the National Council for Community Behavioral Health. Amount: $5,000 stipend and reimbursement for travel costs. Members will be cited as authors on the curriculum materials.                              

• Faculty Technology Center Redesign Institute ($1200)
  This project allowed us to participate in the 1st redesign institute on campus and to begin to learn how technology can be used to enhance our curriculum and opportunities for student learning.  The project is ongoing; I am now involved with a subgroup from the original institute focused on enhancing assessment of student learning in an online environment.

Trauma: A Survivor's Story

Tchicaya Missamou, Keynote Speaker

We are looking forward to having you attend our 4th Annual Diversity Day, Saturday, February 23, 2013, 8:30am - 3:30pm, at the Northridge Center.

Our topic this year is "Trauma: A Survivor's Story". Our keynote will be given by Tchicaya Missamou and we will have nearly 20 break out session speakers. We will also have a film on the survival of trauma and several experts to demonstrate mindfulness and self-care strategies.

To find out more about the guest speaker, visit the  CSUN Diversity Day Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/CSUNDiversityDay?fref=ts

Pride Center

The Pride Center opened on the CSUN campus August 2012. It is an LGBTQ resources center that provides students with information on sex health information, it provides mentors for students to talk to during their coming out period, as well as a place to hang out with peers and get to know others within the community. To learn more, visit: http://pride.csun.edu/

Veterans Resource Center

This resource center opened on the CSUN campus September  2012. This Peer Mentor Programs helps transition veterans back into the role as citizens, and they provide them with career development for graduating veterans acclimating in the workplace. To learn more, visit: http://vrc.csun.edu/ 

Both centers are open Monday- Thursday from 10am - 7pm, and Fridays from 10am - 3pm.

Our 4th Annual Diversity Day 

Students and faculty members meet to watch documentaries on topics of interest and then have a lively discussion afterwards. Past films have included: The Black Power Mixtape, The One Percent, For the Bible Tells Me So, and Which Way Home. Upcoming dates will be posted on the event's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CSUNs-MSW-Docs-Talks/248259871863536 

Legislative Lobby Days is a two-day event that educates students and professionals about important legislation affecting clients and the social work profession. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the legislative process and get a "hands-on" lobbying experience of talking with state legislators about important policy issues.

This event will be held on Wednesday, May 15th in the Northridge Center (USU). 

Department Graduation

This event will be held on Monday, May 20th, 2013. Grads will need to be at the check-in spot by 9:00am and the ceremony will start at 10am on Manzanita lawn here at CSUN.

College of Social & Behavioral Science Commencement Ceremony 

This event will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. The ceremony will take place at 8:00am on Oviatt Library Lawn here at CSUN. More info is available at: http://www.csun.edu/commencement/