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VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2
| NOVEMBER 2014
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Quick Links
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Widener Social Work Trip To Japan
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May 17-31, 2015
The trip will include visits to social service agencies, service learning experiences, cultural activities and tours, and time to explore and enjoy Japan.
Cost: $3500 plus one course credit. Includes airfare, hotel, transportation, and some meals. Students will also earn 3 course credits for attending.
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Free Counseling Services for Students
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Part-time Widener MSW students receive free counseling from Social Work Counseling Services. A Widener alum, Leighann Simmons, provides the services. Hours are 4-8 pm on Monday and Tuesday and 9-11 am on Thursday and Friday in the SWCS building at 1700 Walnut. For an appointment, contact Shanna Williams at 610-499-4684
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Support Widener Social Work
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Help us change lives.
Donate to Widener Social Work. Your financial support will help fund student scholarships and our pro bono clinics.
You may also donate by sending your check made out to Widener University to:
Mary Ellen Ferkler, Social Work Development Fund, Center for Social Work Education, One University Place, Chester, PA, 19013.
We truly appreciate your support.
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Greetings!
This is an exciting time for Widener Social Work. This fall we launched our new online MSW program and enrolled an initial cohort of 49 students. We are on track to enroll 100 new students in January. The online program admits students three times an academic year - fall, spring and summer. We anticipate that the online MSW program will have 400+ students when fully implemented in 2017.
The program was recently named one of the Top 25 Online MSW programs.
The growth of the online program is driving an expansion of Widener Social Work faculty and administrative support. Administratively,our Admissions Coordinator Khalida Sethi has been promoted to MSW Program Admissions Director and Assistant Professor. In her new position Khalida will be responsible for administration of the campus-based and on-line MSW admissions. We expect to hire a new admissions administrative support person in January.
We are also conducting searches for six new positions in the Center for Social Work Education. We are looking for highly qualified professionals for the following positions:
Assistant Director of Field Education for Online Programs
This is a 12-month administrative appointment to manage and develop our field placement program for online MSW students. The position also includes responsibility for teaching an online integrative field seminar each semester. This position requires the MSW and at least 5 years post-MSW practice experience. The position has a January 2015 start date. For a detailed job description or to apply go to https://widener.igreentree.com/CSS_External/CSSPage_Welcome.asp and enter job number A14-0071 in the search by job number box.
Assistant MSW Program Director for Online Programs
This is a 12-month administrative appointment to manage the online MSW program. The position also includes responsibility for teaching one MSW course each semester. This position requires the MSW or PhD in social work and at least 2 years of administrative experience. The position has a January 2015 start date. For a detailed job description or to apply go to https://widener.igreentree.com/CSS_External/CSSPage_Welcome.asp and enter job number A14-0072 in the search by job number box.
Assistant Clinical Professors (3)
We are searching to hire three non-tenure track Assistant Clinical Professors. These are 10-month faculty appointments with a four course per semester teaching load. We are looking for experienced clinical social workers who are passionate about social work and teaching the next generation of social workers. These positions require the MSW and at least 5 years of direct social work practice experience. The positions have an August 2015 start date. For a detailed job description or to apply go to https://widener.igreentree.com/CSS_External/CSSPage_Welcome.asp
and enter job number F14-0020 in the search by job number box.
Assistant Professor (tenure track)
We are searching to hire a doctorally-prepared social work educator and researcher to teach in our MSW and PhD programs. This is a 10-month faculty appointment with a 3 course per semester teaching load. We are particularly interested in applicants who can teach research and macro practice courses. The position requires a PhD or DSW in social work or an MSW with a doctorate in a closely related discipline. This position has an August 2015 start date. For a detailed job description or to apply go to https://widener.igreentree.com/CSS_External/CSSPage_Welcome.asp and enter job number F14-0019 in the search by job number box.
Adding six new faculty members to our community is exciting news. If you are interested in any of these positions, please apply. If you know someone who might be interested, please let them know about this exciting opportunity to join the Widener Social Work team!
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BSW Program Ranked Among Top Programs in the Nation
Widener's BSW program has seen unprecedented growth in the last year, with the largest incoming class in history, new partnerships with area community colleges, new dual majors, and a host of social justice intitiatives. The program was recently ranked 36th out of more than 300 BSW programs nationwide by collegefactual.com.
"This is a really exciting time," said BSW Director Dr. Brent Satterly. "Our incoming class doubled from last year and we had a 100% retention rate. Our marketing and collaborative efforts will continue to yield tremendous fruit over the next five years."
Dr. Satterly has established articulation and working agreements with several area community colleges. The goal is to provide students at these colleges with opportunities to transfer credits and "make a seamless transition into their junior year of the BSW program." Dr. Satterly is also excited about our new dual majors with Gender/Women's Studies and Sociology, a Nursing major/Social Work minor combination, and a new Social Work major with a concentration in fine arts.
Current BSW student leaders continue to be active in the BSW Club. On October 24, the organization hosted a Domestic Violence Awareness event and a NOH8 ("No Hate") campaign event with speakers and workshops. The group is also collaborating with the MSW Student Organization to match BSW and MSW students in mentoring relationships. In November, students will once again sponsor a food drive for food-insecure families in Chester.
Dr. Satterly will continue program outreach and marketing by hosting a workshop for high school students interested in Widener Social Work. On November 11, high school students will attend Widener classes, meet Social Work faculty, visit Social Work Counseling Services (SWCS) and Widener Partnership Charter School, and have lunch with current BSW students.
"We understand that everyone just wants to be heard, known, and understood," said Satterly. "Widener Social Work is a place where students are more than a number. In our program, with an average class size of 12-15 students, we know your name, your strengths, and your struggles. We're here to listen and to meet you where you are."
 | BSW Club members planned Domestic Violence Awareness and NOH8 ("No Hate") events
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Trauma Practice Certificate Part of Move to Trauma-Informed Curriculum
Widener Social Work is in its second year of offering a Trauma Practice Certificate for current students. The trauma certificate is just one aspect of our newly developed trauma-informed curriculum. While trauma-informed care continues to grow in popularity, a small number of programs nationwide offer the certificate and even fewer offer a fully integrated trauma-informed curriculum.
Professor Barbara Gilin, with the support of Director and Associate Dean Dr. John Poulin and MSW Director Dr. Beth Barol, spent her spring 2013 sabbatical preparing for the curriculum transformation. Gilin served on the Council for Social Work Education's Steering Committee that identified core competencies for trauma-informed practice. She also met with Widener lead professors to discuss integrating trauma into required courses and presented findings to the faculty.
To complete the trauma certificate program, students participate in a year-long placement, attend a biweekly seminar where they discuss cases and trauma resources, complete the Treating Trauma course and one of the trauma-informed electives, and give a presentation to faculty and alumni on trauma-informed practice.
 | | Professor Barbara Gilin and some of the MSW students from the trauma certificate seminar |
In addition to the certificate program, trauma concepts, readings, and videos have been integrated into all required practice courses and some macropractice courses. Faculty received training and development in trauma-informed practices, and, beginning in fall 2015, the "Treating Trauma" course will be required for all first-year MSW students.
According to Gilin, what distinguishes Widener Social Work's trauma-informed curriculum from most other MSW programs is its comprehensive focus on:
* Biological, emotional, spiritual, and behavioral effects of trauma
* Understanding symptoms as coping strategies of trauma survivors
* Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) research
* Variables that aggravate the impact of traumatic events
* Best practices for helping people recover from traumatic experiences
* The interconnectedness of social justice, human rights, and trauma
"I believe that the explosion of knowledge about trauma--its causes and effects and the multifaceted responses to traumatic experiences--is causing a paradigm shift in our field that may rival the earlier introduction of "systems thinking," said Gilin.
Brian Corson is a second-year MSW student working at SOARCorp, an intensive outpatient recovery center in Chester. "I decided to pursue the trauma certification because trauma is the one common characteristic in the lives of almost all the clients I work with," said Corson. "It's my responsibility to have the skills to help clients address their trauma in a safe and supportive environment."
Dayna Rowe, a second-year intern at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, expressed a similar view about the importance of this training. "An overwhelming majority of the general population has experienced some form of trauma," she said. "By focusing on trauma-informed care, I believe I will be a better educated and more helpful social worker. I feel more prepared to enter the workforce and to help clients."
According to the Council on Social Work Education, trauma-informed organizations focus on trauma in all aspects of the service system, including staff training, consultation, and supervision. Because clients with trauma histories are vulnerable to retraumatization, agency decisions must take into account the physical and emotional safety of clients. These organizations help clients regain a sense of empowerment and control by involving them in the design and evaluation of services and curriculum.
"Trauma work is not a specialization," said Gilin. "Helping people understand the effects of trauma and fostering true, posttraumatic growth and resilience is part and parcel of being a good social worker across all practice settings. It's the heart of social work practice."
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Faculty Research and Service Highlights
Beth Barol was the keynote speaker at the International Conference for Curative Education and Social Therapy in Goetheanum, Switzerland. Dr. Barol also facilitated three workshops at the conference and conducted trainings in Germany on the application and interpretation of Biographical Timelines.
 | | MSW Director Dr. Beth Barol keynotes conference in Switzerland |
Pat Fletcher will be a presenter at the Interprofessional Care for the 21st Century: Redefining Education and Practice in Philadelphia conference. Her presentation focuses on cutting-edge issues of interprofessional learning and the use of standardized clients from the healthcare mentors project.
Barbara Gilin wrote an Op-Ed in Philly.com to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness month. Professor Gilin has counseled survivors of intimate partner violence for 35 years.
John Giugliano was conference chair and a presenter at the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health national conference in Portland, Oregon.
Robin Goldberg-Glen co-chaired Widener's Sexuality and Aging Conference and was the keynote speaker on aging at the Professional Care Alliance of Delaware Valley. Dr. Goldberg-Glen also recently joined the advisory boards of Journey's Way and Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance.
Steve Kauffman co-authored a funded grant ($65,000) from the Pew Charitable Trust for the development of a cultural corridor in Chester. Dr. Kauffman also presented two papers at the Coalition of Metropolitan Colleges and Universities Conference in Syracuse, NY.
John Poulin traveled to Chongqing, China to sign an agreement with Chongqing Tech and Business University to create a post-Bachelors Certification Program for CBTU social work majors to prepare them for admission to the Widener MSW program. Widener Social Work has partnered with CBTU since 2006 with faculty and student exchanges, collaborative research, and professional development trainings.
 | | Widener Social Work Director Dr. John Poulin in Chongqing, China |
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 | | Widener Social Work Doctoral Program Director Dr. Linda Houser |
With Emphasis on Social Justice, Doctoral Program Continues to Grow
Widener Social Work's Doctoral program is pleased to welcome five new students to campus this fall, bringing our roster of student scholars to 37. We are looking forward to following the careers of our four spring graduates--Dr. Earl Bowen, Dr. Sheri Boyle, Dr. Dana Davis, and Dr. Suchitra Hiraesave--and have already celebrated the successful dissertation defense of Jolynn Haney this fall.
Dr. Linda Houser directs the program with a focus on professional development and social justice. Doctoral candidates are engaged in research in a variety of practice and policy arenas, including autism, adult and child protective services, social work education, and substance use and addiction.
"Doctoral education at Widener is designed to create stewards of the social work profession," said Dr. Houser. "It is a role learned in process and as part of a community. Our doctoral candidates' rich practice backgrounds give them a foundation for connecting their research to implications for practice and policy. My hope is that they savor the process, value on another, and use their talents to promote social justice and change."
On November 4, students presented their research at our first annual "Evening of Research with Doctoral Candidates." Throughout the year doctoral candidates will take part in professional development trainings focused on crafting teaching statements/philosophies, developing a curriculum vitae, mastering and teaching APA style, grant/proposal writing, and creating and monitoring online presence.
Dr. Houser has also launched a mentoring program to provide teaching and research mentors for interested students.
For more information about the doctoral program or upcoming events, you can contact Dr. Houser at ldhouser@widener.edu.
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