October 2014

Providing Powerless People With Clout: Fixing Illinois Human Services Through Litigation

Wednesday, October 15th
4:00pm
School of Social Work
1010 W Nevada Street
Auditorium, Room 2027
Urbana, IL 61801

Guest Lecturer: Benjamin S. Wolf, Associate Legal Director and Director of the Institutionalized Persons Project, Children's Initiative, and Juvenile Justice Initiative, American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.

This event is free and open to the public. A complimentary reception will follow the lecture.

2014 CSWE Annual Program Meeting

Homecoming at CSWE

If you will be at the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting October 23-26, you will miss Homecoming on campus on October 25th. Don't worry, we are bringing Homecoming to you!

University of Illinois School of Social Work
CSWE Reception
Saturday, October 25, 2014
6:30-8:30 pm

Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina
Meeting Room 8
700 South Florida Avenue
Tampa, FL 33602

Join us in Tampa at CSWE for a Homecoming themed reception. You will enjoy tailgate snacks including hot dogs, soft pretzels, cookies, beverages, and more. You can also play a tailgate game for the chance to win a School of Social Work t-shirt.

RSVP by October 20, 2014 to rossbach@illinois.edu.

Questions? Contact Meredith Olson, Chief Advancement Officer, at

maolson@illinois.edu or 217-244-4854.

Homecoming 2014

Join the School of Social Work Party

Saturday, October 25, 2014
9:30 - 11:00am
School of Social Work
1010 W Nevada Street
2nd Floor
Urbana, IL 61801

The School of Social Work invites you to join us for a pre-game tailgate party prior to the Illinois vs. Minnesota football game. You will enjoy a breakfast buffet, snacks, and beverages for ONLY $5 a person.

Alumni & Friends: $5 per person
SSW Students & Children Under 10: FREE

Register online at: go.illinois.edu/sswhomecoming

The first 50 alumni to register will receive a FREE School of Social Work fleece stadium blanket. (Blankets will be distributed at the event).

You can still purchase School of Social Work 70th Anniversaryt-shirts!

Questions?

Contact Brianna Rossbach at rossbach@illinois.edu or at (217) 244-1064.

Interested in an MSW? Join Our Outreach Program

Be one of the more than half million professional social workers in the United States dedicated to strengthening vulnerable families. Find out how you can earn your masters of social work degree in our unique outreach program, designed specifically for working professionals.

The MSW Outreach Program permits students with the necessary academic and practice background to enroll in foundation and advanced courses in online and blended (online with face-to-face components) formats. The face-to-face component of the blended courses meet on weekends one time per month on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Come to an informational meeting to learn more about the program structure, degree requirements, and application process.

*There is one semester in which day classes are required on the Urbana-Champaign campus.

MSW Outreach Program Informational Meetings

Saturday, November 1, 11 am
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
School of Social Work- Room 2015
1010 West Nevada Street, Urbana, IL

Thursday, November 13, 6:30 pm
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
One Illini Drive
Peoria, Illinois 61605

MSW Open House Event

Attend a formal presentation about our master's of social work program structure, degree requirements, and application process followed by an informal question answer session.

Saturday, November 1, 1-3 pm
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
School of Social Work- Room 2015
1010 West Nevada Street, Urbana, IL

Visit the School's website for more details and RSVP information.

BSW Student Receives I-Unite Award
Celebrating Differences

Jordan Bopes was presented with an I-Unite award on Inclusive Illinois Day on September 24, 2014. I-Unite is an annual weekly event that is hosted by the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations to celebrate all the unique contributions of University of Illinois students, staff, and faculty. Jordan, who was nominated anonymously, received this award in recognition of his passion for people and ability to embrace and celebrate differences in individuals and communities.

Congratulations Jordan!

Providing Innovative Learning Experiences

In an innovative approach to improve the training experience of introductory practice courses at the BSW and MSW Level, Professors Brenda Lindsey and Susan Cole have successfully obtained grant funding for a new Roleplaying Pilot Program at the School of Social Work. This collaborative effort pairs University of Illinois theatre students and social work students together for a roleplaying opportunity that helps to develop interview and engagement skills in a non-threatening and supportive environment while more closely replicating the organic experience of client interview and assessment.

60 social work students and 20 theatre students interested in improvisation, along with actors from the C-U Community were involved in this event. Each session lasted 15 minutes and was videotaped for submission to SOCW 400 and 401 class instructors. Students were evaluated and graded on their interviewing skills. Social work students noted that the experience provided authentic situations to gain vital practice skills. The actors/volunteers found the experience to be challenging and rewarding for practice of improvisation and character development theatrical skills.

Grant support for this program was made available from the Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL).

Social Work and the Law - Practicing For Success

Students from the School of Social Work and the College of Law recently collaborated for an exercise called, "Expert Witness Interviews" as a part of social work class, "Social Work and the Law," taught by Professor Sandra Kopels.

In a role-playing scenario of a child custody dispute between a father and children's grandparents, social work students acted as "expert witnesses" and recommended which party should be assigned custody. Law students portrayed themselves as attorneys who represented the grandparents, seeking the underlying reasons for the chosen recommendation.

Upon returning to the classroom, social work students engaged in discussions through informal dialogue. MSW students are required to write a paper describing their experiences.

This creative and collaborative way of immersing students into life-like scenarios, is just another way our faculty are helping to prepare students for success in the real world.

Presenting "International Volunteering and Governance"

Congratulations to Assistant Professor, Ben Lough and PhD Candidate, Lenore Matthew on the launch of their joint report, "International Volunteering and Governance." This research paper will be presented at IVCO, the annual conference on international volunteering, on Tuesday, October 21st, in Lima, Peru.

Read the full article.

Taking a Stand Against Domestic Violence

BSW students, Elisabeth Cushing, Kelly Valencik, and Paige Wisher are bringing attention to Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) as part of a service learning project for Professional Seminar I. Students were matched to this opportunity through the School's Community Learning Lab.

The project, set to help benefit local organization Courage Connection, includes fundraising for the center, promoting DVAM, and participating at events sponsored by the center and other community organizations.

How to get involved:

October 17-18: "Paint the Town Purple"
Everyone is encouraged to where purple and stand with survivors.

October 25: "Connection Day"
Individuals who make a donation to Courage Connection's shelters will receive a BOGO coupon for clothing shopping at the organization's store Connections in Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana, IL.

A donation table has been set up inside the School of Social Work. Items needed include: gift cards for food, gas, and supplies, over the counter cold/flu/allergy medicines, new pillows and twin comforters, and dishes/flatware. Donation jars are available for monetary giving. Grab a free DVAM purple bracelet and join these students in the fight against Domestic Violence!

Partner With The School of Social Work

Field Education Placement Opportunities

Interested in having an impact on the next generation of social workers?

Consider becoming a Field Education placement site for a BSW or MSW student. Visit the School of Social Work's website to learn more and to apply to become a Field Education Placement site.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the School of Social Work's Field Education Office by directing all BSW related questions to Sherrie Faulkner, Director of BSW Field Education, at sfaulkne@illinois.edu and all MSW related questions to Mary Maurer, Assistant Dean for Field Education, at maurer@illinois.edu.

The School looks forward to hearing from you!