College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Social Work News

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Mother Jones: Dr. Denise Hines discusses intimate partner violence in relation to the Amber Heard vs. Johnny Depp trial

eander6 — Tue, 31 May 2022 14:22:43 +0000

Mother Jones: Dr. Denise Hines discusses intimate partner violence in relation to the Amber Heard vs. Johnny Depp trial eander6 Tue, 05/31/2022 - 10:22

In This Story

Denise Hines, PhD

And the Winner of the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard Trial Is…Men.

Topics

Domestic Violence

Intimate Partner Violence

Social Work Faculty

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Master of Social Work Student Wins Mason’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Scholarship

John Brandon Cantrell — Wed, 04 May 2022 16:44:01 +0000

Master of Social Work Student Wins Mason’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Scholarship John Brandon C… Wed, 05/04/2022 - 12:44

The OLLI Scholarship will help Francesca Keesee support students’ academic success in higher education.

Congratulations to Master of Social Work student Francesca Keesee for receiving the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Scholarship for the Department of Social Work. The merit scholarship recognizes Mason students who have shown significant academic achievement and community involvement while completing their program.

“I have always loved learning—whether through formal schooling, out-of-school activities, or furious Googling,” said Keesee. “My love of learning motivated me to become an educator when I was 19 years old, and I have been involved with informal education for youth and adults ever since.”

“Part of my love for education and learning stems from the community it creates. Classrooms, camps, clubs, and other learning groups come to life with the spirit of engaged students,” Keesee said. “OLLI is a clear example of a positive community that brings people together in the spirit of continued growth.”

The OLLI Scholarship will help Keesee have a “multidimensional career” as an educator in higher education and to create a dynamic atmosphere where students can connect with their professors while exploring their educational interests.

“I would like to facilitate a space where students feel supported and excited to engage with the material,” said Keesee. “The social work program has exposed me to the most diverse educators I have ever had, and it motivates me to be another example of a successful woman of color educating future practitioners.”

Learn more about the OLLI Scholarship at ��ӽ紫ý.

Topics

OLLI

Scholarship Recipient

Awards

Social Work News

CHHS News

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Medical Xpress: Dr. Denise Hines comments on men as victims of domestic abuse

eander6 — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 17:33:04 +0000

Medical Xpress: Dr. Denise Hines comments on men as victims of domestic abuse eander6 Wed, 04/27/2022 - 13:33

In This Story

Denise Hines, PhD

Expert addresses common misconceptions about men who experience intimate partner violence.

Topics

Domestic Violence

Intimate Partner Violence

Social Work Faculty

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Lab Manager: Dr. Denise Hines mentioned as a co-author on a study about intimate partner violence.

eander6 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 14:59:30 +0000

Lab Manager: Dr. Denise Hines mentioned as a co-author on a study about intimate partner violence. eander6 Fri, 01/07/2022 - 09:59

In This Story

Denise Hines, PhD

Comparison of Intimate Partner Violence Injuries among Sexes.

Topics

Intimate Partner Violence

Social Work Faculty

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Social Work Student Mengqi Li Is a Fierce Advocate for the APIDA Community On-Campus and Beyond

mthomp7 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 14:17:47 +0000

Social Work Student Mengqi Li Is a Fierce Advocate for the APIDA Community On-Campus and Beyond mthomp7 Thu, 08/26/2021 - 10:17

In This Story

Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, ACSW

Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA

Li shares her passion for social justice and the opportunities the MSW program has offered her so far.

Mengqi Li is a Master of Social Work student with a passion for social justice and advocating for the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) community. She was recently accepted into the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Minority Fellowship Program, with a mission to reduce health disparities for racially and ethnically diverse populations through cultural competency training. Additionally, Li accepted a new position at Mason’s Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE) as a graduate assistant within the Student Engagement for Racial Justice team.

Li started the MSW program as a major career transition a few years after graduating with an undergraduate degree in business. “I just knew it really wasn’t where my heart was,” she says about working in business. She decided to pursue social work due to her interest in clinical mental health and the field’s emphasis on social justice values.

“The program at Mason has the most diverse faculty, and as a BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, and person of color] student that was really important to me,” Li says about why the MSW program stood out to her.

She’s found many ways that the curriculum has intersected with her activism and advocacy. Last spring, she took SOCW 659 Organizing and Advocating for Change, a course on community organizing, during which Li and her classmates brainstormed ways to organize around issues on campus.

Li’s engagement as a student goes beyond the classroom too. She is the founding president of the Asian Graduate Student Association. So far, the organization has recruited nearly 100 APIDA graduate students. “I’m very excited for the potential of this RSO [registered student organization] to build community at Mason,” she says.

Faculty and staff have had a tremendous impact on Li’s life as a student, and MSW Program Director Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, ACSW, has been a great ally to her in and out of the classroom. Social Work Department Chair Emily Ihara helped connect Li to CCEE for her graduate assistant position and to other opportunities as well, including the CSWE Minority Fellowship Program.

“Having APIDA faculty and staff [in the department] has been very meaningful,” says Li. She notes that Julie Kim, the director of graduate student life, is an APIDA staff member who has also made a huge impact on her experience at Mason so far.

After she completes her master’s degree, Li plans to continue her advocacy work for the APIDA community, particularly within the field of mental health. She notes that a lack of diverse practitioners may be one reason why Asian Americans do not always seek mental health services, even when they need it. Li is currently in a training program to be a meditation teacher and hopes to integrate mindfulness training into her future clinical work.

When asked about what advice she has for future MSW students, Li says, “Let others know what you care about. I really believe that’s a huge part of what will open the door to opportunities.” She also adds that leaning into your interests and passions “will keep [them] burning and sustain you in whatever form of work that you do.”

Topics

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

What is child neglect? And how well do our response programs work?

WBFO 89.7 FM (local NPR affiliate in Buffalo, NY): Dr. JoAnn Lee is mentioned for being part of team studying child neglect.

eander6 — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 17:46:23 +0000

WBFO 89.7 FM (local NPR affiliate in Buffalo, NY): Dr. JoAnn Lee is mentioned for being part of team studying child neglect. eander6 Tue, 08/24/2021 - 13:46

Topics

Children and Youth

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

UBNow (Buffalo): Dr. JoAnn Lee part of research team to study child neglect.

eander6 — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 17:29:58 +0000

UBNow (Buffalo): Dr. JoAnn Lee part of research team to study child neglect. eander6 Tue, 08/24/2021 - 13:29

UB social work researcher receives major grant to study child neglect.

Topics

Children and Youth

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, NY): Dr. JoAnn Lee is mentioned as part of a team studying the impact of child neglect.

eander6 — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 15:27:05 +0000

Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, NY): Dr. JoAnn Lee is mentioned as part of a team studying the impact of child neglect. eander6 Wed, 08/18/2021 - 11:27

UB researcher receives major grant to study child neglect.

Topics

Children and Youth

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

Faith Spillman - Strengthening the Community Through Social Work

John Brandon Cantrell — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:28:23 +0000

Faith Spillman - Strengthening the Community Through Social Work John Brandon C… Thu, 08/05/2021 - 12:28

Faith Spillman (MSW, '16) shares her experience as a MSW graduate student and reflects on how an internship with the Alexandria Public Defender's Office inspired her to pursue a career as a social worker, supporting court-involved youth.

Faith Spillman (MSW, ’16) began her graduate school journey with a mission to find a career that supports adolescents and young adults. When she joined the Master of Social Work program at Mason, she learned about the variety of ways she would be able to achieve her career goals and help young adults in the process.

“The MSW program really broadened my horizons because I didn’t know there were so many types of social work,” Spillman said. “Before I [started my MSW], I assumed I would work in Child Protective Services (CPS) or Foster Care because that is what I knew social workers did. When I think back on my time at Mason, a lot of my focus was on reducing the number of youths who are police involved or court involved.”

During her second year in the program, Spillman accepted an internship that changed her career aspirations. After expressing that she would like to work with court-involved youth, Spillman’s practicum advisor connected her to an internship with the Alexandria Public Defender's Office. “That internship completely changed my career desires and what I wanted to do,” Spillman said.

The opportunity allowed Spillman to get a glimpse of how interdisciplinary the field of social work is and inspired her to pursue a career in the criminal justice field. “The internship was vital in preparing me for where I am today,” Spillman said. “I feel like that was such an integral part of my education.”

Spillman’s first post-graduation role was with Pathway Homes, a nonprofit organization in Fairfax, Virginia. In this role, Spillman worked with adults with mental health challenges. “It was a wonderful learning opportunity,” Spillman said. “It really expanded my understanding of psychotropic medications, clinical practices, residential care, and case management.”

Following her desire to work with youth, Spillman later transitioned into a new role in the law enforcement field. As the Youth Services Coordinator with the Alexandria Police Department, Spillman works to reduce the occurrence of adolescents and young adults becoming involved in the criminal justice system. Spillman accomplishes this through connecting youth and families to local resources, instructing Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings, developing community-based programs and initiatives, as well as coordinating outreach events to bridge the gap between governmental agencies and the communities they serve.

“What we found here in the City of Alexandria is that we are super fortunate in terms of resources,” Spillman said. “However, the youth and families don't always know they exist or how to access them.”

One of Spillman’s favorite outreach initiatives is organizing community outreach cookouts, an event that involves bringing neighborhoods together while raising awareness for local organizations and agencies committed to serving the community. The cookouts began several years ago under the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities’ SafePlace Program. With Spillman’s assistance, the program grew to now having over 80 service providers that help sponsor events and share helpful information with communities throughout the City of Alexandria. Even with COVID restrictions and precautions, the 2021 cookouts linked around 1600 community members to resources, including offering on-site COVID vaccinations.

“The goal of [the cookouts] is to bring all of us to the community, so they know that we exist, we care for them, and we support them,” Spillman said.

Spillman’s commitment to serving her community did not go unnoticed. To recognize her service, Spillman was recently honored in the “40 under 40 Honorees” by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Zebra Press.

Having worked in a field that supports her passion, Spillman advocates for social workers and encourages current and prospective students to reach out to her with any questions regarding the program, career opportunities, or what it is like to be a social worker.

“One thing that is awesome about the social work field is that it’s super flexible,” Spillman said. “You can end up becoming a therapist, work in policy, do outreach, and even write grants. The skills that we learn as MSWs are translatable to other fields.”

As a proud Mason alumna and accomplished social worker, Spillman continues to pass along the support she received throughout her career to others, as she strongly believes in creating communities that help one another. “We are all better together,” Spillman said.

Topics