Network Magazine - 2020

network magazine THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 2020

Strengthening Indiana Families Faculty members embark on five-year, $2.74 million initiative

Policy Field Unit Social work students fight for change in public policy

Meet our SOCIALites

& QA

with Devina Jani the new Director of Career Services

Labor Studies A curriculum to meet student needs

Current students and recent social work graduates

Pictured: Khajae Henry, 2020 MSW Graduate

C O N T E N T S

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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACADEMY BULLYING PROJECT LABOR STUDIES E-SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE CERTIFICATE POLICY FIELD UNIT LIBRARY-BASED SOCIAL WORK LEAD DAY IU SOUTH BEND STUDENT ASSOCIATION STRENGTHENING INDIANA FAMILIES TEACHER TRAUMA RESPONSE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT CAREER SERVICES Q&A SOCIALites FACULTY & ALUMNI AWARDS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP

Network Magazine Editorial Board EXECUTIVE EDITOR Tamara S. Davis, PhD, MSW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lauren Hernandez-DeCrane

LEAD CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jill Jansen

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Sarah Wheeler

Message from the Dean Greetings IU School of Social Work Community!

I am so pleased to once again bring you the IU School of Social Work’s Network Magazine! We broadened the scope of this issue to give you a glimpse of the range of impacts our alumni, students, faculty, and staff are making across our communities.

What a year it has been for the School and the profession! We entered the spring semester just as a worldwide pandemic was making its way to our own communities. Layered on top of COVID-19 came another public health crisis in the form of long-standing racism, finally recognized as a disease ravaging society on all levels. These social realities provide Social Work opportunities to act and demonstrate the core values, strengths and flexible character of our profession. While we have had to place some planned strategic activities on hold, the meaningful work of our School community has continued despite the demands, and possibilities, created by the shifting landscape of our learning and living environments.

In this issue, you will learn how faculty, students, and agencies engaged in teaching and learning innovations. The Behavioral Health Academy is a model initiative to build the behavioral health workforce.

Responding to students, faculty increased student options for policy advocacy, such as the Policy Field Unit, LEAD Day, and enhanced Labor Studies curriculum to address today’s labor force needs. I am excited for you to learn about Social Work’s first e-Social Work Practice Certificate. This program allowed us to rapidly develop a free continuing education course for behavioral health providers shifting to remote services during the pandemic.

Faculty applied research is exploring innovative ways to address community challenges. A partnership with Indianapolis Public Libraries is helping to meet the needs of patrons. Several of our faculty collaborated to develop an online application to support youth subjected to bullying. We also highlight two distinct faculty efforts aimed to establish new ways to address trauma experienced by children, families, and providers serving them through child welfare and education systems. You will also see awards received by our faculty and alumni.

Of course, critical measures of our success are the achievements of students and alumni and the investments made in them. You will no doubt be moved by the words and determination of several alumni and students whose stories we spotlight. As we increase our investments in the futures of our graduates through services and funding, I want to thank our donors who make education possible for so many students, particularly in unprecedented times like the present.

Thanks to all of you for the tremendous difference you make through your own work. I hope you enjoy reading about the activities and achievements of the School community over the past year.

Tamara S. Davis Dean and Professor

IU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK | 3

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACADEMY Academy provides specialized SUD training and employment opportunities to MSW students

BY JILL JANSEN

Last summer, 19 IU School of Social Work MSW students engaged in an innovative program designed to offer additional training in substance abuse disorders (SUD) and a path to employment after obtaining their master’s degree. The Community Behavioral Health Academy—a partnership between Community Behavioral Health at Community Health Network, IUSSW, the University of Indianapolis and Ascend Indiana—prepares students for dual licensure as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and licensed clinical addiction counselor (LCAC).

The 15 to 30 social workers who complete the academy each year will help address a dire need for mental health services in Indiana, which is currently experiencing a shortfall of some 7,000 behavioral health professionals. With Indiana ranking among the top five states for opioid use or dependency, the need for professionals specially trained to treat

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people dealing with SUD is critical. The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation reports in a recent study that more than 1,700 Indiana residents died from drug overdoses in 2017, up 75% since 2011 and an all-time high.

“Students selected for the academy get comprehensive training in a variety of evidencebased practices for clients who have substance use disorders or co-occurring SUD and mental health problems,” said Beth Wahler, Ph.D., MSW associate dean for academic affairs. “They come out of school ready to hit the ground running in the field.”

IU MSW students participating in the program are screened and chosen by the School of Social Work’s field coordinator and then interview with the Community Behavioral Health team, which selects the academy cohort. Eskenazi Health has joined as a program partner in 2020, enabling more students to participate in the second cohort this summer.

“It’s a win-win-win,” said Dr. Wahler. “It improves opportunities for our students, enhances our school’s relationships within the community, and it’s a win for Community and Eskenazi to train people who may go on to work for them as behavioral health professionals.”

It’s a win-win-win. It improves opportunities for our students, enhances our school’s relationships within the community, and it’s a win for Community and Eskenazi.

Dr. Beth Wahler

COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SEMINARS In addition to the master’s-level coursework completed at IUSSW, academy students attend seminars developed by Community Behavioral Health to complement course instruction and practicum training.

Some of the seminar topics include: •

•

•

Dr. Wahler said that because the program model is easily replicated, other community mental health centers are exploring the possibility of partnering with the IUSSW for similar programs in other parts of the state. ▪

Commonly used evidence-based practices for SUD, mental health problems and co-occurring disorders, such as acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy Assessment measures for addictions and co-occurring disorders across the lifespan (children, adolescents and adults) Documentation techniques and practices

Students also receive an endorsement in motivational interviewing, an evidence-based practice used in many organizations.

Innovative online service aims to address bullying through education and student empowerment

BY JILL JANSEN Amid growing recognition in recent years of the prevalence of bullying and the lifelong harm it can cause, a pilot intervention led by IU School of Social Work faculty James Brown, MSW, Ph.D., LCSW, and John Keesler, MSW, Ph.D., is bringing a fresh perspective by empowering students to collaborate in bullying prevention.

Focusing broadly on the theme of school safety, Drs. Brown and Keesler, along with IUSSW colleagues David Wilkerson, Ph.D., and Sheila Dennis, Ph.D., have developed an online, knowledge-based intervention grounded in a series of videos, scripted by the faculty and performed by professional youth actors. The video (referred to as a service) delivers key information about bullying—its definition, impact, and the roles individuals play in the bullying

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cycle. It also captures data—for example, the places and times where bullying happens most frequently, as identified by the students. In addition, depending on the role young people find themselves in, there are help-seeking options for individual youth, including links to make an appointment with a school counselor or social worker.

After pilot testing the intervention among 10th grade students in two Michigan high schools, the faculty facilitated a focus group in 2019 with 10 students from one of the schools to gain insights on the program’s effectiveness and areas for improvement.

“What makes this intervention somewhat unique is that we’re using a bottom-up approach, giving the students a voice in the process, empowering them to collaborate with us to develop the tool,” said Dr. Keesler.

The interactive videos allow students to answer making the same intervention available to parents so questions and offer feedback and perspective from they can know the language and dynamics of bullying. the narrator. Additionally, students are provided with

“You have to include the parent if you’re going to immediate access to strategies and resources that address bullying with the student,” said Dr. Brown. promote safety.

“Parents tend to think any student conflict is

“Depending on how students bullying, so there’s a need for the language identify themselves in the bullying and definitions around bullying and cycle, they are given choices harassment to be explained about how they might and clarified for parents. choose to respond in the We can do that with the situation,” Dr. Brown online intervention and said. “Students in the also evaluate their focus group stated understanding of key they liked not concepts.” being told what to Research and data do. In addition to collection from valuing anonymity the pilot program in reporting, the has paused due to students told us COVID-19, but the there are concerns IUSSW faculty team Dr. John Keesler about reputation is moving forward management, which to transition the could be addressed intervention to a new, by talking to someone more accessible platform. outside the school, perhaps After the intervention is by text support.” modified based on the pilot and

Comprehension quizzes built focus group, the faculty plan to begin into the intervention show the program contacting school systems to gauge interest. is effective in increasing students’ knowledge and The online service was developed (through an IU understanding of bullying. Feedback from the focus grant from the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship) group, which included a desire for more information to be customizable, allowing individual schools to about cyberbullying and intermittent text messaging gain real-time data and information about bullying to reinforce key concepts, will be built into the next to troubleshoot problem areas and inform prevention version. Drs. Brown and Keesler also are interested in strategies. ▪

We’re giving the students a voice in the process, empowering them to collaborate with us to develop the tool..

IU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK | 7

labor.iu.edu

LABOR STUDIES Labor Studies Department retooling curriculum to meet diverse student needs and interests

BY JILL JANSEN From its earliest days as an extension program catering to union workers and adult learners, Indiana University’s Labor Studies Department has been a leader in labor education for more than 60 years.

Today, the department attracts students from diverse backgrounds and covers topics that include organized labor, labor and social movements, the impact of global markets, and changing institutions. IU’s Labor Studies Department in the IU School of Social Work is the only completely online labor studies program in the nation.

“Our department originally attracted workers in the labor community, many that were union members, who wanted to learn the legal aspects of labor and management relations, such as collective bargaining, contract interpretation and arbitration,”

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said Marquita Walker, Ph.D., interim chair and associate professor of Labor Studies. “We offer a group of ‘tools courses’ to help workers learn the key legal fundamentals needed for leadership in local labor unions, which are seeing a resurgence in membership.”

More recently, traditional students from a variety of majors have opted to take labor studies courses as electives or add labor studies as a minor to complement a liberal arts education.

“Students with a broad interest in social justice are also choosing our courses, and in that vein, we see ourselves as similar to women’s studies, African-American studies and other interdisciplinary programs and courses that have developed in the past 20 to 30 years,” said Paul Mishler, Ph.D., associate

professor, who has taught labor studies courses on the South Bend campus for nearly two decades. “We are attracting students who aren’t factory workers who have a desire to learn about income inequality and other social and economic justice issues.”

Walker added that students in the business school also minor in labor studies to gain a different perspective of management and labor relations.

To maximize interest and increase enrollment among these two groups of potential students—nontraditional and traditional students in other academic disciplines—the IU Labor Studies Department recently completed a market analysis to help guide recruitment efforts and curriculum development.

“As we restructure our curriculum, we’re looking at two concentrations,” Walker said. “For both union members and students with an interest in our subject matter, we’re striving to provide the most robust, fully accredited online curriculum in both labor education and liberal arts.”

The Labor Studies program is taught by seven experienced faculty members on eight campuses.

Referring to the faculty as the backbone of IU’s department, Walker said all have had experience in the labor movement prior to teaching. Some are historians, and others have backgrounds in economics, anthropology and other disciplines.

“Without a doubt, our faculty is a key strength of our program,” she said. “They know so much about organized labor and its history.” ▪

“

"The Labor Studies program has given me a solid scholastic foundation to supplement my work experience in Labor Relations Management.

The curriculum allows insight to everyday real life work experiences.

Additionally, the program has allowed me to develop in my role by giving me a balanced outlook on labor management relationships. I highly recommend this program.

Marquita Walker, Ph.D. Interim Chair, Labor Studies / Associate Professor

”

Margo Rout Bachelor of Science, Labor Studies Graduate

IU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK | 9

e-social work practice certificate Innovative e-social work courses help practitioners meet client needs during COVID-19 and beyond

BY JILL JANSEN

While hospitals are the front line of the COVID-19 battle, every facet of healthcare is affected, including mental and behavioral health services.

In Indiana, where access to counseling and mental health care is already a concern, the virus has forced social workers to shift services from in person to virtual—with many making the transition for the very first time.

That’s why, in response to the pandemic, IU School of Social Work (IUSSW) developed a free introductory program, “Telebehavioral Practice Basics for Social Work Educators and Clinicians Responding to COVID-19.” The self-paced offering is available online and provides strategies and skills for engaging with clients virtually. The threemodule program addresses risk management, ethical guidelines, service policies and social media.

While the pandemic caused swift disruption of traditional face-to-face mental health services, IUSSW was able to respond quickly with the targeted online program thanks to its expertise in e-social work practices. The school has offered e-social work courses since 2017, and in January 2019, launched the

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nation’s first and only graduate certificate program in e-social work practice. Interest and enrollment in the school’s individual telehealth courses, as well as the full 12-credit certificate program, have grown rapidly in the past three years with nearly 150 students projected to complete the foundations course in 2020.

“More than 60% of mental health professionals are social workers, and yet our field has been very hesitant to come on board in providing mental health services virtually,” said Samantha WolfeTaylor, Ph.D. Candidate, LCSW, clinical assistant

More than 60% of mental health professionals are social workers, and yet our field has been hesitant to come on board in providing mental health services virtually.

Samantha Wolfe-Taylor Ph.D. Candidate, LCSW

David Wilkerson, Ph.D., MSW Director, Office of e-Social Work Education and Practice/ Assistant Professor

professor, and creator of the school’s online practice simulations. “It’s become increasingly important for our field to be at the forefront in providing e-health services, especially in light of the barriers to access that existed even before COVID-19.”

Since the pandemic began, Wolfe-Taylor and David Wilkerson, MSW, Ph.D., assistant professor, who leads the school’s e-social work educational

Samantha Wolfe-Taylor, Ph.D. Candidate, LCSW Associate Director, Office of e-Social Work Education and Practice/Clinical Assistant Professor

efforts, have fielded calls from hospital systems asking for advice on how to quickly transition their mental and behavioral health services online.

“Studies completed before the pandemic show that only 50% of people with mental health issues are able to get their needs met,” Dr. Wilkerson said.

“Sometimes it’s because providers aren’t available, but often it’s because people simply can’t access inperson services due to work and family commitments or transportation issues. It’s a real problem that virtual social work practice can help address.”

In addition to the Foundations of e-Social Work Practice, the certificate program includes a course in providing telebehavioral health services to individuals and a similar course in working virtually with groups.

The fourth course required to complete the certificate is an informatics elective, with students choosing from instruction on health information exchange, security and privacy policies, or clinical information systems. The courses not only teach students how to practice effectively and responsibly online, they also address practical methods for practitioners to build an online rapport with clients, and how to use nonverbal cues and practice active listening in an online setting. ▪

mswdirect.iu.edu/esocial IU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK | 11

Practicum opens doors for social work students to fight for change in public policy

BY JILL JANSEN Social workers see the effects of public policy on people’s lives every day, often in ways that can be challenging both for those in need and those trying to help. Through the new Policy Field Unit practicum, IU School of Social Work students learned what it takes to move from recognizing the effects to making a positive impact. Launched in fall 2019, the unique practicum enabled students to gain real-world experience and practical knowledge in understanding how policymaking works and the ways advocacy and coalition building contribute to constructive policy creation.

“While more social work students are becoming interested in policy in light of our current political climate, practicum opportunities focused on policy are limited,” said Stephanie Boys, MSW, Ph.D., J.D., associate professor and practicum director. “This field unit fills a gap in the traditional curriculum for students who have that desire, allowing them to get the knowledge and practical experience they need to work in the policy field.”

Five students—three master’s-level students and two undergraduates—took part in the yearlong

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practicum. Unlike most other practicum experiences, the “beauty” of the Policy Field Unit, Dr. Boys said, is that it’s almost entirely student driven. Students applied and were selected based on their interest in public policy and its intersection with social work.

During the first semester, each student chose a policy area to research and wrote a policy brief. They selected a field experience for the second semester and throughout the entire practicum participated in weekly roundtable discussions of current events influenced by legislative policy.

Rachel Walters, who graduated from the MSW program in May, viewed the Policy Field Unit as a way to think more critically about the factors that make it hard for people to thrive in society. For her field experience, she became involved in advocating against Senate Bill 449, failed legislation that would have allowed children as young as 12 years old to be tried as adults in criminal court. Supported by juvenile justice research she conducted during the practicum, Walters testified during the committee hearing on the bill.

“I became really passionate about the harm this bill could cause and wanted to be in involved in opposing it,” said Walters, who is set to start law school this fall “I really learned how crucial policy is and that we need people advocating, amplifying voices and identifying where policy is or is not working.”

The Policy Field Unit offered the opportunity for Aimee Patras to increase her understanding of housing history and policy in Indiana. Also a May 2020 MSW graduate, Patras completed her Policy Field Unit requirement as an intern working at three Indianapolis community development corporations through the Sagamore Institute Fellows program.

“I’m very thankful for my time in the Policy Field Unit,” said Patras, who works in a civil legal aid organization. “The most enjoyable part was the collegiality of the placement—while working independently on multiple passion projects, I also learned and worked with four other policy-focused students.”

For Julianne Miller, who became more politically involved during the 2016 election, the Policy Field Unit provided valuable foundational knowledge that proved useful in her legislative internship with the Indiana Senate Democrats. Miller, who completed her BSW degree in May, said her practicum experiences revealed the value social workers can bring to policymaking.

“As social work students, we study empathy and the human experience in all its forms and to have that in policymaking would be incredible right now,”

To have social workers who are working with people and not above people, who understand the challenges because they’ve seen them and not just heard about them— having that kind of empathy and understanding at the federal and state level to influence policy would change the game.

Julianne Miller, BSW Student

Miller said. “To have social workers who are working with people and not above people, who understand the challenges because they’ve seen them and not just heard about them—having that kind of empathy and understanding at the federal and state level to influence policy would change the game.” ▪

socialwork.iu.edu/field/policy.php

The Policy Field Unit presenting a poster at the E.C. Moore Symposium at IUPUI on March 6, 2020.

Left to right: Rachel Walters, Julianne Miller, Samrawit Shreves, Aimee Patras, Asia Gibson, and Stephanie Boys.

To view poster visit go.iu.edu/2Sg6

library-based social work IPL and IUSSW’s partnership leading the way in new field

BY JILL JANSEN Even as they fulfill a vital role for knowledge seekers, public libraries are finding they too have more to learn about their role in serving diverse community needs. Considered a safe place for a growing number of patrons experiencing poverty and

The school conducted a needs assessment for IPL, which included both a patron survey and a separate survey to gather feedback from library staff about their experiences and the library’s role and responsibilities with social services. More than three-

From handing out basic supplies and letting patrons use the phone to crisis intervention, librarians are being tasked with the job of being direct support professionals.

Danielle Hoover

2020 MSW Graduate and previous IPL practicum student

homelessness, libraries across the United States are examining their capabilities to meet needs beyond the scope of traditional library services.

Sparked by an innovative partnership with the Indianapolis Public Library (IPL), the IU School of Social Work is helping libraries in Indiana and several other states not only assess how to assist patrons in need of social services, but also recommending viable solutions in the emerging field of library-based social work.

“While the Indianapolis Public Library had some basic services and resources in place to serve at-risk patrons, their staff felt under-prepared to adequately manage certain situations, some of which have posed a risk to safety,” said Beth Wahler, MSW, Ph.D., associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor. “They reached out to us about a potential partnership, and we saw it as a way we could help meet a community need and get involved in a new and innovative area of social work.”

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Mary Provence, MSW Ph.D. Candidate / Adjunct Professor

Beth Wahler, Ph.D., MSW Associate Dean for Academic Affairs / Associate Professor

quarters of IPL staff requested an on-site social worker to help provide staff training and crisis intervention and to assist patrons with povertyrelated and psychosocial needs.

IUSSW adjunct faculty member and Ph.D. candidate Mary Provence, MSW, LCSW, whose doctoral research focuses on the role of the public library social worker and homelessness, said libraries are poised to make a significant difference in their communities by connecting patrons with services.

“The library is a welcoming place where people can go without experiencing stigma,” explained Provence, who worked with Dr. Wahler to facilitate IPL’s needs assessment. “Not everybody experiencing homelessness, for example, chooses to go to a shelter because they don’t feel welcome or want to be labeled as homeless. The library’s setting as non-threatening and non-stigmatizing is pivotal.”

Following the assessment, IUSSW agreed to pilot a field practicum for MSW students at IPL’s Central Library in downtown Indianapolis. A grant from the Center for Social Health and Well-Being funded a part-time supervisor to work with the MSW students, who provided direct support to library patrons in need. The students collected additional data to help address patron and staff training needs, as well as to generate support for hiring an on-site social worker.

Danielle Hoover and Diadra Flemister were the two MSW students who participated in the semesterlong practicum in January 2019. Like many others, they were unaware of the Central Library’s long history of supporting vulnerable populations prior to their work with them.

“From handing out basic supplies and letting patrons use the phone to crisis intervention, librarians are being tasked with the job of being direct support professionals, but that’s not what their expertise and training have been dedicated to,” said Hoover. “We quickly learned that having MSW students or a social worker on-site benefited both the patrons and the library’s goals to serve the community.”

In the past 18 months, Wahler and Provence have published two articles about the IPL collaboration and have a third under review. They also have presented on the topic of social workers in libraries at four conferences, including the Indiana Library Federation annual meeting. Dr. Wahler is currently working on needs assessments with four other Indiana library systems that are either considering adding social work practicums or hiring social workers. She is also collaborating on similar projects with libraries in Wisconsin, West Virginia, Florida and Ohio.

“Libraries across the country are hungry for information about how to do this well, which has resulted in a lot of interest in the cutting-edge research and work we’ve been doing here in Indianapolis and with other libraries,” Dr. Wahler said. “As a school, we’re pleased to be at the forefront nationally in providing a solid base of information about librarybased social work.” ▪

LEAD DAY Social Work students gain experience advocating to legislators for policy change

BY LAUREN HERNANDEZ-DECRANE In 2000, Kathy Byers, Ph.D., retired associate professor and program director of the BSW program at the IU School of Social Work in Bloomington, grabbed coffee with a friend from Ball State. They sat down to discuss how activists and advocates in other states got together for lobby days and thought, “We could do that. We could organize that.” And so they did. Byers called together her network of social workers who worked in advocacy, and those she knew felt strongly about these issues. Now over 20 years later, with the support of the schools of social work across Indiana and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), this day is formally recognized as Legislative Education and Advocacy (LEAD) Day.

LEAD Day allows social work students to learn more about the legislative process and understand the importance of advocacy by gaining experience at the statehouse. Social workers are vital to social justice progress, and this event gives social workers a

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chance to lobby for policy changes that are important to their clients.

“By going to this event, students learn in a way they can’t any other way; they learn it is not hard to talk to legislators,” Byers said. “They can use their social work skills to engage and interact with legislators.”

This year students from the IU School of Social Work gathered at the courthouse to learn more about proposed legislation, explore the Indiana State House, and hear from members of the general assembly at the rally. Rachel Walters, a 2020 MSW graduate, spoke during the event. In her speech, she stated, “Being involved in political advocacy is a necessary component of being a social worker. In fact, the emanation or origination of social work started with this work. It is in our DNA. So, let us stand in solidarity with each other - working towards a more just world.” ▪

IU SOUTH BEND STUDENT ASSOCIATION South Bend students successful in growing membership and interest in student association

BY JILL JANSEN For students pursuing degrees while working full time, finding time to participate in student organizations and clubs can be challenging. This past academic year, the IU South Bend Social Work Student Association made significant strides in increasing membership and student participation by focusing on community service and initiatives to enhance education. The association, which welcomes all IU South Bend students regardless of major, currently has about 70 members.

“Our goal is to teach students how to be selfgoverning and find activities that will enrich their learning in social work practice and become more involved in service to the school and local South Bend community,” said IU School of Social Work Assistant Professor Tarek Zidan, PhD, MSW, faculty advisor of the South Bend student association. “We also encourage members to become engaged in skill building in support of social work advocacy, which this year included members sending emails to state and local representatives to advocate for vulnerable populations.”

In February, more than 50 social work student association members traveled to Indianapolis for the 2020 National Association of Social Work Indiana Chapter’s Legislative Education and Advocacy Development (LEAD) Day. LEAD Day is an annual event for social workers statewide and is held at the Indiana Statehouse. In addition to attending the program, IU South Bend students toured the state capitol and met with Indiana State Senator David Niezgodski, who represents the South Bend area.

“Without the social work student association, I don’t believe I would have attended LEAD Day because I wasn’t aware of it,” said Julie Hoggatt, president, IU Social Work Student Association. “Our social work faculty offered extra credit for students attending LEAD Day, which helped generate interest, and the faculty overall have been very supportive of our association.”

During her year as president, Hoggatt has helped to organize a number of events for student members, including participation in IUSB’s schoolwide “BooTo-You” community Halloween festival. Members also volunteered their time to make hygiene products for women in other countries. A continuing education event about human trafficking and a field trip to the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum in Chicago were planned for the spring semester, but had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In addition to volunteering and helping in the community, through the association I’ve been able to meet other MSW and BSW students, as well as people in the school and community,” Hoggatt said. “Being a member of the student association has been a very valuable experience, and I’ve really enjoyed it.” ▪ IU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK | 17

STRENGTHENING INDIANA FAMILIES IU School of Social Work faculty members embark on five-year, $2.74 million initiative with state and community partners to strengthen Indiana families

BY JILL JANSEN

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Susana Mariscal, Ph.D., MSW

Bryan Victor, Ph.D., MSW

Associate Professor

Associate Professor

With more than two decades of experience “I’ve worked for many years identifying trauma working to improve the lives of children and families and trying to provide solutions and evidence-based in the child welfare system, Susana Mariscal, Ph.D., practices to help kids in harmful family situations,” MSW, thought working on a major project that shifts Dr. Mariscal said. “The truth is that this trauma and the focus from detect and respond to prevention was pain are pervasive, and if we can prevent it, that’s still years away. In 2018, she joined the IU School what we need to do.” of Social Work and met Bryan Victor, Ph.D., MSW, also a new faculty member. Together, the two have turned the future into the present.

Supported by IUSSW’s longstanding leadership in child welfare advocacy, Drs. Mariscal and Victor collaborated on a grant proposal that aims to provide strength-based, communityengaged training and resources to Dr. Susana Mariscal families in four Indiana counties with high rates of foster care entry. Last fall, their project, Strengthening Indiana Families (SIF), was selected from 125 applications as one of just nine projects nationwide to receive funding from the In Indiana, she said, the need is particularly Children’s Bureau, part of the U.S. Department acute. The Hoosier state has one of the highest rates of Health & Human Services Administration for of child maltreatment in the nation and also has more Children & Families. children entering foster care. Indiana also ranks third highest in the number of cases of child fatality.

The truth is that this trauma and pain are pervasive, and if we can prevent it, that’s what we need to do.

IU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK | 19

Prevention is the central focus of SIF, which ultimately seeks to reduce the number of children entering foster care and enhance the well-being of children and families. The five-year, $2.74 million project focuses on the development of communitybased partnerships in Madison, Delaware, Tipton and Grant counties in Indiana, with the key element being the creation of family resource centers to provide support, tools and training for parents.

Bureau, Inc. and the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana—are spending this first year evaluating available resources in each county and planning for the four-year implementation, which will begin in early 2021. While the specific services the family resource centers will offer are yet to be determined, the centers will be embedded in places families already visit, such as libraries, community and recreation centers, and schools. Locating the centers in family-friendly environments helps prevent the stigma that’s often associated with receiving parenting training and other support. Additionally, the family resource centers will be staffed using community health workers, a model that’s proven very effective in public health outreach.

“We must work collaboratively with community stakeholders, federal partners and the children and families with experience in foster care to build and sustain family resource centers,” said Terry Stigdon, director of the Indiana Department of Child Services. “By working together, these family resource centers can support communities and prevent child maltreatment.

When families are supported, wherever they are, our communities and children will thrive.” Dr. Mariscal agrees.

“Imagine the outcome if this works,” she said.

“Families in Indiana will be more supported and connected to resources in their communities—there will be families that become stronger, that don’t go through separation and can stay together. That’s really what is driving us.” ▪

By increasing protective factors we’re engaging proactively to solve problems and make families stronger so kids don’t end up in foster care.

Dr. Bryan Victor

“In effect, it’s about moving services and supports further upstream to provide needed resources for families as early as possible,” said Dr. Victor. “By increasing protective factors and helping to meet needs, we’re engaging proactively to solve problems and make families stronger so kids don’t end up in foster care.”

The SIF project team and steering committee— representatives from several community partners, including the Indiana Department of Child Services, the Indiana State Department of Health, Children’s

Strengthening Indiana Familes (SIF) 3 Areas of Activities 1. Development and operation of family resource centers 2. Public awareness and anti-stigma campaigns (Kids don’t come with instructions. We are here to help.)

3. Increased cross-system collaboration in support of child maltreatment prevention

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TEACHER TRAUMA RESPONSE Robert Wood Johnson Scholars lead pilot program to help educators deal with secondary traumatic stress

BY JILL JANSEN

In Indiana and across the nation, the effects of childhood trauma are far reaching, impacting not only children, but also the people closest to them, including teachers and school staff. For educators, being on the front lines offering support and care to students experiencing trauma can take a personal toll, sometimes resulting in secondary traumatic stress (STS). IU School of Social Work Associate Professor Barbara Pierce, Ph.D., MSS, LCSW, is part of a team engaged in helping educators recognize and cope with STS through an innovative pilot program launched earlier this year with North Central High School in Indianapolis and Indianapolis Metropolitan High School.

“Kids can usually sense who the ‘safe people’ are in their lives, and teachers and school personnel are often at the top of the list,” said Dr. Pierce, whose work since 1984 has focused primarily on trauma and developing trauma-informed programming.

“Working directly with children, educators are vulnerable to secondary traumatic stress. They can absorb the trauma their students bring to school and are at risk of experiencing compassion fatigue and symptoms of trauma themselves.”

To implement the pilot program, Dr. Pierce, IU School of Nursing colleague Wanda Thruston, DNP, PNP, RN, and Megan Carlson, MSN, PPCNP-BC, chief nursing officer, Shalom Health Care Center, Inc., received a three-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars program.

From a pool of 81 applicants from across the nation, their program was one of 10 to receive funding in 2018. “Cultivating Student and Staff Resilience” includes a series of e-learning modules that help teachers and staff identify and understand the signs and risk factors of STS and develop tangible self-care skills and resiliency plans. Follow-up activities help to reinforce key concepts and facilitate a network of peer support among educators and staff at the school.

“Trauma and conditions like STS and PTSD are less likely to occur within an environment of support, with literature suggesting that peer support is one of the most important factors in helping people who have been traumatized,” explained Dr. Pierce. “Our

program is unique in that it includes a support component, which can help mitigate some of the STS for teachers and staff.”

In February, Drs. Pierce and Thruston, Carlson and Paige Klemme, LSW, doctoral fellow, hosted a program kickoff at North Central High School attended by more than 220 educators and staff. Later this year, the project team will train about 20 school staff members who volunteered to serve as program champions. Once the champions are trained, they will facilitate the program schoolwide with Drs. Pierce and Thruston serving as consultants.

“People working in education have a lot of training and experience in helping children deal with trauma, and they do that very well; what we’re trying to do with this program is give educators the tools, resources and support to take care of themselves emotionally,” she said.

Dr. Pierce and the project team hope to use the learnings from the high school pilot program to customize similar initiatives for educators in other grade levels. Due to COVID-19, the team adjusted their project and began working with schools conducting surveys of school staff and their mental health needs, asking what resources may be required moving forward into the COVID-19 era in schools. ▪

Dr. Pierce and Dr. Thruston speak with Fox 59 about the teacher trauma project.

To watch the video visit go.iu.edu/2Sgj

IU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK | 21

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT An interview with Angela Levingston, MSW, LCSW

BY JILL JANSEN

For the past 30 years, IU School of Social Work alumna Angela Levingston, MSW, LCSW, has worked to help people with severe mental illness regain stability. In addition to mental health, Levingston, who earned both a BSW and MSW from IU, has worked in school social work, medical social work, probation, intensive home-based services and as a college adjunct instructor. She is passionate about mental health and addictions treatment and increasing access to services. A member of the IUSSW Alumni Association Board of Directors, Levingston is currently a LCSW in crisis intervention at Community Health Network. She recently answered some questions for “Network” magazine about her career and her experiences at IUSSW.

How did you first become interested in social work?

As a freshman on the IU Bloomington campus, I had planned to major in business and eventually go into real estate administration. I took a psychology class, which changed my mind. I loved the business school and the courses, but I just couldn’t get away from the idea that something related to psychology was more for me. My advisor suggested social work. I took a couple of elective courses in social work, and that sealed it for me.

What experiences stand out from your time in the IU School of Social Work?

Dr. Gary Lowe [Dr. Gary R. Lowe, former IUSSW associate dean] was one of my angels. After completing my BSW, I didn’t want to go directly into the MSW program; I wanted to get out in the field and gain experience. He kept telling me, “If you don’t do it [the MSW program] now, I don’t think you’ll ever go back.” He even started the application process for me.

I’m so grateful to him for that. It only took me a year to get my master’s degree.

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I also really enjoyed my practicums. In Bloomington, I worked in the probation department writing profiles for the judge. In Indianapolis, my first practicum was at Christamore House; I loved that one too and really got to know the needs of the community. In the master’s program I did a medical social work practicum at Methodist Hospital. It was eye-opening to see all the needs and work with an integrated group of physicians, nurses and discharge planners. I use those skills to this day in what I’m doing now. I also did an internship at IU on the transplant floor—same experience there, being part of a team and seeing how everyone serves in a vital role to meet the needs of patients.

What was your first job, and how has your career in social work progressed?

After graduating from the master’s program, I worked as a foster care and recruitment coordinator at Homes for Black Children, which was part of the Children’s Bureau. I worked through Black churches and the media to educate the community about the need for foster parents and the support that’s provided when they get involved.

What’s a typical day like for you?

Working in crisis intervention in the ER is exhilarating. In a typical day, which for me starts at 7 a.m., I am busy doing face-to-face evaluations, connecting with family members and working with the psychiatrists to make recommendations about treatment, whether it be inpatient or outpatient. It can be challenging…some people come in and it’s difficult for them to accept that they need treatment.

But I love it—probably because I see so much of the human spirit. For people to come in, meet a total stranger and tell their story—it really takes courage to be that open and to start the process of healing.

What’s surprised you the most about your career in social work?

Angela Levingston, MSW, LCSW

I was there for about six months when I was contacted by Midtown Community Mental Health to work as an outpatient provider for SMI (Serious Mental Illness) patients. It was a challenging time— all of the state institutions were closing, and there was a movement to community-based mental healthcare.

Our goal was to keep our patients safe and to keep them out of the hospital. We did a good job of getting to know our patients and their families and making sure we could get them the services they needed.

I was there for five years and have been in the mental health field ever since. We moved to North Carolina, and I stayed home with our children, but when we moved back to Indianapolis, I returned to Midtown and then went to Community Health Network where I’ve worked off and on for the past 20 years.

I really believe the IU social work program prepared me to have confidence in my ability to work with people from all different backgrounds.

I remember my social work professors saying, “We know that our job is done when there’s no longer a need for us to be there.” I think what’s most surprising is that with the mental health crisis, the need just keeps growing without enough providers and treatment facilities available to meet the needs. I wish there was an easy answer, but right now it’s not clear what that is.

Looking back, what stands out about the IU School of Social Work?

I really believe the IU social work program prepared me to have confidence in my ability to do a wide range of things and to work with people from all different backgrounds. I’m grateful for what the school did for me. While I ended up working primarily in mental health, the experience I received in the medical social work field prepared me for the crisis intervention work I’m doing now in the ER.

After nearly 30 years in the field, any social work “life lessons” to share?

The biggest thing is to really listen to your patients and clients. Be engaged and be willing to listen and ask questions so you can help meet their needs. I see it happen a lot where social workers become so focused on what should happen clinically that they forget to include the patient in the solution. ▪

Angela Levingston

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New director of career services looking forward to supporting students, alumni in new role

BY JILL JANSEN

CAREER SERVICES

Q& A 24 | NETWORK MAGAZINE - 2020

As the IU School of Social Work’s first full-time director of career services, Devina Jani, MSW, LSW, is eager to use her skills in leadership and social work administration to further develop the school’s career services and professional development program.

Joining IUSSW in 2012, Jani was most recently a fulltime lecturer and a field coordinator. With experience in program development and design, community building and non-profit sustainability, Jani has worked for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Indiana Minority Health Coalition and Prevent Child Abuse Indiana.

As the school’s first full-time director of career services, what are your current priorities?

I will spend part of the next year looking at best practices and what social work programs at other universities are doing to support students and alumni professionally. I’ll also be evaluating the career services part of our school’s website to see how we can make it more user friendly. We have a lot of great tools and resources available and want to encourage more students to access them; so, determining how to make our website more appealing and relevant is an important priority.

We will also take a look at our annual career fair, identifying ways we can potentially add virtual components. Assessing the career services we currently offer and looking for ways to make our services better and more in tune with the needs of our students are major priorities.

socialwork.iu.edu/career

What is your vision for serving the career and professional development needs of IUSSW students and alumni?

In addition to working directly with undergraduate and graduate students, I will collaborate with colleagues in recruitment, marketing and alumni relations to make sure we’re reaching students and alumni in every stage of their journey—from pre-social work to post graduation. For current students, we’re exploring the possibility of posting career services and professional development in Canvas to develop the expectation that these services are ongoing and not just for students preparing to graduate.

Will your role support career services on all campuses where the IUSSW has students?

I will coordinate services on all eight campuses.

During the next year, we will conduct assessments of services statewide with a goal of developing and adding resources and career services programming that meet the needs of students on each campus.

Do you see opportunities for alumni to be involved in professional development?

Knowledge transfer and sharing perspectives between seasoned social work professionals and those just entering practice can be mutually beneficial. Mentoring is a great way to cultivate these relationships, and that’s one way we’ll be looking to involve alumni in our ongoing professional development initiatives.

What are you looking forward to as career services at IUSSW evolves?

I’m excited about opportunities to be creative in helping students use their social work education in new and different ways. Viewing social work through a different lens offers the chance for students to explore non-traditional avenues to use their social work education, whether that be in business or nonprofit organizations. Being creative and open to new ideas allows us to broaden social work’s scope and consider how we can contribute and add value in more ways. ▪

Faculty Member Susana Mariscal, Ph.D., MSW, and Director of Career Services Devina Jani, MSW representing the IU School of Social Work.

SOCIALites CURRENT STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES FROM THE IU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK SHARE THEIR STORIES Khajae Henry overcomes hardship to make an impact

BY SARAH WHEELER The first time Khajae Henry met a social worker was when she was diagnosed with sickle cell disease as a child. During countless trips to the hospital, a social worker was there to support Henry and her family through times of crisis. Her presence had a lasting impact on Henry.

“Her passion and care for me and my family was what drew me to the field and made me realize this is what I wanted to do for others,” Henry said.

Now, Henry is a social worker at Riley Hospital for Children and a Class of 2020 alumna from the IU School of Social Work.

Henry studied at IUPUI where she served as a senator in the Bachelors of Social Work Student Association (BSWSA). During her time there, she continued to battle the symptoms of sickle cell disease, causing her to miss weeks of school.

Despite these obstacles, Henry thrived. She used her role as senator in BSWSA to speak out for fellow social workers and advocate for justice, and she completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in just four years.

These accomplishments, Henry said, wouldn’t have been possible without the network of faculty and staff who fought alongside her during her battle with sickle cell disease.

“Because of how understanding my professors were, I didn’t fall behind,” Henry said. “I was able to make up my work, and I didn’t feel pressured or guilty for asking for more time.”

Today, as Henry lives her passion to support the mental health and well-being of patients, she’s grateful for the community of educators who chose to put her health first. ▪

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From soldier to social worker: Arsalan Rehman’s call to serve

BY SARAH WHEELER When veteran Arsalan Rehman finished his term of service in the military, he struggled to reintegrate with the rest of society. He suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder, and he missed the sense of purpose he once had in the military.

Then Rehman met with a veterans’ transition assistance counselor. With the counselor’s help, he learned to cope with trauma and adjust to life after the military.

“When I first got out of the military, I was dealing with a lot of emotions I’d never dealt with before,” Rehman said. “Working with a transition assistance counselor and seeing how she was able to take care of me is what drew me to the social work profession.”

Inspired to pursue a career in public service, Rehman enrolled at the IU School of Social Work at South Bend in 2019.

During his first year on campus, he developed a support system of faculty and staff who helped make the transition to college go smoothly.

Arsalan Rehman and his Mother, Saima Rehman.

Arsalan Rehman serving in Afghanistan.

“My academic advisor, Mary Nate, was so awesome and supportive of the path I wanted to go down,” Rehman said. “Anytime I had a question, she was always there to answer.”

Rehman also took advantage of opportunities both on and off campus to explore issues that interested him. He performed an agency assessment of the South Bend Vet Center, an entity of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that provides readjustment counseling to veterans.

The agency assessment gave Rehman a deeper understanding of the mental and emotional challenges veterans experienced. It also drove him to find new ways to support veterans through social work.

Rehman plans to pursue a master’s degree in social work at IU Bloomington, and the painful memories that once held him back now serve as motivation to meet the needs of his community.

“After I got out of the military, it seemed pointless because I wasn’t able to help people like I used to,” Rehman said. “I was struggling to find my sense of purpose again, and through the School of Social Work I was able to find it.” ▪

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Dynasty von Hacker uses hands-on experience to make a difference

BY SARAH WHEELER Dynasty von Hacker always felt drawn to a career where she could help others. After earning her associate’s degree in human services from Ivy Tech, she transferred to the IU School of Social Work at IUPUI where she found a community that shared her passion for service.

“The biggest thing I noticed about the School of Social Work was the sense of belonging,” von Hacker said.

Von Hacker made the most of her time at IUPUI, serving as an officer in the Bachelors of Social Work Student Association and collaborating with faculty on the Advances in Social Work academic journal.

Off campus, she worked as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at Opportunities for Positive Growth, an organization that provides support services to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Von Hacker graduated with her Bachelor of Social Work in May, and she plans to earn her master’s degree through the accelerated MSW program at IUPUI. With an academic focus on mental health and addictions, she sees a career in clinical or medical social work in her future.

Von Hacker accredits her success to the IU School of Social Work faculty who inspired her along her journey.

“I like that the faculty have experience within the field but work as professors as well,” von Hacker said. “They always have a story to tell.” ▪

Dynasty von Hacker at LEAD Day 2020.

The biggest thing I noticed about the School of Social Work was the sense of belonging.

Dynasty von Hacker BSW Graduate

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Amelia Rodriguez leads community programming to improve public health

BY SARAH WHEELER During her senior year of high school, IU School of Social Work BSW graduate Amelia Rodriguez served as a mentor at Camp Mariposa, a program for youth impacted by substance abuse in their families.

As she worked alongside social workers and case managers to help break the cycle of addiction, she discovered a passion for social justice.

“The more I got to know the campers, the more I realized the power of preventative programming,” Rodriguez said. “It was clear that practicing social work would allow me to play a role in prevention at all ages.”

In 2016, Rodriguez enrolled in the IU School of Social Work at IUPUI. She participated in various service opportunities through the university, including the Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholarship program. While in the program, she led service events on campus and partnered with local neighborhoods and schools to address needs in the Indianapolis community.

Rodriguez said her service experiences allowed her to explore interests in community programming and development.

“Not only were we educating ourselves about social issues we were passionate about, but we also got to select the site where we would actually play a role in creating change,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez will pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master of Public Health dual degree at Northwestern University with plans to become a pediatric physical therapist. She trusts that her social work education will serve her well as she implements programming for children’s health.

“I plan to use the knowledge gained from my undergraduate coursework and practicum at IUSSW to bring a different perspective to the field,” Rodriguez said. ▪

Dr. Jeffry Thigpen and Amelia Rodriquez at IUPUI’s Top 100.

IU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK | 29

Faculty Awards Jessica Lee, Ph.D., MA, MBE, LSW receives the Charles R. Bantz Community Scholar Award Jessica Lee, assistant professor, was named recipient of the Charles R. Bantz Community Scholar Award for her community-engaged research entitled “Resilience and protective factors among Burmese refugees: A Strengths-based participatory action research project.” The award is intended to support a new or promising researcher to impact community-driven goals. Lee partnered with IUPUI and the Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) to research ways to promote wellness and integration among refugee communities in Indianapolis.

read more at go.iu.edu/32n5

Beth Wahler, Ph.D., MSW named Top 10 “Dedicated and Deserving Social Workers” and Feminist Mentor Beth Wahler, associate dean for academic affairs, was named one of “10 Dedicated and Deserving Social Workers” by Social Work Today for outstanding service in the field of social work. She was nominated by colleagues and coworkers to share her social work journey with the magazine’s 30,000 subscribers.

Wahler also was recognized at the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Feminist Networking Breakfast for mentorship and contributions to the increased visibility of women in social work education.

Wahler has been on the IUSSW faculty since 2012 and has over 14 years of social work practice focusing on poverty, substance use disorders, mental health problems, learning disabilities, and intimate partner violence.

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Carmen Luca Sugawara , Ph.D. receives Fulbright Scholarship Carmen Luca Sugawara, associate professor, received the prestigious Fulbright scholarship to aid in her research project in Croatia that examined how higher education community-engaged programs helped build local capacity for community development in post-communist countries. The Fulbright program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and receives funding from the United States Congress.

Luca Sugawara has more than 20 years of experience in international social development working and researching on issues such as civil society networking, civil society strengthening, social capital, community development, and parental involvement in post-war reconstruction.

read more at go.iu.edu/32n6 Robert Vernon, Ph.D., ACSW receives the Service and Leadership in Social Work Education Award Robert Vernon, professor, received the Faculty Service and Leadership in Social Work Education Award by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for extraordinary leadership contributions that affect social work education locally, nationally, and globally. He has worked for over 40 years to extend the reach of social work education through innovations in technology, and he launched three different social work programs across the United States.

University

CEPT read more atCON go.iu.edu/32n7

IU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK | 31

Richard A. Brandon-Friedman, Ph.D., LCSW, LCAC and coauthors to receive Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Scholarship Award Richard A. Brandon-Friedman , assistant professor, and his co-authors Barbara Pierce, Jeffry Thigpen, Beth Wahler, and J. Dennis Fortenberry received the 2020 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Scholarship Award by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The award recognizes excellent scholarship that contributes to knowledge about sexual orientation, gender identity, and the individual and systemic issues associated with these topics. The five faculty members from the IU School of Social Work and School of Medicine were awarded for their manuscript “Sexual identity development and its impact on sexual well-being: Differences between sexual minority and non-sexual minority former foster youth.”

read more at go.iu.edu/2K3a Ivette Cruz, IUPUI Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Multicultural Teaching Ivette Cruz received the IUPUI Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Multicultural Teaching. The award acknowledges faculty who integrate culturally relevant content into their curriculum; who employ an inclusive, student-centered pedagogy; and who champion diversity as a value that ensures the academic success of all students. Cruz became a BSW Student Services Coordinator at IUPUI in 2008 and has practiced since 1991 in diverse settings including mental health, addictions, domestic violence, medical social work, children and families, and Latino services.

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Carol Hostetter, Ph.D., LCSW, receives Faculty Award for Innovation in Research Instruction Carol Hostetter, professor, received the Faculty Award for Innovation in Research Instruction from SAGE and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The award recognizes the use of teambased learning to support research education and advancement.

With over 40 years of clinical experience and a passion for education, Hostetter joined the IU School of Social Work in 2001. She now teaches undergraduate research, practice, groups, and the doctoral pedagogy.

Katherine McCarthy, Ph.D., LCSW and Tammi Nelson, MSW, LCSW, LCAC receive Trustees’ Teaching Awards Katherine McCarthy, assistant professor, and Tammi Nelson, assistant clinical professor, were named the 2020 recipients of the Trustees’ Teaching Award. The award is granted to faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching through student engagement, professional development, and contributions to their academic discipline.

McCarthy, the IUPUI award recipient, joined the IU School of Social Work in 2013 and currently teaches in the MSW Direct online program. She

aims to support students by exploring new methods of social work pedagogy and prioritizing student wellness.

Nelson, the IU Bloomington award recipient, joined the IU School of Social Work in 2011 as a lecturer and field liaison. She has 15 years of experience in community mental health as both a practitioner and administrator, and she enjoys helping students meet their career goals and pursue new learning opportunities.

IU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK | 33

Alumni Awards Alumni Diane Monceski, MSW receives the Maynard K. Hine Award

Diane Monceski, MSW ’03, was the recipient of the Maynard K. Hine Award for 2020. Named for the first chancellor of the Indianapolis campus, the Maynard K. Hine Award recognizes individual alumni who have made significant contributions in support of the IUPUI campus and its alumni program. Diane is an oncology social worker at Simon Cancer Center. She has been a member of the alumni board since 2002 including serving as president of the board.

Joe Micon and Loretta Oleksy receive 2020 IUSSW Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award IU School of Social Work graduates Joe Micon and Loretta Oleksy were presented the Distinguished Alumni Award by the IUSSWAA. Joe Micon has over 40 years of leadership with the Lafayette Urban Ministry and has served as executive director. He holds an MSW from IU in 1983. Joe is the only social worker elected to the Indiana General Assembly.

He has been a field instructor for more than 100 students, author of numerous publications, lecturer, and fundraiser. Joe is a tireless advocate for Hoosier children and working families, the homeless, the unemployed, addicted, and mentally ill. In 2019 Joe and his wife started a scholarship which supports Ivy Tech Human Services graduates transferring to the IU School of Social Work BSW program.

Loretta Oleksy's combined IU degrees of social work and law have allowed her to practice social work in unique and profound ways. Loretta has represented the rights of persons with disabilities.

She developed expertise in representing biological, foster and adoptive parents through all phases of the court process. While the public policy coordinator for Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, she used her social work skills to draft legislation and coordinate statewide grassroots legislative network. Loretta also secured passage of several significant pieces of legislation,

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including the creation of the Indiana Children’s Trust Fund and Kids First license plate. In her current roll as Deputy Director for the Indiana Supreme Court Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP), Loretta is charged with establishing programs to support legal professionals who are struggling with addiction, mental health, or disciplinary actions as a result of these issues.

IUSSW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP

Needs Your Support This summer is different for so many of our students. Once a time to work and save for the upcoming school year, jobs are not plentiful in the industries where students typically find employment.

In fact, we anticipate increased need for financial assistance as the 2020/2021 school year approaches.

We hope our IUSSW alumni across the globe will come together to help social work students through scholarship support.

The IUSSW Alumni Association endowed scholarship was created to help social work students stay in school and graduate on time. Scholarship eligibility requires: • Social Work students that are in the top 10% of their class • Students who have demonstrated a commitment to community service • Graduate or Undergraduate students who do not have the total financial resources needed to complete their studies

The fall semester is fast approaching, and we need your help. We understand that everyone’s financial situation is different in the wake of COVD-19. If you have the resources, won’t you please consider a gift of any size to the endowed IUSSWAA Scholarship?

HOW TO GIVE ONLINE You can make your gift online at

socialwork.iu.edu/iusswaa CHECK MAKE PAYABLE TO: The Indiana University Foundation Please write IUSSWAA Scholarship in the memo section of the check.

MAIL TO: IU School of Social Work c/o Sandy Noe, Development Director 902 W. New York Street, ES 4161 Indianapolis, IN 46202.

QUESTIONS: Sandy can be reached with any questions at smnoe@iupui.edu or (317) 278-1620. Thank you!

The Indiana University Foundation solicits tax-deductible private contributions for the benefit of Indiana University and is registered to solicit charitable contributions in all states requiring registration. For our full disclosure statement, see go.iu.edu/89n.

ADVANCES IN SOCIAL WORK Volume 20 : Number 1

Celebrating our 20th Anniversary The Indiana University School of Social Work is pleased to release our 20th Anniversary Issue of Advances in Social Work. The current issue presents 10 empirical papers authored by 35 scholars and practitioners from 15 states in the U.S., Washington, DC, and Canada. The blind peer-reviewed papers touch upon various aspects of violence prevention or intervention, social work management issues, diversity and/or advocacy for particular populations, and teaching practice skills to online students.

Available at go.iu.edu/31LP COMING WINTER 2020 A new publication highlighting research and grants from the IU School of Social Work