USC Hamovitch P.I. Volume 2, Issue 1. Spring 2012

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HamPionoeevrinitg cIntehrvenPtio.Ins. A research publication of the USC School of Social Work Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services

[ news ]

Vol. 2, Issue 1 Spring 2012

[ from the director ] The USC School of Social Work and its Hamovitch Center continue to spearhead innovations in support of underserved populations both at home and abroad. The Center for Innovation © Joseph Chicas

and Research on Veterans and Military Families (CIR) is yet another groundbreaking approach that defines the uniqueness of the Hamovitch Center. This issue’s cover story highlights the activities of CIR, conceptualized and initiated under Dean Marilyn Flynn’s leadership and led by Dr. Anthony Hassan, a retired Air Force officer with 25 years of experience in military social work and leadership development. CIR is now the go-to national resource for military social work. We also profile the career path of Professor Kathy Ell, whose outstanding contributions to social work research and the betterment of social work practice are intimately embedded in the development of the Hamovitch Center. A champion of evidence-based practice, Dr. Ell continues to advance high-quality social work to the benefit of clients in the social, health, and mental health sectors. This issue also features the exciting work of the Hamovitch Center’s highly

Members of the California National Guard 1-140th Aviation Battalion return home from a tour in Iraq. USC School of Social Work researchers are working with the unit to develop new ways of helping veterans transition to civilian life.

Center aids wounded warriors As two of the longest-running military conflicts in U.S. history begin to wind down, soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan face an uncertain future. The economy is sluggishly retreating from the brink of collapse, jobs are scarce, and many veterans dealing with psychological problems are struggling to access quality care. Longer deployments, fewer breaks, and multiple tours of duty have translated into a dramatic increase in “invisible wounds,” a term used in a 2008 RAND study to describe mental health conditions and cognitive impairments such as posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and major depression that have become the hallmark of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

qualified team of statisticians and data

“Soldiers are different because they go to war, they are sanctioned to kill, and they probably see violence and atrocities that most people will never see,” said Anthony Hassan, director of the USC School of Social Work’s Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families. “These things take a toll on families. They take a toll on individuals.” By the late 2000s, it became increasingly clear that the military, civilian, and academic sectors were fundamentally unprepared to address the unique needs of returning soldiers. Critical gaps included an insufficient mental health workforce and a lack of training in effective treatments for depression and posttraumatic stress. CIR | continued on page 10

[ inside this issue ]

managers, who ensure our research projects have robust, state-of-the-art designs, and that scientific information is handled correctly. Enjoy!

Haluk Soydan, Ph.D. Director of the Hamovitch Center

Professor’s research driven by passion for helping underserved populations page 2

School infuses military research into master’s program curriculum page 4

Doctoral student focuses on key methods of child welfare system reform page 6


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