Partners, Spring 2016

For Alumni, Friends and Donors of the USC School of Social Work

Spring 2016

ELLEN OLSHANSKY IS CREATING A BRIDGE BETWEEN NURSING AND SOCIAL WORK

A Pioneer for Modern Social Work

Suzanne Dworak-Peck will be honored at the 2016 USC Alumni Awards

A Quest to End Homelessness The Watt Family carry on a legacy of philanthropy

Text2Vet

Helping veterans connect with veterans

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3/24/16 5:32 PM

FROM

The Dean T

his may be the most extraordinary year in the history of the USC School of Social Work!

We will be launching a new department of nursing, leading two nationwide Grand Challenges, and introducing a professional doctorate – the DSW. And for the first time in many years, the university will be honoring one of our esteemed alumna this spring. We are transforming the fields of social work and nursing and extending new knowledge in the community every day.

This fall, we will become the first school of social work in the world to house a graduate nursing department. Beginning with Family Nurse Practitioner training, we will harness the bio-medical training of advanced nursing practice with a commitment to community and social justice. We expect to develop entirely new settings for nursing practice, move our graduates into positions of influence within the Affordable Care Act, and bring new understanding to the social determinants of health.

Our faculty has demonstrated its commitment to the best possible education of our students through a complete revision of our social work curriculum – the first in 40 years. The new curriculum is based on the science of social work, advancing evidence-based practice as a signature of our school. Our innovations in field education are now recognized everywhere, impacting the 7,000 agencies in which our interns practice their skills.

Our level of research funding has never been higher, reflecting the exceptional value of the studies we have underway. Our faculty continue to receive national and international attention for their achievements that bring improved practice to schools, health care, mental health, foster care, treatment of addictions, and other areas of society.

At the heart of the USC School of Social Work are our alumni. So when one of our own is recognized for significant contributions to the field and the character of our school, we cannot help but feel immense pride. The 2016 USC Alumni Awards will honor Suzanne Dworak-Peck, MSW ’67, for her outstanding body of work and we congratulate her!

Photography by Tracy Boulian + David Ahntholz

As societal needs change, so must we, as educators and leaders. I believe the strength of the USC School of Social Work is our ability to always evolve on the cutting-edge of research, innovation and education.

Throughout this issue of Partners are illustrations of our impact in all three of these areas.

I look forward to what we will discover and achieve together, this year and beyond.

Sincerely,

Marilyn L. Flynn, PhD 2U Endowed Chair in Educational Innovation and Social Work Dean and Professor of Social Work 2

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Inside THIS ISSUE 4 FEATURES A NEW DAWN IN HEALTHCARE.....................................................................4

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A PIONEER FOR MODERN SOCIAL WORK .................................................... 10 A QUEST TO END HOMELESSNESS ...............................................................18

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CLOSING THE DATA GAP ..............................................................................15 KEEPING TABS ON THEIR HEALTH................................................................16

COMMUNITY IMPACT TEXT2VET .....................................................................................................8 SALUTE4VETS ...............................................................................................9

IN MEMORIAM LENORE STEIN-WOOD ................................................................................ 25

NEWS BRIEFS ALUMNI .......................................................................................................14 FACULTY AND STAFF ............................................................................... 17, 21

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SCHOOL UPDATES ...................................................................................... 26

THE USC SOCIAL WORK INITIATIVE ................................... 22 OUR PARTNERS............................................................................... 24 3

Photography by Tracy Boulian + David Ahntholz

by Joanna Scott

Ellen Olshansky often tells a story that is a reflection of her personal passion for social work. “My aunt, who was a big force in my life, was a psychiatric social worker and, as children, my cousin and I would play ‘social work’ – in the way that kids sometimes play doctor or teacher,” Ellen recalled. “We would create diagnoses for our patients and put them on file cards that we kept in a shoebox.

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e didn’t know any of the correct terminology, so we would write things like ‘this person is afraid to go outside, and we need to take her outside gradually.’”

Ellen did eventually learn how to correctly diagnose her imaginary childhood patient with agoraphobia, receiving her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of California, Berkeley. Shortly thereafter, she became increasingly interested in the role of nurse practitioner and decided to obtain a second bachelor’s degree in nursing science and a Master of Science in women’s health primary care from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

Her love affair with learning would continue, earning a PhD in nursing science from UCSF. She has held faculty positions at Oregon Health Sciences University, the University of Washington, Duquesne University, the University of Pittsburgh and, most recently, the University of California, Irvine, where she built the nursing sciences program from the ground up – bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programs.

(DNP) and PhD in Nursing Science programs will follow.

“When we think about RNs, we usually think about nurses at the bedside in hospitals, acute care or general medical surgical floors,” Ellen explained.

“There has been a movement towards the nurse practitioner role since the 1960s, recognizing that nurses with further education and training can really provide a great deal to the health care system.”

With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) providing a significant increase in the insured patient population each year, demand for primary care providers is at an all-time high. An FNP can play a very important role in this capacity, with the ability to provide physical diagnostics and treatments within a scope of practice that varies by state. For example, a patient could present with upper respiratory symptoms, and an FNP is trained and qualified to provide a physical assessment, diagnose the illness, order additional tests and write a prescription for antibiotics, with minimal to no supervision from a medical doctor, depending upon the state in which the FNP practices.

Social work is going to help define and enhance the profession of nursing.

However, for Ellen, everything always comes back around to social work.

“My career in nursing has constantly been informed by social work,” she said. “I have always looked at health as much more than the individual patient.

It’s also looking at the social contexts, ecology and environment of the patient. This is why I’m so excited by this unique opportunity at USC to bring social work and nursing together.”

The opportunity that brought Ellen to USC is the new Department of Nursing housed within the USC School of Social Work, for which she has been appointed chair. It will accept its first class of students in the fall of 2016. The first degree offered will be a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and prepare graduates to sit for the credentialing exam to be board certified as Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP). Students pursuing an MSN are already registered nurses (RN) with a bachelor’s degree in nursing as a minimum requirement. The development of Doctorate in Nursing Practice

How does all of this relate to social work? From Ellen’s perspective, it could not be more obvious. “Social work is going to help define and enhance the profession,” she said. “We do something that is different from what the MDs do. Nursing is unique, and focusing on social determinants of health is such an important part of what nurses do.

Health care is much more focused on the community these days, on managing chronic illnesses. In order to really help a patient live with diabetes or asthma, we have to take their daily life situation into account.

Really understand the patient in their social context.

“We can read in a book that to manage Type 2 Diabetes, a patient needs to get 30 minutes of exercise three time a week,” Ellen said. “But what if the patient is homeless? What if it is a single mother who is being abused by her intimate partner and lives in fear everyday so her priority isn’t getting 30 minutes of exercise? These are the additional elements that we really need to care about and focus on.”

CONTINUED PAGE 6

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NURSING: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

The school has been very conscious about striking this balance in the proposed curriculum for the MSN program. There are basic, standard requirements needed to ensure students are prepared to sit for the board exams to become an FNP. What will then distinguish the curriculum are required courses in social work – human behavior in the social environment, and more focused electives from 10 options encompassing mental health, aging, military/veterans, addiction, domestic violence, child abuse, bereavement and LGBT issues.

Clinical placements will also be in environments where nursing and social work are congruent.

The MSN will be offered online through the school’s Virtual Academic Center (VAC), building on the success of the online Master of Social Work (MSW ) program. One difference will be that all MSN students will also be required to

Nursing is unique, and focusing on social determinants is such an important part of what we do.

“There is a vision and mission for the whole school of social work that we are also a part of and need to work within,” Ellen said.

“So focusing on social justice, health policy, health disparities, racism, as examples, will also be central to our nursing program.”

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Ellen is excited about the potential impact that bringing social work and nursing together in this new way could have on health care. “I would like to be able to say 10 years from now that not only do we have a unique and innovative program, but look at how we have made a difference,” she said. “A large percent of health is, unfortunately, determined by zip code. We have great scientific knowledge and technology but, due to social inequities, people are generally not as healthy in Compton, California, as they are in Brentwood, California.

I want students who come out of our program to have a real commitment to social justice and healing the world.

complete one-week intensive studies on the USC campus - one at the end of the first semester and the second at the end of the program. The clinical placements – which are currently being developed throughout the country – will be completed in the student’s local community.

“I feel such an affinity for both social work and nursing,” Ellen said. “I’m hoping that I can help to be a bridge between the two.” n

Nursing@USC

Sandra Fuentes RN, BSN, MSW ‘08

Palliative Care Program Coordinator, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center

Nursing and social work, although very distinct and different, are a wonderful complement to one another.”

The USC School of Social Work has introduced a new Department of Nursing.

The Nursing@USC online program will begin offering a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) this fall for aspiring Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP).

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ursing@USC is the first graduate nursing program in the United States to integrate nursing and social work practice. The program’s interdisciplinary, evidence-based curriculum prepares FNPs to be holistic providers who treat the physical and behavioral, and address the social and environmental conditions that affect patient health and well-being.

Under the leadership of Ellen Olshansky, department chair, and Sharon O’Neill, vice-chair and FNP program director, Nursing@USC aims to be influential in expanding the scope of research, practice and education for nurses.

The FNP program will consist of: • Online coursework through the school’s Virtual Academic Center • A 5-semester or 8-semester option for 49 credits over 17 courses, with two required courses from the social work curriculum • Two required one-week, on-campus intensive courses • Four clinical experiences through local partnerships across the country, totaling a minimum of 700 hours

Joanna Woodworth RN, BSN, MSW ‘10

RN Care Manager, Kaiser Permanente

Social work training has helped with communication, defusing challenging situations, and in meeting the patient where they are so they can be part of making decisions about their care.”

Regina Olivas RN, BSN, MSW ’07

Supervisor for Clinical Research Coordinator Pool, USC Clinical Translational Science Institute

My skills as a nurse have most definitely been strengthened by social work.”

Prospective students can apply now for

FALL 2016

For more information about the application process or general information about the Nursing@USC program, please visit:

nursing.usc.edu 7

COMMUNITY IMPACT

TEXT2VET

HELPING VETERANS CONNECT WITH VETERANS

There’s a new engagement tool right at veterans’ fingertips. A unique text-messaging platform has been created that allows veterans to connect with other veterans as peer navigators, in an immediate, convenient and pressure-free environment. Text2Vet is a first of its kind collaboration between municipal leaders, local community organizations, and the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families (CIR) at the USC School of Social Work.

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taffed by 211 LA County, the official referral agency for the county’s 10 million residents, veterans can receive information about housing, employment, education, legal services and much more by texting ‘VET’ to 52211.

Since launching in November, about 500 veterans have used the service, with the vast majority inquiring about employment and housing assistance.

“You don’t know how much this program can help someone like me and my child,” said a female veteran who was recently living in her car with her young son.

Text2Vet connected her with Volunteers of America, who helped her obtain housing. “It worked wonders for our situation,” she said. “From the moment that I talked to someone, it was so much of a blessing.”

More than anything, Text2Vet is opening up even more channels for veterans to connect with the resources they need for a successful transition home in Los Angeles County. A recent CIR study of the local military population found that many veterans in need of services do not know where to go for help and are boggled by a fragmented system. Text2Vet was created in direct response to data from that study which showed nearly 52% of post-9/11 veterans, and 37% of pre-9/11 veterans, did not know how to access services.

Text2Vet is a joint project of CIR, the Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative (LAVC), 211 LA County and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. It was funded in part by the Blue Shield of California Foundation as a six-month feasibility

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by Claudia Bustamante

study of the new engagement tool. In that short period, however, the program has demonstrated even more potential.

“This pilot period has shown us that Text2Vet can be more valuable than just an engagement tool. If we use it as a feedback tool, making sure veterans are connected with the right resources, then it will help identify some of the big gaps in services,” said Nathan Graeser, CIR’s community program administrator who oversees the LAVC. One gap identified is the unfamiliarity some organizations have about others who are working with veterans. “Veteranserving organizations still don’t refer very well,” Nathan said. “A lot of these programs forget that they’re one piece of a much larger puzzle.”

Philanthropic support is critical in pursuing these types of projects. In addition to the Blue Shield of California Foundation’s funding of Text2Vet, the LAVC has received generous assistance for various initiatives from Deloitte, Maurice Amado Foundation, May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust, Newman’s Own Foundation, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, UniHealth Foundation, and Orange County Community Foundation.

“Through CIR and the Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative, we’re creating an incubator for innovative ideas,” Nathan said. “Given the immediate challenges facing our veterans and military families, we have to try out new solutions, be creative and quick in our efforts to support them.” n

COMMUNITY IMPACT

SALUTE4VETS

PROVIDING EDUCATION AT NO COST FOR VETERANS

The USC School of Social Work recently launched a new scholarship effort for veterans who want to help other returning veterans. Salute4Vets Scholarships will provide education at no cost to veterans who pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) with a military social work option, preparing them to address the unique challenges that are faced by returning service members and their families when transitioning back to civilian life.

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he Salute4Vets campaign seeks to raise $2.6 million to provide 120 scholarships for veterans. Currently, the school has 1,176 military social work graduates who have gone on to help approximately 235,000 veterans and are serving 100,000 veterans annually.

However, more than 10,000 trained social workers are needed to assist the estimated 2.6 million service members who have deployed since 9/11.

“I was so unprepared and had no concept of the resources available or how to navigate the system,” said Navy veteran Gena Truitt, MSW ’12. “It was frightening to find yourself fresh out of the military and be on the verge of homelessness with a family.”

Gena now works at the Veterans Administration Loma Linda Healthcare System in San Bernardino County where she interacts daily with veterans as a homeless outreach social worker. “Now I am in a position to help when I get transitioning veterans in my office who are homeless,” she said. “I want to help them more than anything because I don’t want them to go through what I went through.”

Donations of any amount to support the Salute4Vets campaign can be made online at www.salute4vets.org. The community is also invited to post selfies of salutes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with messages of support and #Salute4Vets.

Photos of salutes using #Salute4Vets will be featured on the website. n

Nathan Graeser, MSW ‘13 Chaplain, U.S. Army National Guard Community Program Administrator, CIR

Fermin Servin, MSW ‘11 Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corp Grant and Per Diem Liaison, Veterans Administration Long Beach

Gena Truitt, MSW ‘12 Information Services Technician, U.S. Navy Homeless Outreach Social Worker, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

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by Joanna Scott

for Modern Social Work

Since 1932, the USC Alumni Association has paid tribute to distinguished members of the Trojan Family.

The USC Alumni Awards are one of the highest honors presented by the university, recognizing each recipient’s significant contributions to their chosen profession. In 2016, Suzanne Dworak-Peck will become the third graduate of the USC School of Social Work to be honored in the history of these awards.

Suzanne Dworak-Peck is an inspirational and visionary leader. For over 30 years, she has influenced the global impact of social work by raising awareness for the profession and redefining its perception in the public eye.

Photography by Dana Fineman

Suzanne has dedicated her life to helping others by advocating for a more just society. She found a career path perfectly suited to her values, passion for and commitment to traditionally excluded populations. She has proven to be a dynamic national and international leader.

As an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California, she went 10

“I observed a social worker in action, making a difference for children and their families that had been overlooked by mainstream society,” Suzanne recalled. “In her work she exuded ethics and a body of

The skills she acquired would become the cornerstones of her career in traditional areas such as clinical practice, policy making and advocacy, as well as non-traditional social work arenas in media, business and politics.

“I am very proud of my education, and I feel to this day that it prepared me for the challenges of the field,” Suzanne said. “The USC School of Social Work taught me how to professionally understand, serve and advocate for my clients on both the micro and macro levels. The ability to move freely between the two is critical to effectively create change and advance - Angelo McClain, CEO, National Association of Social Workers the profession.”

Her passion and drive to make a difference in the world and the lives of others was always at the root of what she wanted to do professionally.

“I am proud to be a social worker,” she said. “I hope my contribution to social work has been, and will continue to be, to broaden our views of ourselves as active players in the power arenas on behalf of our clients, our profession and our society.”

on a field trip to USC County Hospital, as it was known then, and it was there that she found social work – or, perhaps, it found her.

knowledge and tradition she had obviously learned. At that moment, I knew I wanted to be a professional social worker.”

Suzanne’s impressive resume of leadership positions afforded her opportunities to address the most urgent problems of our times. Any one of her roles

might be considered the pinnacle of the average person’s career, including president of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and president of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), for which she also became its first and only ambassador. However, for Suzanne the importance of these positions was about how she could influence social work practice and policy.

“Whether it is within our own communities or the global community, we must be problem-solvers,” Suzanne said. “We must be game-changers, and we must have ‘big picture’ vision. It is always gratifying to see individuals and society accomplish what was not possible before because of social work.”

From reuniting foster children with their families, to unifying mental health organizations to provide cutting-edge services, to fighting for global human rights and social justice, Suzanne is a significant force in the field of social work. Her career as a professional social work practitioner has included lobbying Congress, influencing international social policy, presenting at the United Nations, negotiating business deals and shaping a primetime television show. She has always believed that the opportunities in social work are unique because of the profession’s broad scope of practice and great diversity.

“It is time for social workers to be recognized as the leaders we are,” Suzanne said. “If we are going to successfully empower others, we must be empowered ourselves. Our clients need us to be among the movers and shakers who influence the perception of policy makers and those they represent, including the very influential media and entertainment industry.”

Suzanne saw a need for social workers and social issues to be accurately portrayed to the American and global public. Through the establishment of the NASW Communications Network, Inc. (NCN), during her tenure as president, she created an information and resource outlet that would help to provide a more realistic presentation of the profession and clients’ needs within print, radio and the powerful television market.

The NCN was set up using the same social work model for consultation as would be used for a CONTINUED PAGE 12

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PIONEER: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

advocate for persons at the margins of Suzanne said. “Thirty million viewers client, only the media was the client and society. I need all the same resources to may tune in for entertainment but also NCN the service provider. It employed the help my clients as the networks have.” learn about child welfare, mental health same ethics and values, and the same degree and other social issues. Our work with the of confidentiality with regard to members of Suzanne’s mission has always been to create the media requesting a better society. She help. The result was has carved out a new increased interest path for collaboration and awareness of and communication, social work, including elevated the bar of pieces on CBS’ “48 what it means to be Hours,” CNN’s a social worker, and “Day Watch” and effectively changed NBC’s “Today” show. the lens through One of the greatest which the profession accomplishments - Elizabeth J. Clark, Former CEO, National Association of Social Workers is viewed. This is of the NCN was the legacy she will the development pass on to the next of a primetime generation.

NCN became the foundation for today’s drama series for CBS that put a In July, Suzanne will become chair of the NASW public education efforts.” spotlight on social work.

Board of Councilors for the USC School of In the late 1980s, Suzanne was sitting next to “Now, more than ever, it is increasingly Social Work, a new chapter she is looking journalist Mike Wallace of “60 Minutes” on a important to tell our own stories,” forward to. flight to Washington, “The school today is an innovative school D.C. He noticed Early days at USC with a ‘can do’ attitude,” Suzanne said. “Its she had a cell phone institutional growth has been tremendous with her, which was over the last two decades, as well as having unusual in those days and the size of a a profound effect on inspiring students to brick. When Wallace enter this profession and empowering them through education.” inquired as to what she did for a living Suzanne is often referred to by colleagues that required such as “a social worker’s social worker” – a a device, Suzanne description that encapsulates her humility. calmly replied, “Social work is not just a job but an important “I’m a professional part of my life,” she said. “I am only one of social worker. I’m many social work alumni who deserve this helping to eradicate award, and I thank USC for recognizing us, poverty and as a profession, for our work.” n

Suzanne has been committed to enhancing the national image and understanding of social work and to advancing the field. The profession is fortunate to have Suzanne as a member, and we are all proud to call her a colleague.

Attending the Social Workers World Conference in Sri Lanka, 1994 USC Class of 1965

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With Dr. Gary Bailey, former president of IFSW and NASW

ALUMNI

AlumniMAKING A DIFFERENCE

Alumni of the USC School of Social Work make life better for individuals, families and communities. Often they are helping in places one might not expect. Meet three alumni who are making a difference for society every day.

Corrine St. Thomas¯StoweRS MSW ‘13

Vander J. Dale Jr. is a DUI program facilitator at Southern California Alcohol and Drug Programs, Inc. The mission of SCADP is the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and related problems among underserved and disadvantaged populations.

Dale was recently licensed as an advanced alcohol drug counselor.

“Social work is a profession in which I get the opportunity to help people who are often

I didn’t choose social work; it chose me. involved in dysfunctional lifestyle situations.

I didn’t choose social work; it chose me. You must really want to be in a position to help people who are experiencing life problems and find solutions in order for them to become productive members of society.

My MSW training at USC taught me to meet people where they are and treat them with dignity and respect. It allowed me to understand group dynamics and prepared me to work with this population and help them understand the deadly consequences of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”

Tiffany Lawrence MSW ‘07 Tiffany Lawrence is the admissions coordinator for the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s long-term care/Harry’s Haven facility. She sees her role as providing “quality of life toward the end of life” for the 40 residents currently on her caseload and the hundreds who have crossed her path since she joined MPTF. “MPTF values social workers. There are approximately 20 of us on staff, and we are the ones who are on the front lines making

We are the ones who are on the front lines. this nonprofit run smoothly. I am passionate about my job and I absolutely love what I do. My first internship while pursuing my MSW at USC was in a hospice, and it was during this internship that I knew I wanted to work with older adults. My concentration was health/case management and that prepared me for my current job.”

Photo by John Sciulli

Vander J. Dale Jr. MSW ’04

Corrine St. Thomas-Stowers is an investigative assistant in the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Unit at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

She was recently selected as a Clinton Global Initiative commitment-maker and mentor for her background in criminal justice and sexually exploited children.

People who are passionate about creating change in our world.

“Working in law enforcement and government, I knew I wanted an advanced degree that would expand my knowledge of the social and emotional complexities of the victims and suspects I come across on a daily basis. I have a better understanding of the cultural and social diversities that are relevant to each victim of human trafficking that I encounter. My MSW from USC enabled me to become a more effective listener, investigator and compassionate public servant.

The USC School of Social Work encourages the growth and professional development of people who are passionate about creating change in our world.”

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ALUMNI

NEWS BRIEFS

USC SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION As the largest school of social work in the country, the USC Social Work Alumni Association (SWAA) seeks to maximize the potential of our social work Trojan Family, providing opportunities to connect with the school, students and one another.

RECENT EVENTS • SWAA joined the USC Alumni Association in honoring alumnus George Caballero, MSW ’82, for his extraordinary contributions to the school, September 2015.

• SWAA hosted the school’s annual Homecoming Tailgate, November 2015.

• SWAA sponsored a presentation (both in-person and via live stream) by Janlee Wong, Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) California Chapter, in partnership with the new NASW USC Unit, January 2016.

Members of the Latino Alumni Community Advisory Committee at the celebration for George Caballero. Back L-R: Julio Martinez, Hector Ibarra, Christina Gutierrez, Marissa Hansen, Mike Foster, Bill Mejia. Front L-R: Laura Velez-Garcia, George Caballero, Lourdes Olivares, Leticia Alvarado

UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL

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Esther Lim, MSW ‘10, Shaleah Woods, MSW ‘12, and Minerva Ruiz, MSW ‘10, enjoy the Homecoming Tailgate!

KEEP IN TOUCH Let us know what SWAA can do for you! swalumni@usc.edu Update your contact information on our Class Notes page and learn more about your alumni benefits. sowkweb.usc.edu/alumni Follow us on Facebook for all upcoming alumni activities. facebook.com/USCSWAA

Alumni and students with Janlee Wong following his presentation. L-R: Erica Novoa, Robert Hernandez, Michelle Neumann, Janlee Wong, Susan Hess, Shantel Vachani

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Visit the events page on the school’s website. sowkweb.usc.edu/ alumni-events

Promoting Healthy Aging: Making our Golden Years Truly “Golden” - featuring Ellen Olshansky, Department of Nursing

APRIL

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Veterans Network Event in San Diego

MAY

17 MAY

22 NOV

Social Work Day with the San Diego Padres

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Social Work Day with the Angels of Anaheim

Annual Homecoming Tailgate

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Closing The Data Gap

by Joanna Scott

Do children in foster care have unique health and mental health service trajectories? Does the receipt of early home visiting services lower a child’s risk of abuse or neglect? Are nutritional supports during the first 5 years of life tied to later educational performance?

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for a data network and then provided the seed funding.

It allowed the CDN to begin longitudinally assembling information on children from infancy to age 5 who are served by This type of collaboration among researchers, various public and policy makers, agency administrators and private systems. In community leaders is an innovative approach a study released to using existing data and is already during the CDN’s producing notable statistical results relevant first year, linked to program and policy design. records were used Under the leadership of Emily Putnamto document Hornstein, assistant professor, and Jacquelyn that one in seven McCroskey, the John Milner Professor of children born in California were reported Child Welfare, the scope of the CDN has for maltreatment before kindergarten. grown over the past two years from an initial series of ad-hoc analyses In 2014, a grant from the Conrad N. to the development of a large-scale Hilton Foundation made it possible initiative focused on the use of administrative data to study children’s service trajectories. hrough a process called record linkage, the Children’s Data Network (CDN) at the USC School of Social Work has been integrating children’s administrative records across state and local agencies for research and evaluation, helping to answer pressing questions and generate new knowledge. The vision is to use data to make California’s children, families and communities healthier, happier and stronger.

Thanks to generous foundation grants, the CDN has been able to bring several groundbreaking research projects to fruition which, in turn, has generated new knowledge concerning California’s children.

Emily Putnam-Hornstein and Jacquelyn McCroskey

The CDN’s latest research initiative will utilize information available for analysis to identify positive assets within whole communities that support pathways to resilience for young children and their families. Through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this project will examine childhood adversity rates and highlight communities where children are experiencing better than expected outcomes despite high adversity burdens.

The right idea, at the right time, in the right place to really make a difference for children and families.

“I have been humbled and delighted by the willingness of funders, community partners and key public agencies to come together in support of this work,” Jacquelyn said. “I am convinced that we have hit on the right idea, at the right time, in the right place to really make a difference for children and families.”

The CDN’s longest supporter has been First 5 LA, which developed the initial vision

for the CDN to expand its scope of work to include transition-age youth, so information through adolescence could be integrated. Current analyses are examining changes in the population of older youth in foster care, violent deaths among young adults, and the outcomes of young children born to mothers in foster care.

“Our first two years were focused on developing the infrastructure to securely and efficiently work with data,” Emily said. “During the next phase of our development, we look forward to engaging new data partners and demonstrating the potential of integrated data.”

As the work of the CDN continues to grow, so will the capacity of agencies throughout California to make data-driven decisions concerning children and families. n 15

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

KEEPING TABS ON THEIR HEALTH

by Vince Lim and Joanna Scott

USC Trustee Daniel M. Tsai and his wife Irene Chen, MA ’83, were concerned about the growing aging society in Taiwan, a country that has faced challenges with low fertility rates in recent decades. Both have aging parents themselves and wanted to find a way to empower older adults through technology.

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hey found it in a research initiative led

by Shinyi Wu, associate professor for the USC School of Social Work and associate director of innovations in health for the USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging.

In collaboration with Hsin Yi-Hsiao, research assistant professor; Iris Chi, Chinese-American Golden Age Association/ Frances Wu Chair; and Yi-Chuan Tseng, project manager, Shinyi explored whether tablet computers could be an effective medium among older adults to prevent disease, decrease isolation and improve their general well-being.

then helps patients’ communication with their healthcare providers.

The app was developed by Shinyi, along with Shao-Hsuan Liang, Chungyi Huang, Xiaoxin Lufei and Siying Wang, graduate students from the USC School of Social Work and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

Irene is gratified that IMTOP is improving the quality of life for older adults and hopes it will become a standardized model among nonprofit healthcare institutions throughout Taiwan and, ideally, around the world.

“I would like to invite new partners in Taiwan, such as the Ministry of Education,

“If we spend more time on older adults, their full potential can be developed,” Irene said. “Their wisdom can be passed down to the young generation, and they deserve opportunities to learn new things.”

Daniel and Irene funded the Intergenerational Mobile Technology Opportunities Program (IMTOP) through their charitable foundation. To date, over 100 older adults in Taipei, Taiwan have now participated in an initial training program for self-care management of diabetes.

IMTOP utilizes young volunteers from local universities in Taiwan to train older adults in using an app through their tablet to access health information and seek help, if needed. The app allows the recording of biomarkers and health behaviors for self-management of disease. The data

Irene Chen and Daniel Tsai

“The intergenerational aspect of IMTOP benefits both older adults and the young volunteers,” Shinyi said.

“The older adults feel energized by being around the younger students, and many of these students are learning how to effectively communicate with their elders for the first time. Some are now even considering careers in aging.”

If we spend more time on older adults, their full potential can be developed.

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FACULTY AND STAFF

NEWS BRIEFS

POINTS OF PRIDE Hortensia Amaro, PhD, dean’s professor of social work and preventative medicine and associate vice provost of community and research initiatives, had her biography and work displayed at the Smithsonian Museum’s exhibit celebrating Women’s History Month during March 2016. The exhibit was developed to align with a special edition of Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day Live! event, sponsored by the White House Council on Women and Girls.

Marvin Southard, PhD, professor of practice, and former director of the Department of Mental Health for Los Angeles County, has been chosen to receive the 2016 Robert C. Egnew Excellence in Advocacy Award. This prestigious recognition is presented by the National Association of County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities Directors to individuals who have made significant contributions to policy change at the county, state and national levels.

Ron Avi Astor, PhD, the Lenore Stein-Wood and William S. Wood Professor of Social Behavioral Health, was elected as a member of the National Academy of Education, which advances high quality education research and its use in policy formation and practice. Members are elected on the basis of outstanding scholarship related to education.

senior centers, continuing education centers, and universities to implement IMTOP,” Irene said.

A high percentage of the older adults who have participated in the training program are using the self-care app on their tablets. Shinyi’s research team also conducted focus groups, and participants were overwhelmingly interested in the development of additional healthcare apps and training courses in the future.

“We are pleased to see that the IMTOP project is changing how older adults view technology and take charge of their health care needs,” Shinyi said. “We hope to continue this momentum as we initiate our program at other locations in Taiwan and look forward to seeing the final results.” n

Larry Palinkas, PhD, the Frances L. and Albert G. Feldman Endowed Professorship in Social Policy and Health, was elected as a fellow by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW). This is among the highest recognitions that social work faculty can receive. The AASWSW bestows this honor on prominent scholars committed to achieving excellence through high-impact work that contributes to advancing the public good.

Ralph Fertig, JD, clinical professor, received an Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award for motivating a former student to make a difference in his or her community. Senior Lecturer Robert Hernandez, MSW ’07, nominated Fertig for his efforts on the issue of homelessness which impacted Hernandez’s own work on Skid Row, resulting in the adoption of a permanent supportive housing model for those with chronic mental illness.

Iris Chi, PHD, the Chinese-American Golden Age Association/Dr. Frances Wu Endowed Chair, Karen Lincoln, PhD, associate professor and director of the USC Hartford Center of Excellence in Geriatric Social Work, and Penelope Trickett, PhD, the David Lawrence Stein/Violet Goldberg Sachs Professor of Mental Health, have been named among the top 12 women in social work research by Research on Social Practice, which celebrated USC for having a research culture that “obviously supports female faculty.”

Kristie Holmes, PhD, adjunct associate professor, was named one of 12 honorees by the National Women’s Political Caucus, Los Angeles Westside.

The honorees have made significant contributions to achieving equality for women through their political participation.

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Quest to End Homelessness A

by Joanna Scott

For J. Scott Watt, his sister Sally Oxley and his daughter Nadine Watt, building homes has been their family’s business since 1947. To understand their devotion to resolving the homeless crisis, simply look to the man that founded that business – Scott and Sally’s late father, Raymond Watt.

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M

y father was always philanthropic,” Scott said.

“It was his philosophy to give back.”

“He was a very caring and giving person,” Sally recalled. “My father would bring stray people home for dinner and my mother would say, ‘we don’t have enough food,’ and he’d say, ‘find enough.’”

Raymond started his construction company to provide housing for veterans returning from World War II. “He just wanted to house people from the very beginning,” Nadine said. “Whether it was people who could afford it or people who could not, he wanted a roof over everyone’s head.”

As children, Scott and Sally remember going with him to construction sites every weekend, watching him turn homeownership dreams into reality. In the mid-1950s, Watt Companies became one of the first to provide low-cost housing in greater Los Angeles, building sub-divisions in Compton, South Bay and the downtown area, neighborhoods where most homebuilders did not go.

“Congresswoman Maxine Waters still talks about my grandfather and the houses he built,” Nadine said. “She’ll say, ‘I want to take you on a tour of my district and show you all the Ray Watt homes – what he did for my constituents and my people.’”

for the Union Rescue Mission on Skid Row, and Dean Marilyn Flynn started thinking that the school should be doing more on the issue of homelessness.

So, we funded some of the initial research on this.”

The family has continued its advocacy for strategies to end homelessness, including the creation of the Watt Family Innovation Fund for Urban Social Development, a research laboratory model to encourage the exploration of solutions to housing affordability and access in Los Angeles, which can also inform solutions in other urban areas.

Scott and his wife, Obaida, also funded a forum on homelessness at the school, bringing together participants from Los Angeles city and county agencies, private service organizations and academia to address integrated care and supportive housing.

“There are some exciting things happening through education at the USC School of Social Work,” Scott said. “There is theory and application, and the research goes out in front of the application.”

“If you don’t study it, you don’t know that these people need other resources,” Nadine said. “They need jobs, they have mental health issues, other things besides just being fed. If you study everything that leads up to homelessness, you’re going to get to the root of the problem rather than just putting a bandage on it.”

If you study everything that leads up to homelessness, you’re going to get to the root of the problem rather than just putting a bandage on it.

“He was tireless, always thinking about where to house and shelter people,” Scott said. “It was obviously an influence on all of us.”

In 2015, the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW ) declared The Watt family’s support for USC also began with 12 “Grand Challenges” to be addressed in Raymond, who served on the university’s Board of the United States over the next 10 years. The Trustees from 1968 until his death in 2009. Scott and AASWSW has asked the USC School of Social Sally both received their undergraduate degrees from Work, led by Suzanne Wenzel, the Richard USC, and Nadine became a member of the Trojan M. and Ann L. Thor Professor in Urban Social Family by attending graduate school. When Scott was Development, and Assistant Professor Ben asked to join the USC School of Social Work’s Board Henwood, to assume national leadership for the of Councilors in 2006, it was an opportunity to marry grand challenge to end homelessness. Without his dedication to USC with his passion for finding hesitation, the Watt family stepped up to solutions for homelessness. provide the seed funding to launch this effort.

“At the time, the school didn’t really have a discipline in homelessness,” Scott said. “I was also on the board

Photography by Tracy Boulian + David Ahntholz

“

“These Grand Challenges are things I have always been thinking about, and social work takes it another CONTINUED PAGE 20

19

Raymond Watt's portrait overlooks a family meeting.

HOMELESSNESS: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

step,” Scott said. “I also think advances in technologies, in the sense of medicine and genetics that will cure people of their ills, will have a huge impact on ending homelessness. There is often opposition to funding this issue because of a perception that homeless people are not trying.

We have to educate the public about what is going on out there.”

These Grand Challenges are things I have always been thinking about, and social work takes it another step.

“It bothers me that so many people will fund efforts to help the homeless outside of the United States, and we have homeless needs right here,” Sally said.

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During the course of a year, nearly 1.5 million Americans will experience homelessness for at least one night. In Los Angeles County alone, more than 44,000 people call the streets their home,

according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

Homelessness is an issue with many layers and many prejudices.

It was a problem that Raymond confronted in his own way, and his children and grandchildren have committed themselves to be a part of the solution.

“I feel very fortunate to have a grandfather that instilled these values, and I learned them from my father and my aunt,” Nadine said. “I’m now teaching this to my children so that they will continue the legacy of philanthropy in the Watt family.” n

FACULTY AND STAFF

NEWS BRIEFS

VAC STAFF “ADOPTS” FAMILIES F

or the past three years, the Virtual Academic Center (VAC) office staff at the USC School of Social Work has “adopted” families in need during the holiday season, providing gifts of toys and hygiene kits.

“We decided that rather than pull names and buy each other gifts, we’d prefer helping those less fortunate,” said Lois Rosby, office manager for the VAC. The VAC works with a case manager at the Salvation Army in downtown Los Angeles to identify families. In 2013, staff sponsored a family of seven – a single mother with five children and one grandchild. The following year they took on two families, one with a grandmother

raising five children and another family of six. This past Christmas in 2015, the VAC helped four families, two with the Salvation Army and two with the Union Rescue Mission.

VAC staff and faculty also donate additional hygiene kits to the Salvation Army periodically throughout the rest of the year. n

CLASS HAS REAL COMMUNITY IMPACT Robert Hernandez presents students’ work on gang reduction at a symposium

S

enior Lecturer Robert Hernandez, MSW ‘07, teaches a class on gang intervention.

Since the inception of the course, each cohort of students has prepared a final report which is shared with councilmembers, Congress, the mayor of Los Angeles’ office, and other key stakeholders in the community.

Past reports have informed policy makers on how to approach anti-gang initiatives and even provided support for the mayor of Los Angeles’ Gang Reduction and Youth Development Office (GRYD) to become a separate entity within the Los Angeles governance system.

Last fall, students presented to GRYD, and their findings, specifically with regard to trauma-informed practices and genderspecific services, were so well-received they were formally requested to submit their presentation for the office’s further consideration and study. n 21

THE USC SOCIAL WORK INITIATIVE The USC School of Social Work will raise $75 million, providing the investment necessary to develop highly trained practitioners and visionary leaders who will shape the 21st Century. $75 MILLION July 2010

$54M GIVEN

$21M REMAINING

June 2018

FUNDRAISING PRIORITIES Distinction and Diversity of Students

Faculty and Academic Leadership

Applied Science, Research and Innovation

$19M RAISED

$9M RAISED

$26M RAISED

$30M GOAL

$25M GOAL

$20M GOAL

• Dean’s Leadership Scholars • Endowed and Annual Scholarships • Yellow Ribbon Scholarships for Military Veterans and Spouses • Internship Stipends • Postdoctoral Fellowships

• • • • • •

Dean’s Chair Tenured, Mid-Career and Associated Professorships Visiting Professor Fellowships Young Scholar Professorships Clinical Faculty Professorships Associate Dean of Faculty, Field Practice and Research Advancement • Center and Institute Directorships

• Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families • Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging • Discovery Funds for research in: • Behavior, Health and Society • Child Development and Children’s Services • Homelessness, Housing and Social Environment • Management, Organizations and Policy Transformation • Serious Mental Illness Services and Quality of Life

GROWTH BY THE NUMBERS We are driven to continuously increase what can be accomplished through education, innovation, and commitment to social justice.

More Students

More Faculty

Increased Graduation rates

Industry Growth

More Prospects

Employment Results

195% increase in enrollment since 2010

174%

increase in full-time faculty since 2010

415%

19%

10X

97%

A jump in student numbers from approx.

1,000 to over 3,000 in 4 years

69

314

3000 2000 1000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

22

increase in degrees awarded since 2010

faculty members in 2010

degrees were awarded in 2010

faculty members today

degrees were awarded in 2015

120+

1,304

job growth in Social work from 2012-2022

Employment of social workers is projected to grow 19% from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations

more places for students to intern since 2010

1,100 in California in 2010

10,000+ worldwide in 2014

of our 2014 graduates are employed

Our student have a 97% success rate of gaining employment after graduation.

Supporting THE USC SOCIAL WORK INITIATIVE At an evening dedicated to the importance of diversity in social work, Dr. Barbara J. Solomon and her husband, Donald, welcomed guests to their home on February 27, 2016 in support of The USC Social Work Initiative and the Barbara Solomon Endowed Scholarship.

Dr. Solomon was joined in a short program by Dean Marilyn Flynn, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Representative Karen Bass, and the 2015 recipient of the Barbara Solomon Endowed Scholarship, Natasha Cole.

Photography by Steve Cohn

An alumna of the USC School of Social Work, Dr. Solomon was the first African American to hold a deanship at USC and the Barbara Solomon Endowed Scholarship is awarded to African-American students pursuing an MSW at the USC School of Social Work with an expressed interest in working within the African-American community.

Rep. Karen Bass, Barbara Solomon, Donald Solomon, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas Woogie Kim, Hyepin Im, Rocio Garcia

Barbara Solomon, Dean Marilyn Flynn

Alma Fowlkes, Alma Hill Marleen Wong, Renee Smith-Maddox, Kim Finney

Dr. Jerry Walker, Carl Butts Natasha Cole

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OUR

Partners GAVILÁN SOCIETY

WIDNEY SOCIETY

Donors with a lifetime cumulative giving level to the USC School of Social Work of $50,000 or greater will be inducted into the Gavilán Society. Membership in the Gavilán Society is for life, once the required giving level is realized. Gavilán is Spanish for sparrowhawk, and is representative of the noble character of our graduates and supporters.

2U, Inc.

Bruce and Elizabeth Jansson

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Ahmanson Foundation

Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of California

Rose Chorna Trust

Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles

Robert and Misue Sautter

Albert and Elaine Borchard Foundation Albert Poindexter Family Trust Atlantic Richfield Company BBCN Bank Beijing Normal University Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Blue Shield of California Foundation California Healthcare Foundation The California Wellness Foundation Casey Family Programs Mark and Kristina Chatow Chih-Hsiung Chiang Chinese American Golden Age Association Jeffrey S. Choi Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Deloitte Services, LP DMS Equipment Driscoll Foundation Suzanne S. Dworak-Peck East Valley Boys & Girls Club Kathleen and Lawrence Ell Marilyn L. Flynn James and Kerianne Flynn Gary Sinise Foundation

John A. Hartford Foundation John Randolph and Dora Haynes Foundation Korea Foundation Korean Consulate General Kraft Heinz Company Larry Lee

Rhoda G. Sarnat Lynne Okon Scholnick Seafirst Foundation Seneca Family of Agencies SK Telecom Company, Ltd. Wendy Smith Meyer and Barry Meyer Barbara J. and Donald Solomon

Alan and Abby Levy

Southern California Edison Company

Lincy Foundation

Charles and Amy Spielman

Los Angeles Educational Partnership

Christina and Greg Stoney

May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust

Stuart Foundation

Mark and Pamela Mischel New York Life Foundation

The Widney Society, named for Judge Robert Maclay Widney, founder of the University of Southern California, honors and celebrates the commitment of USC benefactors who have given or pledged $1 million or more. The university is proud to recognize its leadership supporters by inducting them into this society.

Lloyd Sun Sylvia Novak Revocable Trust

Newman’s Own Foundation

Taipei Fubon Bank Charity Foundation / Daniel and Irene Tsai

2U, Inc.

Betty Ning

Dwight Tate and Katherine Wright

Grace and Mercy Foundation, Inc.

Suok Noh

Ann Thor

Hutto-Patterson Charitable Foundation

Orange County Community Foundation

The Trevor Project, Inc.

Jeff Ostomel

UniHealth Foundation

Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of California

Partners In Care Foundation

The Watt Family / J. Scott and Obaida Watt

Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation

Willametta K. Day Foundation

Estate of Frances G. Larson

Lincy Foundation Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation

W. M. Keck Foundation

Prudential Financial / Prudential Foundation, Inc.

William T. Grant Foundation

Helen Ramirez

Elliot and Judith Wolfe

Ruben and Helga Resnik Lynne Okon Scholnick

The George H. Mayr Foundation

Prudential Financial / Prudential Foundation, Inc.

Gerontological Society of America

QueensCare Foundation

Grace and Mercy Foundation

The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

George and Viviana Handtmann

Helen Ramirez

Lenore Stein-Wood and William S. Wood

Handtmann Family Trust

James H. Randall

Frances Wu

Wendy Smith Meyer and Barry Meyer

The Hearst Foundations

The Randall Family Foundation

Hopelab

Reuben and Helga Resnik Foundation Trust

Yogurtland Franchising, Inc. / Phillip Chang

Taipei Fubon Bank Charity Foundation / Daniel and Irene Tsai

Danny Yu

Ann Thor

Alice J. Zuccaire

Lenore Stein-Wood and William S. Wood

Hutto-Patterson Charitable Foundation The James Irvine Foundation

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Robert R. McCormick Foundation

SK Telecom Company, Ltd.

IN

Memoriam

TROJAN LEGACY CIRCLE Donors who include a gift for the USC School of Social Work in their estate plans or through a planned gift qualify for membership in the Trojan Legacy Circle (TLC). Membership in TLC allows the university to thank individuals now for their generosity.

Any of the following gifts for the USC School of Social Work qualify for membership in TLC: • Will or living trust; • Named beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement account (IRA, 401(k), 401(b), etc); • Establishment of a charitable gift annuity; • Named beneficiary of a charitable remainder trust or charitable lead trust; • Deed a home while retaining a life estate.

Helen A. Bothwell

Madeline J. Puzo

Marilyn L. Flynn

Helen Ramirez

Lois and Gerald Friss

Phyllis L. Rothrock

Christine D. Glogow

Rhoda G. Sarnat

Marilyn E. Graves

Robert and Misue Sautter

David and Alice Kuroda

Lynne Okon Scholnick

David and Jean Lazar

Albert and Elizabeth Shonk

Alan and Abby Levy

Dwight Tate and Katherine Wright

Charles and Carol Manager

Ann Thor

Neil S. Matsumori

Nancy E. Warner and Christine Reynolds

Mark and Pamela Mischel Dorothy L. O’Carroll Edward and Elizabeth Ogle

Lenore Stein-Wood and William S. Wood

The USC School of Social Work thanks all of its generous donors. Cumulative giving reflected on this page is through December 31, 2015.

If you wish to report a correction, please contact Sue Habuni, donor relations and stewardship officer, at 213.821.6423 or sowkadvn@usc.edu.

Lenore Stein Wood ¯ Long-standing and enthusiastic member of the school’s Board of Councilors, Lenore “Lee” Stein-Wood passed away on January 12, 2016. She was a prolific supporter of the school, and along with her husband William S. Wood endowed the David Lawrence Stein Scholarship; the Lenore Stein-Wood and William S. Wood Professorship of School Behavioral Health; and the David Lawrence Stein/ Violet Goldberg Sachs Professorship of Mental Health.

L

ee was a pioneering founder of the Inter-City Home Health Association in 1968, one of the first companies in the United States to provide home nursing and therapeutic services. Through her visionary work she improved the lived of tens of thousands of individuals in their time of need. By 1980, Inter-City became Person Care and by 1983 it had grown to eight locations and was considered the best home health program in the country.

She was the recipient of the 12th Annual Society of Brain Mapping and Therapeutics Humanitarian Award. She is survived by her husband William S. Wood, a member of the school’s Board of Councilors; son, Michael Stein; daughter-in-law, Sharon Stein; grandchildren, Davina, Devin and Sabrina; and brother, Barry Tesh.

Contributions in her memory may be made to: USC School of Social Work – David Lawrence Stein Scholarship.

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NEWS BRIEFS

SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS PARTNER WITH DENTAL STUDENTS FOR BETTER COMMUNITY HEALTH Oral health can often be a revealing source of information for overall well-being. Serious diseases can be detected in their early stages during a dental examination, as well as signs of child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, income deprivation, and mental illness. While dentists are typically not in a position to assess these social issues fully or identify appropriate treatment resources, they can work in concert with social workers who are trained to do so.

This partnership is exactly what the Hutto-Patterson Charitable Foundation had in mind when they funded the Hutto-Patterson Institute for Community Health, an inter-disciplinary partnership between the USC School of Social Work and the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.

this is an important opportunity for the school to provide both clinical and organizational skill development.

The grand opening event included walk-through tours and nearly 100 disadvantaged children receiving comprehensive patient care and education.

Dean Marilyn Flynn joined alumna and donor Catherine Hutto-Gordon, MSW ’97, Ostrow’s Dean Avishai Sadan, Roseann Mulligan, associate dean of community health programs and hospital affairs for Ostrow, and Santosh Sundaresan, DDS, director of the mobile clinic program. n

The first step in expanding this partnership was taken on February 6, 2016, with the opening of the largest mobile dental clinic in the nation. The 48-foot, custom-made clinic is the new flagship in Ostrow’s program to provide services to more than 45,000 underserved children, making access to both dental and social services easier for families.

Next steps include expansion of the field fellowships in the mobile dental clinic for Master of Social Work (MSW) students, and increasing support for faculty who supervise MSW student field work.

Photo by Keith Durflinger

With a steady increase of MSW student interest in community health experiences,

Santosh Sundaresan, Dean Marilyn Flynn, Dean Avishai Sadan, Catherine Hutto-Gordon, Rose Mulligan.

26

NEWS BRIEFS

MEET OUR NEW COMING SOON: DEPARTMENT HEADS DSW@USC

To receive information and updates about DSW@USC, visit:

In 2015, the USC School of Social Work refreshed its curriculum, placing a stronger emphasis on the science of social work and leadership. It also allows for more intensive preparation within the student’s chosen department of study and through various specialization options offered. The school is now organized into four core departments, each with a chair and vice-chairs.

ADULTS & HEALTHY AGING Chair Suzanne Wenzel, PhD Richard M. and Ann L. Thor Professor in Urban Social Development SUZANNE WENZEL, PHD

DAWN JOOSTEN, PHD

Vice-Chair Dawn Joosten, PhD Clinical Associate Professor

Pamella Franzwa, MSW Clinical Associate Professor, Field Education

requestinfo.msw.

The USC School of Social Work will usc.edu/dsw.html launch a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program this fall for scholar-practitioners who want to achieve greater impact in their practice and incorporate new ideas into solving real-world problems. The goal is to bring social workers into the greater public discourse as they explore ways to create a stronger, fairer society.

The new degree program will address a distinct set of educational needs beyond the Master of Social Work. Unlike the PhD in social work that prepares scholars for careers in research and the professoriate, the DSW@USC will be an online advanced practice degree for working professionals that can be completed part-time, making it ideal for those who are balancing career and family.

Students will build their leadership and advanced management skills through coursework and residencies, culminating in a capstone project to solve a Grand Challenge social issue.

Marvin Southard, who is the former director of the LA County Department of Mental Health, will serve as chair. n

CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES PAMELLA FRANZWA, MSW

LAWRENCE PALINKAS, PHD

Chair Lawrence Palinkas, PhD Francis L. and Albert G. Feldman Endowed Professorship in Social Policy and Health Vice-Chair Jacquelyn McCroskey, DSW John Milner Professor of Child Welfare

JACQUELYN MCCROSKEY, DSW

OMAR LÓPEZ, MSW

Omar López, MSW Clinical Associate Professor, Field Education

COMMUNITY, ORGANIZATION & BUSINESS INNOVATION (COBI) Chair Michalle Mor Barak, PhD Dean’s Professor of Social Work and Business MICHALLE MOR BARAK, PHD

RENÉE SMITHMADDOX, PHD

Vice-Chair Renée Smith-Maddox, PhD Clinical Associate Professor Tory Cox, MSW Clinical Associate Professor, Field Education

NURSING TORY COX, MSW

ELLEN OLSHANSKY, PHD

Chair Ellen Olshansky, PhD Professor

SPRING 2016 EDITORIAL Scarlett Powers Osterling Joanna Scott Cindy Monticue Maya Meinert Brian Goodman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joanna Scott Claudia Bustamante Vince Lim

PRINTER ColorGraphics

©2016 USC School of Social Work

GRAPHIC DESIGN Peter Clifford petercreates.com

Photography and artwork may not be reproduced without permission.

PHOTOGRAPHY Tracy Boulian + David Ahntholz Steve Cohn Brian Goodman Dana Fineman Keith Durflinger

If your name or address is incorrect on this mailing, or if you received duplicate copies, please contact: 213.821.6423 sowkadvn@usc.edu.

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Change lives.

www.usc.edu/socialwork