SOCIAL
• LAUNCHING •
STUDENT SUCCESS
SUMMER 2021
What’s Inside Interprofessional Education (IPE) Experience...........................................................03
Letter from the Director
Mary Dilworth Student Research ............. 04
“A picture is worth a 1000 words.” This casual photograph appears to sum up the past year at the University of Wyoming Division of Social Work (DOSW) under the pandemic—masked, but pushing forward toward our committed outcomes. While working remotely, the Division persevered and continued to achieve its primary goal: the education of the next generation of social workers and contributing Dr. Eleanor Pepi Downey to scholarship and research on social justice and the social work profession. While resiliency does not feel very good while in the midst of it, as we come out the other side, we can celebrate that same resilience and strength. Little did any of us know when we headed home for Spring Break in March of 2020 what would unfold. It is with a great deal of pride that I can say not only did we carry on as usual and meet the challenges of the pandemic, we all grew as professionals and educators. Our classes shifted to digital delivery with synchronous classes held via Zoom. The 2020 graduation celebrations were virtual events with graduates, faculty, family and friends thanks to the creativity of the Division’s Graduation Committee. Through the hard work of the faculty and the patience and grace of our students, we all learned and developed new and useful social work knowledge and skills. It was definitely a team effort. Two members of the DOSW faculty are moving on to pursue new opportunities. Dr. Kirsten Havig, Associate Professor, has accepted a position at the Children and Family Research Center in the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana). Amanda Widup, BSW Field Coordinator, is leaving UW to return to social work practice in Phoenix, Arizona. We wish them both well in their newly chosen paths. We are also excited to be launching a new student centered fundraising campaign that will inaugurate our Social Work Student Success Fund. For more details see page 11 of this issue and find out how you can help foster success in the next generation of social work professionals. On a more personal note, this year marks my 50th year of professional social work practice. It has been an exciting and fulfilling journey. I am honored to mark the year with such a passionate, committed, and energetic faculty and our wonderful and equally passionate students. I look forward to fall 2021 when we will be back in full swing. Best wishes to the class of 2021, as you embark on your new careers.
Student Research Awards............................ 05 Taryn Jim Honored.......................................... 05 UW Casper Spotlight...................................... 06 Social Work Virtual Learning Seminars...............................................................07 UW Division of Social Work Fully Reaccredited.......................................................07 Dr. Valerie Thompson-Ebanks Named Faculty Fellow................................................... 08 Honoring Faculty and Staff......................... 08 Exemplify the Value of Service during COVID..................................................... 09 Donor Spotlight................................................. 10 Social Work Student Success Fund............ 11 Design Credits Dr. Eleanor Pepi Downey, Division Director Dr. Valerie Thompson-Ebanks, Associate Professor UW Marketing: Mark Belcher On the Cover Celebrating our 2021 Graduates! Images were taken during a 2021 Zoom class-Field Seminar. Top image: Our Casper Cohort on the UW Casper College campus. Bottom image: Our Laramie Cohort on the UW Campus in Laramie. Congratulations!
Eleanor
Eleanor Pepi Downey, MSW, PhD Director Division of Social Work
INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (IPE) EXPERIENCE Interprofessional Education (IPE) is defined as when two or more students from different disciplines learn together as part of their professional development. Such collaborative efforts help to ensure that students pursuing careers in the health sciences will know and understand how to interact with a multi-disciplined team of health care professionals. Students from the University of Wyoming Division of Social Work joined students from throughout the College of Health Sciences, including the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, UW School of Pharmacy and the WyomingWWAMI Medical Education program, for a virtual IPE discussion in March, to learn more about how their health care professions would interact once they entered their career fields. “The presentation and group interaction I was present for in the College of Health Sciences Interprofessional Education Event was very beneficial to me,” said Charleigh Cole, a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) student from Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming. “There are many aspects of Social Work I need to focus on to complete my degree at the University of Wyoming and this leaves little time to explore other fields that I will inevitably be interacting with throughout my career as a social worker,” said Cole. “This event removed barriers between professional fields of study that typically operate independently. It allowed us to ask one another questions and give our own points of view from the perspective of our own area of study. I will be attending the next event like this
that I am able as learning from people in other professions is equally as important as sharing our own knowledge.” Kym Codallos, Assistant Lecturer with the Division, worked with other college educators to coordinate the event, which included a total of nine social work students. Students were gathered into Zoom ‘breakout rooms.’ Next, groups of students, each with a mix of medical, social work, pharmacy and nursing students were given the same opioid use disorder case scenario, and told to interact with each other on treatment options and patient observations. The scenario involved an older adult female visiting an emergency medical department during weekend hours. The patient stated she was having a “flare” of her arthritis, and needed an early refill for her prescription of Oxycontin and immediate release oxycodone. Her primary care physician was not available to contact. Student groups discussed various objective outcomes for treating the patient in the case scenario, along with noting any perceived bias on the part of health care providers relating to other possible perceptions of the patient’s request. Students then rejoined faculty members to talk about what they had learned from interacting with each other as health care providers representing social workers, physicians, pharmacists and nursing professionals. “This event removed barriers between professional fields of study that typically operate independently. It allowed us to ask one another questions and give our own points of view from the perspective of our own area of study.” – Charleigh Cole Noting the importance of students from different health care disciplines being able to interact in a collaborative learning environment, Codallos explains, “Interdisciplinary learning experiences are vital preparations for the multidisciplinary team work required to be a successful professional in today’s workplace. I really enjoyed working with the students and saw real benefit to their participation.” 3
Mary Dilworth Received Second Place in Student Research Competition as UW College of Health Sciences Held First-Ever Virtual Research Day Event This year’s College of Health Sciences Research Day was held on April 15. For the first time, this event was held virtually, but this in no way lessened the enthusiasm of both student and faculty presenters in highlighting their health sciences research projects, using prerecorded and live poster displays and oral presentations. As part of the student competition, MSW student Mary Dilworth presented a portion of her thesis research at the event. For Mary Dilworth, an MSW student from Cheyenne, Wyoming, the excitement in presenting her research titled “Exploratory study of factors related to secondary traumatic stress among child welfare workers in Wyoming” was complemented by receiving second place in the Student Research Presentation Award category. Dilworth’s research focused on the unique conditions facing child welfare workers in a rural state such as Wyoming – including challenges to patient/provider privacy in small communities and often minimal or non-existent funding available. “We would cry, vent, and laugh with each other to try to cope with this trauma, but I became frustrated with not being able to do more or prevent it.” “I worked in child welfare for a total of 9 years, and during that time I experienced and heard of countless traumatic events,” says Dilworth. “It took a toll. I also watched as my dear friends/coworkers went through similar experiences. We would cry, vent, and laugh with each other to try to cope with this trauma, but I became frustrated with not being able to do more or prevent it,” she says. “I decided to go to graduate school specifically to research and bring light to the trauma that child welfare workers experience and learn how to better advocate for improved supports and services available to them. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity I had to present during research day and receive this award because it has given me a platform and opportunity to raise awareness of the troubling prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress in child welfare workers,” says Dilworth.
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We would cry, vent, and laugh with each other to try to cope with this trauma, but I became frustrated with not being able to do more or prevent it.” 4
Mary Dilworth, MSW student
Graduate and Undergraduate Student Researchers Present Work and Receive Awards
Keanan Foy standing by his poster presentation titled Music’s Influence on Attitudes Towards Substance Use.
Jill Moeller was designated as a 2021 Social Justice Research Scholar for her thesis research: Home Health Experiences during COVID-19: A Phenomenological Inquiry of Medicaid Community Choices Waiver Service Users. The exploratory research study provided insights into the lived experiences of service users who shared the many ways in which they demonstrated resilience and adaptability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jill presented her research at the May 2021 Power of Rural: Health and Research Conference, sponsored by The Equality State Research Network. In addition to her research, Jill has also been active with the Equality State Policy Center and Healthy Wyoming’s legislative advocacy for Medicaid expansion in Wyoming and promoting access to health care for all citizens. The Division of Social Work received a grant from the National Behavioral Health Council that provided eight social work students with additional training and experience in working with substance use and abuse. Student recipients of the grant are: Shanda Barlow, Shannon DeWitt, Keanan Foy, Kassandra Lesco, Janelle Ordway, Grace Peterson, Tayli Stenerson, and Robin Whitmore. The students participated in trainings with colleagues from nine other schools of social work and each student conducted research in the area of substance use and did a poster presentation at various local research conference venues. Topics of the research included: Exploring Treatment Modalities to Treat Opioid Abuse Disorders in Veterans Within Frontier Communities; Harm Reduction Strategies for the Chronically Homeless Suffering From Alcohol Use Disorder - Literature Review; Examining the Effects of the Opioid Epidemic on Resources Needed by Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren in Rural Areas; Relapse Prevention, Discharge Planning and our Communities; and Music’s Influence on Attitudes Towards Substance Use. These projects represented a joint effort among the grant Principal Investigator Assistant Lecturer Kym Codallos and the research faculty and faculty research chairs. Congratulations to all the students and faculty for their hard work.
Taryn Jim Honored for Work on Behalf of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Taryn Jim, MSW student, received the Shepard Symposium Social Justice Graduate Student Award for her demonstrated leadership by “inclusively acting as an advocate and role model” for her work on behalf of missing and murdered indigenous women, organizing events on campus and writing a proclamation that was signed by Governor Mark Gordon, declaring May 5 as the Wyoming Day of Awareness. As President of the Association of Master’s Social Work of Wyoming, she was instrumental in organizing a webinar for Social Work Month (March)—“Wyoming’s Greatest Stories in Confronting Social Injustice.” Taryn was also the recipient of the UW Division of Social Work’s Student Recognition Award for Exemplary Community Service and/or Good Citizenship.
From left: Taryn Jim, Jamie Grife, UW President Ed Seidel, and Dr. Gabrielle Allen.
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The UW Division of Social Work is present on two campuses in Wyoming, one in Laramie, and the other on the campus of UW Casper College. Greta Maxfield, Assistant Lecturer, is the coordinator of the Casper Program and has been with the Division since 2019. This year 13 students graduated from the UW-Casper BSW Program, some moving on to obtain their MSW degrees and other moving into the workforce. Casper students are actively engaged in the community with a wide variety of service projects.
Congratulation to our UW Casper College Graduating Class of 2021! In the photo, from A to Z: Landree Adams, Shelly Ann, Molly Burns, Megan Byrd, Shannon DeWitt, Felicia Dickerson, Katelyn Elston, Sharon Fancher, Gail Fullerton, Joyie Lass, Kass Lesco, Kaelie Oliver, and Maddison Reed.
Felicia Dickerson, a BSW student, during a visit to her practicum site at the Casper Municipal Court building.
Students take part in a fundraiser at their field practicum site at the Youth Crisis Center in Casper. Pictured (left to right) are Amanda Whisler (Field Instructor), Maddison Reed (student), and Pam Mann, agency employee.
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UW Division of Social Work Research Presented as Part of Virtual Learning Seminars Despite the challenges faced by higher education during the 2020-21 school year, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Wyoming, College of Health Sciences, successful provided students and faculty opportunity to collaborate together during virtual learning seminars to discuss current areas of research and how this research is impacting education as well as communities. During the spring semester, Dr. Sukyung Yoon, an Assistant Professor with the UW Division of Social Work,
Dr. Sukyung Yoon
presented a virtual learning seminar focusing on the theme of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Suicidal Ideation in Later Life: Focusing on Protective Factors. Dr. Yoon’s research interests focus on the public health dimensions of gerontological mental and physical health in both the U.S. and South Korea. Statistically, suicide among older adults causes one death every 95 minutes. Dr. Yoon also noted that suicide by older adults is often well planned, which sadly results in a higher rate of completion. However, Dr. Yoon pointed out that social workers, and other health care professionals, play a critical role in identifying risk factors in senior communities and take an active part as a team working to help older individuals prevent or reduce depression and suicidal ideation. “Suicide in later life is usually not impulsive, but intentional,” said Dr. Yoon. “According to previous research a third of older adults who have had thoughts about suicide have made plans.” Preventing these ideations,
or thoughts, is an important step in providing protective factors. Understanding risk factors for suicide can assist health care professionals, including social workers, in providing enhanced levels of protection. Older persons often experience difficult life situations—the loss of a spouse or loved one, poor health or financial difficulties. Social workers are trained to identify risks as well as protective factors, such as individual and family well-being, the extent of social contacts and outreach to community. “As social workers, in dealing with cases of IPV or suicidal risk factors, we need to make sure there is a community based safety net in place and to identify local resources to aid persons living alone,” said Dr. Yoon. In concluding her virtual presentation, Dr. Yoon explained the critical importance of communications between health care professionals along with caregivers in helping to identify abusive or self-harm situations involving individuals, couples or family groups in their care.
UW DIVISION OF SOCIAL WORK FULLY REACCREDITED THROUGH 2027 The University of Wyoming Division of Social Work’s accreditation status was re-affirmed at the 2021 February Meeting of the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education. Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Commission on Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Re-affirmation of accreditation followed over a year of intensive work that included self-study documentation and a two-day site visit by representatives of the Council on
Social Work Education. According to Dr. Downey, Director of the Division, “re-affirmation of the program represents a herculean effort on the part of the faculty to effectively communicate the high quality of both the BSW and MSW Programs.” For more information on the Council on Social Work Education, please visit www.cswe.org
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DR. VALERIE THOMPSON-EBANKS NAMED 2020-21 FACULTY FELLOW: ADVANCING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EDUCATION Dr. Valerie Thompson-Ebanks, an Associate Professor and Director of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program in the Division of Social Work, received one of the University of Wyoming’s Academic Affairs Faculty Fellows Award for this past academic year (2020-21). The University’s Faculty Fellows program complements UW’s strategic goal and commitment to develop and mentor effective leadership by providing intense and focused experiences in leadership and administrative roles at the senior levels of the institution. Thompson-Ebanks’ scholarship focuses on illuminating barriers and supports for various identity groups among university/college students, with an emphasis on students with disabilities, military students and
veterans to advance equitable access to educational opportunities and enhance their academic success. Using data gathered through empirical methods, this spring semester (2021), Dr. Thompson-Ebanks designed and facilitated two faculty workshops offered through the campus’ Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning (ECTL). The workshops were aimed at deepening faculty’s knowledge and understanding of diverse groups of students and provide meaningful inclusive pedagogical approaches to promote social justice, equity, and inclusion in the learning environment. The workshops were entitled: Advancing Equity and Inclusive Practice: Lessons from Students with Disabilities; and Advancing Equity and Inclusive Practice: Lessons from
Dr. Valerie Thompson-Ebanks
Student Veterans. To learn about UW’s Faculty Fellows Program, please visit www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs/about-us/ fellows/index.html
Honoring 2021 Outstanding Faculty
Dr. Neely Mahapatra
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The University of Wyoming, College of Health Sciences (CHS) honored members of its faculty and staff for outstanding contributions to service and education during the CHS Annual Awards Reception on April 29. Among those honored were Associate Professor Dr. Neely Mahapatra, who received the Faculty Mentorship Award. During Dr. Mahapatra’s introduction by Dr. Diane Kempson, Associate Professor and Director of the MSW program, Kempson pointed out Mahapatra’s willingness to go ‘above and beyond’ to help students and faculty with educational and research work, even welcoming those into her home to share a meal, as a way to share ideas in a relaxed setting. Dr. Mahapatra has mentored numerous students throughout her career including supporting social work students through doctoral programs and mentoring junior faculty members at other institutions. Congratulations to Dr. Neely, as she is affectionately referred to by her students.
Social Work Students Exemplify the Value of Service during COVID
Service remains one of the six core values of the social work profession and true to that value graduate and undergraduate social work students found new and unique ways to be of service to the University of Wyoming and the larger community. The Office of the Dean of Students created a program to reach out to students who were quarantined and isolated and over 15 social work students volunteered to check in with these students on a regular basis to insure their emotional and physical well-being. Each student volunteered several hours per week reaching out. Another outreach program through the Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) was designed to give caregivers a break during the isolation caused by COVID. Katie Sloan, a social work student who volunteered for the program, wrote about her experience with the program. “Overall, I believe that during that hour, the caregiver was able to take a break (although they had to trouble shoot once or twice) and the client enjoyed the experience of using the technology, still getting social interaction, and being able to do an activity they enjoyed. It really was a unique experience and we do not know the next time a pandemic will cause us to have to isolate again. It was a wonderful learning experience about how we can still connect through digital means and give hope to people feeling isolated.” The Association of Students of Social Work on both the Laramie and Casper campuses, the Association of Graduate Students, along with members of Phi Alpha Social Work
Grace Peterson, at right in the foreground, and Alexa Becerra, directly behind her, assist an Albany County Library employee with Earth Day cleanup. Both Grace and Alexa are seniors who graduated from the BSW program. Alexa will be starting the MSW program in fall of 2021. Alexa was representing the Association of Students of Social Work (ASSW) and Grace was doing community service for the Phi Alpha Honor Society.
Honor Society were very active in the community finding new and creative ways to provide service. Activities included lawn cleanup for local nonprofits to celebrate Earth Day and writing letters of gratitude to frontline workers including teachers, postal workers, and custodians. During a spring snowstorm, a group of students built snow people outside the windows of nursing home residents to bring smiles to these folks who were also isolated by the pandemic. A literacy project was developed to provide audio books for preschoolers. The books were accessed with a computer link with social work students reading favorite children’s books. A mask donation project was conducted for a local elementary school. The University of Wyoming Social Work students were able to provide fun and service to make a difference in the lives of others as well as viewing them as productive learning experiences. 9
Donor Spotlight on Martha Pheneger, MSW:
“Born to Be a Social Worker” “I think I must have been born to be a social worker. My mother was a social worker, family friends were social work professors, and I participated in a high school career program on social work as a teenager.” Thus was Martha Pheneger’s response to the question, “How did you become a social worker?” Martha is currently a retired social worker living in Laramie, Wyoming and has been a friend and supporter of the Division. In the last ten years, Martha Pheneger is a consistent major donor to the Division of Social Work. Her continued donations over the years are the inspiration for the launching of the Social Work Student Success Fund Campaign as her generosity has been used to support student and faculty projects over the years. According to Martha, “I give to the Division of Social Work because I want to keep the program going and strong.” “I arrived in Laramie in 1981 as an LCSW and I was thrilled to learn that there was a social work program at the University of Wyoming. I began to mentor social work students and even taught several courses over the years including Introduction to Social Work,” says Martha. She has served as an adjunct field instructor for the
Division and continues to actively recruit people for the profession and the Division. Martha graduated from the UC Berkley School of Social Welfare in 1966. Her practice has extended across the life span from the UCLA Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to her work in California nursing homes, retiring from the Albany County School District in Laramie 2001 as a School Social Worker where she was employed for 18 years. Martha worked to bring the district into compliance with the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and advocated for children and families in her role as a school social worker. Within the schools, she started numerous groups for the students including those experiencing divorce, girls’ groups, life skills groups, careers, and socialization groups. She describes a basic task of all social workers as a profession that “connects people to resources.” Martha’s advocacy and commitment to the principles of social work extended into her volunteer work. She has served on the Laramie Interfaith Board of Directors, the Board of Laramie Reproductive Health, and is a long-time member of the League of Women Voters. Her life serves as an excellent example of the core values of social work with a strong commitment to continuing a high quality profession.
“I give to the Division of Social Work because I want to keep the program going and strong.” – Martha Pheneger, MSW
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lauNchiNg the Social Work
Student Success Fund With this issue of Social Works, the Division is launching its Social Work Student Success Fund and Campaign. We are asking supporters to contribute a minimum of $20.00 to launch this effort. As an additional incentive, a generous donor has offered a $1,000 incentive if there are thirty $20 donations and $2,000 if there are a total of 50 individual donations. We need your help to meet these challenges. The purpose of the fund is to increase opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate social work students that will broaden their educational opportunities and expand their professional development. The fund will be used to increase student involvement in professional organizations, attendance and participation in state and national conferences, participation in international experiences, funding of student research, financing special student events, and providing emergency funds. Every donation, no matter the amount, makes a difference. Consider
donating to honor a current or former faculty member, an inspirational field instructor, a fellow student, or another social worker. A note will be sent to the honoree. Just click on the link to make your donation.
To make your donation to the Student Success Fund, please click on the following link: bit.ly/GivetoSocialWork
FEATURING OUR ALUMNI We want to hear from our alums. Please take a few minutes and send us an email update about what you are doing with your social work degree. Include your degree and year of graduation. We love pictures too. Information will be used in the next issue of Social Works. Send your information to Christina Lepper: clepper@uwyo.edu subject line: Alumni News 11
• STUDENT SUCCESS LAUNCHED •
Congratulations BSW Class of 2021!