January 2008—Volume Two, Issue Eleven     |    Penn Matters Archive

Message from the Dean

New Year, New Goals

Happy New Year! Ringing in the New Year offers a chance to look forward to the next twelve months, reflect on what we will accomplish, and resolve to make the upcoming year the “best one yet.” (If you’re like me, you spent some time on January 1st reflecting on which of your personal 2007 New Year’s Resolutions you had accomplished, and then resolved to make 2008 the year you really make it to the gym four times per week.) But joking aside, as I review SP2’s plans for 2008, there is no doubt in my mind that this year – which marks the start of our Centennial Celebration – will truly be SP2’s best. Here is a preview of what is, and will be, new at SP2 in 2008:

• A new entrance on Locust Walk for the Caster building.
• New collaborations with other schools at Penn to provide multi-disciplinary support for Katrina Recovery efforts in the Gulf
• New course offerings in the Continuing Education and Professional Development program, including a clinical supervision series and Nonprofit Leadership workshop series
• An unprecedented goal of $1 Million in financial aid support through the “100 for 100 Annual Fund Centennial Campaign.” We have already raised close to 25% of our goal.
• Publication of the Centennial Edition Alumni Directory, an all-inclusive, printed directory produced by Harris Connect that will become the School’s most comprehensive alumni networking resource.

Additionally, there are several major events that will make this a truly impressive year for SP2, while giving us a chance to highlight the myriad ways we are the leader in social work education:

• In October, we will host the annual meeting of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in Philadelphia.
• We will kick off the School’s Centennial Celebration, honoring 100 years of social work education.
• We will continue to host Regional Receptions in different cities, bringing SP2 to alumni who aren’t close to campus.
• An All-Alumni Centennial Picnic held in the Caster Courtyard during Alumni Weekend

So, if you’re still looking for a New Year’s Resolution that you will be able to accomplish before 2009, resolve to make this the year you connect with SP2 in a new way. There is much going on that you don’t want to miss!

Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2008!

Richard J. Gelles
Dean

Feature Article

Out with the Old, In with the New
For many alumni, memories of their social work education include intellectually stimulating courses, expert faculty, and – let’s be honest – less-than-glamorous classrooms. The strongest offenders are the window-less basement classrooms, but hopefully only for one more semester. This summer, we are planning for Caster to undergo a set of renovations that will enhance the building’s function and utility, and (to the joy of students) let natural light into the basement classrooms.

Click here for complete article

School News

New and In-depth: SP2 Spring Continuing Education
The Spring Continuing Education & Professional Development schedule has been announced, and there are more reasons than ever for alumni to take advantage of these courses. In addition to the full-day workshops, the CE program now includes a Clinical Supervision Series and a special Nonprofit Leadership Workshop Series. With session topics ranging from immigration law to the special education system to cognitive therapy for anxiety disorders (and everything in between), the topics serve social workers in all areas of practice. As always, alumni receive a special discount when registering for courses. In most cases, the registration fee includes lunch and convenient, free parking.
Click here for course schedules and more information.

Penn “Invades” Pearlington, Mississippi
On January 3, thirty-two members of the Penn community arrived in Pearlington, MS, to aid in the ongoing recovery efforts for those affected by Hurricane Katrina. The group, which included students, faculty, and staff from Penn SP2, Engineering, Dental, and Nursing, was in Pearlington as part of Penn’s ongoing Penn in the Gulf: Feldman Initiative. Throughout the week, the group worked on projects ranging from testing water potability to assessing mental health needs. The trip culminated with a health fair on Saturday, January 12. Over a dozen agencies, including the Red Cross, University of Southern Mississippi Nursing and Social, and the Hancock Medical Center, participated in the fair. The group’s visit received a lot of press, and in-depth coverage appeared in the Sun Herald and Picayune Item.

Institute on American Racism and Social Justice Launches website
This January, The Institute on American Racism and Social Justice (IARSJ) at SP2 launched a new website: www.iarsj.org. The IARSJ was founded in 2004 as a national grassroots movement to recruit one million people across America to participate in a dialogue on American Racism. Walter Palmer, social activist and SP2 lecturer, founded the IARSJ with the conviction that to eradicate racism in America, we must launch a national grassroots dialogue on racism and establish a permanent research institution for serious study of social justice, as seen through the lens of racial experience.
Click here to learn more about the Institute on American Racism and Social Justice.

NPL Program Organizes SP2 Food Drive to Benefit The Salvation Army
Led by the Nonprofit/Non-governmental Leadership Program, SP2 is conducting a food drive to benefit The Salvation Army-Philadelphia Social Service Ministries for the entire month of February 2008. Canned and package food items can be dropped off in Caster between February 1 and February 29. The Salvation Army is one of the larger social service organizations in the greater Philadelphia area that provides meals and food assistance, shelter, clothing, energy assistance, day care and camps for children and Christmas toys for children and youth. In 2006, the Salvation Army provided 8,584 people with food assistance and distributed 6,676 items of clothing and furniture to needy individuals and families in the city of Philadelphia. Let’s aim to make a sizeable contribution to help our neighbors in need! For more information, contact Eric Ashton, Associate Director of the NPL program, at ashtoned@sp2.upenn.edu.

Faculty Notes

Our full- and part-time faculty are leaders in research and practice. They are experts in fields such as gerontology, child welfare, family violence, international social work, homelessness, mental health and health. This section of our newsletter will keep you up to date on the most recent research accomplishments of the School of Social Policy & Practice faculty.

Ram A. Cnaan, Ph.D., SP2 professor and associate dean for research and doctoral was elected to be the next president of the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA). Professor Cnaan is both the first Penn member and first social worker to be elected to that position. Dr. Cnaan became the ARNOVA president elect in the organization’s annual meeting this past November in Atlant. He will assume office in November when ARNOVA meets in Philadelphia. ARNOVA’s annual meeting in 2008 coincides with the school celebration of “100 Years of Social Work at Penn.” Read more about ARNOVA.

Richard Estes, DSW, will be on sabbatical during the Spring 2008 semester. Inasmuch as he is engaged in international activities, he will be spending the majority of his time out of the country. Between January 11 and Feb 28, he will be either a Visiting Scholar or Distinguished Visiting Scholar with each of the following Institutions: University of Florence (Italy), Free University of Berlin (Germany), and the Institute for Higher Social Studies (Berlin). Following a month long respite at home, he will travel as Distinguished Visiting Scholar to both the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong -- institutions to which he previously has served as an External Examiner. During the summer months, his time will be divided between SP2’s newest exchange program in Mangalore, India and Penn’s university-wide collaboration with Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Korea. Whether at home or abroad, Professor Estes continues to deepen his knowledge of the complex social, political and economic challenges that confront the world's rich and poor countries alike. In the process he also is creating opportunities for Penn faculty, students and alumni to participate in these programs.

Karin Rhodes, Ph.D., authored an article entitled "You're Not a Victim of Domestic Violence, Are You?" Provider–Patient Communication about Domestic Violence that appeared in the November 6, 2007 Annals of Internal Medicine. Read the full article.

Phyllis Solomon, Ph.D., co-authored the book Principles and Practice of Psychiatric Rehabilitation: An Empirical Perspectives, which was published by Guilford Publications in November 2007. A book chapter she co-authored with recent doctoral graduate Victoria Stanhope, entitled, Assertive Community treatment: A case study of an adult with severe mental illness was included in Evidence-based Internship (Nov 2007). In December, she did psychiatric grand rounds at The Reading Hospital and Medical Center, presenting on family interventions for adults with severe mental illness. She also recently reviewed grants for the National Institute of Mental Health.

Alumni News

Meredith Gelfand, MSW’06, recently won $10,000 through the Million Dollar Body Club for losing 120 pounds. View video clip.

Jed Johnson, MSW’85, had a chapter published in the new book Dementia and Social Work Practice (Springer Publishing Company, April 2007). The chapter focuses on the role of social work and social workers within the adult day setting.

Dr. Ngoh Tiong Tan, MSW’80, is currently a Professor of Social Work at Augsburg College in Minnesota (USA). He received his PhD from the University of Minnesota, and has become is a distinguished leader of social work in Asia. His leadership includes his involvement with the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) as the past Regional President for Asia Pacific, three terms as President of the Singapore Association of Social Workers, and Co-chair of the Commonwealth Organization for Social Work (COSW). Additionally, he launched the FAST (Family and Survivors of Tsunami) Project initiated by IFSW and COSW. This capacity building project provided training as well as frontline social work intervention in four countries affected by the tsunami: Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and Thailand. Dr. Tang has extensive teaching, publishing, and editorial experience. His books include Asian Tsunami and Social Work Practice (Haworth Press) and The Challenge of Social Care in Asia (Marshall Cavendish Press).

Future Leaders

Student Groups Volunteer at Salvation Army
The Association of Black Social Workers, Black Men at Penn School of Social Work, Inc., and the SP2 Student Council came together to lend a helping hand prior to the holidays. The group spent a Saturday volunteering for the Salvation Army at the Eliza Shirley House, which serves women, children, and families. After the director provided an overview of the shelter, its founding principles, and the population it serves, the group was given a tour. Following this, they spent the rest of the day assisting with sorting clothes, interacting with youth, cleaning, preparing food, and organizing various areas of the shelter. Rashetta Fairnot, 2008 MSW candidate, reported that “the staff was overwhelmed by the strong attendance and the group’s spirit to serve.” Given the success of this event, the collaboration among the three groups is scheduled to continue on a monthly basis. All are welcome to come and represent SP2 in the community during future projects and events.

Upcoming Events

PENN IN THE GULF PANEL
Monday, February 18
7:00 - 9:00pm
(Location TBD)

The four Penn schools (SP2, Engineering, Nursing, and Dental) that participated in the winter trip to Mississippi will present their findings and discuss their experiences. Special Guests may include University of Pennsylvania Provost Ron Daniels, Feldman Initiative lead donor Steven M. Feldman, Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-PA), and the Bucks Mont Katrina Relief Project.

This panel is open to everyone. For more information, contact Connie Hoe, Feldman Initiative Program Coordinator at conniehh@sp2.upenn.edu.

SP2 Cocktail Reception in Washington, DC
Friday, February 22, 2008
6:00 - 8:00 pm
The Cosmos Club
212 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008

Network with your fellow Social Work and Social Policy & Practice Alumni
Learn anout the School's upcoming Centennial and related activities
Explore Penn's exciting Clinical Doctorate in Social Work (DSW), an innovative new program offering MSW-level practitioners the opportunity to complete their course work and dissertation in three years, without career interruption

Alumni Weekend and Reunion 2008
May 16 – 17, 2008
The complete Alumni Weekend schedule will be announced next month, but here is a preview of the SP2 events and activities:

Reunion Reception
Friday, May 16
5:30 – 7:30pm
Union League of Philadelphia
Free for Reunion-year alumni and their guests

Pilobolus Dance Theater
Friday, May 16
8:00pm
Annenberg Center, University of Pennsylvania campus
$10 off the ticket price for the first ten alumni who register (registration will open in March, more information to follow)

All-Alumni Centennial Picnic
Saturday, May 17
12:00pm
Caster Courtyard
Join us for this family-friendly picnic that includes entertainment, previews of the Caster renovations, food, kid-oriented activities and more.

Hotels fill up quickly during Alumni Weekend: if you will be needing lodging, we strongly encourage you to make your lodging arrangements now. More about Alumni Weekend.

Editor's Note

We are always seeking to better serve our alumni and offer a more convenient way to share news with the Social Policy & Practice community. Penn Matters Online offers a way to highlight happenings and information in a timely manner. It acts as a supplement to the printed Penn Matters , which will still be mailed to you every September. We welcome your feedback and suggestions about Penn Matters and Penn Matters Online. Please email Alumni Relations with questions, comments, feedback, and suggestions. 

Penn Matters Online is created using Cascading Style Sheets according to W3C web standards for compliance and accessibility. It is accessible for Braille, aural, and handheld readers, and the layout is fully resizable through your Internet browser preferences. For your convenience when printing, all images will be omitted and the text will be set to a 12 point Arial font. Please contact Lizza Robb with any questions or suggestions.

Emily M. Brueckner, MSW’05
Editor, Penn Matters

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