PASWE-NASW Post Conference Review

PASWE DAY AT NASW-PA ANNUAL CONFERENCE MADE SOME WAVES!

      

It was incredible seeing so many students and faculty presenting, participating, leading, networking, being recognized and enjoying the first day of the conference together with social workers from all over PA as well as other states.  Many students & faculty were in attendance on Monday, September 23 and many stayed for the remaining days of the NASW-PA conference.  What a great way to start those ripples from expanding into big waves!

 

PASWE Workshops were Exhilarating

 

The Ethical Use of Social Media and Communication Technology presented by Christina C. Gigler, LCSW, ACSW, Assistant Professor of Practice & Interim Coordinator of Marywood University MSW Program in the Lehigh Valley with Tyler Lunger, MSW Student from Marywood University Lehigh Valley.  They got us to think about the benefits and concerns about social media and communication technology and assured us that these tools are not going away.  They discussed the awareness that social workers and students must have about the ethical implications of social media and communication technology use in personal, professional and academic work.

 

Using Simulation to Teach Social Work Skills presented by Wade Luquet, PhD, LCSW, BSW Program Director & Associate Professor of Social Work, Gwynedd Mercy University with Janice Nuss, LCSW, Director of BSW Field Education, Gwynedd Mercy University and Teresa Lewis, MSN, RN, Professor of Nursing, Gwynedd Mercy University. They showed us how they are incorporating social work students with nursing students in near-real situations in “sim labs” equipped with computerized mannequins and other assessment equipment. It was stimulating to hear about their work with this integrated healthcare simulated learning experiences.

 

Teaching and Learning in Divided Times: Exploring Student Perceptions of Political Bias presented by Diana Lyon, MSW candidate 2020, Marywood University with Lea Dougherty, MSW, LSW, MSW Program Director, Marywood University.  They focused on how our politically polarized times offer an opportunity for social workers to examine the relationship between personal and professional values. Recent research findings on student perceptions of instructor bias led to some insight about best classroom practice for inclusivity, handling of politicized subjects, and ongoing student and instructor reflection on social work values.

 

Riding the Waves to Global Cultural Appreciation presented by Lloyd L. Lyter, PhD, Professor & Director, Marywood University Pocono MSW Program at East Stroudsburg University demonstrated how the world is shrinking. Dr. Lyter shared his efforts of preparing students for global practice by introducing them to international travel and study opportunities. He shared his travel experiences of taking groups of students to Ireland, England, India, Korea, and Kenya and showed participants how much social workers can be affected by immersing themselves in the geography and cultures of different countries.

 

Transgender Clients in the Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) Setting presented by Lisa Fritz, LCSW, Associate Director of Clinical Services, Children’s Home of York.  She reviewed the struggles and successes that the Children’s Home of York RTF (Residential Treatment Facility) has faced in the past 2 ½ years as transgender individuals have become a regular presence in their facility. She focused on how they tried to support their transgender clients feel welcome and safe while receiving mental health treatment.

 

Student Poster Presentations were Stimulating!

 

14 Student Posters were presented and students were able to share their research projects and findings. So many great social work research topics!

Two winners were selected at the Student Poster Presentation Competition and received $150 each:

Student, Victoria Bartek, from Temple University and her mentor Dr. Brittany Schuler. Their project is entitled: The Association Between Specific Adverse Childhood Experiences and Academic Achievement-Examining ACE Severity As Well As Presence/Absence.

For the second year in a row, Mentor Dr. Michael Lyman, and his Social Work Research Club students’ won.  Their project is entitled: The Meta Research Club: An Analysis of the Social Work Research Club.

PASWE Business and Leadership Meeting was a Success with 20 Faculty Represented!

 

PASWE Leadership: Alex Redcay, Millersville University representative & President; Margaret L. Smith, Edinboro University representative & Secretary; Mary Daly, Mansfield University representative & Treasurer led the meeting and gave us some good direction and opportunities for discussion.  It was exciting to hear about the mission of PASWE with membership including all undergraduate and graduate social work education programs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

  1. PASWE strives to provide opportunities to identify and develop strategies to address shared concerns related to social work education and social work students.
  2. PASWE is dedicated to advancing and advocating for social work education in Pennsylvania.
  3. PASWE provides a forum to discuss related issues, encourage faculty and student involvement in the profession, and provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their high quality research.

 

Mildred “Mit” C. Joyner, MSW, LCSW, NASW President Elect & Professor Emerita of Social Work at West Chester University joined the meeting with inspiring thoughts about the future and importance of the social work profession along with the importance of the roles of faculty and social work programs in joining in these efforts with NASW.

 

Five committees were formed, goals were made and some additional members are being sought for each one with the overall goals of increasing the duties and responsibilities of PASWE:

 

  1. Student recruitment/participation,  Co-Chairs, Cynthia Bradley-King University of Pittsburgh and Mary Daly, Mansfield University
  2. Faculty recruitment/participation, Chair, Wade Luquet Gwynedd Mercy College
  3. Conference planning, Co-Chairs, Paul Felker, Bloomsburg & Yosoda Sharma, Kutztown University
  4. Marketing/Social Media – Co-Chairs, Alex Redcay, Millersville University and Christina C. Gigler, Marywood University.
  5. Community College: Co-Chairs Margret Smith, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

 

PASWE Dinner Presentations were Inspiring!

Margaret L. Smith, Edinboro University, Mary Daly, Mansfield University and Wade Luquet, Gwynedd Mercy University shared their thoughts on pressing issues in social work education that need to be addressed.  These included needing to focus on more systems thinking since our profession is inter-related to all the other systems out there.  More focus needs to include micro and macro practice and thinking about who the other people are who we need to work with to help others.  Technology and focusing on the big data revolution of artificial intelligence was noted with implications for our work with clients. Other issues included the need for social workers to be more business and leadership savvy and the need to address this in curriculums.  Social workers need to become change agents!  These topics and insights gave us some good food for thought as we enjoyed our make your own pasta bar.

 

NASW-PA Keystone Award of Educator of the Year for 2019 goes to our Leader!

 

Dr. Alex Redcay was awarded the NASW-PA Keystone Award of Educator of the Year!

Dr. Redcay not only is an Assistant Professor at Millersville University and the President for PASWE, but she also is a leader on topics of LGBT issues and addiction prevention, treatment and recovery.  She is an inspiration as an educator, researcher and leader in these social work roles as she empowers us to learn and educate others in turn.  It was an honor to see her receive this well-deserved award for her service to the community and to the social work profession.