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.

 

 

 

 

PASWE Dinner

Today’s Issues in Social Work Education

PASWE Dinner Menu & Panel Presenters
Monday 9/23/19 5:30pm to 7pm.

The PA Association of Social Work Education (PASWE) holds several workshops at the annual National Association of Social Work (NASW) Conference. For 2019, the PASWE Day at the NASW conference will be held on Monday 9/23/19 from 8am to 7pm. See below for one of our featured workshops. 

Register as a PASWE Professional ($90) for the NASW Conference. This registration includes 6 CEs, 3 PASWE workshops, two keynotes, a sweet talk, student poster competition, breakfast, lunch, and dinner (see dinner menu below). If you would like to register for the full NASW Conference, you can attend all PASWE events–except the dinner which will be an extra $30.

Students can register for $25 which includes everything except breakfast & dinner.

PASWE Dinner Menu

Appetizers

  • Brie Cheese, Strawberries and Walnuts on Toasted Bread
  • Crabmeat Deviled Eggs Prosciutto
  • Fresh Mozzarella Skewers

2 Main Dish Stations: Pasta & Sliders

Pasta

  • Three Cheese Tortellini or Orecchiette
  • Marinara or Alfredo 
  • Served with Garlic Bread, Pepper Flakes and Parmesan Cheese

Sliders

  • Crab Cakes with Remoulade 
  • Molasses Barbeque Pulled Pork with Slaw and BBQ Chip

PASWE Dinner Panel Presenters

Dr. Margaret L. Smith, PhD, ACSW, LSW, MPH
Edinboro University
PASWE Secretary & Representative for northwestern Pennsylvania
msmith@Edinboro.edu

Dr. Wade Luquet, LCSW, PhD
Gwynedd Mercy University
PASWE Representative southeastern Pennsylvania
Luquet.W@gmercyu.edu

Dr. Janice Gasker, DSW, LCSW
Kutztown University
PASWE Representative for northeast Pennsylvania
gasker@kutztown.edu

 

 

 

2019 Workshop 3

Workshop # 3a & 3b

The PA Association of Social Work Education (PASWE) holds several workshops at the annual National Association of Social Work (NASW) Conference. For 2019, the PASWE Day at the NASW conference will be held on Monday 9/23/19 from 8am to 7pm. See below for one of our featured workshops. 

Register as a PASWE Professional ($90) for the NASW Conference. This registration includes 6 CEs, 3 PASWE workshops, two keynotes, a sweet talk, student poster competition, breakfast, lunch, and dinner (see dinner menu below). If you would like to register for the full NASW Conference, you can attend all PASWE events–except the dinner which will be an extra $30.

Students can register for $25 which includes everything except breakfast & dinner.

Monday 9/23/19 4pm-5:30pm, Kalahari Resort

Workshop #3a 4pm-4:45pm
Transgender Clients in the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility

Transgender Clients in a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility PASWE NASW 2019

Transgender Clients in a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility PASWE NASW 2019

The presentation will review the struggles and successes that the Children’s Home of York Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) has faced as transgender individuals have become a regular part of clientele.

Struggles
We have encountered three ongoing struggles: (1) paperwork, (2) family dynamics, and (3) maintaining confidentiality.
(1) We strive to ensure that all paperwork and procedures reflects our open and accepting philosophy. This workshop will share how we handled improving paperwork related issues.
(2) We work with a number of families that have a hard time accepting that their adolescent is transgender and in this workshop we will discuss this in greater detail.
(3) We have also struggled with confidentiality for the transgender youth. Our protocol is to use a client’s identified name from the time of admission, if they identify as transgender prior to entering the facility. However, some clients know the transgender client from another facilities which prevents ensuring full confidentiality. We will share more about how we dealt with these struggles.

Successes
We have, also, had clear successes during this transition period such as commitment of (1) staff, (2) policy/procedure development, and (3) client achievement.

(1) Our staff have presented with a commitment to being open and accepting and to educating themselves.
(2) We created procedures specific to the clients for their comfort and safety in our community. We continue to change and grow, as needed. It is difficult working in a trauma focused PRTF that does not specialize in transgender treatment, while accommodating the mental health and emotional needs of transgender clients.
(3) At this time, all of our discharged clients have reported that they have felt accepted and respected as individuals. They have appreciated our willingness to set up transgender services for them post-discharge, as part of their next phase of care. They have reported satisfaction with the policies and procedures put in place for their comfort and safety.

Finally, the legal and clinical developments in transgender treatment will be touched upon, as will their impact on the development of best practice clinical treatment and procedural planning in the PRTF setting.

Presenter

Lisa Fritz, LCSW, Associate Director of Clinical Services
Children’s Home of York

 

Workshop #3a 4:45pm-5:30pm
Riding the Waves to Global Cultural Appreciation

The world is shrinking. Social work practice is no longer limited by geographic and cultural boundaries. Social workers provide services for clients from around the world, geographically and culturally. The classroom is only one venue for developing understanding and appreciation for the other. The presenter addresses his efforts to prepare students for global practice by introducing them to international travel and study opportunities. He has accompanied groups of students to Ireland, England, India, Korea, and Kenya, as well as finding placement opportunities for students in a number of countries around the world. The presentation is part travelogue and part appreciation for becoming the ‘other’ by being immersed in the geography and cultures of different countries.

Lloyd L. Lyter, Ph.D., Professor
Director, Marywood University Pocono

MSW Program at East Stroudsburg University

2019 Workshop 2

Workshop # 2a & 2b

The PA Association of Social Work Education (PASWE) holds several workshops at the annual National Association of Social Work (NASW) Conference. For 2019, the PASWE Day at the NASW conference will be held on Monday 9/23/19 from 8am to 7pm. See below for one of our featured workshops. 

Register as a PASWE Professional ($90) for the NASW Conference. This registration includes 6 CEs, 3 PASWE workshops, two keynotes, a sweet talk, student poster competition, breakfast, lunch, and dinner (see dinner menu). If you would like to register for the full NASW Conference, you can attend all PASWE events–except the dinner which will be an extra $30.

Students can register for $25 which includes everything except breakfast & dinner.

Monday 9/23/19 1pm-2:30pm, Kalahari Resort

Workshop # 2a 1pm to 1:45pm
Using Simulation to Teach Social Work Skills

Nursing and other health care fields have long utilized simulated learning experiences to place students in near-real situations equipped with computerized mannequins and other assessment equipment. Students receive immediate feedback and reflect on their experience in debriefing sessions. This workshop will report on an integrated healthcare experience between BSW students in conjunction with nursing faculty in a well-equipped lab using simulated learning experiences. The importance of utilizing learning objectives to guide the experiences and debriefing sessions will be emphasized. Examples of simulations will be demonstrated through video of sessions and methods of utilizing sims to measure social work competencies will be discussed.

Presenter

Dr. Wade Luquet, LCSW, PhD
Gwynedd Mercy University
PASWE Representative southeastern Pennsylvania
Luquet.W@gmercyu.edu

 

Workshop # 2b 1:45pm to 2:30pm
Teaching and Learning in Divided Times:
Exploring Student Perceptions of Political Bias

Teaching and Learning in Divided Times PASWE NASW 2019

Teaching and Learning in Divided Times PASWE NASW 2019


Our politically polarized times offer an opportunity for social workers to examine the relationship between personal and professional values. Social justice and policy related curricula make social work classrooms well suited for such an examination. The NASW Code of Ethics and the Council on Social Work Education Accreditation Standards provide practice and educational mandates regarding human rights, access to resources, social change efforts and political advocacy. In today’s world, addressing such topics in the classroom can present unique challenges for instructors and students, as values and politics-related topics are increasingly fraught, taboo and divisive. Additionally, students may perceive instructors to be politically biased or feel that their political or religious views are not welcome in the classroom. Research indicates that students with Christian religious orientation and traditional or conservative worldviews tend to experience and/or report bias at higher rates than other students. The presenter’s own research supports these earlier findings and also suggests student’s react to such experiences by engaging in self-censorship and alteration of written assignments. Integration and understanding of values-systems is a dialectical process that relies on dialogue and engaging with differences. When students engage in self-censorship, it may come at a cost to learning and self-awareness necessary for ethical, competent practice. This interactive session will explore the teaching, learning, and ethical implications of findings regarding political polarization in the social work classroom, along with best classroom practice for inclusivity, handling of politicized subjects, and ongoing student and instructor reflection on social work values.

Presenters

Diana Lyon, BA, MSW Student
Marywood University

Lea Dougherty, MSW, LSW

2019 Workshop 1

Workshop 1

The PA Association of Social Work Education (PASWE) holds several workshops at the annual National Association of Social Work (NASW) Conference. For 2019, the PASWE Day at the NASW conference will be held on Monday 9/23/19 from 8am to 7pm. See below for one of our featured workshops. 

Register as a PASWE Professional ($90) for the NASW Conference. This registration includes 6 CEs, 3 PASWE workshops, two keynotes, a sweet talk, student poster competition, breakfast, lunch, and dinner (see dinner menu below). If you would like to register for the full NASW Conference, you can attend all PASWE events–except the dinner which will be an extra $30.

Students can register for $25 which includes everything except breakfast & dinner.

The ethical use of social media and communication technology
Monday 9/23/19 8am-9:30am, Kalahari Resort

Ethical Use of Social Media PASWE NASW 2019

Ethical Use of Social Media PASWE NASW 2019

The revolution over the past decade with social media and communication technology has created many benefits and concerns in social work practice. The digital age and the permeating Internet culture presents ethical challenges involving social media and communication technology use with clients and colleagues.   Media such as, email, texting, search engines, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, videoconferencing, etc. can facilitate communication with clients.  However, these electronic innovations also pose numerous ethical challenges. including potential violation of confidentiality, boundaries, dual relationships, competence, and informed consent. This interactive workshop will engage participants in brainstorming guidelines in integrated practice settings to address and optimize ethical applications of social media and communication technology.  How this impacts the millennial generation as well as the seasoned generations of BSW and MSW students and social workers will be discussed as well.

Presenters

Christina C. Gigler, MSW, LCSW, ACSW
Assistant Professor of Practice/Interim Coordinator
MSW Program in the Lehigh Valley
Marywood University School of Social Work
Office: 610-282-1100, ext. 1541
cgigler@marywood.edu

Tyler Lunger, MSW Student
Marywood University

NASW PASWE Day Schedule

PASWE DAY, NASW, Monday 9/23/19, Kalahari Resort

The PA Association of Social Work Education (PASWE) holds several workshops at the annual National Association of Social Work (NASW) Conference. For 2019, the PASWE Day at the NASW conference will be held from 7am to 8pm on Monday 9/23/19.

Register as a PASWE Professional ($90) for the NASW Conference via NASW website. This registration includes 6 CEs, 3 PASWE workshops, two keynotes, a sweet talk, student poster competition, breakfast, lunch, and dinner (see the delicious dinner menu). If you would like to register for the full NASW Conference, you can attend all PASWE events–except the dinner which will be an extra $30.

Students can register for $25 which includes all PASWE events except breakfast & dinner.  Student registration includes the student poster competition. 

See below for the PASWE schedule. 

Monday 9/23/19, Kalahari Resort
PASWE Day Schedule, 7am to 8pm

7am, Breakfast

8am-9:30am,PASWE Workshop #1
The ethical use of social media and communication technology (90 minutes)
Presenters: Christina C. Gigler, MSW, LCSW, ACSW and Tyler Lunger, MSW Student, both at Marywood University
For more information on this presentation, see our full post in June, 2019.

9:45am to 10:15am, Opening Ceremony
10:15am to 11:15am, Opening Keynote
11:15am to 12:45pm, Lunch

1pm-2:30pm, PASWE Workshop #2
Using Simulation to Teach Social Work Skills (45 minutes)
Presenter: Dr. Wade Luquet, LCSW, PhDGwynedd Mercy University
For more information on this presentation, see our full post

Teaching and Learning in Divided Times: Exploring Student Perceptions of Political Bias (45 minutes)
Presenter: Diana Lyon
For more information on this presentation, see our full post (coming soon). 

2:30pm – 3:15pmBSW, MSW, & DSW Student poster presentation competition

3:15pm -3:45pm, Sweet Talks

4pm-5:30pm, PASWE Workshop #3
Transgender Clients in a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Setting (45 minutes)
Presenter: Lisa Fritz, LCSW, Associate Director of Clinical Services, Children’s Home of York
For more information on this presentation, see our full post.

Riding the Waves to Global Cultural Appreciation (45 minutes)
Presenter: Dr. Lloyd Lyter, MSW, LSW, Marywood University at East Stroudsburg University
For more information on this presentation, see our full post

4pm-5:30pm
PASWE Membership & Leadership Meeting, All are welcome.
5:30pm – 7pm, PASWE dinner with Panel Discussion (see the delicious dinner menu and the panel speakers)

7pm-8pm, Evening Keynote

 

What is PASWE?

Pennsylvania Association of Social Work Education (PASWE)

The Pennsylvania Association of Social Work Education (PASWE) was originally formed in 1973 as the result of discussions among emerging BSW programs across the state interested in advancing baccalaureate social work education. PASWE expanded to include all undergraduate and graduate social work education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Any university professors who teach social work related content are automatically members of PASWE. The current PASWE President is Dr. Alex Redcay, Millersville University (pictured below).

PASWE’s purpose is to provide opportunities to identify and develop strategies to address shared concerns related to social work education and social work students. In 2014, the PASWE moved its annual conference to partner with the annual National Association of Social Workers Pennsylvania Chapter (NASW-PA) conference.

Together NASW and PASWE hope to serve social work students and faculty by meeting their needs through participation in the annual conference and in the social work profession.  Johanna Byrd (pictured below), is the Executive Director of NASW-PA.

All social work faculty, students, and professionals are encouraged to join NASW and to attend the annual conference where you can receive Continuing Education Credits (CEU).

PASWE holds a student research poster competition with cash prizes at the annual NASW conference. NASW & PASWE have partnered to award the top undergrad, graduate, and doctoral student for the best poster.

If a student would like to register for the poster competition, please email Amy Sagen (pictured below), chief operating officer at NASW-PA at asagen.naswpa@socialworkers.org

If you would like more information regarding PASWE, please contact PASWE President, Alex Redcay, at Alex.Redcay@millersville.edu or 717-480-0585.

Get involved with PASWE