28th Annual Social Work Conference

The Department of Sociology and Social Work will host its 28th Annual Social Work Conference on Friday, April 24, 2009, from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on the 11th floor of the Houston Cole Library.

This year's program is Social Work: Survival Strategies for Tough Times, which will focus on the future of social work and the need to recruit more social workers into the profession.

The conference will begin with opening remarks by JSU President William A. Meehan and Vice-President of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Rebecca Turner. The Keynote Address by Dr. Mark Fagan, Head of Sociology and Social Work at Jacksonville State University, will examine the current economic crisis and its impact on the field of social services. He will detail the causes and indicators of this crisis, including information about foreclosures, decreased housing values, lost net worth, bank failures, unemployment, bankruptcies, and other factors which increase the need for social services. He will specifically address the impact on government budgets, and the subsequent effect on prisons, healthcare, and mental health services. Dr. Fagan will provide an historical perspective for the financial crisis we are experiencing, as well as suggestions for how and when a recovery might occur.

Special plenary speaker, Lt. Col David Geeslin, is a native Alabamian who received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare from the University of West Florida and an MSW from the University of Alabama. He was one of the first social workers to be part of the Birmingham Police Department, before entering the Army as a Social Work Officer. His duties as a social work officer include the 3rd Armored Division and Frankfurt Army Medical Center in Germany and (MASH) in Zagrab, Croatia. He served as a mental health consultant to the US State Department in Croatia and Bosnia. His most recent social work clinical assignment was the 785th Combat Stress Control Company in Iraq. He is currently Assistant Chief of Social Work Services at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Lt. Col Geeslin will give a speech called "Trauma and Stress: Implications from the War Zone," and an afternoon session entitled "Army Strong: Opportunities in Military Social Work."

"Improving Client Outcomes: Revisiting a Systems Approach to Intervention," by Dr. Maureen Newton, will serve as a "Pep Talk for Practitioners." This presentation will include a discussion of social workers as change agents within various client systems. Dr. Newton will address the fundamentals of successful social work practice.

Dr. Jenny Savage will present "More Important Than Ever: Net Working Resources for Children and Families." This workshop will discuss the art of effective networking for community resources for children and families. This "art" is actually competent use of the social work skill of linking resources to meet client needs.

Ron Gilbert of Alabama ARISE is discussing "Advocacy 101: Understanding the Task, Influencing Effectively." He will talk about the impact of policy decisions on practice and the necessity of social workers to play an active advocacy role. Mr. Gilbert is the senior policy analyst, who joined the Arise staff in 2004 following a 27-year career in public human services administration.

Some other topics include "Disparities in Hospice Usage in Alabama," presented by Kathryn Chapman, Director of Comprehensive Cancer Control Program at the Alabama Department of Public Health. "Making the Most of Field Placement," by Ms. Robyn Snider, Ms. Julie Nix, Mr. James Powe, and Ms. Kimberly Dobbs. "Preparation to Take the Social Work Licensure Exam" will be presented by Dr. Mark Fagan and Mr. Jonathan Adams. Dr. Nancy Francisco Stewart and Kristina Scott will discuss "Joining the Effort: Alabama Poverty Project."

Special features include a silent auction which benefits the Social Work Club, and an exhibit hall with information about agencies and social service opportunities within the community. Five CEUs are available for Social Workers and are included with registration. Students interested in social work careers are encouraged to attend.

 

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