After two years of extensive research, which examined online peer support for queer mothers, Professor Karpman, Emily Ruppel '18, Mallory Merryman '15 & Carolyn Delk '03 saw their work published in renown journal Midwifery on March 1, 2017. From the journal:
Recent research has concluded that barriers to maternity health care exist for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. This mixed methods study aims to understand patterns in seeking and sharing online health information for LBQ women attempting conception.
Researchers performed a qualitative content analysis of 400 discussions in lesbian-oriented Facebook groups, containing 1764 total instances of text. 400 discussions from heterosexual-oriented conception and parenting Facebook groups were examined for comparison purposes, though they will not be the focus of this analysis. This paper also presents descriptive statistics on posts observed. Read more.
ATLANTA (FEB. 28, 2017)--Ronjonette N. Harrison, LCSW, knows that severe childhood trauma can imprison its victims. She also knows that healing, with appropriate treatment and support, is fully possible. That reality is much more than a career goal for the Smith College doctoral student, presently interning as a doctoral research assistant in Clark Atlanta University’s Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work. She has dedicated all of her energies to addressing issues of interpersonal trauma, mental health challenges and the adverse effects of criminal justice involvement for youth and women of color.
“I consider myself an advocate, a voice for individuals and families grappling with abuse, victimization and marginalization,” she says.
Harrison, who earned the bachelor’s degree in social work at State University College at Buffalo and the master of social welfare degree at State University of New York at Stony Brook, is in the final phases of completing the Ph.D. in social work at the prestigious Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, Mass. Her desire to intern at CAU is, perhaps, associated with an earlier “disconnect” that shaped her perspectives on social work education.
“I entered undergraduate school with little support, resources or direction,” she recalls. I became aware of the social work profession while taking an elective course, “Social Work with Minority Families.” It sparked an intense range of emotions, and my passion for the field was instant and all-consuming. I knew this was my calling.” But a young Harrison faced one glaring hurdle. “Although my teachers were talented and committed to the student body,” she continued, “there was a disconnect because faculty often were not representative of the client [minority] population. Their theoretical perspectives significantly differed from my experiences and those in my community.”
That episode stuck with Harrison over the past 15 years. So, when time to satisfy Smith College’s doctoral research internship requirement, she knew she wanted to do so on an HBCU campus. “As a social worker, you can’t stand in footsteps any more resonant than W.E. B. Du Bois and Whitney M. Young Jr.,” Harrison says. “And both sets of iconic footprints lead you to Clark Atlanta University. W.E.B. Du Bois founded contemporary sociology on this campus, and activist and advocate Whitney M. Young Jr. was the School of Social Work’s first dean. They are legends for anyone in this field, regardless of one’s race. CAU is ‘ground zero’ for anyone who is serious about shaping the future of social work.”
But is it necessary for an African-American to connect with other minority clients? And does legacy translate into policymaking, Harrison’s ultimate goal? Harrison says that not to immerse herself in the client population would be irresponsible. “African Americans are not a monolith. Clark Atlanta provides an opportunity, and central proximity to the metro-Atlanta community, for me to advance my own research interests--exploring associations between betrayal trauma and criminal pathways of incarcerated women of color--immersed in diverse client subpopulations that have been or will be directly or indirectly affected by this issue based upon a number of factors, age, social identity and economics among them.” She also noted that while CAU’s social work legacy is irreproachable, the value proposition that led her to the program is the School’s multiple ties to the policymaking arena. “There is a pervasive, infectious sense of activism, of change agency here that challenges and fuels my own aspirations.”
Harrison’s time at CAU isn’t governed by self-interest. The published author, who is simultaneously completing a clinical internship at neighboring Spelman College Counseling Services, also is working with CAU Professor Joi G. Showell, Ph.D., to evaluate the licensure test results of the Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work’s MSW students, providing data that better allows school faculty and staff to facilitate licensure preparedness among graduates. She also looks forward to contributing to research efforts among other faculty and staff.
Whitney M. Young, Jr., School of Social Work Dean Jenny L. Jones, Ph.D., says what Harrison brings to the program affirms the legendary foundation upon which the School’s national reputation is anchored. “What Ronjonette brings to the program reaffirms the character of our School and honors the standards of excellence set by our forebears,
W. E. B. Du Bois and Whitney M. Young J
My name is Patrice Abby and I am a recruiter responsible for hiring social workers for the company I work for--MHM Services, Inc. MHM specializes in providing mental healthcare to prisons throughout the country. We are looking to hire LMHCs, LCSWs, and LICSWs, both new graduates and those with experience. I am hoping that you are able to post the attached flyer on any job boards or career placement displays located within your program.
MHM is a great company with a proven track record We offer competitive compensation and a generous benefits package.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. I appreciate your anticipated cooperation in helping us join your students with our fantastic opportunities:
Sincerely,
Patrice Abby
Healthcare Recruiter
MHM Services, Inc.
Tel: 855-507-9900
Fax: 888-389-1509
Email: Patrice@mhmcareers.com | www.mhm-services.com
For more information, visit www.mhm-services.com
The Committee on Gender and Sexuality of the American Psychoanalytic Association Announces the 2018 Ralph Roughton Paper Award!
The Ralph Roughton Paper Award was established in 1998 to honor the founding Chairperson of APsaA’s Committee on Gay and Lesbian Issues. In its first decade, it offered formal recognition to outstanding published papers that deepened our psychoanalytic understanding of gay men and lesbians. In 2007, the mission of the Award was changed. In the years that it is awarded, the Ralph Roughton Paper Award is now given to an unpublished manuscript that, in the opinion of the judges, makes an original and outstanding contribution to the psychoanalytic understanding and/or treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, trans*, or gender-variant people.
The Award carries a cash prize of $1000 and the author of the winning paper will be invited to present it at the National Meeting of the American Psychoanalytic Association in New York in February of 2018. The winner may submit the paper for review by the Journal of American Psychoanalytic Association and, if accepted, it will be published as the winner of the Ralph Roughton Paper Award.
Submission Guidelines:
Papers must be unpublished (but may have been presented at professional meetings) and must conform to the Preparation of Manuscript guidelines outlined by the Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association with the exception that the length should not exceed 30 double-spaced typed pages. Paper submissions are welcome from anyone regardless of institutional affiliation. Submissions are due August 31, 2017. Email one Word document containing the manuscript with all references to the author deleted, and email a second Word document containing the author’s name, email address, address, phone number, and any institutional affiliation to Carol Levin (carol.levin@me.com).
Co-Chairs, Ralph Roughton Paper Award
Don Spivak, M.D. Carol B. Levin, M.D.
(248) 540-7776 (517) 381-0496
dspivakmd@gmail.com carol.levin@me.com
If you haven’t heard about the National Association of Social Workers, NASW, you will, as the summer progresses. It is the one organization which advocates for our clients and us as social workers. There are over 130,000 NASW members across the US. When you join as a student, your membership fee is $57. After you graduate, you pay an increased but still reduced rate for three years. Regular membership is $225/year. So joining as a student is quite a bargain! So, what if you do not plan to stay in Mass? This is not a problem. When you join, you can pick which State Chapter you want to join, as there is a Chapter in each state and US. Territory. To join, click the URL below. If you have any questions, you can contact our Western Mass. Coordinator, Jeff Schrenzel, at jschrenz@wne.edu. We hope you become a member this summer.
For more information, visit http://www.socialworkers.org
Sponsored by: Mass. NASW
Don’t be! Mass NASW is presenting a one day Licensing Test Preparation course, which will help you review for the exam which you will soon be taking. Although licensing is different in each state, the test is the same in all States except California, which gives their own exam. It doesn’t mean this review would not be helpful to those of you who plan to live in CA. This one day training will review the content material you need to know for the exam and will also pinpoint test taking strategies. You will also receive a thick review booklet along with sample test questions. This one day Prep course will be given at Smith College on Saturday, June 17th, from 9:00-4:00 p.m. The cost is $125 for NASW members and $175 for nonmembers, at the Early Bird rate. There will be no registration the day of the course. So, in between finishing out your last year at Smuth, why not take a break and get ready for your next professional step. To register, click the URL below. For more licensing information, please go to: https://www.aswb.org. If you have any questions, you can contact our Western Mass. Coordinator, Jeff Schrenzel, at jschrenz@wne.edu.
For more information, visit http://www.naswma.org/?page=Licensing
Sponsored by: Mass. NASW