Portland State University School of Social Work

Assistant Professor Antonia Alvarez, PhD, MSW, published a poem in the Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping publication.

"This is a poem that emerged in the wake of another incident of anti-Asian violence and my own rage and exhaustion as a q***r, Filipina-American social work educator and scholar-mama, teaching throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the endemic of anti-Blackness in the United States. "

To read the full poem, follow the link below:
https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/1970/1737

Assistant Professor Lakindra Mitchell Dove, MSW, PhD, was recently published in the Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping publication.

Her article was titled "Resistance to the Academy: A Call to be a Disrupter." This personal narrative provides an account of Lakindra's path to academia as a Black woman.

Stay tuned for more articles published by our staff in the Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping publication.

To read the full article, follow the link below:
https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/1980/1743

Taylor Geyton, PhD, LCSW, will present on October 25, from 6 – 8pm EST (3 – 5pm PDT), as part of Temple University's "Black Activism in Healthcare and Social Services" event. The importance and history of Black activism within the social services and healthcare systems will be discussed.

To sign up, follow the link below:
https://chpswtemple.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3fUCiKipkN5gEuy

Join us next Monday for the upcoming information session to gain further insight into Portland State's Master of Social Work program.

For more information, follow the link below:
https://www.pdx.edu/social-work/info-sessions

Adjunct Professor LaFreda Ceasar, MSW, was recently featured on the Boosting Our Voices podcast. The episode was titled "Second Chances and the Right to Dream".

The episode discusses "how to challenge the systems that we exist within and the inequities that are in our day-to-day lives." Ceasar discusses her personal experiences with a social work background and her recent work with New Narrative.

To listen to the full podcast, follow the link below:
https://www.boostoregon.org/boosting-our-voices/season1recap-ktx5f-68sp4-3e7x2-yn65y-6b3pl-rgl2b-5adyn-stjfa-ybf6k-da7wc-mj67s-7z6bn-fgsjm-j9yrf-ht7bm

Earn 4 Credits for 300-Level UNST while studying abroad!

Our study abroad program and course will be based
in Italy’s capital, Rome, with a visit to Palermo, the largest
city on the island of Sicily. We will explore national, regional,
and international efforts to address human migration
associated with environmental factors and climate change.

Throughout our two weeks in Italy, we will listen to firsthand
accounts from impacted communities, such as hosts, migrants,
refugees, and organizations that are supporting their needs.

Our course will involve experiential and community-based
learning. We will work directly with community organizations
in Rome and Palermo that are responding to the global
migration fueled by climate change.

Deadline to Apply: January 15th, 2024
http://tiny.cc/4xuzuz

Alma Trinidad, PhD, MSW, Antonia Alvarez, PhD, LMSW, gita mehrotra, MSW, PhD, Roberta Suzette Hunte, Ph.D. MS, Lakindra Mitchell Dove, PhD, MSW, and Jessica Rodriguez-Jenkins, PhD, MSW were all recently published in a publication called, "Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping".

Within this publication, all faculty co-authored the article "Love Letters for Liberatory Futures".

"This collection of letters serves to explore the narratives of a collective of women of color in academia by examining individual, collective, spiritual, and institutional strategies for surviving and transforming our institutional spaces and the ways that White Supremacy has shaped our journeys. Multiple perspectives are viewed, and we have written to our children, our future social work students, our future selves, our BIPOC faculty siblings, and our feared enemies to envision and embody more liberatory futures."

Stay tuned for more articles that have been published by our faculty in "Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping"!

Link to full article: https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/1977/1738

Next Friday, join us for the upcoming info-session to get further insight on Portland State's Master of Social Work program at our Bend Campus! Location: Cascades Hall Classroom #246

RSVP here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14DukpJG95Hk6uY10mf6dPTerGAj1JjnzCwPSVyM2kW0/edit

Contact Leah Allen at [email protected] for additional information.

Welcoming the new hires to the School of Social Work! We are excited to have you!

Assistant Professor Antonia R.G. Alvarez, PhD, LMSW was recently published in, "I See Myself Strong: A Description of an Expressive Poetic Method to Amplify Two-Spirit, Le***an, Gay, Bis*xual, Trans, Q***r Indigenous Youth Experiences in a Culture-Centered HIV Prevention Curriculum".

"In this article, the authors describe and illustrate an adapted expressive poetics research method through highlighting the experiences of Two Spirit, le***an, gay, transgender, or q***r (2SLGBTQ) Indigenous youth that participated in a culture-centered HIV prevention curriculum."

To read the full article, follow the link below:
https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/7/3/55

[Image Description: A photo of Antonia Alverez]

Next Wednesday, join us for the upcoming info-session to get further insight on Portland State's Master of Social Work program!

Follow the link below to register:
https://www.pdx.edu/social-work/info-sessions

PWI received an OHA grant to provide group clinical supervision to individuals working towards their licensure.

They will be providing free supervision to associates seeking licensure. The associates must have graduate degrees in MSW, Marriage Family and Children, and Counseling. Associates need to come from backgrounds; Black, Indigenous and People of Color, Immigrant/Refugees and LGBTQ+.

For Questions, please contact:
Asha Omar, MSW, LCSW
(971) 258-1260
[email protected]

To apply:
https://airtable.com/appQNUubnUiSdjrtS/shrYrza2jsbHUOplj

Former Assistant Professor Dalia Avello-Vega, Psy.M., MA, MRes, IMH-E recently published "Prevalence of Depressive Disorder in the Adult population of Latin America: a systematic review and meta-analysis"

"This study aimed to: i. systematically review population-based studies of prevalence of ICD/DSM depressive disorder in Latin America, ii. report pooled regional, country, and s*x-specific prevalence estimates, and iii. test its association with four country-level development indicators: human development (HDI), income (Gini) and gender inequality (GII), and intentional homicide rate (IHR)."

To read the whole article, follow the link below:
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/socwork_fac/696/

Adjunct Professor Keyonia Williams was recently mentioned in a Skanner News Article regarding Portland Public School's Test Scores.

"“There’s lots of initiatives in Portland and various arenas, saying there’s additional support and resources to advocate for Black families and Black children, but quite frankly it’s all performative at this point,” Williams told The Skanner."

To read the rest of the article, follow the link below:
https://www.theskanner.com/news/northwest/35156-pps-announces-incremental-improvements-in-student-test-scores-black-education-advocates-are-less-impressed

MSW Alum Kaig Lightner was recently mentioned in an Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) article, which highlights his non-profit youth soccer club.

"Kaig Lightner, founder of the Portland Community Football Club (PCFC), a non-profit youth soccer club intended to offer high quality, affordable soccer to low-income, immigrant, and refugee youth in Portland who are often excluded from soccer clubs due to financial barriers."

To read more about Kaig, follow the link below:
https://www.opb.org/article/2023/09/26/portland-community-football-clubs-goal-is-to-liberate-sports-provide-soccer-for-kids-of-all-incomes-genders/

Doctoral Student A.P. Spoth, MSW recently co-authored "A New World Cannot be Built Alone: An Abolitionist Framework for Collective Action in Social Work".

"To better aid schools of social work to move toward meaningful action, this conceptual article presents an abolitionist framework for collective action that highlights how social work schools and educators can resist performative responses to legislative terror. "

To read the full article, follow the link below:
https://apsw-ojs-uh.tdl.org/apsw/article/view/18

MSW Alum Bianey Jimenez was recently featured in Rogue Valley Times to share her tactics and ethics on counseling.

"Bianey works with migrants who may be in survival mode. After the Almeda Fire, she spent time visiting affected families in her role as a family engagement specialist for ESD. “It was a lot of despair, anxiety; it was an overwhelming feeling of I’m trying to help, and it’s just not enough.”

To read the full article, follow the link below:
https://www.rv-times.com/lifestyle/people-on-the-move-it-s-beautiful-to-see-parents-wake-up-and-say-i/article_fe27443a-48f0-11ee-9893-bb5df1bae2f4.html

Portland State is officially an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). What does that mean?

Join us during AANAPISI Week (Sept. 25-Oct. 1) as we explore and celebrate what it means to be an AANAPISI and how a new federal grant will increase our capacity to support AAPI student success in service to our whole campus community.

To register, follow the link below:
https://pdx.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8djGVmNPRaeOiuStLKQuSA #/registration

Portland Street Response is hiring! They have multiple positions currently open:

Portland Street Response Mental Health Crisis Responder I and II
https://ow.ly/zm0Q50PONHg.

PSR Supervisor (Community Health Supervisor)
https://ow.ly/zm0Q50PONHg.

Image description: Portland Street Response Responders at an encampment. Image courtesy of Portland Street Response.

PhD student Eline Lenne (not pictured) and Associate Professor Susanne Klawetter, PhD, MSSW, recently co-authored a new article for the Journal of Family Theory & Review.

"An Examination of Power in a Triadic Model of parent–child–pediatrician relationships related to early childhood gender development" introduces an innovative conceptual framework for pediatric practice with transgender and gender-diverse children. The authors provide a recommendation for how the Triadic Model of Pediatric Care might be applied in a pediatric healthcare setting and conclude with a summary of the model's implications, limitations, and future directions.

https://ow.ly/Njj050PO41L

Image description: Photo of Susanne Klawetter

We are delighted to announce that Matt Chorpenning has been hired as MSW Online Program Coordinator.

Learn more about Matt in our public announcement!

https://ow.ly/9omr50PNrPh

Image description: Photo of Matt Chorpenning

Senior Research Assistant Laura Lipira recently published "Type of Exchange S*x and Associated Behaviors and Outcomes Among Cisgender Men and Women at Increased Risk for HIV via Heteros*xual Transmission in Six U.S. Metropolitan Areas"

Within this study she, "assessed risk profiles of different types of exchange s*x among non-injecting cisgender men and women who participated in the 2019 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance project at six sites".

To read the full article, follow the link below:
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/rri_facpubs/104/

We are delighted to announce that Leah Allen has been hired as the Interim Central Oregon Site Coordinator.

"Leah has over 13 years of practice working with people in various capacities and her passion for social justice was realized while working with oppressed people experiencing extreme states (see Hearing Voices Network). "

To learn more about Leah Allen, follow the link below:
https://www.pdx.edu/social-work/news/leah-allen-hired-interim-central-oregon-site-coordinator

The West Coast Child Welfare Trainer's Conference was hosted by PSU's Child Welfare Partnership Training Program was a huge success! Over the course of the conference, Workforce Development staff from programs across Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado and Alaska came together in community and collaboration to share best practices, learn new skills and continue to work to elevate and empower children and families and child welfare agencies.

Here are some photos from the event, including one from the Child Welfare Partnership's own Workforce Development Evaluations Manager, Kirstin O'Dell, presenting "Training Evaluation 101." Special thanks go out to the School of Social Work for their contributions of the attendee swag bags, notebooks and pens as well as the CWP Administrative and IT team for their contributions and efforts to host, run and manage an amazing conference for all who attended!

Image descriptions:

1) Photo of Interim Dean Junghee Lee, Aprille Flint-Gerner (ODHS CW Director), Dr. Bowen McBeath, Marty Lowrey, and Dr. Ick-Joong.

2) Kirstin O'Dell, presenting "Training Evaluation 101."

3) An audience at the event watching a presentation.

4) A group of attendees eating a meal together at a restaurant.

We are delighted to announce that Tozi Gutierrez has been hired as Human Services Program Coordinator.

"Dr. Tozi Gutierrez will be leading the development and coordination of the School of Social Work's newest undergraduate degree in Human Services. Dr. Gutierrez is stepping down from the Director of the MSW program to design a new fully online degree program intended to address Oregon's most critical workforce needs".

To learn more about Dr. Tozi Gutierrez and her positon, follow the link below:
https://www.pdx.edu/social-work/news/tozi-gutierrez-hired-human-services-program-coordinator

Another lovely reminder to follow our new page! It's newer, it's better, so why not follow?

URL: https://www.facebook.com/psussw/

Associate Professor gita mehrotra, MSW, PhD and Adjunct Professor Eli Hess, MSW, CSWA recently published "Exploring the intersections of LGBTQ experience and social work education: a scoping review".

Within this article, they explored peer-reviewed literature regarding the intersections of social work education and q***r and trans experience, issues, and theorizing.

To read the whole article, follow the link below:
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/socwork_fac/691/

CSWE is pleased to announce that Laura Burney Nissen, PhD, MSW, will be a plenary speaker on the future of social work at the 2023 Annual Program Meeting, October 26–29, 2023, in Atlanta, GA.

Former Dean and Professor Laura Burney Nissen is with the Portland State University School of Social Work. With a commitment to innovative and equity-centered systems change, Laura has worked with futures practice and lenses throughout her career. She is a foresight practitioner and a Research Fellow with the Institute for the Future. She is the PI and Director of the national Social Work Health Futures Lab funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The goal of this initiative is to bring futures thinking and frameworks to the social work profession.

Laura is also a Presidential Futures Fellow at Portland State University where she has been a founder of the university-wide Futures Collaboratory. She is equally dedicated to supporting the successful evolution of public universities into a thriving future. Laura’s passion is getting others excited and energized about their role in building a better future.

https://ow.ly/OzXq50PMa95

Image description: Photo of Laura Burney Nissen

PhD alumni Sen. Susan Eggman was recently interviewed on Capitol Weekly to discuss her efforts on mental health reform.

"Widely regarded as the most knowledgeable and effective state legislator on mental health issues in the Legislature, Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) is credited with major, bipartisan legislative accomplishments over nearly 12 years"

To read the entire interview, follow the link below:
https://capitolweekly.net/the-capitol-weekly-interview-sen-susan-eggmans-long-battle-for-mental-health-reform/

Celebrate the start of the school year at PSU’s annual welcome events! Viking Days will be from September 21 - 30, 2023

Whether you're a brand new student discovering the PSU campus for the very first time or a returning student kicking off the new academic year, there are a number of events available to help you celebrate your start!

Follow this link below to get more info on this year's events!
https://www.pdx.edu/viking-days