I was told to give an inspirational talk about aging and at the same time bring in some of my personal experience. Well, let me start right away with some personal experience: The first day of my Gerontology class I tell students that a ship of Martians has landed on campus and that one of […]
Life as a Peace Corps Volunteer by Aaron Wohlmuth, BSW
Sanibonani! Greetings from Swaziland, Africa. The first thing you are probably thinking is where the heck is Swaziland? Did I mean Switzerland? Are lions and giraffes roaming the area? Well, Swaziland is in fact a real place. It is a landlocked country, which is the size of New Jersey with a little over a 1 […]
Finding Purpose While at a Loss by Ashley Halverson, MSW student
We don’t know each other. Maybe we share histories, likes or dislikes, but because we don’t share language or culture, I cannot ask. You are a mother of two and come from a village in northern Thailand. Far from here. I am a student from the United States, hoping to learn about international social work […]
CIUDAD DE LOS NIÑOS CREATES A BRIDGE TO SUPPORT A FAMILY IN NEED IN THE BORDER REGION OF SAN DIEGO-TIJUANA
Written by Lic. Ines Favela with translation by Tiago Antonio, MSW student Ciudad de los Niños is a youth foster/group home that is located in Tijuana, Mexico. Every year they serve hundreds of at-risk children, adolescents and families. During 2015, approximately 904 children received psychological counseling, as well as speech, pedagocial and family therapy, and […]
A Visit to the Village: Lessons in Recovery by Jacquie Hernandez, MSW student
The 2015-2016 Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) Stipend Recipients had the pleasure of joining Professor Candy Elson in visiting The Village, an adult integrated services recovery program that is a part of Mental Health America of Los Angeles. The agency is a recovery oriented agency that focuses on meeting clients where they are and assisting […]
Response to “Ramadan in Istanbul” by Tiago Antonio
Maysun, Thank you for sharing your story with us. I was really moved by it! My favorite part of your essay was the passage that says, “Society tolerates you. It doesn’t accept you.” I liked this part because I agree with you. I think society strives to tolerate the people, concepts, ideas, and etc, that […]
Ramadan in Istanbul by Maysun Khan, MSW student
June 27, 2015. Adhans rang melodically through the air as the sun set leaving a reddish glow to frame the waterfront. People gathered in the parks, sitting in circles on the grass and passing around disposable plates piled high with dates, olives, and halal meats. There was celebration on the cobblestone streets. It was Ramadan […]
Racial Justice: Moving From Macro to Micro and Back Again by Melinda Hohman, Ph.D.
I always find myself amused when writing or talking about macro social work, as I am definitely more of a micro kind of person, having studied, taught, and researched Motivational Interviewing (MI) (an interpersonal communication method) for the past 15 or so years. Becoming the Director of the School of Social Work has certainly moved […]
The Playground is our Classroom! By Debbie Boerbaitz, LCSW, PPSC-SSW, Chula Vista Elementary School District and Paul Brazzel, LCSW, PPSC-SSW, Lemon Grove School District
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, created and designated by Pacer.org in 2006. It serves to remind us to focus on this hurtful behavior that many of us experienced ourselves during childhood or actually inflicted on others; and act to raise awareness through “events, activities, outreach, and education”.[1] In a recent blog article, All 50 […]
Reflections on Macro Project at Ciudad de los Niños by Nadia Hurtado
Last year I had the opportunity to complete my first year practicum at Ciudad de los Niños, an agency located in Tijuana, Mexico. Ciudad de los Niños is a non-profit agency that mostly serves low income families in need of behavioral and developmental services for their children. One of the main services at Ciudad de […]