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Returning to the Past to Find the Future of Social Work:

The Critical Role of Social Work Educators in Reclaiming Our Historical Leadership Position in

Addressing Pressing Social Problems in the World

Donna Leigh Bliss, MSW, Ph.D.

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Overview

Vision for Social Work Role of Social Work Educators My Leadership Attributes Goodness of Fit with Vision, Mission,

and Niche of UNE SSW

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BlissPortfolio.com

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Vision for Social Work

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Eleanor Roosevelt

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Social Work Needs to Return to its Roots The profession of

social work grew out of efforts of persons during the Progressive Era to address unprecedented social problems and political corruption› Where are our

voices today?

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Abandon the False Dichotomy

Social work has since evolved to more embrace the provision of direct services› Did we abandon our

historical mission? If social work is indeed

a holistic profession, then the micro-macro debate is based on a false dichotomy and must be abandoned

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Say Goodbye to Flexner

At the 1915 National Conference on Charitiesand Corrections, Flexner questioned the validity of social work as a profession because its members lacked individual responsibility and lacked a written body of knowledge and educationally communicable techniques

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Celebrate Our Unique Contributions Social Work is the professional

activity of helping individuals, groups, or communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and creating societal conditions favorable to this goal. Social Work practice consists of the professional application of Social Work values, principles, and techniques to one or more of the following ends: helping people obtain tangible services; counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, families, and groups; helping communities or groups provide or improve processes. The practice of Social Work requires knowledge of human development and behavior; of social, economic, and cultural institutions; and of the interactions of all these factors.

  NASW Board of Directors

Person-in-environment perspective emphasizes role of context

Social work values of promoting social, economic, and environmental justice

Advocating for vulnerable populations

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Role of Social Work Educators

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Heal the Breach

Most students are interested in micro practice› This shouldn’t

mean that macro is de-emphasized

Micro and macro are aspects of a whole› Each are

interdependent and influence the other

Students need to be able to navigate micro and macro domains regardless of what area they want to practice in

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Social Work is Leadership

Roots of social work grew out of the leadership efforts of concerned persons during the Progressive Era

Students need to be supported in working through their self-doubt and learn how to find their voices› Social workers are

leaders

Key skills that students can practice in classroom and field settings include› (1) engaging in

critical thinking, › (2) contributing to

public discourse,› (3) using and

producing research, › (4)being proactive in

advocating

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Use 21st Century Digital Tools to Promote Social Work Values Internet and social media

such as Facebook and Twitter are rapidly changing how political parties promote their agendas, corporations market their goods and services, and nonprofit organizations advocate for their causes

Given the potential global reach of the Internet, a well-thought out and executed advocacy campaign now has the potential to go viral by utilizing social media

The potential to “give voice” to social work values on a much larger scale is now possible, but it is up to educators to provide students the conceptual understanding and applied skills to be able to do so

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Leadership Attributes

"We must be the change we wish to see."

 M.K. Gandhi

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Vision

Having an accurate appraisal of the status quo› Need to first be

grounded on where you are starting from rather than where you want to go

Having an image of the desired state at some point in the future

Developing a plan on the necessary steps to create this desired state and being able to implement the plan› Need to be flexible

in revising plan as conditions unfold and circumstances change over time

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Collaboration and Teambuilding There is no

leadership without followers› Followers need to

buy in to the vision and the plan for creating it

Need to inspire and support followers to take action and move forward

Collaboration and team building are critical components of vision realization as people need to work together and in partnership with others in achieving a goal

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Problem Solving

Problems will always present themselves along the path of realizing a vision› Need to both

anticipate problems that can come up, but also act decisively when they unexpectedly arise

› Manage problems, don’t let them manage you

Leaders need to reframe “problems” as challenges that we can overcome rather than barriers that block progress› Nothing

worthwhile ever gets created easily and without struggle

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Generativity

True leadership embraces supporting the leadership development of others

Generativity was a prime motivator in my returning to school in 2002 to get a PhD› Wanted to influence

next generation of social workers

› I love teaching my students

Maternal and Child Health Post-Graduate Leadership Academy› Supports the

emergence of the next generation of social work leaders in maternal and child health

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Goodness of Fit with Vision, Mission, and Niche of UNE SSW

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Vision

The University of New England School of Social Work embraces a vision of sustainable, equitable, diverse communities committed to universal human rights and social and economic justice. From this perspective, health is identified as physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being.

Emphasis on health is unique as is the inclusion of spiritual well-being as a determinant of health› My dissertation

examined how severity of alcohol dependence impacted spiritual well-being

› Spirituality is a key aspect of my research agenda

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Mission

The mission of the School of Social Work is to educate a diverse cadre of professional social workers who will translate this vision into practice, to produce applied and evidence-based knowledge to push this vision forward, and to create and sustain interdisciplinary and collaborative partnerships with communities toward this vision.

Mission statement is unique in that the mission of the UNE SSW is to educate social work professionals to operationalize the vision› We help them to do this

Emphasis on interdisciplinary and collaborative partnerships with communities is notable

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Niches

Program within College of Health Professions› Comprehensive

definition of health› Health is a universal

right› Suffering linked to

inequity in distribution of resources

› Change structures and systems that foster these inequities

Regionally› Competing with 31

other MSW programs in 7 state Northeast region

› What is our niche relative to these programs?

› How do we build on our strengths to positively differentiate us from other programs?

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My Professional Experiences

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Administration

Practice› Created and directed

Bridge Back, a residential addiction treatment program for persons with AIDS

› Directed Avery House, a halfway house for women and children

› Worked as a clinical supervisor at a methadone maintenance program

Academia› Served as chair of

Faculty Executive Committee 2 years

› Serving as BSW Program Director for 2 years

› Currently serving as Interim Associate Dean for Administration, Planning, and Evaluation

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Teaching

Emphasis on embracing standards of excellence› Engage, Inspire,

Support Effective teaching

needs to link practice, research, policy, and advocacy

Lilly Teaching Fellows Program

Writing Fellows Program

Voted by students Outstanding MSW Teacher in 2007 and Outstanding MNPO Teacher in 2011

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Research Need for an explicit research

culture that supports faculty research and raises leadership profile of School

Emphasize importance of social work values in empirical research

Practice models are an important social work contribution to research base as well

Want to create center for interdisciplinary research on improving addiction treatment outcomes

Institute for Behavioral Research› Taking advantage of

research mentoring› Applying for NIAAA grant

Empirical research› Spirituality and addiction

Practice models› Disaster Relief Initiative

(aka Hurricane Katrina Project)

› Screening and Brief Intervention

› Outcomes Measurement System

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Service

Use service-learning initiatives to increase linkages between community organizations and student learning

Provide students with more applied, integrated learning opportunities

Service-Learning Fellows Program

Recovery.org websites

Giving Voice to Us Hurricane Katrina Pr

oject

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My Signature Initiatives

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Expansion of Maternal and Child Health Post-Graduate Leadership Academy

Currently collaborate with University of Maryland School of Social Work› Intensive, year-long

program for 3 social workers in maternal and child health

› Current focus on Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions

› View website

Expand to include MSW students› Receive financial

support› Will fully participate

in academy› Attend retreats› Receive mentoring › MCH integrated

field experience› Capstone project

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Center for Holistic Addiction Research and Treatment Collaborative

partnership with community providers

Focus on providing innovative holistic treatment using interdisciplinary approach

Practice, research, policy, advocacy focus

Students have hands- on involvement› Field placements

Both clinical and administrative

› Service-learning opportunities

› Tie in with addiction class

Continuing education possibilities for professionals

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Next Steps

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Strategic Plan Development

Evolution of online program› Should program

expand?› If so, what markets will

be served?› Are necessary

resources available? Development of

doctoral program› How can GADE’s

guidelines be used to inform this process?

Becoming an autonomous college versus remaining as a program in WCHP› What are the pros

and cons of each option?

› What are the areas of challenge and opportunity?

› Are there any unintended consequences that could occur?

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Strategic Plan Development (cont.) Importance of

Interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships› Major focus of UNE Vision

for the Future› Many opportunities within

UNE, WCHP, and community What is SSW role in Teaching

Health Clinic, IPEC?

› How does SSW promote unique contribution of social work to teaching, research, and service collaborative initiatives?

Barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration

Diverse professional cultures can lead to profession-centrism

SSW can play important role in reducing barriers by promoting interprofessional cultural competence

Reducing Barriers to Interprofessional Training

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Faculty Development

Faculty development› Key to mission of

preparing social work professionals to realize SSW vision

What resources does faculty need› Teaching› Research› Service › Professional

development› Tenure and promotion

How to best create a shared sense of connection with disparate faculty

Community building What are the best ways

to energize the unique contributions of each faculty member in a synergistic manner to benefit all constituencies

The whole must be greater than the sum of its parts

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All of our Successes and Strengths

Faculty Expertise

and Capabilities

Student Engagement and Potential

University/College

Support and Collaboration

Community Outreach and Partnership

Realized Vision for UNE School of Social Work

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"The roots of effective leadership lie in simple things, one of which is listening. Listening to someone demonstrates respect; it shows that you value their ideas and are willing to hear them."

John Baldoni (Michigan Radio (WUOM 91.7)