News and Events

The School of Social Work wants to keep you up to date on activities and initiatives that our school community is involved in. Please check back regularly as we update frequently.

	Agency Field Instructors Appreciation Breakfast On Wednesday, March 10, 2010 the School of Social Work hosted a breakfast in appreciation of the many Agency Field Instructors who supervise and support our undergraduate and graduate Social Work students throughout the year. Social workers from the Queen Elizabeth Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie Legal Aid, Project NewStart, Departments of Community Services and Arborstone Enhanced Care, among others, were in attendance. Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard extended the gratitude of the School faculty and staff for the ongoing dedication to field education demonstrated by community practitioners. This was also an opportunity for the School to celebrate Social Work Month with Faculty, Staff and Agency Field Instructors. Door prizes were drawn and the winners were surprised and delighted.
	New Addition to the Family! Congratulations to Josyl Headley, who delivered a baby boy, named Randy Malachi (RJ) on Friday, February 12th. Both mother and baby are doing well. The School of Social Work wishes Josyl and Randy Headley all the best in this new adventure!!
	The Continuing Education program launches its first Distance Education Course The Continuing Education program launched its first distance education course in February, using the Blackboard Learning System (BLS). The course, Helping People Grow in the Midst of Loss: Therapeutic Interventions for the Grieving, was taught by Dr. Doug Smith in Wisconsin. The course was so popular, it was re-offered in March. In total, 124 people took part in this training opportunity. We now will offer distance education courses in the Winter term each year, in addition to our Fall and Spring term courses. The Continuing Education program of the School of Social Work is offering a number of workshops and Certificate Programs during this Spring term. To see the offerings, please click here.
	Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard was keynote speaker at Third Annual Symposium Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard was keynote speaker at the Third Annual Symposium sponsored by the Promised Land Project, held at the University of Windsor March 5-7th. Dr. Bernard’s address – Through a Gendered Lens: Exploring the Contributions of African Canadian Women to Canada’s Journey to Social Justice – was in celebration of African Heritage Month and International Women’s Day, and highlighted the many invisible contributions made by African Canadian women to our shared history. The Promised Land Project (PLP) is a multi disciplinary research project funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council’s CURA program. Over the course of a five year period which began in the summer of 2007, the PLP’s focus is to study the role and evolution of the early Black settlements in the Chatham-Kent area, and other parts of Canada, a largely uncelebrated contribution to the Canadian experience.
	Trevor Brigss is appointed to Director, Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services (APTS), Capital Health Congratulations to Trevor Briggs, MSW, RSW, on his appointment to the position of Director, Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services (APTS), Capital Health – effective immediately. Trevor was first appointed to the position in April 2009 in an interim capacity upon the retirement of Tom Payette. A long-time employee of Capital Health, Trevor brings a wealth of experience in mental health and addictions. Trevor was instrumental in the initial development and design of the East Coast Forensic Hospital and served as Program Manager there from 1997-2009. For the past ten years, Trevor has also served as a Sessional Instructor at the School of Social Work, Dalhousie University and is now an adjunct professor at the School.
	The Beacon Award for Social Justice Literature The Beacon Social Justice Literary Society is launching a new award for an unpublished novel. The purpose of the award is “to stimulate the creation, publication and dissemination of new works of fiction designed to ignite readers’ passion for and understanding of social justice.” The entry deadline is February 1, 2011. The prize is $1000 and publication of the novel by Roseway Publishing in the fall of 2012. The jury also will be awarding two “encouragement prizes” to promising writers. For more information, go to www.beaconaward.ca.
	Street Youth Films This Film Is More Than Its Title The poetic narrative of "This Film Is More Than Its Title" is the brainchild of Melanie Barron and exposes longing for both acceptance and independence in modern day culture. The film's rhythmic lyrics told through stop-motion animation share a sense of deep loneliness and betrayal, but at the same time, a nonchalant resilience. The animated short film was supported through Drs. Jeff Karabanow and Jean Hughes Social Science and Humanities Research Council street youth film camp. Click here to see the video. Walking Through Wonderland The animated short film entitled Walking Through Wonderland captures a glimpse of youth homelessness in a surreal and edgy manner. Framed around two characters building a friendship on the street, this artistic work highlights the dualistic nature of youth homeless culture – on one hand there is a sense of community and safety; on the other hand, many of these young people have experienced traumatic family pasts and exploitative street encounters. The film was funded by The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and is loosely based on health focused research carried out by Drs. Jeff Karabanow and Jean Hughes of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Bryan Hofbauer and Derek Jessome developed the film in collaboration with a group of youth who have experienced homelessness. Click here to see the video.
	BSW Curricular Changes: May 2009 Update On behalf of the School of Social Work, Judy MacDonald and Carolyn Campbell, Co-chairs of the BSW review/revision Committee, would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who offered suggestions regarding the content and structure of our revised BSW program. Many students and professionals took valuable time to consider our proposals; some even held specific meetings to respond to our draft discussion papers. We recognize and appreciate that devoting such time is a significant commitment to the education of students and the preparation of future social workers and we sincerely thank you for your efforts. The suggestions have been forwarded to the appropriate instructors for consideration as they prepare course outlines for the fall term. For those of you who are interested in reading more about the feedback that we received, and our responses to your suggestions, click here to read the document entitled "BSW Revisions: May 2009 Update". If you want to review the changes that have been made, click here to read the document entitled "BSW Curricular Changes".
	We Generation: Raising Socially Responsible Kids Dr. Michael Ungar, faculty member of the School of Social Work launces his latest book. Visit his webpage for the full story.
	BSW Curricular Changes As part of this content development process we are seeking suggestions from a range of people who are interested in the BSW curriculum. We have developed a variety of methods to solicit ideas and dialogue and invite your participation in this consultation process. Please begin by reading the document entitled BSW Curricular Changes, September 2009, now available online. Click here for the BSW Curricular Changes document. Then attend one of the following dialogue sessions. 1. FOR STUDENTS: Monday, February 16th, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm. A discussion session will be held in Room 234F in the Social Work Wing of the Henry Hicks Arts and Administration Building. 2. FOR SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONALS: Thursday, February 26th, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A discussion session will be held in Room 201of the Henry Hicks Arts and Administration Building, Dalhousie Campus. Light refreshments will be served. If you are not able to attend these dialogue sessions the co–chairs of the BSW Review Committee are still interested in receiving your thoughts and comments. Please email them at Dr. Carolyn Campbell or Dr. Judy MacDonald.
	Food For Thought Session “Educational Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer Communities” was presented by the Diversity and Equity Committee of the School of Social Work featuring Dr. Marion Brown, faculty member of the School and Julien Davis from the Youth Project. Click here to view the videos. Dr. Marion Brown Julien Davis
	Sessional Congratulations Congratulations to Delores Mullings, a Sessional Instructor at the SSW, who has completed her PhD at Wilfred Laurier University. Her thesis title: The paradox of exclusion within equity: Interrogating discourse at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. The study examined the mechanism through which racism is reproduced at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal level. Using a theoretical framework of critical race theory and the methodology of critical discourse analysis, Mullings looked at institutional practice and institutional discourse to identify how racism is reproduced at the Tribunal when “visible minorities” bring their complaints to be heard in the quasi-judicial process. The research indicates that the perspective of the Tribunal adjudicators and the lens from which they hear the complaint cases allow them to ignore everyday racism in the workplace, normalize racist actions and policies and blame the complainants for their experiences. (01/09)
	MSW Grad New Black Student Advisor MSW Graduate Oluronke Taiwo is the new Black Student Advisor at the Black Student Advising Centre (BSAC). Click here for full story. (01/09)

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NEWS AND EVENTS