School of Social Work at the University of Southern Maine

12/03/2024

Hope you will consider a donation on Giving Tuesday to the USM SSW scholarship or annual fund!

Dear social work friends, alumni and colleagues,

The School of Social Work (SSW) is in the forefront of preparing practitioners to solve real-world human and social problems. Maine currently faces an unprecedented mental health crisis that is worsened by workforce shortages, leading to long wait periods for people to receive services. The need for competent, compassionate social workers has never been greater and the SSW is committed to ensuring our graduates acquire the knowledge and skills needed to serve the most vulnerable people in our communities. Social work students engage in work at all levels of practice, micro through macro, toward the broad aim of improving the lives of people and communities.

This Giving Tuesday, your donation to the SSW scholarship or annual fund can help USM social work students to attain their educational and professional goals. All donations are utilized to provide direct support to students and strengthen SSW programs and community.

No gift is too small, and every dollar makes an impact and we hope you will support the SSW. Donate today using the link below!

https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofSouthernMaine/usm-givingtuesday-2024/pages/socialwork

12/03/2024

Dear social work friends, alumni and colleagues,

The School of Social Work (SSW) is in the forefront of preparing practitioners to solve real-world human and social problems. Maine currently faces an unprecedented mental health crisis that is worsened by workforce shortages, leading to long wait periods for people to receive services. The need for competent, compassionate social workers has never been greater and the SSW is committed to ensuring our graduates acquire the knowledge and skills needed to serve the most vulnerable people in our communities. Social work students engage in work at all levels of practice, micro through macro, toward the broad aim of improving the lives of people and communities.

This Giving Tuesday, your donation to the SSW scholarship or annual fund can help USM social work students to attain their educational and professional goals. All donations are utilized to provide direct support to students and strengthen SSW programs and community.

No gift is too small, and every dollar makes an impact and we hope you will support the SSW. Donate today using the link below!

https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofSouthernMaine/usm-givingtuesday-2024/pages/socialwork

09/12/2024

Welcome to fall 2024 everyone! 🍂🍎🌻

The faculty and staff at School of Social Work are back and excited for the new academic year! Husky Fest yesterday was a great time for connection--what a great launch to the the new year! For current students, please be sure to connect with your academic advisors who, in addition to assisting you with program and curriculum planning, are here as your allies, to offer support for your professional development or is you run into challenges along the way. You are not alone in your educational journey and we look forward to working together for productive and rewarding year!

04/25/2024

04/23/2024

Have an interest in intervention with families? Are you curious about what family work looks like? Social Work Intervention with Families is a dynamic course that builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in social work practice, human behavior and field courses with a focus on family functioning and intervention approaches. We examine different models of family therapy including structural, family of origin/multigenerational, solution-focused, strategic, cognitive-behavioral and postmodern/narrative family therapy. We also explore family social work and case management, and how they differ from family therapy. Students will learn to assess the influence of the client's culture on family work, though we start with examining our own "stuff" through family of origin work. This course is a great elective to build out your engagement, assessment and intervention skills, whether you see family work in your future, or if you will simply incorporate an understanding of families into your general work. Sign up for SWO 580 as your Fall elective today!

04/22/2024

In my placement at the Center for Grieving Children I learned that intentional practices around care and lack of urgency offer me the space to be present with others in a deeper and more genuine way than I knew possible. I had internalized white supremacy cultural values of pace, outcomes, and production from my prior work environments and needed to practice slowing down, sitting in silence, and letting go of an agenda for change. The Center has influenced my career towards work that prioritizes presence and care, and I’m moving to continued work in bereavement and hospice. - Hannah DeAngelis, MSW

04/22/2024

03/28/2024

You’re Invited to join a workshop on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion!

Date: April 17
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: McGoldrick Salons B&C (2nd Floor)

This workshop is run by USM students who are trained by the National Coalition Building Institute on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Seats are limited, register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVH0RTarwJQDy9fRsXu4t0XsdPb9oOOhRibqP22bPBUH61nQ/viewform

03/25/2024

Dr. Jeanette Andonian, Associate Dean of the School of Social Work, advocates for the elimination of the ASWB licensing exam in an interview with the Maine Public News Service:
https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2024-03-25/research-and-academic/me-social-workers-educators-seek-end-to-state-licensing-exam/a89499-1

03/21/2024

Join Dr. Rachel Casey this summer for a new Blockbuster elective!

03/07/2024

03/07/2024

March is Social Work Month! In acknowledgement of the incredible work carried out by this community President Biden released the following statement: