Message From the Director

Dear MFP Community,

What inspires and invigorates you? Perhaps an engaging conversation about something new or a great example of a brilliant thought put into action. APM inspires us every year as we meet new people, share ideas, discuss different perspectives, and spring into action. This year, the Carl A. Scott Memorial Lecture by MFP alumnus Llewellyn Cornelius inspired our MFP family by saying “It’s not about me.” He challenged us to see what’s possible when we are engaged and committed to advancing social justice for the communities that are so important to us.

In November we commemorate American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage month. We honor the many contributions of Native American people and recognize the resiliency they have shown throughout American history despite the trauma they have endured. First-year fellow Autumn Asher BlackDeer (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma) is working with Native American researchers to address substance abuse issues facing reservations. Meanwhile, Charlene Poola (Hopi-Tewa and Navajo) examines the adoption of evidence-based practices among tribal behavioral health providers. As with other fellows, Autumn and Charlene have identified problems to tackle in communities that inspire them.

As 2019 winds down, I hope you have been inspired and invigorated in your practice, teaching, policy, and research roles. Please share your reflections on Twitter and tag us @cswemfp.

In Fellowship,

Duy Nguyen, PhD
MFP Director

Autumn Asher BlackDeer

Current fellow Autumn Asher BlackDeer is a third-year doctoral student at Washington University in St. Louis. Ms. Asher BlackDeer’s research focuses on the influence of structural violence on mental health issues, substance use disorders, and interpersonal violence in American Indian populations. After completing her doctoral degree, she plans to continue building her current research into a conceptual framework of structural violence for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. She also plans on becoming a faculty member engaged in research and teaching. Connect with Autumn on LinkedIn.

Charlene Poola, LCSW

Current fellow Charlene Poola is a third-year doctoral candidate at Arizona State University. Ms. Poola has committed the past 15 years to providing mental health services in school and clinical supervision in American Indian behavioral health settings in New Mexico. Her research examines the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions in behavioral health settings in American Indian communities. After completing her doctoral degree, Ms. Poola hopes to evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions in partnership with American Indian behavioral health agencies. Connect with Charlene on LinkedIn.

Rosanna Prieto

Current master’s fellow Rosanna Prieto is an MSW student at the University of Hawai’i. Ms. Prieto conducts needs assessment for the commercial sexual exploitation of children steering committee in her field placement at the Hawai’i Department of Human Services director’s office. Ms. Prieto is leading an independent research project to understand how Native Hawaiian students at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa’s school of social work conceptualize resilience and define a “Hawaiian place of learning.” Ms. Prieto’s career goals include participating in policy planning by serving on committees and boards and providing substance abuse counseling to adjudicated youths in drug court based, using Native Hawaiian cultural values as a component of treatment. Connect with Rosanna on LinkedIn.

Destiny Sharion Brown

Current master’s fellow Destiny Sharion Brown is an MSW student at Hawai’i Pacific University. Ms. Brown interns at Ka Hale Ho‘āla Hou No Nā Wāhine—a community-based furlough program for women to successfully transition from prison into the community. Ms. Brown has worked with adolescents and transitional aged youths in an after-school program that incorporates traditional Hawaiian values, poetry writing, and storytelling to build resilience. After graduation she plans to work closely with adolescents and transitional aged youths experiencing childhood trauma.

Support the MFP on #GivingTuesday!

On the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season with a global giving movement. This year consider donating to the MFP to aid in the professional development of doctoral and master’s fellows and assist with travel to important annual conferences for the Society for Social Work & Research (SSWR) and the National Association of Social Workers. (Travel expenses to these conferences are not covered by the MFP grant.) Pledge your tax-deductible gift today to help the MFP reach its goal of raising $45 donations from 45 generous individuals. Donate now through December 3, 2019! Share a photo and MFP testimonial on social media using #CSWEMFP and #GivingTuesday.

Thank You 2019 APM Sponsors

The professional development and networking events at CSWE's Annual Program Meeting would not have been possible without our generous sponsors and alumni community! Special thanks to our program sponsors: University of Southern California; Virginia Commonwealth University; Boston College; University of Washington; Sacred Heart University; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Saint Louis University; University of Utah; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Clark Atlanta University; and Erikson Institute.

MFP at 2020 SSWR Annual Conference

MFP will host a workshop and networking event for current fellows and alumni during the SSWR annual conference in Washington, DC, January 15–19, 2020. More details to come in December’s MFP Connect.
 
MFP congratulates Dr. Karina Walters (1995 MFP doctoral fellow) for receiving the 2020 SSWR Aaron Rosen Lecture Award. Come and listen to Dr. Walters on Saturday, January 18, 11:30 am–12:30 pm at the SSWR Annual Conference.
 

Resources

The Diversity Center’s Educator|Resource of the Month
CSWE’s Center for Diversity and Social & Economic Justice Educator|Resource of the Month features Beverly Araujo Dawson (2004 MFP doctoral fellow), who offers strategies for developing online assignments that enhance students' ability to humanize the lives of immigrants and better understand the policies currently affecting them. Read this month’s Educator|Resource to learn more about the highly interactive and collaborative online discussion tool, VoiceThread.
 
Call for Applications: U.S. Policy Fellowship Programs
The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) is seeking applicants for the U.S. Policy Fellowship Programs for the 2020–2021 academic year. The federal and state fellowship programs provide researchers with immersive opportunities in policy development to inform child and family public programs that support diverse populations. Doctoral students and graduates with a doctoral degree in any discipline relating to child development are eligible. Fellows gain full-time immersion experiences in Washington, DC, working as resident scholars. SRCD’s State Policy Fellowship Program has predoctoral and postdoctoral programs. Visit the fellowship’s homepage to learn more about this unique opportunity.
 
Call for Proposals: $1,500 APF Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford Grant
The American Psychological Foundation (APF) is seeking applications for the APF Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford Grant. The grant provides up to $1,500 to support innovative work by graduate students and early career researchers on the understanding, prevention, and/or treatment of the consequences of exposure to traumatic events such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, and/or rape. The deadline for applications is February 15, 2020.
 
AGPA Connect 2020: American Group Psychotherapy Association Annual Meeting
American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) Connect is an educational training event designed for clinicians, mental health workers, psychiatric residents, and graduate students in mental health degree programs. The institute will be held March 3–4, 2020, and will be devoted to small group teaching primarily in the experiential mode. The conference will be held March 5–7 and will offer courses, limited registration workshops, open session panels on special topics, and original scientific paper sessions. Click here to learn more and register for the event.
 
ADAA2020 Conference: Anxiety and Depression
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) 2020 40th Annual Conference (March 19–22, San Antonio, TX) will bring together 1,400 clinicians and researchers from around the world who want to improve treatments and find cures for anxiety, depression, and co-occurring disorders. Attendees can choose from 160+ sessions, learn about cutting-edge thinking in research and clinical practice, and earn continuing education credits. 
 
New SAMHSA Website for Finding Substance Abuse Treatment
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has launched FindTreatment.gov—a new and improved website for connecting Americans throughout the United  States who are seeking substance abuse treatment. The website includes information on the locations of treatment providers, treatment options, payment, and insurance information on more than 13,000 state-licensed facilities.
 
Continuing Education Unit: Defense Health Agency Clinical Communities Speaker Series
The Defense Health Agency’s Clinical Communities Speaker Series is designed to address the professional practice gaps of health-care professionals. Earn up to 7.0 continuing education units after completing the courses in the Contemporary and Promising Practices in Palliative Care, Cancer and Chronic Pain Management home study. Visit the course’s Web page to register and learn more.