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Hot Topic Sessions

Overview: 2014 APM Hot Topic Sessions Listed by Focus Area

Twelve hot topic sessions, representing a wide range of emerging and important topics for social work educators that would not be addressed in the peer-reviewed format of proposals assigned to one of the 40 Tracks, were selected for the APM. They are listed below by focus area.

Focus: Community Organization & Social Administration

Market Dialogue on Social Entrepreneurship: What Social Work Educators Need to Know

Social workers need to know about market-based interventions and practices if they intend to explore creative solutions to social problems. The presenters will discuss the background of social entrepreneurship in social work, pedagogies for social work curricula, and specific business practices.

Presenters:
Rukshan Fernando, Azusa Pacific University
Stephen Edward McMillin, Saint Louis University
Andrew J. Germak, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Saturday, October 25, 2014: 8:00 am–9:30 am
Marriott Tampa Bay Waterside Hotel, Meeting Room 5

Focus: Criminal and Juvenile Justice

Military Sexual Assault Program Evaluation: A Road Map for Military and Academic Partnerships

Presenters will provide an initial blueprint for the creation of academic and military partnerships that can leverage research capabilities. Preliminary results from a training program evaluation for military sexual assault prevention will be presented. Discussions with military and academic experts on program evaluation and sexual assault will be included.

Presenters:
Chris Gedney, University of Utah
Robert Butters, University of Utah

Friday, October 24, 2014: 3:30 pm–5:00 pm
Tampa Convention Center, Room 7

Social Work Education's Response to New Federal Initiatives on Interpersonal Violence

New policies established by the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault require colleges and universities to develop policies and practices in the areas of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. This session will outline new federal requirements and recommend ways for social work education to help ensure compliance by the 2016 deadline.

Presenters:
Tricia Bent-Goodley, Howard University

Sunday, October 26, 2014: 1:45 pm–3:15 pm
Tampa Convention Center, Room 18

Focus: Cultural Competence

Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities: Implications for Social Work Education

Social work programs must focus more attention on the dynamics of racism and respond to research findings, data, and outcomes on racial and ethnic populations in multiple systems. This presentation will offer teaching suggestions and advocacy skills for faculty members and students to address disproportionality and contribute to reducing disparities.

Presenters:
Mildred Joyner, West Chester University
Ruth McRoy, Boston College
Mimi Abramovitz, Hunter College, City University of New York
Larry Davis, University of Pittsburgh
Alan J. Dettlaff, University of Illinois at Chicago
Rowena Fong, University of Texas at Austin
Karina Walters, University of Washington

Sunday, October 26, 2014: 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Tampa Convention Center, Room 38

Focus: Disaster and Traumatic Stress

A Humanitarian Mission to the Philippines: Capacity Building, Best Practices, Learning Opportunities

This presentation will discuss how an international disaster inspired a social work response centered on building a stronger community and laying down a foundation for sustainable, empowered recovery. The social work perspective moves beyond physical reparations of disaster relief and addresses issues of trauma, community building, child protection, and intergenerational needs.

Presenters:
Marleen Wong, University of Southern California
Annalisa Enrile, University of Southern California
Vivien Villaverde, University of Southern California
Charisma De Los Reyes, University of Southern California
Ernelyn Navarro, University of Southern California

Sunday, October 26, 2014: 1:45 pm–3:15 pm
Tampa Convention Center, Room 11

Focus: Health

Educating Social Workers to Maximize the Profession’s Role in Health Care

This session will present approaches for educating social workers to play roles in the implementation of health-care reform and the Affordable Care Act, including community-based prevention, patient navigation, care coordination, health behavior change intervention, care transition management, and behavioral health treatment.

Presenters:
Teri Browne, University of South Carolina
Sarah Gehlert, Washington University in St. Louis

Sunday, October 26, 2014: 1:45 pm–3:15 pm
Marriott Tampa Bay Waterside Hotel, Meeting Room 1

Focus: Higher Education/Nonprofit Leadership

Addressing Homelessness: Building a Social Work Agenda for the 21st Century

The NASW Code of Ethics (2008) prioritizes disadvantaged populations, yet the social work profession could do much more in response to homelessness. This can be framed as an initiative similar to child welfare and aging, with opportunities to influence CSWE such as curriculum and competency requirements for training social workers.

Presenters:
Heather Larkin, University at Albany, State University of New York
Katharine Briar-Lawson, University at Albany, State University of New York
Christian Molidor, California State University
Michael Patchner, Indiana University
Jacqueline Mondros, Hunter College, City University of New York

Sunday, October 26, 2014: 8:00 am–9:30 am
Marriott Tampa Bay Waterside Hotel, Meeting Room 11

Pathways to Social Work Education: Articulation Agreements, Transfer Students, and Emerging Issues in Accreditation

This proposal is for a panel of programmatic and accreditation experts to address concerns frequently brought to the council on accreditation office related to articulation agreements, pathways to social work education and building cooperative partnerships with community colleges and programs in human services.

Presenters:
Angela Pharris, Middle Tennessee State University
Jo Ann Regan, Council on Social Work Education
Sam Copeland, Stephen F. Austin State University
Mary Rawlings, Azusa Pacific University
Anthony Natale, University of Oklahoma
Rebecca Smith, Middle Tennessee State University

Saturday, October 25, 2014: 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Tampa Convention Center, Room 24

Focus: International Issues

U.S.-China Social Work Collaborative: Year 2

Social work educators in the United States and China are developing a graduate exchange program to enhance social work education in mainland China and advance the Chinese government’s goal of training 2 million social workers by 2020. Activities in year 2 of the collaborative will be discussed.

Presenters:
Shouchui Zeng, East China University of Science & Technology
Ma Xiheng, Shanghai Administration Institute
Yuhong Wang, Nanjing University of Science and Technology
Gao Wanhong, Yunnan University

Saturday, October 25, 2014: 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Tampa Convention Center, Room 38

Focus: Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Issues

Conservative Christian Beliefs and Sexual Orientation in Social Work

Drawing on a recent book, the presenters will discuss the question of self-determination that can arise for some conservative religious Christians and LGBT people, exploring how research, policy, and practice can inform the development of social work skills to address this issue as well as the basic human rights and diversity espoused by the social work profession.

Presenters:
Adrienne B. Dessel, University of Michigan
Rebecca M. Bolen, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Denise L. Levy, Appalachian State University
Jill Chonody, Indiana University
N. Eugene Walls, University of Denver
Jay Kaplan, ACLU Michigan

Friday, October 24, 2014: 7:45 am–9:15 am
Marriott Tampa Bay Waterside Hotel, Meeting Room 4

Focus: Teaching Methods and Learning Styles

Engaging Student Educational Experiences Through Collaborative Living-Learning Communities

Living-learning communities have proven to be effective methods to enhance the educational experience of students and promote retention. Social work faculty members and student affairs collaborators will provide an interactive discussion that encompasses faculty development, student recruitment, engagement, and outcome evaluation of living-learning communities at a Southern university.

Presenters:
Kirsten S. Ericksen, Norfolk State University
Nathaniel Worley, Jr., Norfolk State University
Jonathan Walker, Norfolk State University

Saturday, October 25, 2014: 3:30 pm–5:00 pm
Marriott Tampa Bay Waterside Hotel, Meeting Room 12

Moving at the Speed of Sound: Lessons Learned From an Online MSW Program

A school of social work in New England has seen significant expansion of its online MSW program. With 900 students and 5 years of exponential growth, the program has experienced many successes and obstacles. The presenters will discuss data from student assessments, share insights on quality versus quantity, and reflect on challenges and emerging opportunities.

Presenter:
Cynthia Amato, University of New England

Saturday, October 25, 2014: 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Marriott Tampa Bay Waterside Hotel, Meeting Room 12