On Saturday, May 12, 2012, the Omicron Omicron Chapter of the Phi Alpha National Honor Society performed their community service project. Members painted the Capuchin Soup Kitchen Service Center Office with paint that was donated to the Capuchin.
The Omicron Omicron Chapter of the Phi Alpha National Honor Society’s mission is to “foster high standards of education for social work and to invite into membership those who have attained excellence of scholarship and distinction of achievement as students of social work.”
Engaging in community service is one way the society demonstrates its commitment to further the goals of social work in the community.
May Writing Boot Camp Series
May 10, 2012: Fundamentals of APA Style – 6th Edition
May 17, 2012: How to Write a Great Paraphrase: Guidelines and Solutions
May 24, 2012: How to Recognize and Avoid Plagiarism
May 31, 2012: Solving Common Grammar and Organizational Problems
All workshops begin at 3:30 p.m. in Room 150 – Thompson Home and are FREE to all School of Social Work students! Please call Vanessa or Jess at (313) 577-4339/(313) 577-8969 for more information.
In conjunction with the Millennium Momentum Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education, The White House Young America Series are regional conferences held across the country this spring. They are designed to connect Obama Administration officials with young community, civic, non-profit and business leaders to discuss issues critical to young Americans and identify solutions to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
The goals for this conference are:
• Relationship Building—The conference will establish a space where young leaders can meaningfully engage and interact with officials from the Obama Administration on diverse policy areas that affect their community.
• Sharing Ideas— Participants will raise policy and programmatic areas of importance. Also, participants will identify local success stories and practices in policy areas that could benefit other communities across the country.
• Working Together—The conference will allow participants to connect with each other and Obama Administration officials to share tools and community solutions that can be leveraged to address larger issues. Participants and Administration officials will work together to identify and develop opportunities for collaboration between the Administration and other leaders from across their community and across the country.
• Obama Administration 101— The conference will ensure that participants gain a deeper understanding of the Administration’s work, learn how they can connect with the Federal Government at the local level, and plan for the work yet to be done.
The forum at University of Detroit Mercy is part of a multi-city series designed to bridge the President’s vision with the needs of young people by connecting them with the local and national resources and networks they need to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The event is free of charge, but pre-event registration is required as space is limited. Please RSVP by May 15, 2012 at this website: http://www.udmercy.edu/institute/whitehouse/rsvp/index.htm
Annually, the School of Social Work Alumni Association holds a dinner and silent auction at the beautiful historical Detroit Yacht Club on Belle Isle in Detroit with proceeds to benefit scholarships for Wayne State University School of Social Work students.
It is a great evening with a social hour and cash bar, silent auction, strolling dinner, welcome and updates on the school from the Alumni Association President and Interim Dean.
Delicious food stations include; Fresh Fruit, Cheese and Grilled Marinated Vegetables,
Fajita Fiesta, Detroit Style Coney Dogs, and Desserts.
RSVP and payment due by June 15, 2012. RSVP online and payment of $25.00 with credit card at:
http://www.wsualumnicommunity.com/event.html?eid=367&month=04&year=2012&ety
Contact Julie Alter-Kay at (313) 577-4464 or email at ae8440@wayne.edu if you would like a registration form mailed to you to pay by check or if you would like to make a contribution to the silent auction.
Hope to see you there. We appreciate your support of this important event.
It has been an honor and privilege to have been part of the Brehler Scholarship committee this year. I am pleased to announce the winner of this year’s Elizabeth Brehler scholarship competition. It was a very difficult decision with eight excellent manuscripts submitted. I appreciated the opportunity to have read each and every one of them and commend the students and faculty mentors who submitted them. The committee selected Mickey Sperlich, with her manuscript entitled: Asking Why; Confronting Childhood Sexual Abuse. She will receive a $3000.00 scholarship. Mickey is graduating with her MSW degree but continuing on in our Ph.D. program. Read her winning manuscript as posted online at: http://socialwork.wayne.edu/brehler-manuscripts.php
Elizabeth Brehler was a promising student in our program 20 years ago whose life and social work career was cut short when cancer ended her life before she was able to complete the program. While a student at the Wayne State University School of Social Work, Elizabeth Brehler wrote a paper titled “From Faith to Autonomy” in which she described her struggle with values in her experience growing up, raising a family, and beginning her professional career. In this paper, she highlighted the idea that a life well-lived requires that one navigate a rocky path, but that meaningful growth occurs as one deals with obstacles along the way. To honor her memory, her husband and now grown sons established a scholarship competition to encourage other social work students to explore their values, and the challenges they face related to those values both within themselves and in the professional context.
Visit our website to learn more about the Brehler scholarship. View the video describing the details of the scholarship; http://socialwork.wayne.edu/current/scholarships.php Consider making a gift to the scholarship fund; https://cardinal.wayne.edu/wsugiving/give.cfm
A reception will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, in the parlor of the School of Social Work to honor the winner and acknowledge all participants. Light refreshments will be served. Members of the Brehler family, committee members and faculty mentors will be in attendance. All students, faculty and staff are invited to attend. Please RSVP to attend by calling (313) 577-4464 or email at ae8440@wayne.edu.
At 4:00 p.m. on April 26, at the Wayne State University Academic Recognition Ceremony, to be held in the McGregor Memorial Conference Center, two most deserving School of Social Work professors will be honored.
Associate Professor, Antonio González-Prendes will receive the 2012 President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Antonio González-Prendes stood out among other nominees because of his “demonstration of superior classroom performance, comprehensive knowledge of clinical social work practice, effective student mentoring and curricular leadership.” Gonzalez-Prendes, who earned a Ph.D. and M.S.W. at WSU, has extensive experience as a social work clinical practitioner and a special interest in the applications of cognitive-behavioral approaches to the areas of mental health and addictions treatment, particularly as they relate to minority populations.
Associate Dean for Research and Director, Center for Social Work Practice and Policy Research, Joanne Sobeck, has been chosen by the university Alumni Association to receive the Alumni Faculty Service Award for 2012 because of her “exemplary community service activities that have contributed to the reputation of Wayne State University.” 
The Faculty Service Award is the only university award that recognizes the community service that Wayne State faculty provide. Under Dr. Sobeck’s leadership of the SSW Center for Social Work Practice and Policy Research, partnerships with agencies have been formed with the aim of developing and evaluating best practices in social interventions. This leadership has shined a spotlight on Wayne State University’s commitment to apply research to improve communities.
We are most proud and thankful to all that they both give to our school. Congratulations on earning these prestigious awards!!
Congratulations graduating students! Meeting degree requirements through your hard work, sacrifice and dedication is truly an accomplishment which warrants celebration. I encourage all graduating students to take part in two planned celebrations, starting with a very special luncheon. All School of Social Work graduating students are invited to the Dean’s Graduation lunch on May 2, 2012, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the beautiful Roostertail restaurant in Detroit. Enjoy lunch (free of charge) with the dean, faculty members, graduating peers, and members of the School of Social Work Board of Visitors and Alumni Association Board. Contact the Office of Admissions and Student Services to RSVP to attend at (313) 577-4409.
Secondly, graduating students are also encouraged to participate in the university commencement ceremony to be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 7, 2012 and will be the first ever held at Ford Field in downtown Detroit. Most distinguished WSU alumnus, Captain Jerry Linenger, retired United States Navy flight surgeon, NASA astronaut will give the keynote address.
Caps and gowns may be purchased at Barnes & Noble during regular business hours. For information regarding caps and gowns please contact Barnes & Noble at 313-577-2436. For information on picking up tickets, contact the Commencement Office at 313-577-2414 or visit http://commencement.wayne.edu/.
The School of Social Work will be a holding a Career Fest on Thursday, April 5, 2012 from 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m, in the Hilberry Lounges A, B, and C in the Student Center Building (2nd Floor). Bring resumes. Business attire required.
Additional career services are also available through the WSU Career Service’s office. They will be hosting a ‘Power Networking: Making the Most of a Job Fair’ event on Thursday, April 12, 2012, Room 1339 Faculty/Administration Building, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., 3:00 – 4:00 p.m., and 5:00-6:00 p.m. Learn how to make a positive first impression during an instant interview! Pre-registration not required.
The Career Services’ Annual Employment Expo will be held on Friday, April 20, 2012, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. , McGregor Memorial Conference Center. Free for all WSU students and alumni. WSU OneCard or verification required upon entry. All majors welcome! Professional dress required. Be sure to bring plenty of resumes. Registered employers, preparation information, and other career resources available online at http://www.careerservices.wayne.edu/New/EmploymentEXPO.htm .
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn more about underage drinking on college campuses.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, in association with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association (SAMHSA) is presenting a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, April 12, 2012 from 3:00-5:00pm. The event will be held at The First Congregational Church of Detroit, located on the corner of Forest and Woodward. Light refreshments will be served. This event will feature Mr. Benjamin Jones President/CEO of the NCADD, and Mr. Michael Johnson, relapse-prevention motivational speaker. They will be addressing “Underage Drinking on College Campuses”, as part of the nationwide “April is Alcohol Awareness Month” campaign. There will also be a representative from the Detroit/Wayne County Office of Alcoholics Anonymous providing information on meetings and literature within the fellowship of AA.
The event is free and open to the general public.
It is hard to believe that the month of March, Social Work Month, is coming to an end soon! Several great events are scheduled this week which highlight and celebrate the field of Social Work:
Thursday, March 29th
12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – The Wayne State University School of Social Work and the Institute of Gerontology will be co-hosting a panel discussion and keynote speaker focusing on “Careers in Aging: An Expanding Field” at the Student Center Ballroom. Registration is required and currently open: Go to signupgenius.com and enter ana.daugherty@wayne.edu in the “Find a Signup” tab or follow the link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4BAAAF29A75-careers.
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Food and Fellowship with Interim Dean Cheryl Waites held in the Thompson Home, 1st Floor common area. Food & Fellowship offers an opportunity for current and potential students to interact with administrators and faculty in a warm, festive, intimate setting. No need to RSVP to attend Food & Fellowship.
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Special Workshop; Suicide in the veteran population. Room 150 Thompson Home, presented by Angela Griffin, LMSW, Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Department of Veterans Affairs. Following the workshop there will be a screening of ‘Moving our World Forward’, a documentary about the power of Social Work. The School of Social Work Student Organization and the Student Fitness and Wellness Organization are sponsoring this event. For additional information about these events, please contact: Andrea DiMaggio- ay4356@wayne.edu, Angela Hicks – ei4155@wayne.edu, or Nichole Dunford – cl1371@wayne.edu
