What's New at Wurzweiler

Wurzweiler Hosts Undoing Racism Workshop

2007-03-28T09:31:00.001-07:00

On March 19th, thanks to a gift from the the Schott Fund for Social Advocacy, Wurzweiler School of Social Work was able to bring the Undoing Racism Workshop to our School. Thirty Wurzweiler faculty and administrators, and one Board of Governors member had a condensed version of the training, which usually lasts two and a half days.

The topics included power analysis, gate-keeping, learning from history, sharing culture, maintaining accountability, and defining racism. The Undoing Racism initiative is the work of The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. The Institute was founded in 1980 by Dr. Jim Dunn and Ronald Chisom as a movement to transform our society through collective action. It has been conducting workshops all across the U.S. for the last 25 years and, for the last five years, focusing on training social workers in New York City. With the support of New York social work schools, hundreds of faculty, students, practitioners and administrators have been trained.

One of the important outcome of the one-day workshop was the sense of community building among those present. The hope is that Wurzweiler can continue these discussions in future workshops. (Thanks to Dr. Carmen Hendricks for reporting this event.)

6 Jewish Communal Service Students Attend Winter Seminar in Israel

2007-02-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

During January, six students from Wurzweiler's Jewish Communal Certificate program attended a 12 day Graduate Study Seminar in Israel, along with six students from other NY universities. The seminar, organized by the UJA Federation of New York for graduate students interested in working in the Jewish community, afforded participants an insider's perspective on Israeli society and its social services. One subject of study was the recent war in Lebanon, its impact on Israeli communities, and the response of government and not-for-profit agencies to the needs of the civilian population.

Seminar participants visited social service agencies in Jerusalem and northern Israel and met with professionals and volunteers. The critical challenges on Israeli's social agenda included rebuilding the physical and social service infrastructures in the aftermath of the war with Lebanon, aiding evacuees from Gush Katif, combatting poverty and hunger, understanding the challenges facing Arabs in Israel, and helping the recent wave of immigration. Special focus was also given to understanding the evolving relationships between diaspora communities and Israel.

Students returned with a wealth of new knowledge, new friends and colleagues from other universities, and a reinforced commitment to pursuing careers in the Jewish community.
(Thanks to Saul Andron, Director of the Certificate in Jewish Communal Service program, and Rachie Jacobson, a student in that program, for reporting this event.)

Wurzweiler Celebrates its Alumni

2007-01-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

As part of Wurzweiler's 50th Anniversary, our faculty has been traveling around the US and Canada, meeting with alumni, conducting seminars, and celebrating fifty years of outstanding social work education.

Dr. Morton Teicher, our founding dean, Dr. Susan Bendor, a faculty member who hails from Canada, and Mark Miller, our alumni director, celebrated in Toronto on October 29th of this year. On December 7th, Dr. Teicher, Dr. Norman Linzer, and Dean Sheldon Gelman gathered to greet alumni and friends at the Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Teicher, and Dr. Sam Goldstein, a former dean of the school, Dr. Elspeth Couch, a retired faculty member, and Dean Gelman met with alumni at the Fair Lawn Jewish Center in New Jersey, on December 6th. President Richard Joel, Dean Gelman, and Dr. Linzer met with California alumni at the Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills. Dr. Linzer, a prominant ethicist, spoke on Ethical Dilemmas in Social Work Practice.

Click here to view an online photo-album of our adventures.

Wurzweiler Students Attend UJC General Assembly

2006-12-08T15:34:00.000-08:00

Sixteen Wurzweiler students joined with Jews from across the nation and around the world at the United Jewish Communities' 75th Annual General Assembly. The GA was held in Los Angeles this year, from November 12 through 14.

Wurzweiler students had the opportunity to network with other Jewish communal professionals, participate in a variety of plenaries and smaller learning sessions, and meet Wurzweiler alumni currently serving the Jewish community. The unique experience was part of the Certificate in Jewish Communal Service program at The three day program included sessions with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, journalist Fareed Zakaria, French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, and an exclusive session for Wurzweiler students with Professor Gerald Bubis, founder and Director of the School of Jewish Communal Service at Hebrew Union College. The focus of this year’s agenda was Israel and the future of the Middle East. Other topics included the role of women in Federation life, the effects of the 2006 Elections on the Jewish Community, practical leadership skills for the field, and the effects of terrorism on the Jewish community.

Wurzweiler & AECOM Sponsor HIV/AIDS Conference

2006-11-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

Wurzweiler School of Social Work, in collaboration with Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the AIDS Research Center at Montefiore, held a conference, "Twenty Five Years of the HIV Epidemic: An Interdisciplinary Symposium" on Friday, November 17th at The New York Academy of Medicine. The conference featured three internationally renowned pioneers in the field of HIV/AIDS: Dr. Arye Rubenstein, Chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at YU's Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr. Katherine Anastos, Associate Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Executive Director for Clinical and Scientific Programs of WE-ACTx (Women's Equity in Access to Care and Treatment), and Chief Social Worker, Dr. Lori Wiener, of the National Cancer Institute in Washington, DC. The symposium was generously underwritten by Robert Schwalbe, Chair of the Wurzweiler's Board of Governors, and hs wife Janie.

The afternoon workshops included a range of topics such as: HIV and Family Issues, Older populations affected by HIV, HIV and cultural competency, HIV and substance Abuse, and issues concerning spirituality. WSSW faculty who presented their work in these workshops included Professor Rozetta Wilmore- Schaeffer, Academic Associate Dean Carmen Ortiz-Hendricks, and Professor Gary Stein. Each workshop was moderated by WSSW faculty.

The conference was well attended and the audience was deeply moved and inspired by the day's events. Many reported being reignited in their commitment to provide effective and compassionate care to clients affected by HIV/AIDS.
(The CyberProf thanks Nancy Beckerman for reporting this event).

Immigration & Culture at Fieldwork Breakfast

2006-10-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, October 24, over 50 field instructors from around the tri-state area gathered in Belfer Commons for the annual breakfast and seminar for field instructors, a long standing tradition at Wurzweiler School of Social Work.

Over hot scrambled eggs, pancakes, bagels and fresh fruit, Dr. Roberta Nassar spoke about the tightening of immigration laws since the 1996 Welfare Reform and the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, common misconceptions about the requirements for US citizenship, and the difficulty of obtaining visas, particularly for young applicants without families to anchor them to their homeland. Dr. Nassar has a long-standing interest in immigration and international social work.

Next, Dr. David Strug discussed how immigration and cultural differences impact on clinical assessment. Dr. Strug used a case study involving a Mexican family living in the US who are referrred to an agency after a report of child abuse. Dr. Strug discussed the different perspectives taken by a case worker who assessed the case without considering the cultural context, and another case worker with a keen understanding of the cultures involved. A genogram helped the audience grasp the relationships within the family.

Finally Dr. Ronnie Glassman, Director of Field Instruction, presented clips from the British film Bend it like Beckham and the Korean film, The Way Home, to illustrate issues of intergenerational cultural conflict.

Monday Night Lectures for CEUs

2006-09-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

Two of Wurzweiler's favorite professors, Joanna Mellor and Rozetta Wilmore Schaeffer, will be offering six Monday evening lectures for CEU credits this fall at Belfer Hall, on the Wilf Campus at Washington Heights (directions). Topics will range from the latest in understanding and treating trauma to experiencing and nurturing creativity in ourselves and our clients. These lectures will be particularly useful for those in the helping professions and we particularly look forward to seeing Wurzweiler Alumni! The cost is $100 for the series, $20 for an individual lecture.

Attendess must preregister for the series, or an individual lecture (view or download the brochure first!)

Lunchtime Lecture on Domestic Violence Draws Crowd

2006-06-23T16:30:00.000-07:00

Estanne Fawer (right), the founder of Miklat, a network of domestic violence shelters for Chassidic, Haredi, and Orthodox Jewish women and children, spoke to some forty Block students and faculty on Thursday, June 22.

Noach Korman (below), the executive director of Miklat, discussed the difficulties of helping domestic abuse victims in the Ultra-Orthodox communities, where some families are reluctant to confront the problem, because of religious and social factors. Miklat, begun in 1996, maintains a network of 13 shelters, one of which caters to observant women and children, allowing them to observe the shabbot, eat Kosher food, and maintain a religious lifestyle.

This was the latest of a series of free informal lunchtime lectures for students in the Block program. On Thursday, June 15, Associate Dean Carmen Hendricks spoke about working with emigrant clients, and the previous week, David Pelkowitz, a professor from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education at YU, told students about sophisticated approaches to cognitive therapy.

Graduation Dinner at Darna

2006-05-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

On May 23rd, students from the Concurrent and the PEP program continued a tradition of celebrating the completion of the course of study for the MSW degree with a banquet at Darna. A number of faculty and staff members also attended and some received awards of appreciation.

Click here for more excellent photos by Rafael LaPorte.

Wurzweiler MSW Students Present Original Research at Conference

2006-05-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

Two Wurzweiler MSW students, Glenn Taylor and Rachelle Mendes, presented original research at the Third Annual Behavioral Sciences Student Research Conference hosted by Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology.

Ms. Mendes' poster was titled, "Using organizational planning and modeling techniques to reduce hoarding behavior in an elderly client: A single system design study."

Mr. Taylor's poster was on "Enhancing the therapeutic alliance with an adolescent struggling with substance abuse using unconditional positive regard."

Their research was originally conducted for a course on Social Work Practice and Evaluation Research taught by Dr. Heidi Heft LaPorte. In the course, students learn to empirically evaluate their own research using single-subject design,

Professor Wilmore-Schaeffer Recognized by Alzheimers Assoc & Red Cross

2006-05-09T13:26:00.000-07:00

The Alzheimer's Association of New York has identified Wurzweiler School of Social Work as a community partner. Professor Rosetta Wilmore-Schaeffer will represent the school at the Alzheimer's Association's annual gala/ fund raiser on June 31.

Dr. Wilmore-Schaeffer will also be one of the honorees at the Red Cross of Bergen County/ Hudson County, New Jersey "Salute to Volunteerism" to be held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on May 20.

Conference on Human Trafficking

2006-05-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, May 3rd, the student government presented a conference on Human Trafficking in the Belfer Commons. It was well-attended.

The first speaker was Gillian Caldwell, director of Witness, an organization devoted to using video to document human rights violations. She presented an excerpt from a remarkable film produced by Witness and the Global Survival Network called, Bought and Sold, about women from the former Soviet union being forced into prostitution in Europe, Asia and the United States. Global Survival Network staff went undercover in meetings with the Russian mafia and in brothels around the world to get an insider's perspective on the international trade in women.

The second speaker, Aaron Cohen, spoke about the strange life path that led him from a career helping produce rock and roll concert (Lollapalooza) to an anti-slavery activist. He related hair-raising stories about working with international police forces, posing as a sex tourist in order to free enslaved girls in Sudan, Cambodia, and Egypt. Cohen documented some of his adventures in a book, The Jubilee Prophecy.

The charismatic Mr. Cohen stayed afterwards to answer questions and sign autographs. Attendees agreed that this was an exciting and thought-provoking conference

Wurzweiler Mourns Passing of Charles Levy, Founding Faculty Member

2006-04-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

Charles (Chuck) Samuel Levy, DSW, '87, Professor Emeritus, died on April 8, 2006 at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. After living most of his life in New York City, he and his wife had moved to Bowie, Maryland eight years ago to live near their daughter.

In 1957, Dr. Levy was one of the three founding faculty members of the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. He spent many years working in the field of Jewish Communal service, fulfilling his and the school’s mission to prepare social workers for Jewish Communal work. His contribution was essential in developing the Wurzweiler doctoral program. He served the School as Associate Dean and Acting Dean during his tenure. His stamp is to be found on many of the School's policies, programs, and procedures. Dr. Levy taught social group work and was recognized as a stimulating, provocative, and well-loved teacher.

He is best-known for his groundbreaking work on professional values and ethics. He chaired the NASW Task Force on Ethics, which, in 1979, produced the original Social Work Code of Ethics, the basis for all subsequent revisions. As a professional practitioner he made significant contributions to the Jewish Community Center field and the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization. During World War II he served as director of USO (United Service Organization) Centers for men and women in uniform.

He authored many books and articles, including his important volumes, Social Work Ethics, and Social Work Ethics on the Line. He was mentor, confidante and advisor to many students, colleagues and family members who will miss him.

He is survived by his wife, Faye, his two daughters, Barrie Levy and Helena (Leni) Stern, his five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A private memorial was held by his family. The family requests that contributions in his name be made to research on Alzheimers’ disease (please specify “research”), c/o Alzheimers’ Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700, Chicago, Ill 60601-7633, http://www.alz.org/, or 1-800-272-3900.

More Honors for Dr. Susan Bendor!

2006-03-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

As part of its Social Work Month celebration, the American Association of Indian Social Workers honored Susan Bendor "in appreciation of her committment and support" to their association. Dr. Bendor was honored in January by Malloy College.

Alumni Event in Israel: Education, Comraderie, Net-working, and Good Food!

2006-03-29T10:47:00.000-08:00

On March 21, as part of a university-wide event, Wurzweiler held a symposium at the Jerusalem Campus for Israeli and Israel-based alumni. The program, "A Sense of Community: Internal and External Boundaries," attracted more than 50 alumni.

Presenters included Stanley Schneider ’72, chair of the Magid Institute Program for Integrative Psychotherapy at Hebrew University; and Reuven Schindler ’72, Dean of the School of Social Work at Ashkelon, a satellite program of Bar Ilan University.

A panel discussion titles, “Crisis, Conflict, and Reconciliation” followed. It included David Bedein ’80, Director of the Israel Resource News Agency and President of the Center for Near East Policy Research; Joy Epstein ’83, Clinical Supervisor for the Department of Social Services of Nefesh B’ Nefesh; and Dyna Tover ’86, a staff member at The Counseling Center for Women.

The event was capped by a dinner. Planning Committee members included Joyce Brenner ’64 (MSW), ’83 (Ph.D.);, Sue Freedman ’74; Chaim Jatkowitz ’77; Marva Perrin Levine ’94; Goldie Marans ’76; David Ribner ’74; Stanley Schneider ’72; Yossi Winiarz ’87; and Mordecai Holtz ’06. Dean Gelman and YU President Richard Joel participated.

GLBT 101: Lunch & Learn is Big Success!

2006-03-08T14:47:00.000-08:00

As part of a series of Wednesday afternoon "Lunch and Learn" mini-conferences, the Wurzweiler Student Government offered a two hour workshop entitled GLBT 101: Strategies for Sensitive Social Work Practice with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Clients. Over sixty people attended, including students and faculty.

Eleanor Nealy, M.Div., LMSW, (3rd from left) an ordained minister of the Metropolitan Community Churches, delivered the keynote address. Laura C. Booker, LCSW, (2nd from left) a mental health counselor at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, provided useful information about working sensitively and effectively with LGBT clients. Finally Ray Carannante, LMSW, (1st on left) a clinical social worker at the Gender Identity Project of the LGBT Community Center, provided the assemly with information and experiential exercises to better understand transgender clients.

It was an outstanding program, and faculty and students discussions continued into afternoon programs. Thanks, in particular, to Michael Folikman, who moderated the panel, and is currently doing an internship at the GLBT Center; to Mark Miller, president of the student government, and to Dr. Shantih Clemans, faculty liason (right of photo).

Dean Gelman Runs for CSWE President, Testifies Before Legislature

2006-02-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

On February 10, Wurzweiler dean Sheldon Gelman testified before the New York State Committee on Children and Families, in a hearing called in the wake of the recent, tragic deaths of Nixmary Brown, Dahquay Williams, and other abused and neglected children. Dean Gelman spoke on behalf of the New York Association of Social Work Deans, and the New York City Social Work Education Consortium. He described a number of collaborative projects involving Wurzweiler, the social work schools of Columbia, Adelphi, Stony Brook, Fordham and Hunter, and the ACS Satterwhite Academy intended to sharpen practice skills, broaden practice knowledge for ACS workers, and further "professionalize" them. These programs included developing a model field instruction unit at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, creating a scholarship fund so ACS employees can take MSW courses via distance education, creating a child welfare case study and practice guide that could be used throughout the MSW training to make it more relevant for ACS employees, and a series of special conferences, seminars, and workshops on subjects relevant to child welfare.

On a lighter note, Dean Gelman was nominated as a candidate for president of the Counsel on Social Work Education.

Hospital Social Work: New Book by Beder

2006-02-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

Dr. Joan Beder's new book , Hospital Social Work; the Interface of Medicine and Caring, was recently published by Routledge. It is an informative, vivid, clearly written exploration of all the dimensions of hospital social work and how they benefit patients lives. Chapters on Renal social work, cardiac care, Hospices social work, pediatric oncology, emergency room work, and other typical hospital units clarify the social worker's duties and responsibilities in each of these environments. Case studies and Dr. Beder's own extensive experience with hospital social work ground the book in reality.

Purchase Hospital Social Work at Amazon.

Purchase Hospital Social Work at Barnes & Nobles.

Wurz Prof Chosen Social Worker of the Year by Molloy College

2006-01-30T06:54:00.000-08:00

Dr. Susan Bendor, a long time Wurzweiler faculty member, has been chosen as the recipient of the Pauline Zischka Social Worker of the Year Award by Molloy College's department of social work. This year celebrates Molloy's 50th anniversary and the festivities will include honoring Dr. Bendor as the founder of that school's social work program, as well as for her "substantive contributions to our profession."

Dr. Bendor received her BSC from Bishop’s University, Canada. She was a World University Fellow at Heidelberg University in Germany. She earned her MSW at Adelphi University, and her DSW from the City University of New York. Her fields of interest include gerontology, mental health and welfare reform, runaway and homeless adolescents, pediatric oncology, and advocacy.

Dr. Uri Aviram Joins Wurzweiler Faculty as Visiting Prof

2006-01-30T06:18:00.000-08:00

Dr. Uri Aviram, Zena Harmon Professor of Social Work (Emeritus) at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, will be a visiting professor at Wurzweiler this spring. Dr. Aviram has concentrated, throughout his career, on mental health services research and policy studies. His special interests include community care for the severely mentally ill, social planning and policy development, and the interface between psychiatry and the law.

In addition to many articles, Dr. Aviram is the author of Community Mental Health in Isreal, and the award-winning, Psychiatric Treatment and Civil Liberties: The Involuntary Hospitalization of the Mentally-Ill in Isreal. He co-authored, with S. Sigal, The Mentally Ill in Community-Based Sheltered Care; a Study of Community Care and Social Integration, published by Wiley in 1978. More recently he edited two books, Social Work in Mental Health, and Social Work Education in Isreal: Past, Present and Future.

Faculty, administration and students extend a warm welcome to Dr. Aviram.

Wurzweiler Professors Back From Cuba

2006-01-07T15:53:00.001-08:00

Profs David Strug, Susan Mason, Jay Sweifach, Joan Beder and Heidi Heft-LaPorte, and Associate Dean Carmen Ortiz-Hendricks, have returned from a productive trip to Cuba. More news of collaborative projects with the social work faculty of the University of Havana will be forthcoming, but click here for a few pictures from the trip.

Wurzweiler Recruits in Israel

2006-01-05T12:01:00.000-08:00

Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work has started a recruitment drive in Israel to inform people about its Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and the Summer Block Plan for international students.

YU in Israel ran a campaign of advertisements in local media, including the newspapers published by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and by Tel Aviv’s various universities, to promote the Wurzweiler MSW degree course. Dr. Joyce Rosman Brenner, associate professor and director of the block program in Israel, has organized two open evening events for anyone interested in finding out more.

“The first event, in Jerusalem, was well attended and we have had many inquiries,” Dr. Joyce said. “The response to information about the MSW degree has been very positive and it clear that many social work students in Israel are excited about the prospect of further study in New York, either full time or on the Summer Block Plan.”

The block plan allows international students to combine two months of overseas study with field work in their local community during the rest of the year.

MSW interns can be found working in a wide variety of settings in Israel, including mental health organizations, trauma centers and hospitals, with young Olim for Nefesh B’Nefesh and at the Feuerstein Institute. There are already 400 Wurzweiler graduates working in Israel, with an active alumni association.

For more information about Wurzweiler students in Israel, contact Dr. Joyce Rosman Brenner, by telephone at 972 4 982 1107, or email: joymen@netvision.net.il.

Wurzweiler Profs to Cuba for Public Health/ Social Work Discussions

2005-11-21T07:35:00.000-08:00

Six Wurzweiler professors (Drs. Beder, Hendricks, LaPorte, Mason, Sweifach and Strug) will participate in a research program in Havana, Cuba, along with faculty from the Department of Family and Social Medicine of the Albert Einsteing College of Medicine. The purpose of this program is for the Yeshiva University faculty to share practice and research experiences, and collaborate on research with their Cuban counterparts in public health, medicine and social work. The program will take place in Havana from December 5-9, 2006.

Naison and Clemans Speak at Fieldwork Breakfast - Block Conference

2005-11-14T12:11:00.000-08:00

The Block Conference is an annual event where field work instructors for the Block Education Program come to New York from all over North America to meet with their students' faculty advisors, share ideas and sharpen their supervisory skills. The Field Work Instructors breakfast is an annual event for their New York City counterparts who work with students in the Concurrent and PEP programs. This year, for the first time, the programs overlapped. On Monday, November 14th, field instructors from both programs gathered in Belfer Commons to hear speeches by Fordham University's Mark Naison and Wurzweiler's Shanti Clemans on the subject of The Republican Agenda and the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and Group Work and Trauma: Theoretical and Practice Implications.

The program was organized by Dr. Ronnnie Glassman, Director of the Wurzweiler Field Work Office, and members of the Field Work Committee. The mini-conference was very well-attended and the audience was energized by the speakers, and by a scripted role-play wherein faculty members and field instructors portrayed members of a PTSD support group who had been victims of the 2003 Staten Island ferry crash.

Dean Sheldon Gelman introduced the event and Dr. Glassman moderated.

Dr Mark Naison, Professor of African American Studies and History, Fordham University

Dr. Shanti Clemans, Assistant Professor, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University

we create and sustain as humans are our true treasures.

Dr. Adrienne Asch Joins Wurzweiler Faculty

2005-11-03T12:59:00.000-08:00

Noted bioethicist, Dr. Adrienne Asch, has joined the Wurzweiler faculty as the Edward and Robin Milstein Professor of Bioethics

Dr. Asch, a world renowned bioethicist and authority on the rights of the disabled, holds both an MS in Social Work and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Columbia University.

She has served on:

the New Jersey Commission on Legal and Ethical Problems in the Delivery of Heath Care
as a senior Human Rights Specialist with the New York State Division of Human Rights
as a member of the Social Security Administration’s Commission Childhood Disability
and as a consultant to the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing (DHHS).

In 2003 she was a Fellow at the Hastings Center and she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Swarthmore College in 2001.

Dr. Asch is the author or co-author of numerous books, monographs and articles dealing with reproductive rights, disabilities, and bioethics.

Although based at Wurzweiler, Dr. Asch is also playing an active role at Yeshiva University’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, and Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology.

She is also playing a central role in the University’s evolving Center on Bioethics and Civilization.

Prior to coming to Wurzweiler, Dr. Asch was the Henry R. Luce Professor in Biology, Ethics and the Politics of Human Reproduction at Wellesley College.