Author Archives: CoSW Staff

SEARCH RESULTS FOR:

Search Results

UK College of Social Work

During Social Work Month, Take Time to Honor These Essential Workers

This blog was originally published in UKNow.

Essential is an adjective meaning absolutely necessary; extremely important.

The theme for Social Work Month 2021 is, “Social Workers Are Essential.”

For well over a century, that word — essential — has characterized the work of social workers the world over. Be it protecting and serving the most vulnerable among us, educating for social change, researching for social innovation or organizing for social justice, social workers are motivated by an essential calling and united by an essential purpose: to ensure the well-being of all people.

I, like so many, have experienced the essentiality of social work. As a youth in foster care, I depended on social work practitioners to help navigate a tumultuous system. To be certain, without those social workers, I would not be in a position to write to you today.  

On behalf of the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky, I want to acknowledge the indispensable role of social work and express sincere gratitude for those performing the work. No matter your practice context, the work that you do is imperative to the well-being of individuals, groups, families and communities. Without question, the professional service you provide is essential to a safe, well-functioning society.

In closing, I issue a clarion call to everyone: take stock of the impact that social workers have on our lives. Take time to honor and celebrate social workers — not just this month, but every month. Though months change, social work’s essential commitment to strengthen communities and enhance human well-being most certainly will not.

Be well, be diligent with your self-care and always remember — social work was built for this.

UK College of Social Work

UK HR, College of Social Work Collaborate to Expand Mental Health Resources for Diverse Employees

The following article was originally published in UKNow.

2020 was a difficult year for mental health. Feelings of anxiety, sadness and loss were common for many. The global pandemic has led to suffering, death and grieving. Lockdown measures led to job loss and social isolation and the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other unarmed Black Americans has led to social unrest.

Adrianna Fisher-Willis, staff psychologist at the University of Kentucky Counseling Center (UKCC), says the events happening around us, even when the impact is not direct, have an immense effect on our mental health.

“We live in a world heavily covered by the media,” Fisher-Willis said. “Social media has provided everyone with a front row seat to images of racial injustice. Additionally, Americans everywhere became thrown into the devastation of COVID-19. When you combine this with the very normal impact of day-to-day stress of home, work and pre-existing mental health conditions, we are going to see major negative impacts on mental health.”

While 2020 was hard on the nation, for Black Americans, the burdens seemed heavier. Fisher-Willis says Black Americans have lived through a double pandemic.

The impact of these repeated horrific incidents and the disproportionately high mortality rate of the coronavirus in Black communities has inflicted trauma on the broader African American community.

To improve mental health resources provided through Work+Life Connections, UK HR collaborated with the College of Social Work (CoSW) to expand their services with therapists from diverse backgrounds to further support the mental health needs of Black and other diverse faculty and staff.

Work+Life Connections Counseling provides faculty, staff, retirees and their family members with five free counseling sessions with a certified or licensed therapist via telehealth. In addition to individual therapy, the team provides employees with mental health screenings, assessments and referrals to community-based resources, when needed. 

Therapists can help with feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, isolation and grief as well as family or relationship issues, sleep difficulty, trauma, parenting, identity concerns, and challenges at work. 

“The cost of therapy and a lack of mental health providers from diverse racial backgrounds are two of the biggest barriers to people seeking out help,” said Erika Chambers, HR director of employee engagement and Work-Life. “We are beginning to address these barriers through a partnership with the College of Social Work, and the support of Dean Jay Miller.”

Miller said the decision to collaborate with HR was an easy one.

“The overwhelming majority of mental health services are provided by social workers – so partnering with HR in this way is really a natural fit,” Miller said. “The College of Social Work is uniquely situated to partner in providing these services – we have clinical academic concentrations and work with others in the community to provide clinical supervision, services, education and training.”

“We wanted to get involved because it is vitally important that our faculty and staff have access to a diverse array of care providers,” Miller continued. “We are working with HR to ensure access to a diverse array of therapists, and we are continuing to assess ongoing need as it relates to D&I and will respond accordingly. Ensuring the mental wellbeing of our faculty and staff is a collective effort. That responsibility does not – and should not – fall solely to one unit or another. The College of Social Work is happy to contribute to the overall wellness mission of the university.”

Fisher-Willis believes these services are incredibly valuable. While it is up to employees to decide whether or not they feel they will benefit from these services, Fisher-Willis notes that free, diverse and available counseling services are a huge step in the right direction for creating this space.

“Representation always matters,” Fisher-Willis said. “It’s part of why I show up myself in this field, ready to work with clients to facilitate healing in their lives.

Appointments can be booked on the newly redesigned Work+Life Connections page.  For more information about mental health services and events for UK employees, please contact worklife@uky.edu. 

UK College of Social Work

Is There a Link Between Youth Suicide and COVID-19? UK Suicidologist Explains

The following interview was originally published in UKNow.

Suicide is complex, just ask Julie Cerel. As a licensed psychologist and professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky, she’s dedicated her life’s work to helping those at risk.

“It is extremely important to acknowledge, suicide is never caused by just one thing,” Cerel said.

As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, many schools across the country remain closed — instead opting for remote learning in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus. You may be wondering, how does this impact the mental health and well-being of students? While researchers have yet to clearly link recent suicides to the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s growing concern.

“As adults, we need to be the ones to look out for our children and figure out how to best help them through this scary time,” Cerel said.

In the Q&A session below, she offers insight on how we — as a society — can help students who may be struggling.

UKNow: Are youth suicide rates on the rise? If so, what role does the pandemic play — if any at all?

Cerel: In the U.S., youth suicide has been on the rise for most of the last decade. It is too early to tell if 2020 suicide death rates are up — this data takes more than a year to compile. But we’re hearing suicide deaths seem to be down, even if attempts and help-seeking are way up. For years, we have been encouraging people to seek help if they or their children are having suicidal thoughts. Perhaps, people are listening to these messages that help is available and to reach out before it is too late.

UKNow: What does research tell us about the link between school closures and student mental health?

Cerel: There has not been any published large-scale research yet to link school closures and student mental health. This is a huge need.

However, it is important to acknowledge, suicide is a complicated issue and is never caused by just one thing. Some children are suffering without the lack of structure, while others are thriving. There is so much variability in the type of online learning offered to children and their ability to engage online. Some children have been socializing at pre-pandemic levels, while other families continue to strictly quarantine. Some sports have been able to safely continue, while others have been canceled since last March.

In addition to teaching, schools have been tasked with feeding children and looking out for their physical and mental health. They also provide child care for working parents. We do know — youth cannot thrive when their basic needs are not being met, and school systems are working hard to fill the gaps.  

UKNow: Even if school closures aren’t directly linked to an increase in suicide rates, is it still important to acknowledge that children and teens are going through a uniquely challenging time?

Cerel: It is definitely important to acknowledge. Even children who have been going to school in-person have spent their days wearing masks and living with the ever-present fear of exposure and mandated quarantine periods. Their parents and communities are also living through this time — struggling to stay employed, while also helping their children learn remotely.

As adults, we have to acknowledge our own needs, and we have to be advocates for our children. We have to teach them, it’s okay to struggle and to talk about those struggles. Find a therapist who can see your child online. Ask your child directly if they are thinking of suicide or of harming themselves. And if the answer is yes, talk to their school counselor, pediatrician and/or take them to the emergency department.

UKNow: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we often hear the phrase, “children are falling behind.” Can you put this into perspective? Should parents be concerned?

Cerel: I think people forget; we’re living in the middle of a global pandemic. The last major pandemic in 1918 was particularly deadly for young children, which fortunately has not been the case for COVID-19. But with more than 400,000 deaths in the U.S., children have lost parents, grandparents and even teachers. A shift in perspective is needed to remind people that our measures of success need to change. For 2020, COVID-19 will probably be the third leading cause of death — right behind cancer and heart disease. Until we all acknowledge we’re living in unprecedented times, our mindset will be one of what is lost. We can shift that to focus on how we have survived to live in times in which we can again thrive.

UKNow: In addition to school, how difficult is it for children to be missing out on sporting events and social activities?

Cerel: Children have missed out across the board. This is not just sporting events, but also simple milestones that occur in each school or community, such as class plays and field trips. But the whole world has missed out. Olympic athletes who have trained their whole lives had to miss an Olympics in 2020, and the future of the delayed games is still a concern. Some states have carried on as usual, and this makes it even more difficult for those on the outside. This is a place in which a national strategy and science-based decision making might have leveled the playing field. For parents, it is important to help children put this in perspective. It is awful to miss these long-awaited events, but this is worldwide and not just them.

UKNow: On a positive note, this is a time when any child can access mental health in a way that was unprecedented prior to the pandemic. How will telehealth impact the well-being of our youth for years to come?

Cerel: I see teletherapy as one of the biggest wins to come out of the pandemic. Anyone can see a therapist from the comfort and safety of their home. No mask is required when you are online. There is no need to worry about someone seeing you in the waiting room or taking time off from work or school to make it to an appointment.

Additionally, the PsyPact legislation being considered in Kentucky means that out-of-state UK students will be able to access Kentucky psychologists even if/when they return to their home states. This kind of expanded thinking is what we need to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

There have been small wins. What we had been doing in terms of youth suicide prevention was not working. Hopefully, this time will bring new and creative thinking to help us figure out how to save lives.

UKNow: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Cerel: If you have a phone or device or your child has one, put these two numbers into each one — National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) and the Crisis Text Line (741-741).

Encourage the use of these as they are available 24/7 if you are struggling personally or worried about someone else. They can save lives. You don’t have to be in this alone.

UK College of Social Work

Q&A with Sabri Williams

Sabri Williams, who graduated from the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program in May of 2020, is currently working with AmeriCorps in the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program. AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time service program that covers lodging and travel expenses, allowing young adults to serve on a team and make an impact in communities across the country while gaining valuable leadership skills.

Read her Q&A below to learn more about her and her journey with AmeriCorps.

What made you want to pursue a career in social work?

I always knew that I wanted to help people. Beyond that, I wanted to have a career where I could become, fight for, and witness change in people, communities, and policies.

Why did you choose the University of Kentucky CoSW to purse that career?

I originally chose to attend UK because it was close to home and family, and the most cost efficient with financial aid. As a first generation student, it was important to me to attend college and set an example for my family, but college was still scary and unknown. I began undergrad as a nursing student, but quickly discovered that wasn’t for me. Social work was what I tried next, and loved it! Most of all, I loved the CoSW. It was small and personable; all my professors and classmates knew me and invested in my learning. I got to later grow into a student ambassador and peer mentor, and contribute to the same environment that had first drawn me in. UK CoSW is home.

How did you find out about AmeriCorps?

Some of my practicum supervisors and mentors were AmeriCorps alums, and suggested I look into becoming a member. I was interested in completing a service year, so I took their advice and began looking at job openings in the program.

What made you want to join AmeriCorps?

I graduated in May, almost a year ago, and at that time I knew I wasn’t ready for graduate school, especially as many programs were still adapting to COVID-19. I wanted to gain more social service experience, travel, and explore my passions. Additionally, I wanted to expand my idea of what service encompasses – what it could be, what it looks like, who it can help, how to help, etc. AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) provided me with an opportunity to do just that

What do you do at AmeriCorps?

I serve with an AmeriCorps program called the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). Typically, NCCC teams are comprised of 7-12 members, aged 18-26 years old. Teams travel the United States working on projects that include urban and rural development, environmental stewardship, natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, and energy conservation. My team is comprised of 8 members, and we are working throughout the pacific region. We will have 3 total project rounds during our service term (October to July). I am in the middle of my second project round, in Longview, Washington. We focus on housing construction, winterizing homes for elderly individuals or low-income families, commodity packing and drives, and Meals on Wheels food deliveries. My first project round was in Groveland, California and we focused on disaster recovery and mitigation. We spent most of our time building and maintaining trails, clearing invasive species, increasing defensible land, moving debris and snags, and building fire lines. The work is diverse and changes round to round!

Additionally, all corps members are required to complete volunteer hours that are independent from our service. We can obtain hours at any non-profit agency, doing short-term forms of service. We have been able to participate in a variety of online opportunities. Lastly, within our team we have opportunities for leadership and specialty roles. These include Assistant Team Leader, Service-Learning Initiator, Life After AmeriCorp Representative, Recruiter, Health and Wellness Coordinator, Media Representative, and Vehicle/Tools/Safety Coordinator. I serve as the Life After AmeriCorps representative where I help my teammates with resume building, goal setting, developing professional strengths and skills, and anything else related to their plans following the service term. 

What is the most rewarding thing about your work?

The people and communities I work with has been the most rewarding part of AmeriCorps. I cherish the relationships I have built with my teammates, supervisors, and the people we serve. I love that I have had the opportunity to partner with community members, and work alongside a team to effect change. A great example of this happened a few weeks ago when my team and I were doing winterizing on an elderly couple’s home.

The couple qualified for a housing program through the Community Action Plan where my team and I are currently serving. The couple was so grateful for our work and couldn’t express their gratitude enough. They even invited out the local newspaper to do a story because they were so impressed! Upon completing the work, and seeing how much it meant to them, I remember thinking that their reaction alone was enough to fuel me to this work.  I don’t know if I can change the whole world, but I can change an individual’s world and that makes all the difference.

What has it been like working with AmeriCorps during the pandemic?

In AmeriCorps, the safety of our team, our partnering agencies, and the community members is always a priority. My teammates and I live together, in a bubble, to simulate a family unit. We follow all the CDC guidelines including wearing cloth or N-95 masks, using gloves, using hand sanitizer and sanitizing surfaces, maintaining social distancing, avoiding public outings or large crowds, taking daily temperature and COVID-19 screening, and protocols on quarantining. Additionally, when we all arrived to campus we were isolated and tested multiple times to ensure clearance before departing to any project location.

Like the rest of society, AmeriCorps has been impacted and is adapting to the pandemic. For example, each corps member is required to complete service/volunteer hours that are separate from work. However, due to COVID-19, many of the agencies and service opportunities are now virtual. Fortunately, for AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) COVID-19 has not stopped work, but has encouraged precautions and considerations when traveling. Overall, I feel grateful to be doing this work, although I recognize ways the pandemic has changed how our work is done.

What advice do you have for other social work students?

Social Work is a growing, diverse and critical field of work. My advice is to explore and expand! Don’t limit the places a social worker can be, or your idea of the type of work a social worker can do.

UK College of Social Work

Q&A with Sabri Williams

Sabri Williams, who graduated from the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program in May of 2020, is currently working with AmeriCorps in the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program. AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time service program that covers lodging and travel expenses, allowing young adults to serve on a team and make an impact in communities across the country while gaining valuable leadership skills.

Read her Q&A below to learn more about her and her journey with AmeriCorps.

What made you want to pursue a career in social work?

I always knew that I wanted to help people. Beyond that, I wanted to have a career where I could become, fight for, and witness change in people, communities, and policies.

Why did you choose the University of Kentucky CoSW to purse that career?

I originally chose to attend UK because it was close to home and family, and the most cost efficient with financial aid. As a first generation student, it was important to me to attend college and set an example for my family, but college was still scary and unknown. I began undergrad as a nursing student, but quickly discovered that wasn’t for me. Social work was what I tried next, and loved it! Most of all, I loved the CoSW. It was small and personable; all my professors and classmates knew me and invested in my learning. I got to later grow into a student ambassador and peer mentor, and contribute to the same environment that had first drawn me in. UK CoSW is home.

How did you find out about AmeriCorps?

Some of my practicum supervisors and mentors were AmeriCorps alums, and suggested I look into becoming a member. I was interested in completing a service year, so I took their advice and began looking at job openings in the program.

What made you want to join AmeriCorps?

I graduated in May, almost a year ago, and at that time I knew I wasn’t ready for graduate school, especially as many programs were still adapting to COVID-19. I wanted to gain more social service experience, travel, and explore my passions. Additionally, I wanted to expand my idea of what service encompasses – what it could be, what it looks like, who it can help, how to help, etc. AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) provided me with an opportunity to do just that

What do you do at AmeriCorps?

I serve with an AmeriCorps program called the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). Typically, NCCC teams are comprised of 7-12 members, aged 18-26 years old. Teams travel the United States working on projects that include urban and rural development, environmental stewardship, natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, and energy conservation. My team is comprised of 8 members, and we are working throughout the pacific region. We will have 3 total project rounds during our service term (October to July). I am in the middle of my second project round, in Longview, Washington. We focus on housing construction, winterizing homes for elderly individuals or low-income families, commodity packing and drives, and Meals on Wheels food deliveries. My first project round was in Groveland, California and we focused on disaster recovery and mitigation. We spent most of our time building and maintaining trails, clearing invasive species, increasing defensible land, moving debris and snags, and building fire lines. The work is diverse and changes round to round!

Additionally, all corps members are required to complete volunteer hours that are independent from our service. We can obtain hours at any non-profit agency, doing short-term forms of service. We have been able to participate in a variety of online opportunities. Lastly, within our team we have opportunities for leadership and specialty roles. These include Assistant Team Leader, Service-Learning Initiator, Life After AmeriCorp Representative, Recruiter, Health and Wellness Coordinator, Media Representative, and Vehicle/Tools/Safety Coordinator. I serve as the Life After AmeriCorps representative where I help my teammates with resume building, goal setting, developing professional strengths and skills, and anything else related to their plans following the service term. 

What is the most rewarding thing about your work?

The people and communities I work with has been the most rewarding part of AmeriCorps. I cherish the relationships I have built with my teammates, supervisors, and the people we serve. I love that I have had the opportunity to partner with community members, and work alongside a team to effect change. A great example of this happened a few weeks ago when my team and I were doing winterizing on an elderly couple’s home.

The couple qualified for a housing program through the Community Action Plan where my team and I are currently serving. The couple was so grateful for our work and couldn’t express their gratitude enough. They even invited out the local newspaper to do a story because they were so impressed! Upon completing the work, and seeing how much it meant to them, I remember thinking that their reaction alone was enough to fuel me to this work.  I don’t know if I can change the whole world, but I can change an individual’s world and that makes all the difference.

What has it been like working with AmeriCorps during the pandemic?

In AmeriCorps, the safety of our team, our partnering agencies, and the community members is always a priority. My teammates and I live together, in a bubble, to simulate a family unit. We follow all the CDC guidelines including wearing cloth or N-95 masks, using gloves, using hand sanitizer and sanitizing surfaces, maintaining social distancing, avoiding public outings or large crowds, taking daily temperature and COVID-19 screening, and protocols on quarantining. Additionally, when we all arrived to campus we were isolated and tested multiple times to ensure clearance before departing to any project location.

Like the rest of society, AmeriCorps has been impacted and is adapting to the pandemic. For example, each corps member is required to complete service/volunteer hours that are separate from work. However, due to COVID-19, many of the agencies and service opportunities are now virtual. Fortunately, for AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) COVID-19 has not stopped work, but has encouraged precautions and considerations when traveling. Overall, I feel grateful to be doing this work, although I recognize ways the pandemic has changed how our work is done.

What advice do you have for other social work students?

Social Work is a growing, diverse and critical field of work. My advice is to explore and expand! Don’t limit the places a social worker can be, or your idea of the type of work a social worker can do.

CoSW Receives Funding from UK CURE COVID-19 Pilot Program

It is no surprise that COVID-19 has been associated with an increase in stress and anxiety. With a lack of social support, financial hardships and other challenging factors, there is understandably concern that suicide rates might increase.

In response, researchers at the College of Social Work (CoSW) are looking at how, for some people, the experience of living through a suicide attempt, isolation and struggle might lead to more resilience in the face of COVID-19 than for people who have not had these prior experiences.

The study, Mental Health & Suicide Attempt Survivors in the Time of COVID-19, will survey 1,650 people with a history of suicide attempt, depression or anxiety and compare them to 500 people without.

Dr. Julie Cerel, Director of the Suicide Prevention & Exposure Lab (SPEL) at the CoSW, and lead investigator for the project said the results will expand researchers’ understanding of resiliency for suicide attempt survivors and uncover strategies to decrease suicide risk for the population overall.

 “I’ve heard people say, ‘this is really hard but I’ve been though much harder times than this,’” said Cerel, “It really made me think that we need to be talking to suicide attempt survivors to learn how their experiences make them more resilient in the face of really hard times like COVID-19 social restrictions.”

The research project is part of a series of studies funded to examine social and behavioral issues related to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. The Center for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Kentucky, in collaboration with the UK CURE Alliance team, has launched a pilot funding program for research projects. Research for the UK CURE COVID-19 program falls into three Cure Core areas: Health and Biomedical Science, Materials and Methods, and Social Sciences. Cerel serves as the Core Leader for Cure Core 3 Social Science.

UK College of Social Work

Flaherty Releases New Textbook and Webinar

Disability studies and human service professions aim to address persistent and emerging issues. To begin addressing those issues, Associate Professor in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work Chris Flaherty, Ph.D., and his co-author, Debra A. Harley, Ph.D., CRC, LPC, have recently published the only introduction to disability book with an interdisciplinary perspective that offers cross-disability and intersectionality coverage.

Purchase a copy here.

“Disability Studies for Human Services: An Interdisciplinary and Intersectionality Approach,” is a comprehensive and reader-friendly textbook, offering current, evidence-based knowledge on the key principles and practice of disability, while addressing advocacy, the disability rights movement, disability legislation, public policy, and law.

Focusing on significant trends, the new text provides coverage on persistent and emerging avenues in disability studies that are anticipated to impact a growing proportion of individuals in need of disability services. Woven throughout is an emphasis on psychosocial adaptation to disability supported by case studies and field-based experiential exercises.

Additionally, the text addresses the roles and functions of disability service providers. It also examines ethics in service delivery, credentialing, career paths, cultural competency, poverty, infectious diseases, and family and lifespan perspectives.

In anticipation of the textbook’s release, a special one-hour webinar was held on January 21, 2021. A recording of this webinar has been made available to the public, which features Flaherty, Harley, and Anthony Dotson, MSA, MMAS, Lieutenant Colonel (retired). You can watch the webinar here or at the bottom of the page.

The webinar, “Interdisciplinary and Intersectionality in Disability and Human Services in a Time of Challenge,” will explore the interdisciplinary and integrative approach to addressing timely topics such as infectious diseases; military culture, trauma and mental health of veterans; poverty; professional ethics in practice; and offender populations. More than just the “what’s” and “whys”, attendees will learn the “how’s” of intersectional strategies to service delivery.

For those who wish to purchase a copy of the new textbook, they can use the code HarleyFlaherty25 for 25% off the list price which includes free ground shipping in the domestic US. This offer is valid for the next six months. Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers. Faculty support includes PowerPoints, model syllabi, test bank, and instructor manual.

About the Authors:

Debra A. Harley, Ph.D., CRC, LPC

Provost Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Early Childhood at the University of Kentucky

Debra A. Harley, Ph.D., CRC, LPC, is a Provost Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education at the University of Kentucky. She is co-coordinator of the doctoral program in Counselor Education. Dr. Harley’s research interests include disability issues, cultural diversity, substance use disorder, gender issues, LGBTQ, and ethics. She has published books entitled Disability Studies for Human Services: An Interdisciplinary and Intersectionality Approach; Cultural Diversity in Mental Health and Disability Counseling for Marginalized Groups; Disability and Vocational Rehabilitation in Rural Setting; Handbook of LGBT Elders: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Principles, Practices, and Policies; and Contemporary Mental Health Issues Among African Americans.

Chris Flaherty, Ph.D., MSW

Associate Professor in the University of College of Social Work

Chris Flaherty, Ph.D., MSW, is an Associate Professor in the University of College of Social Work. He is director of the College’s Military Behavioral Health (MBH) Research Laboratory, as well as the Graduate Certificate in MBH. He serves as a primary investigator for the US Army/UK Master of Social Work Education Collaborative. Dr. Flaherty’s research focus is in the area of behavioral health interventions for military and veteran populations. He currently serves as co-Investigator for the Department of Defense sponsored research to improve suicide postvention services within military settings.

Additionally, Dr. Janet Ford, Dr. Blake Jones, and Anthony Dotson, MSA, MMAS, Lieutenant Colonel (retired), served as contributing authors for the textbook.

UK College of Social Work

Thrasher, Tose to Recieve Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Awards

The College of Social Work (CoSW) is thrilled to announce two students who will be receiving the Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Awards.

Shawndaya Thrasher and 1st Lt. Shaniek Tose will be representing the CoSW during the 30th annual Lyman T. Johnson Torch Bearer and Torch of Excellence awards via Facebook Live at noon Monday, February. 1. The program honors and celebrates African American students and alumni from each college who epitomize the ideals of Lyman T. Johnson.

The UK Alumni Association Lyman T. Johnson African American Alumni Group, in partnership with the University for Kentucky Office for Institutional Diversity, host the event each year. This year, however, will look a little different due to the pandemic and will see the presenting of the awards in a virtual space.

UK’s academic colleges select African-American alumni whose faith, hard work, and determination have positively affected the lives of people on the UK campus, the city, state, or nation. These individuals receive the Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Award. These colleges also choose African-American students within their respective college whose academic achievement and ability to impact the lives of others would warrant them to receive the Lyman T. Johnson Torch Bearer Award.

To watch this year’s awards presentation, tune into the UK Alumni Association’s Facebook page at noon Monday, Feb. 1.

Shawndaya Thrasher
Torch Bearer
Shawndaya Thrasher is a doctoral candidate in the UK College of Social Work (CoSW) and holds a master’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in criminology. Her research centers on understanding causes, contributing factors, and short- and long-term outcomes of child and adolescent bullying to inform policy, programming, prevention, and intervention efforts, with an emphasis on racial/ethnic differences. Her dissertation investigates racial/ethnic differences in adolescent health risk behaviors given earlier exposure of frequent bullying victimization.

Thrasher works as a research assistant with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Division of Analytics, where she primarily
focuses on policy and research related to child welfare, family permanency, and family preservation services. With over eight years of direct practice experience with children and families, she has previously worked as a youth behavioral specialist. On-campus, she serves as a student representative for the CoSW Doctoral Program Committee, is a co-founder and officer of the CoSW Student Community Organization, was the advocacy chairwoman for the Black Graduate Professional Student Association, and recruited students from underrepresented groups.

Shaniek Tose
Torch of Excellence
1st Lt. Shaniek Tose was born in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica, the eighth of 10 children. When she was six years old, her family immigrated to the United States and settled in Boston. She graduated from East Boston High School and went to Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she completed her undergraduate degree in 2010. While a student at Hampshire College, Tose completed an internship at Baycove Day Habilitation Center, which sparked her interest in social work and disability rights. She completed a multidisciplinary thesis in which she explored society’s treatment of individuals with disabilities and proposed a more holistic medical treatment model.

In March 2011, she enlisted in the U.S. Army as a combat medic and later became an electronic warfare specialist. In June 2018, Tose was selected to attend the U.S. Army/UK Master of Social Work program and received a commission in the Medical Service Corps. She is currently stationed in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, as a clinical social work intern in the Family Advocacy Clinic. She is a member of a participatory action research group, which is developing publications based on topics such as sexual assault in academia and social work leadership.

UK College of Social Work

MSW Student Earns Degree from Spain

Earning your Master of Social Work degree (MSW) from the College of Social Work (CoSW) at the University of Kentucky (UK) is obtainable regardless of your location. With the 100% online format, students from around the world have access to a world-class education – including the experience and benefits that come with the in-person format.

While many students in the CoSW hail from Kentucky and other locations throughout the United States, one student, Tasha Kozak, is earning her MSW while living in Spain.

Tasha moved to Spain in 2017 to work for a cultural exchange education program within the public school system. Knowing that she wanted to advance her social work career, Tasha found the UK online MSW program. Finding a program that was both accredited in the U.S. and whose credentials could transfer over for any potential work in Europe was a great advantage.

“From the admissions process to my coursework, the UK staff and professors have been an invaluable source of support,” Tasha said.

And she continues to receive that same support throughout the program.

An essential component of the curriculum of UK’s MSW is the Field Education Program, which prepares students to engage with different communities as they develop proficiency within the social work core competencies while gaining professional practice.

Students work closely with program coordinators to identify and secure internship opportunities that provide supportive and positive learning environments. As a result, students will procure valuable, real-world experience to bolster their career options as they enter the field upon graduation.

For Tasha, that meant working with her field advisors in coordinating a practicum placement with the Red Cross of Spain, which she said is sure to expand both her learning and opportunities within the international social work sphere.

“I look forward to the doors it will open as I complete my MSW and move on to pursue my LCSW working with vulnerable populations,” she said.

UK College of Social Work

CoSW Launches New Learning Management System for Continuing Education and Training

COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the way we interact. As a result, the demand for intuitive online and virtual training and support has never been higher.

The College of Social Work (CoSW) at the University of Kentucky has responded to this demand in a unique way.

On July 1, 2020, Missy Segress, Director of Centers and Labs, announced that CoSW had launched an innovative new Learning Management System (LMS). This system is designed to revolutionize the way knowledge and skill acquisition are approached across all aspects of the CoSW. The LMS will provide a comprehensive learning and support apparatus for users from multiple areas of need and interest without limitations associated with a physical location. Acting as a hub for high-impact training, learning, and support opportunities, the LMS will empower users to control their own learning paths from anywhere, at any time.

“This new approach to training will allow participants increased functionality associated with accessing a wide array of continuing education options, tracking training histories, and reporting to licensing and regulatory boards,” said Segress.

The CoSW LMS will house training platforms for continuing education, student internships, and field practica, and foster/adoptive parent training and support initiatives, among others. The LMS offers fully online training opportunities, live (virtual) training sessions, and web events. At present, the CoSW LMS offers more than seventy training, education, and support opportunities. Development for additional offerings is currently underway.

“We recognize that people need accessible, efficient, and effective continuing education and training opportunities,” said Segress. “The CoSW LMS is all about a customized user experience that streamlines the process for obtaining high-quality training and support.”

To learn more about the CoSW LMS, visit the website.