SSW at Sacred Heart University

This Thanksgiving week, we want to take a moment to thank all of our BSW, MSW, and PhD students for their hard work, dedication, and resilience. Your passion for learning, creativity, and perseverance are truly inspiring. We appreciate all that you do and wish you a restful and joyful holiday! #ThankfulForStudents #Gratitude #Thanksgiving2024

Hello All May, August and December 24 MSW Grads!! We are excited to announce two 6-month Fellowship Opportunities through Nuvance Health, one through Norwalk and one through Danbury. These are from January 1 – June 30, 2025. Please know that after your Fellowship period of 6-months you will be immediately able to apply for FT Employment for any LMSW open positions within the Nuvance system. You do not need your LMSW to apply for these Fellowships. You will be encouraged to pursue your LMSW while with them in Fellowship. Please send your resume to [email protected] ASAP to be considered! #SocialWorkFellowship

PhD student Myra Polite was recently selected to participate in SUNY Stony Brook’s Inclusive and Antiracist Pedagogy Faculty Development Program. Focused on fostering antiracist teaching practices, the program emphasizes the examination of systemic racism within course content, the inclusion of diverse voices, and regular self-reflection on personal biases. We are excited about Myra’s involvement in this important initiative. Her participation aligns perfectly with the SSW’s commitment to antiracism, and we look forward to the impactful contributions she will undoubtedly make. #SocialWorkPhD #AntiracismInHigherEducation

After 16 years in Miami, Florida, Professor Sasha Aaronson returned to her home state of Rhode Island in the Summer of 2022. The first order of business was to get engaged in the community that raised her, and that she loved so much. She hoped to contribute positively to a state facing a crisis in behavioral health care for children and a city, Providence, with a failing school system. In 2024, Sasha began work as a policy analyst for the Rhode Island Coalition of Children & Families (RICCF), a member organization of 39 social and health services agencies that provide services to children and their families, and three allied advocacy organizations. RICCF educates, advocates, and collaborates for transformational, equitable, and just policies, practices, and resources to support and strengthen children, youth, families, and communities. Sasha's research focuses on children's system of care transformation and implementation to address the gaps in behavioral health care for children and their families in the state. The Coalition released a report in October 2004 titled, Children in Crisis Can’t Wait: The Case for System Transformation. This Report starts to build the case for this reform. Sasha's research will inform policy recommendations for engaging in this process of comprehensive realignment based on other successful state models. We are deeply grateful to Sasha for her commitment to implementing policy changes that improve the lives of Rhode Island children and their families. Her dedication to supporting our SSW students and giving back to her home state is a testament to her exceptional social work practice. #RICCF #SocialWorkPolicyReform #SocialWorkPractice

Congratulations to SSW PhD student Carla B. M. who recently published an article in the Journal of Social Work in Addictions. This is a great achievement. #SocialWorkPhD #SocialWorkPublications #JournalOfSocialWorkInAddiction

In September 2024, SSW Professors Stefania Agliano and Bryan Hall led a training at Spalding University titled "I AM: Building a Healthy Male Identity." This curriculum focuses on raising awareness about sexual exploitation prevention for adolescent males, while providing male-identifying youth with the tools to develop healthy identities. Funded by a SAMHSA Re-Cast grant and a collaboration between the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative at Catholic Charities Louisville (BEI) and the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods (OSHN), the first cohort included 19 participants from local Louisville organizations, such as Metro United Way, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, and Youthbuild Louisville. The 4-day training certification equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to combat human trafficking and violence, ultimately improving outcomes for vulnerable youth. The training curriculum has already shown strong success, with year 2 scheduled to begin in June 2025. Congratulations to Professors Agliano and Hall on the success of this important initiative, and thank you for your continued dedication to human trafficking prevention. #SAMSHAReCastGrant #oshn #BakhitaEmpowermentInitiative

Have you considered pursuing a Master of Social Work degree? Would you like to find out what career paths are possible? Please join us for our panel - MSW: What will you do with yours? ?November 20 at 6:30 pm via Zoom. Please email [email protected] to request the Zoom link. ?Featuring guest speakers:? Jennifer Jones Sasha Aaronson Adilene Garcia Sharlene Kerelejza Social Work is one of the most versatile degrees, with Social Workers embedded in many areas of life. This is the first in a series of panel discussions with professionals practicing with their MSW. The discussions will focus on why the panelists decided to get their MSW and their career paths since graduating. This panel is designed to give students and those entering the profession some ideas about the vast types of work you can do with yours.? #SchoolOfSocialWorkMSW #MSWEducation #MSWCareerPaths

Stacey Phengvath an MSW student, is currently completing her specialized practicum with Healing Equity United. As part of her practicum, she is gathering data on how oppression-based stress affects individuals. If you have experienced any form of oppression, including ableism, ageism, classism, colorism, educationalism, homophobia, professional discrimination, religious oppression, sizeism/fatism, transphobia, and/or xenophobia, we invite you to complete this survey. To participate, simply scan the QR code on the flyer below. Thank you for taking the time to contribute to this important research. Your responses will provide valuable data to help address the impact of oppression-based stress. #OppressionBasedStress

Stacey Phengvath is no stranger to the whirlwind of commitments. As a social work graduate student and a foreign service officer for the U.S. State Department, she travels from bustling cities to remote villages, navigating diplomatic challenges with poise. Now, she finds herself back in the classroom, pursuing her Master of Social Work online at Sacred Heart University (SHU). Currently, in her final year of the program, Stacey navigates her course load and work demands with grace. In August 2024, she completed her generalist practicum with CT State Representative Jillian Gilchrest, who is also a social worker. Her current practicum with Healing Equity United has Stacey buzzing with excitement. The organization focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusivity training, and Stacey is tasked with a pivotal project: collecting data for an investigation into oppression-based traumatic stress in the workplace. The survey aims to uncover experiences related to sexism, ableism, sizeism, ageism, colorism, transphobia, and classism, shedding light on the hidden struggles many face daily. Yet, between her diplomatic duties, coursework, and the practicum, Stacey often feels like she is juggling glass balls. The pressure mounts, especially as deadlines loom. There are nights when the weight of her responsibilities leaves her feeling overwhelmed, prompting thoughts of giving up. But Stacey isn’t one to back down easily. The encouragement from SHU’s faculty and staff reminds her why she has chosen this path. “I enrolled with SHU because of the excellent online program and the personal connections I feel with the faculty and staff,” she often shares. “They understand the challenges we face and provide the support we need.” Her involvement with FirstGens@State is another source of motivation. As a first-generation college graduate, Stacey finds purpose in advocating for others who navigate similar paths. She organizes workshops, mentors students, and shares her journey, knowing firsthand how vital support systems are in achieving success. Despite the demanding schedule, the rewards outweigh the challenges. During her work with Healing Equity United, she witnesses the power of data-driven advocacy. When participants share their stories through the survey, it feels as though she is gathering pieces of a larger narrative—one that highlights resilience and the need for systemic change. The challenges are real, but so are the triumphs. With each completed class assignment, each field practicum experience, and each student she inspires, Stacey feels a renewed sense of purpose. The road is long, and the balancing act daunting, but with her dedication, the support of her community, and a passion for change, she is ready to tackle whatever comes next. #SocialWork #FirstGen #EquityInAction

This month, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month and reflect on the incredible histories and contributions of Native American communities across the nation. Their resilience, traditions, and influence continue to enrich us all. Notable Native American social workers who have made significant contributions to the field include: Consuelo W. Gosnell: A trailblazer who improved conditions for underserved Native American and Latino/Latine communities in the Southwest. She held key roles at the federal Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The NASW Foundation honors her legacy by awarding the Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship to MSW candidates dedicated to serving Native American and Latino/Latine communities. Ada Deer, MSW, ACSW: The first woman to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs under President Clinton. A member of Wisconsin's Menominee Tribe, Ms. Deer was inducted into the National Native American Hall of Fame in 2019 for her lifelong advocacy and leadership. Ronald G. Lewis, DSW: The first Native American to earn a doctorate in social work. A pioneering psychiatric social worker, Dr. Lewis is regarded as the "Father of American Indian Social Work" and was a foremost authority in the field. We thank these influential social workers—and all Native American social workers—who continue to work tirelessly to right past wrongs and pave the way for future generations. #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #NativeAmericanSocialWorkers #CulturalHeritage