Dr. Nev Jones on podcast about civil commitments

Involuntary psychiatric detentions and civil commitments are legal processes that can deprive a person of their liberties and force them through systems that bring the potential for trauma. These practices were not designed around evidence, or empathy, so why are they legal? And what effect do these types of experiences have on the person being pushed through the system? In this episode Assistant Professor Nev Jones talks about the legality of civil commitments and the potential impacts of forced hospitalizations. Listen here.

ICYMI: Social Work Explores Expanded Opportunities with Partners in East Africa

Social work is, inherently, a holistic, inclusive, and expansive discipline. Social workers focus on context, the strengths of communities, and the ways that lives interconnect. In line with this, the School of Social Work (SSW) is always looking for ways to provide their faculty and students more opportunities to learn, collaborate, and work with others. This spring, the School had a chance in East Africa. Three of the Program Directors (Dr. Yodit Betru, Director of the MSW program; Dr. Toya Jones, Director of the BASW program; and Dr. Tonya Slawinski, Director of Field Education) traveled to Uganda and Kenya to explore possibilities for expanding global offerings to expand the curriculum and to enhance the students’ experiences. Read more.

JDP at Sto-Rox Junior-Senior high school

The Just Discipline Project is helping Sto-Rox Junior-Senior high school confront bullying which has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch/read on WPXI.com.

Do kinship navigation programs impact permanency and equity for youth?

Research demonstrates the benefits of kinship

care for children who must be removed from their

parents, yet nationally fewer than 1 in 3 children

in foster care live with relatives. Kinship navigation

programs help locate relative caregivers and

provide them information, education, and

support. This article from Dean Betsy Farmer, and doctoral alumni Daniel Hyung Jik Lee and Christina Huerta examines permanency

outcomes for youth in the kinship navigation

program of A Second Chance, Inc. (ASCI), in

Allegheny County, Pa., compared to youth served

by other agencies without kinship navigation. See summary or full article.

Happy Research Administrator Day!

National Research Administrator Day is annually observed on September 25th in recognition of the contributions made to the research community by research administrators.

The Pitt School of Social Work would like to recognize the excellent work of Research Manager Laurie Mejia and Research Grant Administrator Kathy Papciak!

Pittwire profiles MSW student Jen Silver

Jen Silver (A&S ’13), a second-year master's student in the School of Social Work, was elected to the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the largest membership organization of professional social workers worldwide. Read more.

2022 TransPride Pittsburgh Health & Wellness Conference

2022 TransPride Pittsburgh Health & Wellness Conference. October 06 - 08, 2022. Free and low cost options for students and Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Diverse community members, parents, or immediate caregivers. More information and registration.

Homeless Children’s Education Fund Awareness Event

October 4th 9:30am: Homeless Children’s Education Fund Awareness Event. Stand with us in solidarity to support the 2,836 students experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh. Sign Up here or or contact Brian Knight at 412-576-4996 or bknight@homelessfund.org.

Looking for in-person volunteer opportunities? 2 new options

Volunteers are needed for the 22nd Annual Mon Valley HIV/AIDS Awareness Walk on Saturday, October 1, 2022. The Walk will be held at the Human Services Center, 519 Penn Avenue Turtle Creek, PA 15145. Volunteers are needed from 8:00am – 12:00pm. 

If you or anyone you know may be interested in volunteering, please contact Abbie at 412-436-9537 or agodollei@hscc-mvpc.org. You can find more information about the Walk on their website.

It’s time for Civic Action Week at Pitt!

This year, events are taking place on Saturday, October 22, from 8AM to 3PM.

We are excited to be supporting the Mulford Community Teaching Garden. 

Operating since 2008, these flower and vegetable gardens remove blight in Homewood South.

Volunteers are needed for garden and playground clean up.

Please use this link to sign up no later than Monday, October 3!

2022 Inaugural Race &... Conference

The Race &... Conference elevates the work of the University's race-related centers (including the Center on Race and Social Problems), the health sciences, and Africana Studies.  The conference will promote collaboration between the centers and departments (also known as the Center of Centers) and provide a platform to engage in dialogue to create pathways of connection and empowerment. The theme of the conference will explore how the Center of Centers’ collaboration can impact Black life in Pittsburgh. The conference will convene on Friday, September 30, 2022, from 9:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the University Club. Register Here.