Today at noon! SSW Speaker Series

Please join us for the Sidney A. Teller SSW Speaker Series: “Finding Certainties in the Uncertain Time: Social Work’s Return to Community” by Dr. Qingwen Xu, Professor, NYU Silver School of Social Work and Coordinator, MSW Program at Shanghai and New York.

Today at noon in 2017 Cathedral of Learning or on Zoom. Hot lunch will be provided.

Coverage for the new CRSP report

The Pittsburgh College Access Alliance (PCAA) and researchers with the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work and Center on Race and Social Problems new report, which discusses findings regarding Black families’ educational involvement experiences in Greater Pittsburgh before and during the pandemic was covered by several media sources this week:

• PCNC: University of Pittsburgh’s Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Professor James Hughley talks about the report of educational barriers faced by Black families (TV-Eyes)  
• Pittsburgh City Paper: New report calls for more resources, educational supports for Pittsburgh's Black families
• Pittwire: This new report details the educational barriers Black students face in Greater Pittsburgh

Private juvenile detention? Allegheny County seeks new owner for closed Shuman Center

Professors Sara Goodkind and Jeff Shook spoke to Public Source about the challenges youth in the Pittsburgh area face in the wake of the closing of Shuman Center. Read more.

With federal money, ‘Just Discipline’ programs will be piloted in local schools

Associate Professor James Huguley spoke to WESA 90.5 about the Just Discipline Project:

“Our criteria for involvement are under-resourced schools and schools that are serving majority African-American students, because we know that when these suspensions are doled out, they tend to be doled out more often on the most vulnerable populations,” says James Huguley, Pitt’s associate dean for diversity equity and inclusion and the project principal investigator.

The project is expanding to 20 schools next year, and it’s currently recruited 12 to participate under the first federal grant of the project. Listen here (scroll down)

Dr. Nev Jones to speak at seminar series

On Nov 4th, 4-5 pm EST, Nev Jones will be the speaker for UCLA Social Medicine's Health Equity and Social Science Medicine Seminar series. Her talk is entitled "Structural Competency Discourse, Epistemic Justice and the Cultural Politics of Identity: Hard Questions"; virtual attendance is possible and interested individuals can register by contacting Nev at nevjones@pitt.edu. 

Doctoral student wins award

Congratulations! Doctoral student Cortney VanHook has been awarded the 2022 Dr. Shaffdeen A. Amuwo Emerging Leaders Award by the Black Caucus of Health Workers. He will receive the award at this year's APHA Annual Meeting and Expo in Boston, MA November 6-9. 

VanHook also received the APHA Public Health Social Work Conference Scholarship. 

Doctoral students to present at APHA conference

Two doctoral students will present at this year's American Public Health Association conference:

• Amanda Cruce: LGBTQ+ Youth Deserve Normalcy Too. November 8th. 5:15pm in Westin-Marina IV
• Cortney VanHook: - Premature Death among Young Black Men as An Ecological Disaster: Theoretical Frameworks, Interventions, and Policies. November 8th. 8:30am 
• Cortney VanHook: Piloting a Culturally Sensitive Scorecard for Interventions with Racial-Ethnic Minorities: An Evaluation of CONNECT for Black Fathers. November 8th. 2:30pm.

West Virginia Plaza named for alumnus

MSW alumnus, civil rights activist, and Marshall University social work professor Phillip W. Carter Jr. was honored by the City of Huntington, West Virginia which designated 9th Street between 4th and 5th avenues as the Phil Carter plaza. Read more.

Alumna working with Elise Hillman Forum

MSW alumna Anette Nance is one of the community mentors for this year’s Elsie Hillman Civic Forum, Friday, November 11th. The Never a Spectator Civic Engagement Forum is a unique opportunity for Pitt students to network with some of the region’s most prominent leaders, including leaders from government and politics, foundation executives, and nonprofit and business leaders. Read more about her work.