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The AUSSW Community Messenger
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 Chuck
Zastrow has joined the faculty of George Williams College as the new
Assistant Director for Social Work. Zastrow has more than 35 years
of experience at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He is a prolific
author (eight books, numerous articles and reviews), and most importantly
has served in leadership roles with the Council on Social Work Education
(CSWE). Zastrow’s vast expertise will be essential as the school
begins its self-study process towards another re-accreditation. |
 Donette
Considine has recently received her doctorate and been promoted to
SSW Academic Coordinator. Considine is responsible for many of the
“logistical” aspects of the M.S.W. program at the Aurora
and George Williams campuses. Her work includes student registration,
advising students who return to the program after a leave of absence,
completing graduation checks, working with students to identify elective
course interests and helping to plan the B.S.W. and M.S.W. course
schedules. She is also responsible for M.S.W. admissions. To prepare
for re-accreditation, Considine will oversee the school’s assessment
processes in collecting, analyzing, and managing data from students,
alumni and field instructors. |
 Randy
Fisher has joined AU as SSW Coordinator. He replaces Pat Millar who
will be leaving to join her husband, Ken, at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Fisher brings impeccable credentials with him, including his role
as Executive Director of the School Social Worker’s Association
of America. He will be helping to expand and develop the School Social
Work track at the Aurora and George Williams College campuses. |
In October, Randy Fisher, School Social Work Coordinator, participated in the President’s Conference on School Safety following the rash of killings in schools across the country. Leaders from the fields of education and justice were invited to this conference, which was organized by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice. Presentations included “Preventing Violence in Schools,” “Prepared Schools and Communities are Safer,” and “Helping Communities Heal and Recover.” Randy will keep the university posted on the latest developments in this important area of national policy and its impact on school social work across the country.
Two new concentrations are part of the SSW. The Clinical concentration is designed for those M.S.W. students who want to work in professional settings in which they may provide counseling-like services. Students interested in school social work should also sign up for the Clinical concentration. This intensive concentration provides comprehensive theory and practice skills, research methods and policy tools for working as an experienced clinical social worker. The Leadership and Community Practice concentration is designed for M.S.W. students who are interested in becoming agency administrators, political advocates or community organizers. This concentration is highly theoretical and includes a research and policy component. Please visit the SSW Web site for more information about these new innovative concentrations.
In September, SSW offices held open houses at four university-owned houses at 427, 435, 439 and 443 Gladstone Ave., where our offices are now located. Nearly 100 B.S.W. and M.S.W. students visited the offices during lunch and early evening to enjoy refreshments and “extras.” Please stop by the houses to say “hello” the next time you are on campus!
 427 S. Gladstone |
 439 S. Gladstone |
 443 S. Gladstone |
 435 S. Gladstone |
AU alumni, field liaison faculty and field instructors now have the opportunity to audit several M.S.W. advanced elective courses in the Clinical and Leadership and Community Practice concentrations. For a nominal audit fee (one-third the regular tuition), this select group of constituents will be able to accrue nearly 40 hours of CEU credit. Course transcripts will serve as CEU receipts and documentation. Courses available for audit will be announced through the monthly director’s report; sign up dates for course waiting lists will also be relayed in the report. M.S.W. electives are available first to M.S.W. students. However, the Registar’s Office has assured SSW faculty that others may register for classes the week before the semester begins. In order to accrue all 40 semester hours of CEUs, students must attend all class dates. For more information, contact Donette Considine, SSW Academic Coordinator, at dconsidi@aurora.edu or 630-844-7842.
Eda Goldstein will present a day-long workshop on the Clinical Social Work Relationship at AU on Friday, May 18, 2007. After surveying constituents, the number one request was for a seminar on this topic. Goldstein is THE expert on the Clinical Social Work Relationship. Many will be familiar with her work having read her books in social work practice courses: “Ego Psychology and Social Work Practice,” “Borderline Disorders,” and most recently “Object Relations Theory and Self Psychology in Social Work Practice.” Details for this landmark workshop are forthcoming. Tickets are $50.00 for students and $90 for alumni and field instructors. All other tickets will be $120.00. The workshop is worth 5.5 CEUs and lunch is included. To reserve a spot for the conference, call the Center for Adult and Graduate Studies at 630-844-5294.
SSW faculty and staff are ensuring Web presences for its programs and alumni relations. Donette Considine, SSW Academic Coordinator, has been updating the information on the AU B.S.W. and M.S.W. Web sites. Also, an AU/GWC SSW alumni Web site is being developed. This important site will provide alumni with SSW news and information, offer a job link service, and a link to provide faculty and staff with continued feedback and for improving the SSW.
Several years ago, the SSW periodically held “town meetings” to discuss important happenings in the programs, as well as solicit feedback from B.S.W. and M.S.W. students about needed changes in the school. This year, the SSW began holding “Community Meetings” with the first meetings held on November 13 and 14. Donette Considine, SSW Academic Coordinator, surveyed students about the issues facing them, and the community meetings will address topics important to students.
Fred McKenzie, SSW Director, is in the process of reinstating the Social Work Advisory Board. This is a group of professionals from the field who serve in an advisory capacity to the SSW, as well as form the nucleus of a collaborative initiative aimed at helping serve local communities and agencies. If you are interested in serving on this important work force, please contact Fred McKenzie via e-mail at mckenzie@aurora.edu or call 630-844-5420.
The Field Office of the School of Social Work will host the annual Social Work Field Fair for Social Work students on Friday, January 26, 2007, in the University Banquet Hall from 12:00-4:00 p.m. The fair helps students find field placements for the 2007-2008 academic year. All affiliated agencies and schools are invited to participate. For more information, please contact Glenda Blakemore, the Director of Field Work, at 630-844-5423.
The
annual Fall Field Instructors Seminar was held on Friday, October 20,
at AU. This year, SSW faculty presented a day-long CEU workshop on Theoretical
Applications for the Supervisory Relationship, and an overview of our
new M.S.W. concentrations. Fred McKenzie, Henry Kronner and Jill Murray
were the key presenters at this workshop. McKenzie lectured on the theoretical
factors and processes integral to the supervisory relationship, including
Attachment Theory, Object Relations and Self Psychology; as well as more
recent advances and implications of Neuroscience Theory and Research.
He also presented information on the new social work curriculum, especially
the Clinical and Leadership and Community Practice concentrations. Murray,
who has been instrumental in developing the Leadership and Community Practice
concentration, discussed the details of this important new area of advanced
study in the Social Work M.S.W. program. Kronner covered the practical
and pragmatic aspects of the field supervisory process and relationship,
and led participants in some very helpful discussion on working with their
field students. We are dedicated to continuing this type of important
exchanges and information sharing in the future.
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Fred
McKenzie has been appointed as the new Director of the School of
Social Work, effective November 1, 2006, replacing Ken Millar. McKenzie,
a GWC alumnus, has been a full-time faculty member at AU since 1991.
He most recently served as the Chair of the Curriculum Oversight
Committee within the SSW.
SSW
Seeks New Field Director