Welcome to the Department of
Social Work and Family Studies

The Department of Social Work and Family Studies offers a major in Social Work, a major in Family Studies (through 2011), and a concentration in Family Studies (beginning with the class of 2012).

Social Work and Family Studies are fields of study that build upon the liberal arts to prepare students to identify the needs and strengths of individuals, families, groups and communities, develop the knowledge and skills to satisfy those needs, and explore policies and programs that prevent and address social problems. Our courses integrate cross cultural, global, and experiential learning.

~International Conference June 14-17~

The Department of Social Work and Family Studies and NASW Minnesota chapter present:

Family Sculpting:International Tool for Brief Assessment and Intervention

Buntrock Commons Black Ballroom-- 8:00 AM-4:00 PM

Sunday-Monday June 14 & 15: Meeting of practitioners, researchers, and teachers who use family sculpture techniques

Tuesday June 16: Workshop for social workers, psychologists, and marriage and family therapists on the use of family sculpture to assess and treat families in diverse settings. Walk-in registration welcomed.

This international conference and day long skills-building cnference is a first time collaboration between St. Olaf College and NASW-Minnesota. It is the first international conference sponsored by the Department of Social Work and Family Studies and is funded in part by the David and Karen Olson Marriage and Family Endowment at St. Olaf.

 

Summer Break

The staff and faculty from the Social Work and Family Studies Department extend their thanks for the wonderful past academic year, and wish you all a wonderful summer full of rest and relaxation.

See you next fall!

 

Social Work and Family Studies T-Shirts for Sale
Available for purchase in the Social Work and Family Studies office for $7. Click here to view the shirts

Phi Beta Kappa Winners:
Marissa Takazawa
Chrstina Geng
Trinara Sonstegard
Holly Sairsingh

Also congratulations to distinction winners:
Jenny Kallas, for her paper on the play therapy in a hospital setting
Laura Glazebrook, for her paper on American Indian multicultural identity and tribal enrollment
Papers are available to be read in the Social Work and Family Studies Office

Scholarship Opportunity
The Minnesota Social Service Association is sponsoring four scholarships for the 2009 school year. These scholarships include: two for undergraduate student enrolled in a human services field, one to a student from a diverse background, and one for a graduate student in a human services field. Pick up an application in the Social Work Office 213 F. Deadline is June 1, 2009.

Hard Times Steer Some Toward Social Work
Syracuse Post-Standard (NY) (02/09/09) Mulder, James T.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that employment in social work will grow 22% by 2016, as the baby boom generation has already created a huge need for more social workers. This trend could influence some people to pursue social work in the current economic downturn, says Carrie J. Smith, director of Syracuse University's School of Social Work.  Further, Smith says that many companies are looking to provide support to people who will be losing their jobs. Smith says more people are entering the field with different skill sets, having combined social work degrees with law, public administration, or public health degrees. "This current situation has reminded us to get back to our core values," she says. Read the full article.


Lack of Social Workers Reaches Critical Level
VietNamNet Bridge (02/12/09) Ha, Manh
Vietnam has a critical shortage of social workers, and the current workforce needs better training, says the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs' Social Protection Department. According to a department report in 2007, training an additional 8,500 social workers over the next 5 years would enable Vietnam to have one professional per 10,000 people. Although 30 universities currently offer social work courses, only two have teachers with PhDs. The programs need more staff and resources. Vu Thi Lan, deputy director of the social protection department, says Vietnam needs a national plan to improve social work and legislation to back the effort to improve training. "The network of social workers and the organization of services are deficient and unprofessional," he says. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs plans to submit a proposal to the government this year, and expects to establish guidelines for improving the social work profession by 2015. Read the full article.