Social work news
Social work in Liberia
On Friday, Oct. 30, Professors Joe Kuilema and Rachecl Venema gave a presentation at the NACSW Conference in Indianapolis, IN, entitled "Generals to Generalists: Student Perceptions of Social Work in Liberia." They presented preliminary findings from their research on perceptions of the social work profession among the first indigenously educated cohort of social work students in Liberia. Both Kuilema and Venema had spent three weeks in Monrovia, Liberia in January 2009 co-teaching a community development course at Mother Patern College of Health Sciences.
The conference presentation gave a brief introduction to the history of Liberia, examining the role that the United States played in the formation of the country as well as the continuing effects14-year civil war still has on the country. In addition to this background information, the presentation examined student views on what social work is, what their role and interest in it are, and what sorts of unique issues social work can address in their country.
Conference attendees were particularly interested in how social work translates cross-culturally and internationally, as well as the extent to which violence against women was identified as a key issue by the students surveyed. Kuilema and Venema are planning to continue their research this January as part of the department's on-going partnership with the social work program at Mother Patern College of Health Sciences in Monrovia, Liberia.
Prof. Beryl Hugen directs semester in Ghana this fall
This fall, Prof. Beryl Hugen is the director of Calvin’s Semester in Ghana Program. Twelve Calvin students live in an international student hostel with Ghanaian roommates and take classes at the University of Ghana. They take the following four courses taught by Ghanaian professors: African Literature, Democracy and Development in Africa, African Drumming and Dancing, and Twi, a local and traditional language. Prof. Hugen teaches two courses: Peoples and Culture in Ghana, and Religion, Family, and Social Services in Ghana. Five excursions are built into the semester and the group has traveled extensively throughout Ghana experiencing many aspects of Ghanaian life.
NACSW workshop on spiritual assessments
On Monday, Oct. 26, the North American Association of Christians in Social Work presented a workshop at Calvin entitled "Spiritual Assessment: From Theory to Practice" in the Meeter Center Lecture Hall at 6:45 p.m. The workshop defined spiritual assessments, explained what should be included in this type of assessment, and also discussed how to conduct a spiritual assessment. Rick Chamiec-Case, Executive Director of the NACSW and a former professor in Calvin's department of sociology and social work, led the workshop along with Peter Lauber, a Christian social work counselor practicing in Traverse City, MI, and Meghan Schmelzer, a practitioner who works in a child abuse and neglect assessment and treatment facility in Pontiac, MI. The NACSW offered 1.5 continuing education contact hours for this session.
