In the News: 2004-5 Academic Year

Peruse archived news and events...

Spring Quarter 2005

Students and Faculty Win Policy Award

Jun 2005—UWT Social Welfare students in Dr. Janice Laakso's Social Welfare: Contemporary Approaches winter quarter class advocated for the passage of House Bill 1441, which would eliminate monthly premiums for impoverished families and expand health care coverage for children. The students (Deanna Carron, Michelle Trevino, Emily Peck, Kerri Godina, and Kellie Nelson) believed that all children should have access to health care, and that it was there goal to educate people on this issue while providing legislators with a clear and consistent message. In April the bill they advocated for passed. The students and Dr. Laakso will be honored in Chicago, IL for winning the "Influencing State Policy" award on February 18, 2006 at the Council on Social Work Education's Annual Program Meeting. Congratulations! Read more.

Winter Quarter 2005

Aging and HIV/AIDS Lecture

Mar 2005—In 2004, Dr. Charles A. Emlet UW Tacoma Associate Professor of Social Work was first recipient of the UW Tacoma Distinguished Researcher Award. As part of this honor, he delivered a lecture on his research to the UWT community, titled "Aging and HIV/AIDS: Lessons Learned... moving forward."

Grant Secured for Training

Mar 2005—A current MSW student is collaborating with Dr. Charles A. Emlet UW Tacoma Associate Professor of Social Work to provide a training entitled, "Improving Practice with Grandparents Raising Grandchildren." The $1,000 grant from the Institute for Geriatric Social Work is helping to make this training possible.

Student-Faculty Proposal Accepted

Feb 2005—Social Work faculty Dr. Janice Laakso and three undergraduate BASW students (Rick Maib, Forest Mendenhall and Joseph Myrick have successfully submitted a proposal for the 2005 NASW Washington State Annual Conference. The title of their workshop is "Navigating the Child Support System: Helping Clients have Successful Outcomes." If you are interested in participating in the annual conference mark your calendars for April 14-16, 2005. The conference is entitled, "Out of the Maze: Paths to Success in Today's Reality and will be at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Tukwila.

UWT Distinguished Teaching Award Nominees

Feb 2005—Congratulations to Drs. Janice Laakso and Kathyrn Amundson who have both been nominated for the annual UWT Distinguished Teaching Award.

UW Graduate Mentor Award Nominees

Feb 2005—Congratulations to Drs. Marcie Lazzari and Kathryn Amundson who have been nominated for the UW Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award. This prestigious award recognizes the tremendous contribution that mentors have on graduate education and the positive and rewarding ways in which mentors enrich the lives of students.

CFAR Affiliated Faculty

Jan 2005—Dr. Charles Emlet has been named an affiliated faculty member for the University of Washington Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). The Center supports multidisciplinary efforts to promote basic, clinical, epidemiologic, behavioral and translational research in the prevention, detection, and treatment of HIV infection and AIDS.

Autumn Quarter 2004

Emlet Promoted to Associate Rank

Sep 2004—Dr. Charles A. Emlet has recently received official notice that he has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Washington, Tacoma. The official appointment began September 16, 2004. This promotion comes one year early as Dr. Emlet's research and publications have been abundant since his arrival at UWT in 1999. Support for this step up were met with unanimous support of his program and peers. Congratulations Dr. Emlet!

NASW Student Appointment

Sep 2004—Second year MSW student Candice Hansen has been recently appointed as the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Statewide MSW Student Representative to the Board of Directors. She is very much looking forward to providing input to the board and being an advocate for positive change. Congratulations Candice.

Summer Quarter 2004

NIH Summer Institute

Aug 2004—Dr. Marian S. Harris participated in the 2004 NIH Summer Institute in Washington, DC from August 4-8, 2004. The focus of the institute was "Design and Conduct of Qualitative and Mixed-Method Research in Social Work and other Health Professions".

Students Honored in S.C.

Aug 2004 —Social Welfare and Urban Studies students Malinda Brown, Pat Cripe, Jeannie Jackson, Robert Nowak, Julie Nygaard, and Catherine Wilson advocated for the passage of House Bill 2769 and Senate Bill 6411, known as the Family Stabilization and Emergency Hunger Act in the 2004 session of the Washington state legislature. They developed a fact sheet, attended Hunger Action Day, visited their legislators and met with legislators on the committee that heard the bills. The students enlisted 533 other social work students and sought their support and action on this legislation, providing them with names, sample letters, and phone numbers to call. The bills passed intact including controversial rules on an expensive school food program and eliminating a lifetime ban on convicted drug felons. Approximately 7,272 individuals will benefit from their advocacy. The group learned "of the importance of making our voices heard." The students were all part of Dr. Janice Laakso's Social Welfare: Contemporary Approaches class. Dr. Laakso and two students made the trip to South Carolina where they were acknowledged for their accomplishments. Visit the Influencing State Policy contest winners page for more details.

Lazzari Appointed to CSWE Commission

Jul 2004—Social Work Program Director Dr. Marcie Lazzari has been appointed to the Commission on Diversity and Social Economic Justice by the Board of Directors of the Council on Social Work Education. The term length of this national commission appointment is three years.

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