CIR News
Testimonial: Cassandra Rush, MSW ’11
28 Jun 2011 | posted by Center for Innovation and Research | in CIR News Archive
Congratulations to all of the graduates of the School of Social Work Class of 2011! Cassandra Rush, one of the School’s recent graduates, shares her experience in the Master’s program and the Military Social Work subconcentration:
Cassandra Rush
The USC School of Social Work provided me with a multitude of opportunities to further my personal and professional development. After I finished my undergraduate degree at the University of California – Irvine, I decided to enlist in the Army as a Civil Affairs Specialist. After 2 years in the Army, I read an article about how USC created the first ever Military Social Work program. Instantly I knew I wanted to be a part of the Trojan Family and this groundbreaking program.
USC opened the doors for me to participate in ROTC as one of the first two cadets in the nation to do both programs simultaneously. Through this incredible experience I was able to meet the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff (Adm. Mike Mullen), discuss mental health issues in the military with the behavioral health advisor to Adm. Mullen, show Sen. Barbara Boxer the Military Social Work program, and attend several remarkable conferences regarding advancements in Military Social Work.
Additionally, the specialized classes in the military subconcentration allow students to acquire the tools needed to be an effective clinician and embark on further professional pursuits. I was fortunate to take a class entitled “Media in Social Work: Documentary Filmmaking as a Praxis for Social Justice” with Prof. Rafael Angulo, and was thus able to create a documentary on stigma within the military with two fellow students. The documentary received a bit of success and is now being distributed to various veterans organizations as a tool to reduce stigma and relate to servicemembers considering behavioral healthcare services.
My internships at the School also provided me with great experience where I was able to not only grow as a clinician, but develop my macro skills as well. I was able to create a yoga and art therapy program for homeless veterans and experience the use of play therapy with children. In addition to ROTC, I was also able to cultivate my leadership skills as the co-chair of the Military Social Work Interest Group (MilSWIG).
The USC School of Social Work encourages students to get involved and strives to graduate students who can create a change in the social service field. Currently I am serving the Army as a second lieutenant in the National Guard and was recently offered a position at Veterans Affairs working in the inpatient and outpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. The USC School of Social Work nurtured my goals and gave me the access to make my dreams happen! I feel extremely fortunate to consider myself a Trojan and highly recommend this program for any future social worker!!
- Cassandra Rush, MSW, 2nd Lieutenant Army National Guard
Share your experience in the School of Social Work’s military subconcentration! Email cir@usc.edu.
Infographic: What is PTSD?
27 Jun 2011 | posted by Center for Innovation and Research | in CIR News Archive
In recognition of PTSD Awareness Day, the USC School of Social Work created this infographic to help increase understanding of PTSD’s symptoms, causes, and treatments.
Brought to you by: Masters in Social Work | MSW@USC
June 27th is PTSD Awareness Day
24 Jun 2011 | posted by Center for Innovation and Research | in CIR News Archive
June 27 is PTSD Awareness Day! This month, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD is working to increase PTSD awareness.
To learn how you–as a community member–can help, click here.
For information on PTSD, resources, and ways to spread the word about PTSD awareness, click here.
Progress on the Development of the Virtual Patient
23 Jun 2011 | posted by Center for Innovation and Research | in CIR News Archive
CIR and the USC Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT) are currently developing a virtual human (avatar)–the Virtual Patient–that can simulate a veteran. The Virtual Patient will be employed as a teaching tool in the Master of Social Work program and in CIR’s continuing education courses in order to help students and behavioral healthcare providers acclimate to the unique issues affecting veteran clients and practice their treatment skills in a learning environment.
This video is a brief summary of the progress so far on the development of the Virtual Patient.
Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity: U.S. Army Warrior Resiliency Program in San Antonio, TX
23 Jun 2011 | posted by Center for Innovation and Research | in CIR News Archive
The U.S. Army Warrior Resiliency Program in San Antonio, Texas is searching for one civilian Postdoctoral Fellow with strong interest in empirically-supported treatments for trauma aimed at active duty military servicemembers and their families.
The chosen candidate will fill a two-year civil service fellowship slot in the Southern Regional Medical Command’s Trauma, Risk, and Resiliency Fellowship housed at the Warrior Resiliency Program. The Fellow will participate in a vibrant and active military fellowship program encompassing 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience addressing trauma, risk, and resiliency issues among active duty service members and their families. Fellowship activities will also include a challenging academic curriculum developed in consultation with national trauma experts and significant military research opportunities to study trauma and risk issues in a military population (including PTSD, chronic pain management, insomnia and deployment-related sleep disturbance, and suicide risk).
Requirements include a Clinical or Counseling Psychology Ph.D. or Psy.D. from an accredited domestic or foreign institution, successful completion of an accredited clinical internship program, and a strong interest in military clinical and research work.
Interested individuals should contact the current Director of Training for the Trauma, Risk, and Resiliency Fellowship: Dr. Don McGeary, Ph.D., ABPP (donald.d.mcgeary@amedd.army.mil / 210-424-8977) for more information on the Fellowship and how to apply. Those interested in applying should to submit a letter of interest along with a copy of their CV, three letters of recommendation, and their graduate program transcripts to:
Don McGeary, Ph.D., ABPP
Director of Professional Education
Warrior Resiliency Program
7200 IH-10 West, Suite 300
San Antonio, TX 78230
The Social Work Podcast: Interview with Dr. Hassan, Part I
20 Jun 2011 | posted by Center for Innovation and Research | in CIR News Archive
The latest edition of The Social Work Podcast, entitled “The Training and Education of Military Social Workers,” features an interview with Dr. Anthony Hassan, CIR’s director. In the interview, Dr. Hassan discusses the definition of military social work and the educational and training opportunities available at the USC School of Social Work, among other topics.
Jonathan B. Singer (Ph.D., LCSW) is the host of The Social Work Podcast, which provides information on the different aspects of social work, including direct practice, research, policy, and education. Dr. Singer is an assistant professor of Social Work at Temple University and a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with children and families.
Upcoming Event: Hiring Fair for Veterans in Los Angeles
15 Jun 2011 | posted by Center for Innovation and Research | in CIR News Archive
California is home to the highest population of unemployed veterans in the entire country, with more than 100,000 currently looking for jobs. On Sunday, July 10, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce will co-host a hiring fair for veterans at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, CA. The event, Hiring Our Heroes Los Angeles, is part of a broader initiative to help veterans find employment. Through March 2012, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will host 100 hiring fairs with local chambers of commerce across the country to find jobs for the 1 million veterans currently unemployed in America.
To pre-register for the event, click here. If you are interested in being a national or regional sponsor of Hiring our Heroes, email hiringourheroes@uschamber.com for more information.