Marywood University (Scranton,
PA)
The
Latino Collaboration
Summary
To address the unique social service needs of the burgeoning Latino population
in the Lehigh Valley, the School of Social Work engages in The Latino
Collaboration with multiple community groups and provides meaningful educational
opportunities for graduate social work students, with a primary emphasis
on cultural diversity.
The Practice
Through outreach efforts on the part of the School of Social Work, a series
of collaborative contacts were established with local grassroots Latino
organizations. Collaborations have in common an emphasis on activities
that provide mutual benefit to the agency constituents as well as the
School community. Components of the School curriculum include: 1) students
serving as interns with agencies to satisfy curricular mandates; 2) students
in a social policy course undertaking an analysis of a housing project
in response to community requests; 3) a grant writing class preparing
applications for other agencies; and 4) a research class using asset or
strength mapping with different groups. This approach enables students
to fulfill research course requirements in a dynamic, hands-on manner,
learn about culturally competent research and at the same time provide
useful information to the community constituents and the agency serving
them. In a co-curricular mode, the Student Association has assisted in
a Latino voter registration drive in conjunction with a Latino advocacy
organization and collected donated items as requested by community groups.
Agency personnel serve on the program’s advisory board, provide
guest lectures “from the trenches” providing a perspective
on Latino issues and services, and participate in planning and co-sponsoring
continuing education programs focused on the Latino population. As a result
of these collaborations, potential candidates for admission to the graduate
social work program have been identified.
In the spirit of mutual support, School faculty are active in providing
on-site training for agency staff at the request of the community groups.
A Spanish conversation emersion course for community agency staff, students,
and faculty is being planned. Cultural diversity workshops are being promoted
and supported within the community and the School.
The Center for the Advancement of Social Work Practice (CASP) serves
as an umbrella entity to promote and sustain these collaborations between
the School and the community. The Latino Collaboration, within this framework,
is led by a Latino faculty member with experience in cultural diversity
training and research.
Effectiveness
Outcomes and efficacy of the Latino Collaboration are anecdotal at this
time. Successes include the increase in numbers of collaborations and
an increase in Latino students enrolled in the School. Student evaluations
of courses with community practice involved are positive, and faculty
and students report a heightened awareness of Latino culture.
Resources
None listed.
Contact Information
Phyllis Black, D.S.W., A.C.S.W., L.S.W.
Professor and Director, Lehigh Valley Campus
Phone: 610-282-0479
Black@es.marywood.edu
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Effective
Practices Exchange
