News Archive
2015
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The USC School of Social Work has received a gift of $250,000 to establish a fund to encourage the incubation of new strategies and solutions to housing affordability and access in Los Angeles and other urban areas.
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Omar López can point to a few instances in his past that set him on the right track.
That moment when his mother pointed to a man in an orange jumpsuit sweeping the streets of Mexico City and told him that he would have to stay in school or he would end up in a similar position.
His father, a baker with a sixth-grade education, delivering a similar message as they rose at 3 a.m. to start preparing the dough and heating the ovens.
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As a longtime recovering drug addict who experienced homelessness, Kristina Ronnquist, MSW ’14, went through years of interacting with law enforcement. Her encounters, however, were different from those experienced by many people of color.
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Joey hates needles – and not just a little bit. He has a diagnosed phobia and hasn’t been to a doctor in 15 years, which is an issue when you have a family history of medical problems.
So what might a therapist recommend for Joey to overcome his fear? How about getting a tattoo?
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The nation’s nearly 22 million veterans and their families are confronted with difficult and enduring challenges.
Returning veterans face high unemployment rates, and homelessness is a national concern. Some veterans are coming home with severe physical injuries. Aging veterans must grapple with the further complications of injuries incurred during combat decades ago. Many have untreated mental health concerns. About 22 veterans a day die by suicide. These issues can strain relationships and stress caretakers. Military children are more vulnerable to suicide and depression.
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It became clear to Jungeun Olivia Lee as a young child that some things in life just weren’t fair.
She saw how her aunt struggled as a divorced single mother to raise four sons in an impoverished neighborhood where health care largely consisted of a traditional healer who induced vomiting.
She saw the looks of pity and empathy from strangers when she visited a park or a playground with her brother, who has a physical disability.
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Suzanne Dworak-Peck, MSW ’67, a renowned social work practitioner, has been appointed the newest member of the USC School of Social Work Board of Councilors. As part of the advisory board, she will work alongside other professional, academic and community leaders toward the advancement of the school’s mission.
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For many decades, therapists and clinicians have skirted the edges of religion and spirituality in their work with clients.
Perhaps they perceived the topic as too personal or felt uncomfortable discussing the sacred world.
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Already in the first weeks of 2015, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the county's acting Chief Executive Officer have taken action to improve collaboration and make structural changes that should speed up child welfare system reforms.
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As the mental health needs continue to grow for greater numbers of service members and veterans returning to communities, researchers at the University of Southern California are studying how to use the latest in technological advancements to prepare behavioral health providers to effectively treat these military-impacted populations.