Lillian Iannone: Honourary Social Worker
Lillian was recently recognized for her dedication and exceptional work as the recipient of the Arts Award of Excellence for Administrative and Support Staff.ĚýĚýLillian Iannone has been a member of the Â鶹AV community and School of Social Work for 45 years. At the age of 17, straight out of high school, Lillian interviewed for a position at the School and has been thereĚýever since. She is currently the Administrative & Student Affairs Coordinator.Ěý
Aside from the number of administrative tasks she takes on, Lillian is most recognized for her compassion for students. As one of her colleagues writes, “There is no problem too complex for her to unravel, no hurdle she won’t climb (or breakthrough) when a student’s welfare or future prospects are at stake. Her patience for sitting with faculty Program Directors and students alike in the service of problem-solving is seemingly endless. And her heart is as big as her knowledge base is deep.”
See full storyĚýhere.
Professor Boatswain-Kyte on the overrepresentation of Black children in child the protectionĚýsystem to the Special Commission on Children's Rights and Youth Protection
Professor Alicia Boatswain-Kyte and colleagues submitted a report on the overrepresentation of Black children in child the protection system to the Special Commission on Children's Rights and Youth Protection.
For further details, clickĚýhere.
Death of Fleurette Osborne, community activist and founding President of the Black Women of Canada
Fleurette Osborne, MSW Â鶹AV, died in Hamilton, Ontario on November 23, at the age of 92. Her body is currently in the care of Kane Fetterly funeral home. Important documents are missing. Fleurette was a community activist and founding member and President of the Black Women of Canada.
For further details, clickĚý.
School of Social Work lecturer Corrie Sirota-Frankel gives a Tedx Talk on bereavement and loss
View it :
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Delphine Collin-VĂ©zina, Director of the CRCF, presented to the Special Commission on Children's Rights and Youth Protection.
“I hope that the youth protection system can become reworked and improved so that a child’s passage through the system can become a healing one," says Â鶹AV's Delphine Collin-VĂ©zina
Read the highlights of her presentation inĚý
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In Celebration of Dr. Sydney Duder
After 45 years of teaching, Dr. Sydney Duder is set to retire at the age of 98. Arts Student Ambassador Sophie Brzozowski chatted with Sydney about her time at Â鶹AV, and what she looks forward to post-retirement.
See full article here.
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"To die well, we must talk about death and end-of-life care sooner".Ěý
Tamara Sussman publishes an opinion piece on her research for TheConversation
See for further details
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Congratulations to Melanie Doucet for being selected as one of the six 2019 finalists of the The Lynn Factor Stand Up for Kids National Award
Finalists were celebrated at Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’s Stand Up for Kids Awards Night in Toronto presented by CIBC on September 11, 2019.
For further information and details, see .
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Professor Jill Hanley appointed Scientific Director of the Sherpa Research Institute
It is with pleasure than I share with you the news of my appointment as the Scientific Director at the SHERPA Research Institute, based at the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest.
SHERPA is a key player in enhancing frontline health and social services to diverse ethno cultural communities and helping to bridge the gap between policy and practice. To this end, SHERPA combines the knowledge of practitioners, researchers, and students from multiple disciplines in the area of migration and cultural diversity. Members work in tandem to conduct applicable research informed by the lived experiences and the needs of vulnerable migrant individuals, families and communities including youth, as well as to evaluate interventions and facilitate knowledge exchange between professionals in the field.
Having been involved as a member of SHERPA for the past 10 years and given my focus on access to social rights (health, housing, labour) for migrants with precarious status, I aim to continue and expand my efforts to support individual, family and collective strategies to defend and promote access to these basic human rights.
I look forward to working in solidarity with those who experience exclusion in their passage into Quebec society - a vision that cannot be achieved but with our collective expertise and collaboration with the diverse communities we strive to serve. To learn more about SHERPA and ways to get involved, visit our website at .
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It is with deep sadness that The Â鶹AV School of Social Work announces the passing of Teresa Dellar
It is with deep sadness that The Â鶹AV School of Social Work announces the passing of Teresa Dellar, M.S.C., MSW, PSW, FT, co-founder and Executive Director of the West Island Palliative Care Residence since 2001 and cherished field instructor and course lecturer of the School of Social Work from 2007-2014. As one former student at Â鶹AV writes, “Teresa was such a warm and caring person. Able to explain the art of communication and the importance of listening. I think of her often in my practice”.
Teresa is survived by her husband, Gavin Fernandes and their two sons, Jonathan and Nicholas. She also leaves behind her extended family and a large community of friends and colleagues. Teresa’s death represents a significant loss for the social work and palliative care communities.
For further information about Teresa’s life, please refer to .
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Student mobilization leads to new internship compensation program!
After three years of mobilization and protests, students and student associations across the province have obtained new funding for 17 000 students in sixteen programs, most of them traditionally feminized fields.
Our two students associations, including SWSA and SWAGS, played an active role in mobilizing students. One of our PhD students, Annabelle Berthiaume, was a member of the CUTE committees (Comités unitaires sur le travail étudiant), a key coordinating body for the movement.
Starting this fall social work students completing their final field internship in Quebec will be eligible for a $2,700 bursary for the final year of their field placement. Application and eligibility details will be available from the Field Office. Please send questions to pam.orzeck [at] mcgill.ca.
Person to contact (if relevant): pam.orzeck [at] mcgill.caĚýor see for futher details.
Congratulations to Maya Fennig, Recipient of the prestigious 2019 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
Helping refugees heal: Improving Eritrean refugees’ access to effective mental health care
Maya Fennig is a PhD candidate at Â鶹AV’s School of Social Work. Her current research interests are in the intersections between social work, psychiatry and ethnography. Her dissertation research explores how culture and context shape the way Eritrean refugees living in Israel express, experience and make sense of psychological distress. By examining Eritrean’s idioms of distress as well as their local attempts to cope with and recover from trauma, Maya’s study will promote culturally appropriate and effective policy and program interventions that seek to improve the mental health of refugees. Findings of her research will also contribute to knowledge and mental health theory regarding both universal and culture-specific aspects of trauma and resilience processes.
(Photo courtesy of: The Jeanne Sauvé Foundation)
The recipients are also featured in aĚýÂ鶹AV Reporter article. A formal celebration in their honour will be held in the Fall.
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Lillian Iannone: Honourary Social Worker
Lillian was recently recognized for her dedication and exceptional work as the recipient of theĚýArts Award of Excellence for Administrative and Support Staff.
llian Iannone has been a member of the Â鶹AV community and School of Social Work for 45 years. At the age of 17, straight out of high school, Lillian interviewed for a position at the School and has been thereĚýever since. She is currently the Administrative & Student Affairs Coordinator.Ěý
For the full story, clickĚýhere.
Retired professor and field instructor Sheila Goldbloom publishes memoir of her experiences as a social activist
Retired professor and field instructor Sheila Goldbloom publishes memoir of her experiences as a social activist
Almost 94, Sheila Goldbloom is a force of nature.ĚýThe wife of Victor Goldbloom writes her first book, Opening Doors
See full details and video .ĚýĚý
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Book Launch - Developmental Couple Therapy for Complex Trauma by Dr. Heather B. MacIntosh
Congratulations to Melanie Doucet, PhD Candidate named one of the 2019 Top 25 SSHRC Storytellers finalists!
contest challenges postsecondary students from across the country to tell the story—in three minutes or in 300 words—of howĚýSSHRC-funded research is making a difference in the lives of Canadians. The stories highlight how knowledge about the social sciences and humanities helps Canadians understand and improve the world.
“Once again, we were very impressed by the creativity the finalists have shown in their submissions. In a very concreate way, their projects show how social sciences and humanities research is more important than ever for our society,” saidĚýSSHRCĚýPresident Ted Hewitt. “Congratulations to the 25 finalists!”
See & hear MelanieĚýpresent her research at the SSHRC Storytellers Showcase at the Congress of Social Sciences and Humanities on June 3 at UBC.Ěý Facebook event:
Professor Tamara Sussman awarded the 2019 Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS) Graduate Faculty Teaching Award (Master’s Level).
Professor Tamara Sussman has been awarded the 2019 Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS) Graduate Faculty Teaching Award (Master’s Professor Sussman was nominated for the award on behalf of Â鶹AV by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies in recognition of her exceptional graduate teaching and supervision.
The NAGS awards committee noted in particular that they were most impressed by the quality of the letters of support from Professor Sussman’s students. She will receive the award on April 12th at a special award luncheon in Philadelphia ad the annul meeting of the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools.
Cindy Blackstock’s Order of Canada celebrated at Â鶹AV’s BRAVO 2019!
The Office of the Vice-Principal Research + Innovation congratulates Â鶹AV's faculty members and researchers who have recently been awarded external prizes for outstanding research. You can also view aĚýlisting of Â鶹AV's award recipientsĚýhere.ĚýÂ鶹AV’s annual Bravo gala celebrates the cream of the researcher crop. The winners of major provincial, national and international prizes, together with their families, friends and colleagues, gather to celebrate excellence in research and scholarship.Ěý
See video at YouTube link:ĚýĚý
#Â鶹AV24—Â鶹AV's annual day of giving
Today is #Â鶹AV24—Â鶹AV's annual day of giving. Let the world know how you are #Â鶹AVProud by supporting future leaders in the School of Social Work. Your generosity will go further than ever. .
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INVITED LECTURE by Tracey Lavoie - Getting at the heart of the matter: Critical and contemplative praxis at the cornerstone of teaching, research, and community collaboration & transformation
Tracey Lavoie is a social worker, PhD candidate in the Â鶹AV School of Social Work and Continuing Instructor at the University of Victoria School of Social Work. Her doctoral research, an arts-informed critical hermeneutic phenomenological study, explores social work educators’ lived experience of the intersection of mindfulness and anti-oppressive practice (AOP) in their pedagogical philosophy and practices. This research has emerged from vast social work practice, teaching and field education experience from a critical and AOP lens. Tracey’s experience includes child welfare social work with individuals, families and groups. In university settings, she has collaborated on developing student support services affiliated with an educational equity initiative.
Tracey’s presentation will highlight her experiences with a critical contemplative praxis that has evolved in her own teaching and research as the cornerstone of her pedagogical philosophy and practices. Examples of social justice-infused experiential exercises that reflect the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of this praxis, that strives toward transformative social change and ultimately supporting the individuals, families and communities with whom we work and the global environments in which we all live, will be included. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the implications for teaching, learning and social work practice, as well as her future program of research and vision for university-wide partnerships and community collaboration.
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Date:
Fri, Mar 15, 2019 @ 1-2 pm
Location:
School of Social Work
Â鶹AV
3506 University St
Wilson Hall
#326
RSVP: to Yong Hong Feng @ yong.feng [at] mcgill.ca
INVITED LECTURE by Dr. Alicia Boatswain-Kyte - Navigating marginalization: Reflections on social work practice, research & pedagogy
A practicing social worker with over 10 years’ experience working with marginalized individuals, families & groups mainly in the area of child protection, Dr. Alicia Boatswain-Kyte obtained her PhD at the Université de Montréal and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Université du Québec en Outaouais in the Department of Psychoeducation & Psychology.
Dr. Boatswain-Kyte will give an example lecture tailored to a class on Critical Practice with Marginalized Populations. She will share her reflections as a practitioner, researcher & social work educator on the historical and contemporary role of social work practice & research as it relates to transformative change. The session will allow for greater awareness and discussion regarding: a) gaps between social work theory and practice; b) importance of social and relational processes pursuant to social justice; c) need for participatory parity to ensure that individuals and groups are able to engage as full and equal peers within society; and d) importance of social work pedagogy that supports critical reflexivity.
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Date:
Fri, Mar 15, 2019 @ 9-10 am
Location:
School of Social Work
Â鶹AV
3506 University St
Wilson Hall
#326
RSVP: to Yong Hong Feng @Ěýyong.feng [at] mcgill.ca
Invited Lecture by Dr. Kaitlin Schwan - Preventing Youth Homelessness in Canada: What Will it Take?
Dr. Kaitlin Schwan is a Senior Researcher at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, a research centre and think tank located at York University. She received her PhD in Social Work from the University of Toronto, and recently completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Education at York University.
Dr. Schwan’s talk will focus on Preventing Youth Homelessness in Canada: What Will it Take? Following an overview of her program of research, she will discuss the findings of her 2018 pan-Canadian study on youth homelessness prevention. This qualitative study engaged youth experiencing homelessness in focus groups across 12 Canadian communities, inviting youth to reflect on what would have prevented their homelessness. Dr. Schwan will discuss key themes that emerged in youth’s discussions, outline the conceptual framework that emerged from this research, and conclude with a discussion of how this body of work orients her future scholarship and provides a map for future policy, practice, and research in the area of youth homelessness prevention.
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Date:
Wed, Mar 13, 2019 @ 9-10 am
Location:
School of Social Work
Â鶹AV
3506 University St
Wilson Hall
Wendy Patrick Room (#118)
RSVP:Ěýto Yong Hong Feng @Ěýyong.feng [at] mcgill.ca
Invited Lecture by Amal Elsana Alhjooj - Reclaiming Indigenous knowledge: Social Work Theory, Research & Practice
Dr. Elsana’s presentation will outline the core features of her research program and her burgeoning indigenous research philosophy. Through her research, Dr. Elsana strives to unpack indigenous social work knowledge, research, and the way in which indigenous social work is taught and practiced.
Date:
Tue, Mar 12, 2019 @ 9-10 am
Location:
School of Social Work
Â鶹AV
3506 University St
Wilson Hall
Wendy Patrick Room (#118)
RSVP:Ěýto Yong Hong Feng @Ěýyong.feng [at] mcgill.ca
Roots & Dreams: Can minority students anchor their aspirations in their ethnic/ racial identities to foster resilience? Invited lecture by RĂ©gine Debrosse
Dr. RĂ©gine Debrosse is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Education & Social Policy, Northwestern University, Chicago. Taking a strength-based approach, she investigates how ethnic/racial identities & relationships can be leveraged to foster resilience.
Building on her community work, Dr. Debrosse will talk about how coming to terms with multiple and at times contradictory identities is not always simple for minoritized ethnic, racial, and immigrant communities. Her talk will ask who do ethnic/racial minority adolescents and young adults aspire to be as individuals and when do they perceive that their aspirations fit with their ethnic/racial identity? By providing examples from past, current, and future research projects, Dr. Debrosse will discuss factors that support young people in resisting negative or narrow narratives both about who they are and who they can be.
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Date:
Wed, Feb 26, 2019 @ 9-10 am
Location:
School of Social Work
Â鶹AV
3506 University St
Wilson Hall
Wendy Patrick Room (#118)
RSVP: to Yong Hong Feng at yong.feng [at] mcgill.ca
UPCOMING JOB TALKS
FYI, below is the list of the upcoming job talks with the names. Flyers will be circulated and postedĚýas soon as they become available.
Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) in Social Welfare Policy
- Tue, Feb 26, 9-10 am @#118: RĂ©gine Debrosse, William T. Grant postdoctoral fellow @School of Education & Social Policy, Northwestern U; PhD in Experimental Psychology @Â鶹AV, 2016
- Tue, Mar 12, 9-10 am @#118: Amal El-Sana, PhD in Social Work @Â鶹AV, 2017
- Wed, Mar 13, 9-10 am @#118: Kaitlin J. Schwan, PhD in Social Work @U of Toronto, 2016.
Assistant Professor (Professional) Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups
- Fri, Mar 15, 9-10 am @TBD: Alicia Boatswain-Kyte, PhD in Social Work @U de Montréal, 2018
- Fri, Mar 15, 1-2 pm @TBD: Tracey L. Lavoie, SW PhD Candidate @Â鶹AV
Weaving together Experiences: the Story of Family, Invited Lecture by Susan Mintzberg
Susan MintzbergĚýis a PhD candidate in the School of Social Work at Â鶹AV. Her doctoral research, funded by FRQSC, explores the role of families in psychiatry with a focus on collaboration between family members and mental health care professionals. This work evolved from ten years of clinical practice with individuals and families in community mental health.
In an earlier career, Susan was a photojournalist with published work in newspapers and magazines.
Susan’s focus on families has been consistent throughout her career. This presentation, Weaving together experiences: the story of family, will highlight key elements of her work. Using examples, she will discuss the connections between her clinical, research, teaching and interdisciplinary experiences, and address how the story of family has influenced her thinking about social work practice and pedagogy.
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Date:
Wed, Feb 20, 2019 @ 9-10 am
Location:
School of Social Work
Â鶹AV
3506 University St
Wilson Hall
Wendy Patrick Room (#118)
RSVP: to Yong Hong Feng at yong.feng [at] mcgill.ca
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Standing up to injustice: Cindy Blackstock on moral courage
Named to Chatelaine magazine's Women of the Year list for 2018, Cindy Blackstock is a tireless advocate for Indigenous children's rights.
A Professor at Â鶹AV's School of Social Work and the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, Blackstock shares the lessons she has learned and her hopes for the future in an interview with Arts Student Ambassador, Kharoll-Ann Souffrant.
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View ArticleĚýfor details.
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Congratulations to Professor Cindy Blackstock who was recently named to Chatelaine magazine’s Women of the Year list for 2018
Professor Cindy BlackstockĚýwas featured on the list “for being a tireless advocate for Indigenous children’s rights.”
The Chatelaine citation: “You can be sure that Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott knows the nameĚýCindy Blackstock. Blackstock, a member of the Gitksan First Nation, is on a mission to ensure the federal government compensates First Nations children who faced discrimination under the on-reserve child welfare system. We’re in awe of her energy: she’s a professor at the School of Social Work at Â鶹AV, the executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, and on the interim board of the new Foundation for Sixties Scoop Survivors. She’s proved an inspiration to child welfare activists everywhere: In September, she was recognized by the Children’s Aid Foundation, receiving the prestigious Lynn Factor Stand Up for Kids National Award.”
To read full article, clickĚý.