Social Work Research Center Delta Outreach
The University of Arkansas School of Social Work is a unit of the Fulbright College. Within the School, a Social Work Research Center (SWRC) was established in 2001 through an award from the U.S. Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. The purpose of the Center is to develop social work research infrastructrues to improve research, policy, and practice instruction received by social work students. The Center emphasized social work research and instruction to assess, analyze, and develop a range of policy and practice recommendations and interventions that will help move vulnerable persons from poverty to self-efficiency and well-being, especially those person living in Arkansas Delta Communities.
Since it inception, SWRC has awared three fellowships to the University of Arkansas faculty for projects that are specific to the Arkansas Delta. Dr. Yvette Murphy, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work, received a fellowship to address health beliefs and health locus of control as it relates to the immunization status of grandchildren who are in the care of African-American grandmothers. Dr. Kameri Christy-McMullin, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work, is researching the well-being of Arkansas IDA participants. Dr. Charlene Johnson, Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction was awarded a fellowship to investigate the educational achievement and classroom experiences of elementary school students in the Arkansas Delta based on the educational preparation of the educators.
School of Social Work faculty members have made numerous contacts in the Arkansas Delta. Dr. Vaughn DeCoster, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work, has a project in progress to develop support groups for African-American elders living with diabetes. Dr. DeCoster is a Hartford Scholor and his is funded by the Gerontological Society of America. Dr. Yvetter Murphy, Assistant Professor, has extended suppor to the community o fwilmar to address some of the social, educational, and economic issues the community is presently expericencing. Dr. Murphy is currently in the planning stages for this project.
Dr. Debra Hurd, Interim Director of the Social Work Research Center, has made several contacts within the American Delta including meeting with representatives of the Mayor's Office in Pine Bluff, member os the Conrerstone Coalition based in Monticello, and representatives from the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in Helena and West Memphis. Dr. Hurd was also invited to be the evaluator for a federal proposal by Counseling Services of Eastern Arkansas to enhance mental health services for the elderly. Freda Thomas, MSW, serves as the Delta Liaison for the Social work Research Center. Ms. Thomas is based in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and is responsible for building partnerships and collaborations between the University of Arkansas School of Social Work and agencies and individuals in the Arkansas Delta. Non-profit agencies serving Delta residents have enlised Ms. Thomas for assistance related to assessing community needs, grant writing, and enhancing educational opportunities. Ms. Thomas is also visiting human service agencies in the Delta to recruit for potential field sites for social work student internships.
The School of Social Work and the Social Work Research Center also has a lengthy partnership with several social work programs based in or near the Arkansas Delta. Those partners include Arkansas State University, Philander Smith College, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and University of Arkansas at Monticello. The School of Social Work is currently collaborating with these partners to increase educational opportunities for Arkansas Delta residents and to increase the number of social workers in the region.
The Social Work Research Center has recieved continued funding to further the expanision of research and practice initiatives in the Arkansas Delta. The SWRC plans to establish a field office in collaboration with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Philander Smith College, and Arkansas State University. This office will serve prospective and current social work students. Students pursuing the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree will be provided with mentoring advising, retention, and career placement services. Freda Thomas, MSW will serve as the primary contact for prospective and current students, community leaders, agency represenatives, and other stakeholders in Arkansas Delta communities.