Faculty Spotlight
Fall 2011 |
Restoring Justice to Education: Lessons Learned from a Middle School Pilot Project
Dr. Edmon Tucker presented at the Fourteenth World Conference of the International Institute of Restorative Practices in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on June 16, 2011. His presentation entitled, “Restoring Justice to Education: Lessons Learned from a Middle School Pilot Project,” detailed the implementation issues and outcome implications of a restorative practices program that Dr. Tucker created in Columbia, South Carolina while he was an Assistant Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina.
The proliferation of zero tolerance policies in the United States has created a school-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately targets poor students and students with learning disabilities. The one‐size‐fits‐all approach of zero tolerance policies in grades K-12 that impose mandatory punishments for an ever-increasing array of student behaviors, including developmentally normative behaviors, has significantly increased suspensions, expulsions, dropouts, and juvenile criminal prosecutions. The empirical research, however, does not support a deterrent or corrective rationale for the use of these exclusionary punishments in schools.
Many communities in the U.S. are recognizing the failures of current disciplinary practices in schools and are seeking alternative solutions. Restorative practices have been shown to improve student behavior and create a school environment conducive to learning. Dr. Tucker trained masters-level social work interns to administer restorative practices in a middle school that was experiencing high rates of suspensions and expulsions. Dr. Tucker’s restorative team was able to assist the school’s administration and faculty with making significant changes in their approach to discipline that greatly reduced suspension rates.
Dr. Tucker is attempting to pilot a similar program in South Florida and has had promising discussions with officials at Broward County Public Schools. Dr. Tucker is committed to community-based research that provides service learning opportunities for students.
Claiming Our Future: Developing a Youth-Driven, Narrative Group Program for Urban, Multi-ethnic, LGBTQ Youth
On October 25, 2011 Dr. Mark Smith was invited to present a 2 hour presentation for the Central Florida chapter of the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups (AASWG). The workshop was held at the University of Central Florida and coordinated by Olga Molina, associate professor, in UCF’s School of Social Work. Both Dr. Smith and Dr. Molina hold positions on AASWG’s Board of Directors. Dr. Smith was warmly introduced by Dr. Sophia Dziegielewski, who previewed for those in attendance Dr. Smith’s body of scholarship and professional interests. The presentation was titled: Claiming Our Future: Developing a Youth-Driven, Narrative Group Program for Urban, Multi-ethnic, LGBTQ Youth and describes the development of a new model of providing group programming for the youth served by The Alliance for GLBTQ Youth in Miami-Dade County. In addition to describing the process of developing the youth-driven model, the presentation also outlined the risks, resilience, and developmental trajectories of contemporary LGBTQ youth, particularly urban youth who contend with the stresses associated with multi-ethnicity, and cultural diversity in south Florida.
Spring 2011 |
Doles Jadotte, School of Social Work Adjunct Instructor, Field Advisor and Educator Takes on a New Endeavor
Upon my graduation as an MSW from Barry University, School of Social Work, I have been working at the Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center/Jackson Health System for almost four years. I have used my experience at the agency to understand the dynamics of sexual violence. I have witnessed and been, inspired by my clients’ resiliency and ability to overcome adversity. As such, I have established a commitment to Social Work and community-at-large in order to contribute and give back to those who are most vulnerable. I have been privileged to join Barry University, School of Social Work as an adjunct professor, field advisor and field educator.
Through my work at the rape treatment center, I have recognized that the majority of rape survivors I saw for counseling are also immigrants or refugees who claimed that they have been re-victimized by other human service professionals. This trend of revictimization of rape survivors has sparked an interest for me in a quite understudied area. I have discovered that cultural generalizability has played a significant role in creating conflict among helpers and rape survivors.
Often times a gap in knowledge is paralleled by a gap in service. I strongly believe there is a need to seek conceptual tools for analyzing conflict as well as to examining more effective ways to process conflict and provide appropriate interventions. I endeavor to earn a Ph.D. in Conflict Resolution and Analysis at Nova Southeastern University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences with the hope to enhance my skills, broaden my knowledge, examine existing paradigms, and create more client focused programming to eliminate gaps of services.
Janet Courtney, Ph.D., LCSW, Adjunct Professor Barry University School of Social Work
I attended the 2010 International Play Therapy World Congress held in Marrakech, Morocco along with approximately 200 other Child Play Therapists from around the world. The conference started out with a bang! or should I rather say a “drum”. Handmade ceramic Moroccan drums were distributed to participants sitting in the auditorium of the Palais de Congress connected to the hotel, Mansour Eddahbi. The Therapist’s were led by a leader on stage who guided us to play these beautiful drums. It was surprising how quickly the room synchronized to the drumming rhythm and the whole auditorium resonated with the drumming vibrations. At the end of the drumming session, I was reluctantly willing to relinquish the drum back to its givers. But just at that moment, the President of Play Therapy International, MoniKa Jephcott, announced that the drums were a gift to all–we could keep them. You could hear voices of astonishment throughout the room.
The first opening day followed with Keynotes from several fascinating speakers well known in the world of child therapy including, Mike Shooter, Sue Gerhardt, Fraser Brown and Sir Richard Bowlby. On the second day of the conference, I presented on the topic of Mother Earth Metaphors in Child therapy which bridges earth sciences into the play therapy room. My research on the Therapist Representations of a Child Therapist Pre and Post Developmental Play Therapy, produced from my dissertation at Barry University, was well received and I am excited about continuing the research of “Draw a Picture of a Child Therapist” abroad.
Two magical evenings stand out as we celebrated a formal dinner gathering and an exciting Morrocan evening of dance, food, wine, a live band and drumming. It was exciting to meet and spend time with other Child Play Therapists from all over the world. The Staff of Play Therapy International created a memorable week of learning, fun, play, and networking with those who care about children.
Dr. Sharron Singleton, In November 2010, she was part of a panel that included Dr. Grizzle (Sociology), Dr. Rita Clark (Miami Coalition for the Homeless). The panel was facilitated by communications major Ruthnell Ferguson and the topic focused on “Homelessness in America.” The discussion covered: who the homeless are, causes for homelessness, the numbers of homeless in the state of Florida, and fact versus fiction regarding the homeless population. We also gave comments on our review of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. Joining the panel was veteran, single father who found himself to be homeless within a year of returning from active duty…he discussed in progression into and out of homelessness and what that was like for him as a single father. He also provided his perspective on the services, or lack thereof, for returning veterans along with his frustrations at the slowness with which the veteran-specific services, identified in the Federal Strategic Plan, are being actualized. I’m not certain when the segment will air…you could contact the student to find out. Let me know what other information you might need and I’ll try to supply.
Fall 2010 |
Dr. Tisa McGhee, Assistant Professor of Social Work, joined Barry University’s School of Social Work in the fall of 2010. She teaches Social Work Practice, Policy, HBSE and Domestic Violence courses. Dr. McGhee received both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Psychology from Cal State University; her Masters in Social Welfare from the University of California Los Angeles and her doctorate in Social Work with a concentration in macro organizational capacity building work from the University of Southern California. Her professional interests have included her work in child welfare, working with families in crisis and domestic/family violence. Dr. McGhee current research interest is in the management and administration of human service organizations specifically in the capacity building activities of non-profits.
Dr. Edmon Tucker, joined the Barry University faculty in 2010. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Emory University, his J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law where he was Leading Articles Editor for the SMU Law Review, and his M.S.W. and Ph.D. from Florida International University. Prior to joining the Barry faculty, Dr. Tucker was an Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work where he created a restorative practices program in a local middle school utilizing (M.S.W. student) field interns.
&social work, and restorative justice. Dr. Tucker has several years of social work practice experience, primarily in community mental health. In addition, he has taught courses spanning the curriculum, including Social Work Practice, HBSE, Policy, and Research courses.
