Community Forum

17th Annual Community Forum

March 19, 2021 -- Schaeffer Auditorium

Education Enterprise in Transition: A Call to Action.

Forum 2021 Purpose

The Kutztown University Community Forum, organized by the Department of Social Work, is a gathering of social work professionals, university community members, and community leaders. The purpose is to raise consciousness about—and craft solutions to—community needs, particularly as they pertain to families. Forum 2020 raises awareness of issues surrounding the education enterprise and its intersection with families, community, and students in an effort to promote best practices and a systemic, ethical response to regional and global needs. Experts identify best practices and social work professionals serve as catalysts to build and strengthen alliances across the practice continuum.

Proposed Panel and Session Topics

(subject to change)

Social Workers in Schools: Regulation and Implementation Video Conference	Pedro Rivera, Secretary of PA Department of Education, and Pam Smith, MSW, Special Assistant
Panel Discussion on Education in Transition
The Social Institution of Education in Transition—Demands and Opportunities	Dr. John Ward, Dean, College of Education
The Current State of Schools and Need and Opportunities for Social Work	Dr. George Ioannidis, Superintendent, Spring Grove Area School District
Pennsylvania Association for School Social Work Personnel	Joseph Werner, President Dee Stalnecker, PASSWP Vice President, History of School Social Work
Response to need and Opportunities: The Center for the Study of School Social Work	Dr. John Vafeas, Chair, Department of Social Work, Founder of the Center
Research and Evidence-Based Action	Dr. Matthew Cuellar and Dr. Samantha Coyle, Montclair State University Beth Tomlinson, Director, K-12 Education at United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Panelist Questions

What is your organization doing to promote awareness of and collaborations with other organizations and systems in order to promote a systemic, ethical response to issues related to the education enterprise and implications for families/communities/children?
What policies help or hinder your ability to respond effectively to obstacles?
What strategies do you propose to address the issue?

Forum Action Plan

The Kutztown University Community Forum seeks to raise consciousness and promote critical and ethical analysis of social and political conditions across the practice continuum. Please strive to craft at least one solution. Sketch out an action plan—with at least one activity identified to occur within the next month. We will ask for your feedback on the evaluation instrument, and will distribute an online follow-up survey to assess progress on the action plans later in the spring.

Continuing Education Credit Certificates

A maximum of 6 continuing education credits are available for Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors. (3 credits for morning only, 3 for afternoon only, or 6 for full day; full day attendees will receive 3 of the 6 credits as ethics credits)

Continuing education credits will be forwarded via email after the event. Please allow two weeks processing time.

Social Work Book Fund

The Department of Social Work has established a fund to help defray the cost of textbooks for our social work students. Your gracious donation will be appreciated.

Click to Donate to the Social Work Book Fund