Kutztown University to Host Social Work Community Forum March 28

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Department of Social Work at Kutztown University is proud to host the 21st Annual Community Forum, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, March 28, Schaeffer Auditorium. The Community Forum is a gathering of social work professionals, university community members and community leaders to raise consciousness about, and craft solutions to community needs, particularly as they pertain to families.

This year’s forum is themed “Exploring the Social Determinants of Mental Health: Policy and Practice Implications.” The event is open to the public, offering a platform for extensive discussion and collaborative solution-finding. Registration is available online.

Distinguished Keynote Speaker

Ron Manderscheid, Ph.D., will be sharing the Role of Social Determinants in Prevention, Trauma, Crisis and Recovery. Manderscheid has a lifelong commitment to social good and social justice. This is reflected through a career that spans national work with the Congress and Administration, federal agencies, NGOs and university teaching.

He is the executive director of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors and Professor at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Manderscheid serves on the boards of the Global Leadership Exchange, the NASMHPD Research Institute and the Danya Institute. He also served until recently as the co-chair of the National Coalition for Whole Health and on the boards of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare and the National Grand Challenge for Social Work Initiative.

Manderscheid edited eight editions of Mental Health, United States, co-edited Outcome Measurement in the Human Services and contributed to Public Mental Health, First and Second Editions. He also published more than 550 scientific and professional papers on services to persons with mental illness and substance use conditions. He currently serves on several editorial boards and prepares a periodic blog. For almost two decades, he served on the editorial board of Behavioral Healthcare Executive (www.behavioral.net).

Featured Sessions and Speakers

The forum will also highlight a diverse lineup of speakers and sessions, including:

• Kathy Quick on The Status of Mental Health Services in Pennsylvania: What Do WE Think?
• Kyle McGee on Burnout Among Social Workers in Integrated Care
• Hollie Gibbons, Cedar Crest College
• Autumn Zackowski and Emily McDevitt on the Screening for Needs: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Family Support & Social Needs in Inpatient Pediatrics
• Edward Hanna and Dr. Heather LaBarre for Evaluation and Closing

In addition to these insightful presentations, the event will feature the Diversity Prize Scholarships and the Proclamation of Social Work Month, underscoring Kutztown University’s commitment to social work education and community service.

Continuing Education Credits

Attendees can earn up to six continuing education credits, including three ethics credits, applicable for licensed social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors.

About Kutztown University Department of Social Work

The Department of Social Work at Kutztown University offers nationally accredited BSW, MSW and DSW programs, tailored to meet the diverse needs of rural, suburban and urban communities. Through high-quality curricula and program activities, the department is committed to preparing students for the challenges and opportunities in the field of social work.