KU Social Work Day to highlight latest developments, research in the field
LAWRENCE – About 350 social workers and University of Kansas alumni will gather April 13 in Lawrence to hear and learn about the latest developments and therapies in social work. Social Work Day is an all-day program at the Kansas Union. The day consists of two keynote speakers, Marsha Martin, director of Get Screened Oakland, and Kevin Bomhoff, licensed master social worker in community and organizational development at Wichita State University Center for Community Support and Research, as well as eight workshops provided by KU faculty.
Martin, the architect of municipal HIV testing, is director of Get Screened Oakland, a mayoral-level, municipal public-private partnership and campaign for universal testing that began in 2007 in Oakland. Martin will present the first keynote, “Health Care Reform: Ready, Set, Go… Sort of,” from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. She will discuss health reform, insurance reform, affordability reform and accessibility reform.
Bomhoff has been with Wichita State University for Community Support and Research since 1999. He will present the second keynote, “Understanding and Overcoming ‘Immunity to Change,’” from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. After attending Bomhoff’s presentation, participants will begin to understand what’s necessary to overcome resistance to change.
In addition to the speakers, the KU School of Social Welfare dean will recognize two social work alumni and one faculty member with this year’s Recognition of Excellence awards. The 2012 Outstanding Social Work Alumni awards will go to Dean Olson and Lynn Kaufman. Olson is the vice president of programs at The Family Conservancy in Kansas City, Kan., which serves more than 60,000 families throughout the Kansas City metro area. Kaufman is a social worker at KVC Behavioral Health Care, where she has helped children in residential treatment and their families for the past 21 years. The 2012 Outstanding KU Social Work Faculty award will go to social welfare associate professor Johnny Kim. Kim’s research interests include school social work practice, solution-focused brief therapy, meta-analysis, Asian-American youth development and evidence-based practice. Kim has published numerous journal articles and one book, “Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Schools: A 360-Degree View of the Research and Practice Principles.”
Social Work Day is an annual event organized by the KU School of Social Welfare and The Social Work Alumni Society. Registration and more information are available online.