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Author: Jessica Famularo

Boston Globe: CISWH Director Tami Gouveia Shares View on the 2024 Election

Dr. Tami Gouveia, director of the Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH) at BU School of Social Work (BUSSW) shared her response to the 2024 U.S. presidential election in a recent interview with the Boston Globe. The article asked several Boston-area women how they’ve responded to the election and their expectations for the future heading into another Trump presidency. Dr. Gouveia shares her experience leading the Massachusetts’s chapter of the Women’s March in Washington in 2017, and how women’s responses eight years later have changed.  

Excerpt from “Trump is back after winning more women’s votes. Some fear it’s a sign the country has moved backward on #MeToo and more,” by Anjali Huynh:  

“What I see now is continued passion and compassion that’s going to translate into strategic action. That’s why I think we’re not seeing as strong of a reaction — we anticipated that this could happen and we’re figuring out what the most effective ways of responding are going to be.” 

Read the full article here. 

CISWH & BUSSW Students and Faculty Participate in 13th Annual BU Global Programs International Education Week 2024

 Thursday, November 14, 2024 
12:00 – 2:00 PM 
Conant Lounge, 2nd Floor 
BU School of Social Work, 264 Bay State Road 

Global Social Work: Community Voices and Interdisciplinary Partnerships in Nicaragua, Rwanda, and Kenya  

Join us for a panel session where faculty and students from the Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH) and BU School of Social Work (BUSSW) will discuss global, community-centered partnerships that promote rights-based global change, equitable health, psychosocial education, and well-being in Nicaragua, Kenya, and Rwanda. This event is being held as part of BU Global Programs International Education Week (IEW) 2024.  

The speakers will share their experiences partnering with cross-cultural organizations to advance health and well-being worldwide.  

Speakers 

  • Luz López, PhD, MPH, Clinical Professor, BUSSW; Global Social Work Director, CISWH 
  • Emily Lamunu (SSW’27), CISWH fellow 
  • David Andrade (SSW’24), CISWH fellow 
  • Elizabeth Johnson (SSW’24, SPH’26) 

IEW is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange. 

In-person attendance is highly encouraged for this interactive event. However, if you are unable to attend in-person, please use the link below to join us virtually. 

Attend the Event 

CISWH Faculty and Student Fellows Share Expertise at APHA 2024

Faculty and student fellows from the Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH) at BU School of Social Work (BUSSW) presented on research and innovations in interdisciplinary education at the American Public Health Association’s 2024 Annual Meeting, held recently in Minneapolis, MN.  

The CISWH team shared their expertise on a broad range of topics, including trauma-informed mental health interventions in rural Nicaragua, the benefits of using systems theory and participatory mapping to create an organizational theory of change, and lessons learned from a virtual reality simulated learning pilot for an interdisciplinary graduate-level course on the Social Determinants of Health in healthcare settings. Learn more about the presentations below.  

Charting Success: Participatory Systems Mapping in Social Work Organizational Leadership and Strategic Planning 

Dr. Tami Gouveia, CISWH director and Paul Farmer Professor of Practice, shared how CISWH used participatory systems mapping to develop the center’s new theory of change and strategic plan. Demonstrating the CISWH team’s successful application of systems approaches, Dr. Gouveia highlighted how social work leaders can apply systems theory to organizational leadership, as well as in developing sound interventions to address society’s most complex issues.  

Global Health Interdisciplinary Partnerships for Trauma-informed Care in Nicaragua 

Prof. Luz M. López, CISWH global social work director and clinical professor at BUSSW, shared the outcomes of a qualitative and quantitative study evaluating the efficacy of an interdisciplinary training program that helped social workers and other mental health professionals in Estelí, Nicaragua deliver trauma-informed care to families affected by domestic violence.  

Women’s Leadership in Global Health 

Ottoho Edima (DrPH’27), CISWH graduate fellow, discussed how women in global public health still face barriers that limit their leadership and career advancement opportunities. Even in states with robust funding in public health and healthcare, women experience challenges with work life balance, accessing mentorship opportunities, and unequal pay. Edima proposes that women-led mentorship programs and supportive professional networks can start to address these problems.  

MyART4U 
 
During a poster session, Emily Lamunu (PhD’27) proposed the MyART4U project, a mobile phone app that would provide people living with HIV in Uganda a tool to help manage their health more effectively. The app would be developed with culturally sensitive technology to ensure that marginalized communities get the care that they need, while also fostering social inclusion and eliminating stigma.  

Collaborative Approach to Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Dental Education: Implementation of an Interprofessional Education Rotation 

CISWH graduate fellow Melanie Morris (PhD’24) highlighted a new, interprofessional approach to third-year student rotations at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Implemented during the 2023-2024 academic year, dental students participated in team-based workshops alongside pharmacy, social work, and nutrition students to think critically about how diverse health disciplines can work together to provide better, more equitable outcomes for patients.  

 
Social Work Expertise in Multidisciplinary Health Care Settings to Address Social Determinants of Health: Lessons Learned from a Virtual Reality Education Initiative  

CISWH graduate fellow Zoë Richman (MSW’25) discussed the outcomes of a pilot for an interdisciplinary course that helps medical, social work, and nutrition students practice integrating the Social Determinants of Health into care collaboratively through a virtual reality simulation.  

CISWH Director Dr. Tami Gouveia Shares Expertise at International System Dynamics Conference

Photo courtesy of Ehsan Haque

Dr. Tami Gouveia, CISWH director, recently spoke at the International System Dynamics Conference (ISDC) in Bergen, Norway. The conference theme, “Bridging Perspectives for New Insights” focused on the need for collaboration among diverse disciplines for deeper understanding and stronger problem solving.

Gouveia joined Rebecca D. Niles, executive director of the System Dynamics Society and principal of Iceberg Partners; and Braveheart Gillani, PhD candidate in Social Welfare at Case Western Reserve University, in describing how the FASTBreak participatory mapping process helped CISWH staff and faculty develop the center’s theory of change and strategy portfolio. With coaching from Niles and Gillani, the CISWH team created behavior charts and causal maps to develop a new theory of change: supercharge innovation in social work research, training, and practice to build collective power and influence on the political agenda for health equity globally. This new theory of change will inform the center’s revised strategic plan, which will build out domestic, global, and policy portfolios to drive outcomes.

Dr. Gouveia and CISWH fellow Jennica Allen (DrPH’27) also led a roundtable discussion titled “Communicating Effectively with Policymakers for Greater Influence.” The session explored challenges that drive regulatory and legislative decision-making, including short-term narrow thinking and a lack of multi-disciplinary collaboration. As a former Massachusetts state legislator, Dr. Gouveia shared best practices for communicating with elected officials, and how to shift from siloed to dynamic systems thinking in policy conversations.

Learn more about Dr. Tami Gouveia’s work.

Job Opportunity: Marketing and Communications Intern

The Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH) at BU School of Social Work is looking for a motivated applicant who has communications or marketing experience from a previous internship, work-study program, or through coursework, to assist our team with website updates, event planning, content creation, social media, graphic design, newsletter, podcast, and other administrative needs.

The position pays $21.00/hour for 10 hours per week. It is currently open to BU undergraduate and graduate students, and we are interested in hiring as soon as possible. Ending date for the position is negotiable.

This role will assist in a range of activities including:

Editorial: Create content for the website, social media channels, newsletter,or other platforms as assigned.

Social Media: Create dynamic social media posts according to each platform’s best practices; Assist team in scheduling content.

Event Promotion: Assist in the coordination and promotion of in-person, online, and hybrid events.

Design/Multimedia: Assist with the design and development of print & digital materials and coordinating photo shoots.

Media/News Monitoring: Monitor media coverage of current social work topics and other related timely issues, monitor and flag CISWH media hits that mention our center.

Data analysis: Assist marketing manager with analytics reporting for all media channels (website, email marketing, social media, etc.).

Newsletter: Assist with creating and editing content for new newsletter.

Podcast: Assist with identifying guests, setting up recording and editing content for new podcast.

Requirements: Excellent communication skills; Experience in social media, preferably for professional purposes; Detail-oriented and a strong work ethic; A willingness to learn and cultivate new communications and marketing skills; Web editing experience, preferably in a WordPress environment; Interest in social work and social justice topics

Preferred: Graphic design interest and knowledge, preferably in Adobe Creative Cloud applications and/or Canva; Podcast production

Interested applicants should submit a separate resume, cover letter, and a link to your design/content portfolio if applicable. Applications that do not include the requested documents will not be considered.

How to apply: Interested applicants should submit a separate resume, cover letter, and relevant work samples to Jessica Famularo at [email protected]. Your cover letter should include a personal introduction and an explanation of your interest in the position with a summary of relevant skills and experience. Applications that do not include the requested  documents will not be considered.

OPENPediatrics Complex Care Journal Club Podcast: CISWH Experts Share Best Practices for Ensuring Human Dignity in Care for Children with Medical Complexity

Bethlyn Vergo Houlihan , Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH) project director, and Meg Comeau, CISWH senior project director, appeared on the latest OPENPediatrics Complex Care Journal Club Podcast where they shared recent findings from a qualitative analysis of focus groups with families of children with medical complexity. The purpose of the 27 focus groups across 10 states was to gain a better understanding of families’ quality of life and well-being, and how care providers could better meet their children’s and families’ needs.  

Through powerful focus group reflections, families expressed the importance of counteracting societal bias about children and families with medical complexity by viewing each child as a whole person rather than just a medical diagnosis. When providers respond to a child with medical complexity as a whole human, capable of leading a life full of meaning and joy, the experience of care is  transformed for everyone in the family and the care provider team. CISWH researchers also found that building trusted relationships and incorporating family expertise into decision-making are the most important, yet often missing, elements of care for families. Incorporating family expertise into decision-making can lead to strong improvements in child quality of life and family well-being.   

 
Excerpt from “Upholding Human Dignity for Children with Medical Complexity and their Families” by the OPENPediatrics Complex Care Journal Club Podcast: 

 
“I think it’s all part of that same sense of the family saying, ‘Look, our child is not a burden, our child is a joy’. And it’s the system, or a lack of system really all around, that isn’t able to provide the support. It’s this much larger daily experience of [families] feeling they’re constantly fighting to say, ‘I just want what we know we need so that my child can live, can just be a child and enjoy childhood experiences’. I think it makes a huge difference for everybody when you’re able to bring your humanity into an encounter and into a relationship, and that’s not always easy to figure out how to do. But I think that that is exactly what families are saying that needs to be elevated, emphasized, and valued as one of the most important things that they need in order to feel like it’s improving their daily lives for them and their children.” 

 
Listen to the full episode here.  

CISWH Experts Present ‘The Future of Care for Children with Medical Complexity’ Virtual Café Series

In this family-driven interdisciplinary café-style series, funded by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health (LPFCH)  and presented by co-principal investigators (PIs) Bethlyn Houlihan and Meg Comeau of the Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH) at BU School of Social Work, experts share perspectives on what matters most to families of children with medical complexity (CMC) to improve systems of care. The sessions are largely based on learnings from the Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network to Advance the Care of CMC (CMC CoIIN). Cafés focus on facilitated, active group discussions for concrete strategies to advance policy, clinical practice, research, and interdisciplinary education, elevating family leader colleagues throughout. Participants’ ideas are then synthesized thematically using generative AI and distributed widely. 

 

3/27/24 – Café #1: Where We Are Now & Where We Need to Go 

In the first café, Cara Coleman, JD, MPH, The Bluebird Way Foundation, and Meg Comeau, MHA, CISWH, provided a brief overview of key topics, major frameworks, and emerging trends to advance the quality of life and well-being of CMC and their families through federal, state, and local initiatives. Bethlyn Houlihan, MSW, MPH, CISWH, took a deep dive into participants’ questions and facilitated large group discussion to garner insights into improving systems of care of CMC including actionable strategies, resources, and leverage points for change. 

View the recording, slides, and related materials here.  

 

5/29/24 – Café #2: Humanism in Clinical Care to Meet Whole Child/Family Needs 

In this session, Bethlyn Houlihan, MSW, MPH, CISWH, and Dennis Kuo, MD, MHS, University of Rochester, shared current framing around what matters most to families from, “What Families of Children With Medical Complexity Say They Need: Humanism in Care Delivery Change”, focusing on strategies for humanism in practice to improve care delivery and mitigate systems-level bias. Participants then explored how to reinvigorate human-driven approaches to meet whole child/family needs in systems of care. 

View the recording, slides, and related materials here. 

 

7/24/24 – Cafe #3: Policy Opportunities 

In this hour-long café, Lisa Kirsch, MPaff, senior policy director of the dean’s office at Dell Medical School, and Meg Comeau, MHA, CISWH senior project director, will share framing around the current policy landscape for CMC. Through facilitated discussion in breakouts, participants will explore and learn together where policy opportunities lie for both small and substantial changes at the local, state, and national levels. We will reconvene the group to share high-level takeaways from breakouts and ideas will be synthesized thematically using generative AI and distributed widely. 

 Learn more and register here.  

 

8/21/24 – Café #4: Family-Driven Approach to Understanding Family Well-Being and Its Facilitators 

Speakers Jay Berry, MD, MPH, and Katie Huth, MD, MMSc, FRCPC, both of Boston Children’s Hospital will briefly share framing around the current state of research priorities for children with medical complexity, including family-driven measurement. Through facilitated discussion in breakouts, participants will explore and learn together where meaningful research opportunities lie to advance policy and practice. The group will reconvene briefly to share high-level takeaways from breakouts. Ideas will then be synthesized thematically using generative AI and distributed widely. 

Learn more and register here. 

 

10/30/24– Café #5: Health Equity and Anti-Ableism Through Family Partnership 

This café will be led by discussants Nikki Montgomery, MA, MEd, GPAC, Director of Strategy and Communications, Family Voices, mother of a child with medical complexity; and Michelle J. White, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine. Discussants will first give examples of the pressing need to address bias in systems of care and move from a medical to social model of care, and key ways family colleagues’ lived expertise is essential to humanizing systems.  Through facilitated discussion in breakouts, participants will explore and learn together tangible tools, strategies, and resources to effectively partner with families to make real progress in health equity and anti-ableism. We will reconvene the group briefly to share high-level takeaways from breakouts. 

Learn more and register here. 

 

12/4/24 – Café #6: Sustainability and Strategic Partnerships  

The final of six virtual cafés will be led by discussants Rahel Berhane, MD, Jeff Schiff, MD, MBA and Rich Antonelli, MD, MS. Dr. Berhane will first share a real-world example of moving from consultation to true family partnership in co-designing sustainable systems centered on humanism. Dr. Schiff will offer a strategic yet practical perspective of the necessary elements for advancing sustainable care, embracing a pragmatic philosophy of radical incrementalism inclusive of building trust with Medicaid. Dr. Antonelli will elevate existing leverage points for sustainable change. Through facilitated discussions with the full group, participants will explore together strategies they can employ to make progress towards meaningful sustainability and strategic partnerships for humanistic care.

Learn more and register here.  

 

Learn more about the CMC CoIIN. 

Pediatrics: New Assessment Tool Enhances Family Engagement in Healthcare Systems Change

A recent Pediatrics article by CISWH researchers identifies the Family Engagement in Systems Assessment Tool (FESAT) as a key tool for improving family partnership in healthcare systems changes. The article highlights how two state teams from the Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network (CoIIN) for Children with Medical Complexity (CMC), Colorado and Oregon, utilized the FESAT to assess and advance family engagement on their teams for quality improvement projects to improve quality of life of CMC, the well-being of their families, and the cost-effectiveness of their care. 

The FESAT, developed by Family Voices, is a valuable tool in facilitating meaningful engagement for family colleagues in healthcare systems change. The case studies from CMC CoIIN teams in Colorado and Oregon revealed key lessons: 

  • Early partnerships with family leaders are crucial for successful quality improvement initiatives. Both Colorado and Oregon emphasized the importance of involving families and youth from the outset of their projects to co-design the initiative.

  • Repetitive use of the FESAT allows teams to consistently evaluate and improve family engagement practices over time. By regularly assessing their progress and adjusting strategies through a consensus-driven process, quality improvement teams can ensure meaningful partnerships with family leaders for systems change.
  • The FESAT operationalizes transparency and communication to allow for targeted and specific action plans for culture change; both domains are essential to fostering meaningful partnerships with families.
  • Adapting the research methods and approaches to reflect the current experiences and needs of family leaders on the team is necessary for effective engagement.

  • Cross-team learning and sharing in family partnership efforts allows teams to learn from one another and accelerate progress. 

The implementation of the FESAT provides valuable guidance for interprofessional teams seeking to deepen family engagement in systems of care change initiatives. 

Read the full article here.

GlobeNewsWire: National CISWH Initiative Addresses HIV-Related Inequities Through Supportive Housing Interventions

In an effort to address HIV related disparities, the Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH) at Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) and the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) have embarked on a national initiative to implement, adapt, and evaluate housing interventions for three priority populations affected by HIV. 

The Supporting Replication (SURE) of Housing Interventions project, also known as the SURE Housing Initiative,is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s HIV/AIDS Bureau. The project targets individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability in the United States and addresses the critical intersectionality among housing status, HIV diagnosis and health outcomes of individuals. The three priority populations of this initiative include LGBTQ+ individuals, youth and young adults, and those involved with the legal system. The SURE Housing Initiative seeks to reduce disparities in HIV care and outcomes. 

This innovative project emphasizes the crucial role of housing as a social determinant of health and its impact on HIV prevention and care outcomes. Through collaborative efforts, the SURE Housing Initiative strives to advance health equity, quality and accessibility in housing and healthcare services for vulnerable populations that are affected by HIV. 

Excerpt from “National Implementation of Supportive Housing Initiative to Close the Gap on HIV-Related Inequities Outlined in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy” originally published in GlobeNewsWire:

“‘We know people with HIV experiencing homelessness and housing instability continue to disproportionately face challenges in accessing care and achieving improved health outcomes,’ said Allyson Baughman, PhD, MPH, and principal investigator at BUSSW. ‘This innovative initiative represents opportunities to integrate HIV care and behavioral health with housing interventions to improve health outcomes among priority populations of people with HIV.’”

Read the full press release here.

CISWH’s Year of Transformation and Global Impact

Celebrating Social Work Month this March, we put a spotlight on CISWH. Social workers play a crucial role in healthcare by bridging the gap between medical care and social services to ensure that individuals and communities receive quality, affordable, holistic care. By providing support, advocacy, and resources to patients and families facing medical challenges, social workers help others navigate the complexity of our healthcare and social services systems. They also contribute to research and policy development by working to address social determinants of health and promote health equity. It is important we, as a society, continue to recognize the vital contributions of social workers in health and the transformative impact of their work.

As we enter Social Work Month this March, we take a moment to reflect on CISWH’s commitment to social work and health over the past year. CISWH, in collaboration with dedicated professionals and leaders, has conducted transformative research and launched initiatives that will leave a lasting impact on the intersection of social work, health, and public health.

Boston Children’s Hospital

Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) Prof. and Research Core Director Christina Lee is leading a research project with Boston Children’s Hospital that examines the impact of social workers on health outcomes for children and families in Child Protective Services. Under her guidance, a team of BUSSW faculty analyzed data trends in the utilization of the Children’s Hospital emergency department, social work services, and referral patterns. As the project advances into the data analysis phase, findings are expected to be unveiled in late 2024.

The Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network to Advance Care for Children with Medical Complexity (CMC CoIIN)

In 2023 CISWH concluded its work on the HRSA-funded CoIIN program for children with medical complexity. The CoIIN brought together groups of interdisciplinary teams of families, social workers, medical providers, policy makers, and payers to develop strategies to improve child quality, family well-being, and cost-effectiveness of care. The culmination of this 5-year project resulted in the publication of several papers in the journal Pediatrics, showcasing the team’s significant contributions in increasing access to care for children with medical complexities.

Supporting Replication (SURE) of Housing Interventions in the Ryan White HIV AIDS Program

In 2023 the SURE Housing Initiative was funded to implement and evaluate housing-related interventions for people with HIV who experience unstable housing. Through collaborative efforts with project partners, 10 community organizations were chosen nationwide to implement housing interventions for individuals with HIV. As the selected organizations prepared to implement the intervention, the SURE team conducted a comprehensive training on how to evaluate the multi-site project at the first all-site meeting in Washington D.C.

Visit to Kenya

In July Ellie Zambrano, CISWH executive director, BUSSW Prof. Margaret Lombe, and MSW students traveled to Kenya to collaborate with Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), the Nymbani Children’s Home Orphans, and the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya on new programming. The goal of the trip was to learn more about refugee experiences in eastern Africa and the role social workers can play in improving the lives of displaced communities.

Project IMPACT
BUSSW Prof. Astraea Augsberger, along with Wendy Zeitlin from Montclair State University and Trupti Rao from the Westchester Institute of Human Development, received a National Institute of Health grant to expand the reach and funding for their successful Project IMPACT (Improving Parenting Achievements Together). This intensive parent training program, tailored for parents with intellectual disabilities in the child welfare system, demonstrated success in preserving families compared to standard services. Prof. Augsberger is now conducting learning sessions with policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to share findings and shape the next steps in research, practice and policy advocacy.

The Prevention of Violence Against Young Children in South Africa

BUSSW Profs. Margaret Lombe and Lenette Azzi-Lessing recently completed a one-year research project in which the team identified community-driven and evidence-based interventions to address violence against young children in South African communities. The team will now share their evidence globally in the hopes of mainstreaming these interventions.

Fellows Program

In 2023 CISWH established a Graduate and Doctoral Fellows Program to help prepare social work and public health leaders for influential careers in the field. CISWH fellows conduct research, create policy briefs, support strategic planning, and much more.

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