Prof. Jorge Delva Steps Down as Director of CISWH & Dean of BU School of Social Work in 2023; Returns to Faculty 

Professor Jorge Delva, dean of the Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) since January 2018, and director and Paul Farmer Professor at the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH), announced he will step down from both his leadership roles at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 academic year and join the faculty at the School after a sabbatical.

Dr. Delva has been an effective and respected leader at BUSSW over the last four years, guiding the school’s continued ascent as a destination for social work scholarship and practice. He has overseen a range of significant advances during this time including developing a new strategic plan that strongly positions the school for the future; crafting important new policies and programs designed to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice within the school and the field; expanding timely and relevant new lines of social work scholarship.  He has also furthered the development of CISWH as one of the nation’s premier interdisciplinary centers expanding the impact of social work and social workers in healthcare delivery, public health, and global health. Dr. Delva has been recognized by faculty, staff, and students for an inclusive and collaborative approach that invites members of the community to contribute in meaningful ways, supports scholarly success, and elevates faculty accomplishments.

A prolific author, researcher, and nationally recognized expert on substance use disorders and ethnic health inequities, Professor Delva’s research is focused on improving the lives of low-income and racial and ethnic minority groups – to understand cultural variations in the causes of substance use and mental health disorders in the US and globally. In his work at CISWH, he is dedicated to expanding social work’s impact on healthcare and public health to improve the lives of vulnerable populations. 

Among the nation’s leading social work scholars, he joined BUSSW from the University of Michigan’s number-one ranked social work program, where he was the Kristine A. Siefert Collegiate Professor of Social Work and director of the Communities Engagement Program of the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR), an NIH center for Clinical and Translational Science Awards. His scholarship has made substantial contributions to advancing our understanding of psychosocial-cultural mechanisms associated with substance-using behaviors among Hispanic/Latino, African American, and American Indian populations, as well as with populations in Latin America, and is supported by major grants from the NIH, the US Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He is an elected Fellow of the Society for Social Work Research; a member of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare; past editor-in-chief of the journal Social Work, the flagship publication of the National Association of Social Work; and this year was the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Society for Social Work & Research.

The University will launch a national search for a new dean early this fall, as well as a separate search for a new director for CISWH. The School and the University expressed their gratitude for Dr. Delva’s willingness to serve until these searches are complete and for his leadership over these last four years.

11/10, Hybrid Event – Breaking the Mold: Innovative Models to Achieve Health Equity

Wednesday, November 10 | 4:30–5:30 pm ET

Trustees Ballroom, One Silber Way, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

 

Watch the Video:

Breaking The Mold: Innovative Models to Achieve Health Equity from CISWH on Vimeo

 

A global approach to health equity requires the use of innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial approaches to increase access to healthcare and economic wellbeing for those most in need. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more critical than ever that we focus on economic disparities of health worldwide in order to achieve a global economic recovery. Social work and global health play a key role in supporting this economic rebuilding through research, practice, and policy development focused on community engagement. Social work models of engagement can both cultivate interest and build collective resources that directly address inequities in community health.

Hosted by the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) at BU School of Social Work, this panel event will include interactive Q&A and will highlight examples of innovative global models that address both economic and health disparities utilizing the valuable engagement tools of social work.

The event is free and open to the public. Social workers, global leaders, researchers, and educators are encouraged to attend. Advance registration is required.

 

Featured Speakers

A.K. Nandakumar, Ph.D.

Professor, Director of the Institute for Global Health and Development, Academic Director Global Studies Programs at the Heller School for Social Policy & Management at Brandeis University; BU GRS’93,’94; Parent Pardee’05; CISWH Advisory Board

 

 

Margaret Lombe, Ph.D.

Associate Professor & Director of the BRIDGE Program at Boston University School of Social Work

 

 

 

Luz Marilis López, Ph.D. (moderator)

Clinical Professor & Director of the MSW/MPH Dual Degree Program at Boston University School of Social Work; Director, CISWH Global Health Core 

 

 

Program

4:30pm: Opening remarks from Jorge Delva, Dean, BU School of Social Work and Director & Paul Farmer Professor, CISWH 

4:35pm: Panelist presentations

5:05pm: Moderator conducts Q&A with speakers and audience (in-person & virtual)

5:25pm: Director Delva gives closing remarks

 

Continuing Education Credit Info

1 national continuing education credit (free) is available to social workers licensed in the United States after completion of a brief post-event quiz. The event will provide intermediate-level content and must be attended live in order to receive CE credits.  If you would like to receive credits, please provide your license number during registration. The post-event quiz will be included in the registration confirmation email and in a reminder email the day of the event. Applicants will need a score of 70% or higher to receive the CE certificate, which will be sent via email. Questions? Contact [email protected].

 

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the socioeconomic impact of COVID 19 pandemic and explain the need to focus on economic disparities of health worldwide in order to achieve a global economic recovery.
  • Examine ways that social work models of engagement can both cultivate interest and build collective resources that directly address inequities in community health.
  • Discuss examples of innovative global models that address both economic and health disparities utilizing the valuable engagement tools of social work.

 

Accessibility

Boston University strives to be accessible, inclusive, and diverse in its facilities, programming, and academic offerings. Your experience in this event is important to us. If you have a disability (including but not limited to learning or attention, mental health, concussion, vision, mobility, hearing, physical or other health-related), require communication access services for the deaf or hard of hearing, or believe that you require a reasonable accommodation for another reason, please contact the event organizer at [email protected] at least three weeks prior to the event to discuss your needs.

You can also contact us about accessibility through our Accessibility Contact Form.

Fall 2021 Events

Access and Anti-Racism in Opioid Treatment: What Cities Need Now

 

Co-sponsored by BU Initiative on Cities

October 13, 2021

Watch the recording

 

In many communities across the country, opioid overdose deaths have continued to rise and new research shows overdose mortality rates are rising dramatically faster among Blacks than whites in multiple states, and now exceed that of whites in Ohio. How can cities address systemic barriers to opioid treatment? Which barriers endure and for whom?

Featuring: Nan Whaley, Mayor of Dayton, Ohio; Drew Carpenter, Recovery Support Navigator/Substance Use Counselor, Complex Care Program, Bay Cove Human Services; Miriam Komaromy, Medical Director, Grayken Center for Addiction, Boston Medical Center; David L. Rosenbloom, BU School of Public Health; and Christina Lee (moderator), Research Core Director at CISWH, Associate Professor, BU School of Social Work.

 


Breaking the Mold: Innovative Models to Achieve Health Equity 

 

November 10, 2021

Watch the recording

 

A global approach to health equity requires the use of innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial approaches to increase access to healthcare and economic wellbeing for those most in need. As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, we need to focus on economic disparities of health worldwide in order to achieve a global economic recovery. Social work and global health play a key role in supporting this economic rebuilding through research, practice, and policy development focused on community engagement. Social work models of engagement can both cultivate interest and build collective resources that directly address inequities in community health. This event will share examples of innovative global models that address both economic and health disparities utilizing the valuable engagement tools of social work. 

Featuring: A.K. Nandakumar (GRS’93,’94), Professor, Director of the Institute for Global Health and Development, Academic Director of the Global Studies Program, Heller School for Social Policy & Management at Brandeis University; Margaret Lombe, Associate Professor and Director of the BRIDGE Program, BU School of Social Work; and Luz Marilis López, Clinical Professor and Director of the MSW/MPH Dual Degree Program, BU School of Social Work.

 


Social Work, Health Equity and Civic Health Engagement

 

CISWH Health Equity Speaker Series

Co-sponsored by Vot-ER

December 8, 2021

Watch the recording

 

In the U.S. national healthcare policies have not been reflective of our changing population and elected leadership and policy continue to lack real diversity. To address this, social work and healthcare professionals have joined forces to promote the importance of civic health engagement through voter registration – deemed a social determinant of health. Encouraging and engaging individuals to get involved and make their voices heard in the decision-making behind healthcare policies will lead to healthier communities nationwide. If we are to help create health equity for all, we also need to galvanize social workers and healthcare professionals to explore how they can impact healthcare policy. This event is a forum to help us achieve that goal.

Featuring: Alister Martin, Founder of Vot-ER, White House Fellow (2021-2022); Justin D. Hodge, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan School of Social Work; Kathryn Audette, Director of Government Affairs at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Lecturer at BU School of Social Work; and Eleanor Zambrano, Executive Director of CISWH.

 


 

Accessibility

Boston University strives to be accessible, inclusive and diverse in our facilities, programming and academic offerings. Your experience in this event is important to us. If you have a disability (including but not limited to learning or attention, mental health, concussion, vision, mobility, hearing, physical or other health related), require communication access services for the deaf or hard of hearing, or believe that you require a reasonable accommodation for another reason, please contact us at [email protected] at least 3 weeks prior to the event to discuss your needs.

CISWH Study Shows Anticipation of Stigma Can Limit Employment for Persons with HIV

Employment is a significant social determinant of health, particularly important for the financial and mental well-being of persons with HIV (PWH). Researchers at the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH), Serena Rajabiun (co-PI, now at UMass Lowell) and Jessica Flaherty (project director), and co-authors, examined the barriers to employment for those with HIV.  Due to effective medical treatments, PWH are expected to live 43.1 years longer than individuals with HIV just 20 years ago. This increased life expectancy gives PWH the opportunity to retain or gain employment and live a life similar to those not infected with HIV. The study’s goal, recently published in the PLOS ONE journal, is to better understand and address what limits PWH from achieving employment and housing and to develop interventions that can improve those outcomes. 

In previous studies, unemployment was linked to mental health disorders such as depression and suicidal ideation — PWH are no exception. The researchers explain that “In fact, greater quality of life is associated with paid employment and a higher level of income among PWH. Employment may prevent disease progression by increasing one’s sense of belonging, access to health care, and medication adherence. Interventions to increase employment and income are needed for PWH.”

Professor Christina Lee, CISWH Research Core director, emphasizes that “As part of CISWH’s research core initiative to focus on health equity among vulnerable groups, this study is a perfect illustration of how, by addressing structural barriers like unemployment among marginalized populations, we can improve outcomes.”

Currently, there are approximately 1.2 million individuals with HIV in the United States, with 45–65% unemployed and 10–20% homeless. In 2011, among PWH, the majority were living at or below the federal poverty level, leaving this disadvantaged group with limited resources. 

The researchers found that stigma and discrimination are significant barriers to employment for PWH.  While 74% of unemployed PWH were thinking of returning to work, 66% fear workplace discrimination as a potential barrier. The study focuses specifically on understanding the associations between internalized and anticipated HIV stigma and employment barriers. 

Stigma & Discrimination

Previous research findings show that among some employers, fear of contagion and HIV-related stigma are factors in their decisions to hire PWH. HIV stigma includes negative attitudes, judgments, and discriminatory behaviors directed towards those at risk for or with HIV. Internalized HIV stigma is a negative self-perception of self-image due to HIV and is linked to poor physical, mental, and cognitive health, and poor antiretroviral adherence. 

A gap in the literature exists for studying an individual’s perception of HIV stigma and employment barriers, especially in populations that experience housing instability. This prompted the researchers to highlight the relationship between anticipated stigma and employment among people living with HIV. 

This study suggests that for people with HIV, especially those from low-income, racial and ethnic minority communities, addressing the underlying consequences of stigma is essential to support not only physical and mental health but also economic well-being. 

Interventions

The study funded 12 sites to deliver interventions focused on connecting PWH to employment opportunities. All sites were located in urban areas with interventions based at outpatient HIV clinics or hospitals, city or county health departments, or AIDS Service Organizations. Common elements of the interventions included:

  • Employing navigators as part of the care team to support participants with obtaining necessary housing, employment, and other social services
  • System-level coordination with formal meetings between housing, employment, and medical providers to share and exchange information and support referrals

The researchers concluded that internalized stigma may not play as large of a role in employment as anticipated stigma, noting that stigma reduction interventions focused on communities and employers are essential to improving employment opportunities for PWH.

Study co-authors include Howard J. Cabral of the BU School of Public Health, Joseph S. Lightner of the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Ronald Brooks of The Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services (CHIPTS) at UCLA, and Jamie Shank of HIV Services, Kansas City Health Department.

The HIV, Housing & Employment Project at CISWH

The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau, through its Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Program, has funded a national initiative to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions that coordinate HIV care and treatment, housing, and employment services to improve health outcomes for people living with HIV. Boston University and its partners are working as the Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider (ETAP) for this 3-year project to promote access to housing, employment, and HIV care for people from low-income and racial and ethnic minority communities.

Webinar 8/24: Catalyst Center Offers Child Tax Credit Webinar

Tuesday, 8/24/2021
2 pm ET
Zoom Event Link

Join the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health’s (CISWH) Catalyst Center, along with the National Technical Assistance Center for Health Care Financing and Coverage for CYSHCN, for a webinar explaining the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the role that Title V and Family Leader organizations might play in assisting families to access this credit.

The recent CTC expansion is expected to improve the economic security of millions of families in the U.S., including families raising children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). While many families will receive the expanded tax credit automatically, many of the most vulnerable families need to take action to access this financial support.

The webinar program will include a presentation by Elaine Maag, principal research associate at the Urban Institute, and ample time for Q&A.

Learn More About The Catalyst Project at CISWH