Saturday, December 20, 2014

Happy Holidays - A Virtual Pie from Athens Land Trust!


http://www.virtualsweetpotatopie.com/christmaspie.phpAmber Flanigan (Dec '15), a dual degree student who is already applying skills she's gained through the program to her position as Farm to School Coordinator at Athens Land Trust, sent us a virtual pie for the holidays.  Click here to get your own virtual pie.

Ms. Flanigan also led a project with fellow dual degree students Liz Franchot (Dec '15), Mark Flanagan (Dec '15), and Ali Fitzsimmons (Dec '15) as part of their coursework in HPRB 7500: Community Health.  They conducted community-based research for Athens Land Trust regarding the West Broad Farmer's Market which is hosted at the garden featured in the film.  The goal of the market is to reach residents of the Hancock Corridor Community that surrounds the West Broad Market Garden.

Flanigan notes, "We enjoyed engaging with members of this community and working with the Athens Land Trust."

Yum, thanks for the pie!

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Meet our Fall 2014 Graduates



Tomorrow, five students will graduate with a MSW MPH dual degree.  Read more about each of them below.  Congratulations Graduates!
MPH Poster Day, December 2014.  From l to r:  Prashikshya Karki, Kelly Ryder, Hannah Demmitt, Melissa Middlebrook, Mumbi Mwaura

Hannah Demmitt, MSW, MPH (Dec ’14).  Ms. Demmitt completed her integrated public health and social work field placement at The Tree House, an organization working to strengthen communities by reducing the occurrence and impact of child abuse through counseling, educating, supporting and nurturing children and families.  There, she utilized public health skills to launch a community social marketing campaign against child abuse and assisted in the implementation of a new community-based program.  She utilized her social work skills to complete forensic interviews and provided individual counseling to children using trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

Ms. Demmitt’s career goals are to combine her compassion for children with her skills in public health by focusing her efforts on issues related to maternal and child health, either nationally or internationally.  Her interests include working to provide children access to basic needs such as clean water, vaccination, and a safe environment.  Ms. Demmitt’s passion for justice and equality is what keeps her focused and driven to achieve her lofty goals.

View Ms. Demmitt’s LinkedIn profile.

Prashikshya Karki, MSW, MPH (Dec ’14).  Ms. Karki completed her integrated public health and social work placement at Advantage Behavioral Health where she assisted in evaluation, quality improvement, and conducting needs assessments and other clinical activities in a drug court project, as well as participated in individual and group therapy sessions.

Ms. Karki is interested in mental health promotion and reduction of comorbidities and interactions between mental and physical (ill) health

Melissa Middlebrook, MSW, MPH (Dec ’14).  Ms. Middlebrook completed her integrated field placement at AIDS Athens where she assisted agency social workers in clinical case management and supportive services for clients and their families infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.  She also assisted with testing and prevention outreach throughout the community and collaborated with the local HIV clinic to conduct a social networks testing strategy to identify new positives to link to care. 

Ms. Middlebrook’s long-term goal is to work in the HIV/AIDS field, specifically in prevention education, outreach, and research.  She also plans to complete a yoga teacher training upon graduation in hopes of working with patients to apply the mind body connection to managing depression, anxiety, medical issues and pain management.

Visit Ms. Middlebrook’s LinkedIn profile.

Mumbi Mwaura, MSW, MPH (Dec ’14).  Ms. Mwaura will be joining the Direct Action and Research Training Center, Inc. as a Community Organizer in Daytona, Florida, in January 2015. 
In this role, she will help build power for justice by building relationships of trust among clergy and lay leaders from diverse backgrounds, deepen their participation in the work of their congregation's justice ministry, train them in basic community organizing skills, and engage them in research of viable solutions to community problems.

Ms. Mwaura completed her integrated public health and social work placement at Clarke County Early Head Start/ Head Start where she provided education, support, and training opportunities for parents whose children had chronic illnesses.  In addition, she assisted children and parents in meeting their health and family goals. 

View Ms. Mwaura's LinkedIn profile.

Kelly Ryder, MSW, MPH, CPH (Dec ’14).  Ms. Ryder will be joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February 2015 as a fellow through the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services (CSELS) – Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development (DSEPD) Public Health Informatics Program.  She will support the design, development, and evaluation of a web-based and mobile user interface for the Information System for Mobile Immersive Learning Environment (I-SMILE) project.  The I-SMILE project will support the learning needs of fellows in applied training programs through by delivering a personalized, just-in-time curriculum.

Ms. Ryder is also Certified in Public Health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. 

View Ms. Ryder’s LinkedIn profile.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Alumni Update - Kelly Ryder, MSW, MPH, CPH



Congratulations to Kelly Ryder (Dec ’14), who will be joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February 2015 as a Fellow through the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services (CSELS) – Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development (DSEPD) Public Health Informatics Program.  Ms. Ryder will support the design, development, and evaluation of a web-based and mobile user interface for the Information System for Mobile Immersive Learning Environment (I-SMILE) project.  The I-SMILE project will support the learning needs of fellows in applied training programs through by delivering a personalized, just-in-time curriculum.

DSEPD fellows have the opportunity to work and learn in diverse public health programs while receiving competency-based training, hands-on experience, and high quality mentoring.  The fellowship is a 12-month renewable appointment that includes a stipend and full benefits.

Ms. Ryder obtained the Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential through the National Board of Public Health Examiners.  Per the NBPHE, "the CPH designation demonstrates that an individual has mastered foundational competencies in public health.  CPH professionals raise the bar and enhance the public health profession through their exemplary academic and leadership skills."  To earn the CPH credential, students must have earned a master or doctoral public health degree from a school or program of public health that has been accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, and must pass the CPH exam.

When asked why she pursued the MSW/MPH, she said,  "While my interest in childhood obesity stems more into the public health realm, I opted to get both MSW and MPH degrees because I am mostly interested in working with underserved and underrepresented families who have an overweight or obese child. Obtaining both degrees prepares me to work with healthy behavior intervention at the individual and family levels and in obesity prevention at the population level."

Congratulations on these great achievements, Kelly!

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

MSW/MPH Fall 2014 graduates present their work at MPH Poster Day

Five MSW/MPH students who are slated to graduate this December (2014) presented their final capstone projects at the University of Georgia College of Public Health MPH Poster Day today.  Congratulations on your amazing accomplishments!




Hannah Demmitt (Dec '14) presented, "Positive Parenting Program social marketing campaign."


Kelly Ryder (Dec '14) presented, "Correlations between texting while driving and other risky behaviors among U.S. youth."




Melissa Middlebrook (Dec '14) presented, "Social networks testing, a community based HIV testing strategy."



Mumbi Mwaura (Dec '14) presented,  "Prenatal services for teenage expectant mothers at the Office of Early Learning."




Prashikshya Karki (Dec '14) presented, "Family network and mental health recovery, mental health clinician's perspective."

Alumni Update - Mumbi Mwaura, MSW, MPH (Dec '14)

Congratulations to Ms. Mumbi Mwaura who will begin a position as a Community Organizer at The Direct Action and Research Training Center, Inc. in Daytona, Florida, in January 2015.  DART-related organizations seek long-term, sustainable improvements at a systemic level.  Mumbi was accepted for a highly selective community organizing training and career placement program known as the DART Organizers Institute. 

In this role, she will help build power for justice by building relationships of trust among clergy and lay leaders from diverse backgrounds, deepen their participation in the work of their congregation's justice ministry, train them in basic community organizing skills, and engage them in research of viable solutions to community problems.  She will participate in an intensive five month field orientation that includes field training and a weekly reading/discussion curriculum covering basic organizing principles.

Ms. Mumbi is slated to graduate this month with an MSW Clinical Concentration and MPH Health Promotion & Behavior Concentration.

When asked why she pursued the MSW/MPH, she noted, "Though the disciplines may approach interventions with different strategies, I loved pursuing two degrees that aim to alleviate problems within our communities.  I also find it an invaluable skill to learn how to work in multidisciplinary environments."

Congratulations Mumbi on this fantastic achievement!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Giselle Balfour - Advice for MSW/MPH Students



Prashikshya Karki, a current MSW/MPH student at the University of
Georgia, sat down to speak with Giselle Balfour, MSW, MPH, who shares
her insight into what it means to be a dual MSW MPH professional.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Giselle Balfour - Integration of Public Health and Social Work



Prashikshya Karki, a current MSW/MPH student at the University of
Georgia, sat down to speak with Giselle Balfour, MSW, MPH, who shares
her insight into what it means to be a dual MSW MPH professional.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Giselle Balfour - Introduction



Prashikshya Karki, a current MSW/MPH student at the University of Georgia, sat down to speak with Giselle Balfour, MSW, MPH, who shares her insight into what it means to be a dual MSW MPH professional.

Conversations with Public Health and Social Work Professionals - Giselle Balfour, MSW, MPH


Giselle Balfour, MSW, MPH
PhD Student, School of Social Work, University of Georgia

Prashikshya Karki, a current MSW/MPH student at the University of Georgia, sat down to speak with Giselle Balfour, MSW, MPH, who shares her insight into what it means to be a dual MSW MPH professional.

Tell us a little about your education and professional background.
I am currently a PhD student in the School of Social Work at the University of Georgia.  I am originally from Trinidad and Tobago, and I migrated to the United States in 2008 to complete the MSW program at UGA.  Following that, I earned an MPH degree.  Before coming to the US, I worked as a health program administrator for the International Federation of Red Cross Societies in the Caribbean.  In that position I worked with a number of health programs including ones focused on HIV and AIDS, and that is what precipitated my interest in both social work and public health.  Actually, I have been doing HIV/AIDS work since I was a teenager in high school as a volunteer.  Once I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree, I went into HIV/AIDS professionally at the Red Cross, and absolutely loved it.  For a long time, I went back and forth as whether I wanted to do a graduate degree in social work or public health because of my interest in HIV/AIDS.  I decided on social work first because, quite honestly, I felt I was more oriented toward social work – I wanted to help people.  After earning my MSW, I worked with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services as a Social Service Supervisor for 4 years.  I couldn’t find a job in HIV and AIDS, and I thought maybe if I earned a MPH, I would be able to more easily get into that field.  But, as I was doing the public health degree, within a year I had decided that I wanted to do a PhD.

What drew you to pursuing a PhD in Social Work after earning an MPH?
I personally feel like I am oriented towards social work even though I love public health.  The decision to go to that direction does not negate what I learned in public health.  I still have the knowledge and skills there, but I feel like I am more oriented towards a social work approach to any subject area.  I feel social work looks at the issue from a broader range.  This resonated with me because I wanted to look at issues from a wider perspective, not just from the health perspective.  The health perspective is extremely important, but for me personally, I prefer to look at things social work’s person-in-environment perspective.  I am a born and bred social worker, and that is just who I am!

Do you see the MSW and MPH complementing each other?
I definitely see having both the MSW and MPH as an absolute plus.  I am glad I earned both degrees, and I think ultimately, even once I graduate with my PhD and go into academia, I will continue to use the skills and the knowledge I gained from the MSW and MPH.  I feel like the MSW helped me understand the individual.  We try to help people using the person-in-environment perspective – looking at the way the environment impacts them and the way that they impact their environment.  Public health looks at the population, and also looks at all those environmental factors that we consider in social work.  

Do you see any differences in the MSW and MPH?
In my opinion there are some small differences.  Of course public health is very much oriented towards health.  Social work looks at the whole picture, everything from the physical well-being of an individual to the psychological well-being, and all the factors that impact the individual and the community.  On the other hand, public health is much more specific about what it looks at.  Of course those things intersect, but social work looks at the broader picture, I believe.

How are you applying MSW and MPH competencies to your current work?
I am using both skill sets as I plan my dissertation.  My dissertation topic is Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), and this issue has both social work and public health elements.  I will be looking at both of them as I formulate my dissertation.  It is going to be an interdisciplinary approach to the topic.  Most employers now want that interdisciplinary perspective – even in addressing CSEC, almost every state is looking at a multi-sectorial approach where they are pulling child welfare agencies, criminal justice agencies, and public health agencies together to create a solution to this problem.  I already come from two sectors, so I believe this gives me an advantage. 

In terms of CSEC, from the public health perspective, we look at the health implications.  We have children that are being prostituted.  A lot of their clients are married men who may engage in unprotected sex with these children, thus there is the definite risk of spreading diseases not just with children, but also with multiple partners.  So it’s not just spreading within that community, but then these men take that back to their intimate families - their wives or girlfriends – and so there is that public health perspective for me.  

From the social work perspective, I am looking at the psychological trauma that happens with those involved in CSEC.  I am looking at the way that ultimately impacts their family, and the way that ultimately impacts society.  In my background in child welfare, a lot of these kids who are being exploited have been abused either sexually or physically and they may see prostitution as a way out of the lives they are in, and they may see their pimps initially as another family, as their savior from this.  The social work piece comes in as we want to help restore those families, and public health looks at the risks not only to the children but to society in general because of the sexual activities taking place within this industry.  So I am looking at the way that CSEC impacts society in general not just in terms of health but also in terms of every other piece.  So definitely there is room for both.

Do you think that having an MSW and MPH and PhD in Social Work will make you a strong contender in the job market?
Definitely!  Like I said, a lot of employers are interested in a wide range of knowledge, and so to be able to go to the employing agency knowing both social work and public health, I can definitely bring a very different perspective than many other employees in the job market today.  If I come to an agency that is dealing very specifically with HIV and AIDS, or CSEC, I already bring two disciplines to the table, and that may be one less person they have to hire because I can address both perspectives.  It will definitely give me an advantage in whatever area that I choose; I think employers will love to have the asset of bringing these two perspectives to the table.

What advice or suggestions do you have for students who are pursuing dual MSW and MPH degrees?
I think that it can, of course, be overwhelming to pursue two degrees at the same time.  But you need to stick with it and know that ultimately it will pay off in the end.  You may not get a job that perfectly blends the two degrees, but whatever job you take, you will not lose the skills that you have gained.  Even if you are doing something that is social work oriented or public health oriented, you will never lose the knowledge and skills that you have gained, and you will personally be able to apply those skills in any task you are doing.  I suggest you stick with it, work hard and pay attention to both perspectives, as they are equally important.  Having two degrees will be an advantage for you when you go out into the job market with thousands of other candidates.  What you bring that is different than any other candidates will be those two degrees.  Having knowledge not only in social work but also in public health means you can bring a very different perspective than most other candidates.