This series is hosted by the School of Social Work in partnership with the Center for Social and Behavioral Science

Inequality and Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

November 19, 2021

12:00-1:30pm CST

Zoom

1.5 CEU's available for LCSW/LSW and LCPC/LPC

Speaker: Eliza Forsythe, University of Illinois Department of Economics and School of Labor and Employment Relations

A report on juvenile detention statistics in Illinois, based on data from the Juvenile Monitoring Information System at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, sparked changes at one county youth detention facility. Professor Doug Smith is the director of the Center for Prevention Research and Development and is the principal investigator on the grant from the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission that funds the system.

Across the state of Illinois, violence occurs at higher rates among certain racial and marginalized groups, says Rachel Garthe, assistant professor and undergraduate research program coordinator for the School of Social Work.

That’s one of the findings in a study led by Garthe, who is principal investigator on two grants funded through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA). Professor Doug Smith is co-investigator on both grants.

Since its inception in 1996, the University of Illinois School of Social Work’s Children and Family Research Center (CFRC) has produced an annual report that monitors the performance of the Illinois child welfare system in achieving its stated goals of child safety, permanency, and well-being. The FY2021 monitoring report uses child welfare administrative data through December 31, 2020 to describe the conditions of children in or at risk of foster care in Illinois.

The Student Affairs Office has created an amazing resource for current students as they prepare for internship and job interviews. Earlier in the fall semester, they hosted a pop-up career closet and it was a great success! As a result, they are organizing another one for Friday, December 3rd. The team is seeking gently used business casual and professional attire to restock and they plan to develop a permanent career closet at the School.

To donate items, please contact Sharva Hampton-Campbell.

On October 15th, the University of Illinois Foundation (UIF) launched an incredible opportunity for those generous donors who include UIF for the benefit of the School of Social Work (SSW) in their will, trust, or other estate planning. Your commitment will not only help support the people and causes at the SSW in the future, but your gift could also be worth up to $10,000 in immediate support to several key areas on campus that are important to you, our School, and the University of Illinois community. Check out this video by our Director of Advancement, Nathan Goebel and visit the Illinois Legacy Challenge web site to learn more.

Opal Andraka, iMSW student in the Leadership and Social Change focus area, is completing her internship at Avenue Community Development Corporation in Houston, TX. Opal serves as the Neighborhood Coordinator for their Vaccine Equity Grant and helps to make the COVID-19 vaccine more accessible to those in the greater Houston-area community.