 Donna Leigh Bliss, PhD

 Present my vision for the Quinnipiac University Master of Social Work Program  Discuss how I will continue with my scholarship while serving as Director of MSW program  Propose a blueprint for developing and implementing the MSW program

Global Leadership in Healthcare Practice, Policy, Research, and Advocacy

Regional Map of Current MSW Programs

 Build on strengths of Quinnipiac University ◦ Student-centered focus ◦ Emphasis on healthcare ◦ Interdisciplinary collaboration ◦ Good fit with many undergraduate majors  Focus on trends in social work education ◦ Be a leader rather than a follower in social work education ◦ Students as “citizens of the world”  Incorporate my vision for social work ◦ Taking a leadership role in addressing pressing social problems in the world in areas of practice, policy, research, and advocacy

 Provide a stimulating environment that promotes intellectual and personal development of students  Focus on leadership in healthcare with Schools of Health Sciences, Medicine, and Nursing  Pathway to graduate degree for many undergraduate majors ◦ Psychology, sociology, criminal justice, gerontology, health and sciences study, social services  Smaller class sizes and personalized attention and devotion of professors who embrace teaching and mentoring students

 Competency-based education in practice, research, policy, and advocacy domains  Seamless transition along micro-macro continuum  Students as “citizens of the world” by taking leadership position on global as well as local and national perspectives  Explore ways to utilize digital and social media in the service of promoting social work values  Target needs of non- traditional students ◦ Hybrid learning options  Focus on healthcare ◦ Gerontology, addiction, mental health, etc.

Veterans Dept. Will Increase Mental Health Staffing  Return to social work roots ◦ Take a primary leadership role in confronting social problems  Abandon the false dichotomy between micro and macro ◦ Focus on the global social work leadership  Option to specialize through certificate programs  Flexible curriculum responds to contemporary issues  Embrace advocacy ◦ Use 21 st century digital and social media tools to advocate on local, state, national, and global levels ◦ Give voice to social work values by promoting social and economic justice for vulnerable and marginalized populations  Students want to learn how to do this

 Global Leadership is an innovative multidimensional and dynamic curriculum model ◦ Global refers not just to a geographic perspective, but also to a holistic perspective on responding to social problems in the areas of practice, research, policy, and advocacy by seamlessly transitioning along various domains ◦ Leadership refers to taking an explicit and robust position on addressing pressing social problems in the world  Help students become “citizens of the world”  Social workers are thought leaders  Builds on Quinnipiac University focus on healthcare ◦ Emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration within University and with community partners  Strong emphasis on role of faculty in mentoring and teaching students to strive for and achieve excellence

Macro Micro Practice Policy Research Advocacy

Teaching, research, service, and advocacy

 Writing ◦ Write a book on 21 st century social work education  Research ◦ Examine ways to improve treatment outcomes for persons with substance abuse disorders ◦ Continue publishing empirical research and practice models ◦ Seek external funding  Teaching ◦ Continue teaching courses in clinical practice with addictive disorders and macro-level social work practice  Service ◦ Continue to develop service-learning projects with community agencies and students ◦ Recovery.org websites  Advocacy ◦ Continue to explore how to teach students how to use digital and social media ◦ Leadership development

 Center for Holistic Addiction Research and Treatment ◦ Submit SEAT proposal to NIAAA ◦ Emphasis on interdisciplinary collaborative partnerships ◦ Practice, research, policy, and advocacy focus ◦ Student involvement via field placements, service- learning, and class work  Maternal and Child Health Post-Graduate Leadership Academy ◦ Collaborate with University of Maryland School of Social Work ◦ Expand geographic footprint for post- graduate social workers ◦ Include component for students who want to focus on maternal and child health

From vision to reality

 Phase 1: Preplanning ◦ Candidacy timeframe, resource allocation, broad marketing strategy, identify broad curriculum themes  Phase 2: Planning ◦ Begin candidacy process, shared vision, curriculum development, market analysis, hire faculty  Phase 3: Development ◦ Attain candidacy, develop policies and procedures, hire faculty, market program, begin admissions  Phase 4: Implementation ◦ Formal launch, begin classes

 Explore broad themes for MSW program ◦ Based on preliminary market analysis  Assess candidacy process ◦ Critical tasks and timeframes  Determine feasible launch date for program ◦ Fall 2014 versus Fall 2013  Identify resource requirements ◦ Develop budget  Develop broad strokes for marketing strategy  Green light MSW program development process

 Begin process for attaining CSWE candidacy ◦ Create candidacy timeline  Conduct formal market research ◦ Demographic profiles of internal and markets  Develop shared vision through consulting with internal and external constituencies ◦ Create buy-in  Create formal marketing strategy ◦ Target internal and external markets  Hire faculty  Curriculum development ◦ Key factor in candidacy process (Benchmark 1)

 Attain candidacy ◦ Stay on top of process to ensure timely success  Hire faculty ◦ Teambuilding and collaborative relationships  Develop policies and procedures  Implement marketing strategy ◦ Create buzz and build momentum  Start admissions process ◦ Provide concierge-level service to applicants ◦ Create brand identity

 Formally launch program ◦ Capitalize on accomplishment to showcase leadership stature of Quinnipiac University  Begin classes ◦ MSW Program is now a reality  Continue marketing program  Continue with accreditation process  Begin strategic plan development process to guide future growth of MSW program

Thank you