October 2023

Welcoming Deja Andrews, MSW

The MFP welcomes Deja Andrews who joined the team in August as the Assistant Director. She received her BSW from Salem State University in 2020 and her MSW from Bridgewater State University in 2022. She brings experience in providing harm reduction education concerning sexual health and substance use, along with mental health counseling. She will support the day-to-day functions of the program alongside the program director and coordinator. Please feel free to say hello to her via [email protected].
 

Meet the New Fellows! 

 2023–2024 MSW Fellows

2023–2024 Doctoral Fellows

Once their orientation is complete, the fellows will jump into the fellowship year. Twenty-three doctoral fellows will be joining CSWE at the Annual Program Meeting in Atlanta, GA, at the end of the month. They will attend various MFP-specific sessions, the Carl A. Scott Memorial Lecture, and meet the program alumni at the MFP Networking Reception on Saturday October 28 at 7:00 PM (ET). We hope you can join us in welcoming them! 
 

Register for CSWE’s APM

MFP Fellows Contributions at APM

MFP Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Elithet Silva-Martínez

Dr. Elithet Silva-Martínez is originally from Yauco, Puerto Rico, and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus; she completed her doctoral studies at the University of Iowa, where she became a MFP fellow and was the first Latina to obtain a doctoral degree in this discipline. She completed an ethnographic study with Mexican undocumented women, which was published in several American professional journals and in Mexico. The Council on Social Work Education awarded her the Feminist Manuscript Award in 2014, making her the first Puerto Rican woman to receive this award in 25 years.

Dr. Silva-Martínez joined the faculty of the Beatriz Lassalle Graduate School of Social Work of the University of Puerto Rico in 2011. She currently holds the rank of Associate Professor and Interim Director. She specializes in working with families, as well as ethnographic social research. Her most recent studies include ethnographic methodologies and narratives with immigrant women, most of whom were from the Republic Dominican. Among her research is the study of migration and violence of gender in alliance with the Dominican Women's Center, as well as the study of abuse economic and childhood experiences regarding gender equality. Her studies on this theme have been presented around the world including countries such as Ireland, Slovenia, Chile, Panama, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Jamaica, South Africa, and the Dominican Republic, among others.

Based on her intention to make visible the experiences of the immigrant women with whom she has worked, the production of the short film “Desempacando: Gender, Migration, and Violence” emerged, which was awarded in September 2020 as the best national documentary in the Enfoque International Film Festival, and has been presented in more than 10 film festivals in different countries. In addition, the Popular Education Network for Women of Latin America and the Caribbean recently awarded her for her children's story titled, “The Secret Dream of a Ballet Tutu." 

Much of Dr. Silva-Martínez's work is linked to her own history. Her work is inspired by the stories of the women in her life: her grandmothers, her mother, and her daughters Lina and Lara, 13 and 10 years old, respectively.
 

SAMHSA Celebrates 50 Years of Minority Fellowship Program Success

CSWE’s MFP participated in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMSHA) 50th Anniversary MFP Celebration at SAMHSA’s headquarters on June 8. The celebration included remarks from SAMHSA Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, virtual presentations from Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman, Congressman Bob Menedez, and noted psychiatrist Dr. James Comer, and remarks from other SAMSHA staff and alumni. There were testimonial by video and a panel of MFP alumni speaking on the importance of the program and the impact on their careers. Additionally, there was a panel presentation including MFP partners from CSWE, psychiatry, psychology Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program, counseling, nursing, and marriage and family therapy. The moderated panel discussed the benefits and successes of the program by the disciplines present.

The doctoral fellows from all MFP programs shared posters presentations including CSWE’s MFP doctoral student Vasthi Adams.

50th Anniversary Celebration at SAMHSA headquarter in Rockwell, June 8, 2023.
 

MFP Fellows at Capitol Hill

Research, Policy, and Practice (RPP) MFP and Policy Fellows on Capitol Hill, lobbying Congress in June 2023 as a part of the CSWE’s RPP Student Summit. The RPP Student Summit offered opportunities for MFP fellows and CSWE students to network with one another and invited scholars; visit Capitol Hill; visit historic locations in Washington, DC; and learn about research, practice, and policy matters.

 

Call for Submissions CSWE’s MFP’s 50th Anniversary Special Issue: October 30 Deadline

Be a part of CSWE's MFP history! The Journal of Social Work Education invites submissions for the forthcoming special issue, "Celebrating 50 Years of CSWE's Minority Fellowship Program: Reflecting on the Program's Presence and Impact." All authors must submit their article via JSWE's submission & review system. MFP Fellows and alumni are encouraged to submit. Read the full Call for Submissions for this special issue and the JSWE submission guidelines. The deadline to submit an article is October 30.
 

Listening Sessions—SAMHSA Would Like to Hear From You

SAMHSA is eager to gather input from you on how to enhance the MFP Annual Summit. SAMHSA will host two interactive zoom sessions where they will engage with MFP fellows and alumni. Feedback is requested to help create an event that aligns with the expectations and needs of the program. Your participation is instrumental! 

Please register for one of the two sessions:  

October 24, 2023, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM (EST)

October 25, 2023, 4:00 PM–5:00 PM (EST)

 

We Need You! Volunteer With CSWE-MFP

There are many opportunities to volunteer with CSWE’s MFP this upcoming fellowship year. You do not have to be an MFP alum or social work educator to volunteer, and we encourage students, staff, and faculty across different disciplines to apply! Here’s how you can help: 

1. Mentor a master’s or doctoral student: Support the academic and career development of a student passionate about meeting the needs of BIPOC communities. 

2. Be a guest speaker: Share your subject matter expertise by speaking on one of the topics, requested by incoming students, below. Alternatively, if there’s a topic you believe to be of value to this group, please reach out to discuss it with our team.
   o    Abolitionist social work 
   o    Disability-centered social work practice 
   o    Grants 101 
   o    Grief 
   o    Inclusive sex therapy 
   o    Innovative research methods 
   o    Innovative treatment modalities 
   o    LGBTQ youth mental health 
   o    Narrative therapy 
   o    Pathways to clinical licensure 
   o    Postgraduation trials and tribulations 
   o    Program evaluation 
   o    Role of social work in reentry 
   o    Social work and the arts 
   o    Strengths-based approaches to working with BIPOC communities 
   o    Supporting international students 

3. Join our advisory committee: Put your great ideas to significant use—steer the program and provide input on key areas, including programming, alumni engagement, and applicant recruitment.

4. Become an application reader: Support the selection of the next cohort of master’s and doctoral MFP fellows! 

Find more information about getting involved and apply today! 
 

Announcements

APA’s Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program Application Cycle Now Open
The application process for the Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program (IMFP) opened on October 1, 2023, and will close on January 15, 2023, at 11:59 PM (ET). The purpose of the fellowship is to identify, select, and support the training of ethnic minority graduate students who commit to significantly improving the quality of care provided to ethnic and racial minorities who have a mental or cooccurring mental and substance use disorder. This program, sponsored by the American Psychological Association MFP, funds doctoral and masters’ fellowships in social work, psychology, nursing, psychiatry, counseling, and marriage and family counseling. Click here to learn more. 
 

Resources

Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis: Costs and Financing Strategies

Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) is an evidence-based practice model that may positively impact the life trajectory of a person experiencing their first episode of psychosis. Although CSC programs offer life-changing interventions, financing these programs is challenging for a number of reasons. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Financing Reform and Innovation will host a webinar, “Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis: Costs and Financing Strategies” focused on CSC financing strategies. The webinar will feature speakers from SAMHSA, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid, and the State Mental Health Authorities. The webinar will be held on Monday, October 30, 2023, 2:00 PM–3:00 PM (ET).

Register Now

Featured Presenters 
•    Anita Everett, Director of the Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA
•    Tison Thomas, Deputy Director of the Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA
•    Kirsten Beronio, Senior Policy Advisor, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services
•    Rebecca Daughtry, First Episode Psychosis Program and Policy Manager, Washington State Health Care Authority
•    Howard Goldman, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Maryland 
•    David Shern, Senior Public Health Advisor, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors 
•    Jeff VanArman, Office of Mental Health, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
 

2024–2025 MFP Application Cycle Opening in January for Doctoral and MSW Opening Spring 2024

The 2024–2025 MFP application cycle will open in January! Learn more about the program and sign up to be alerted by email when the application opens for Doctoral applicants and for MSW applicants.  
 

Update Your Contact Information

Have you changed jobs in the last few years? Changed your primary email address? The CSWE’s MFP relies on current contact information for our internal database, which we use to contact alumni and help us prepare our reports for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Please use this link to share your updated contact information. Additionally, you are encouraged to reach out to MFP alumni you are connected with and request that they share their updated information too. Thank you in advance for supporting MFP staff efforts to enhance connectedness in the MFP community.