CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES 5151 STATE UNIVERSITY DRIVE, LOS ANGELES, CA
90032~8I60
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (213) 343·4600
April 2, 1999
Dr. Margaret Gordon Executive Secretary CSU Commission on the Extended University California State University, Dominguez Hills 1000 East Victoria Street Carson, CA 90747 Re:
A Distance Education Plan to Increase the Number of Graduate Social Workers in California Through the Development of Standardized Core Courses.
Dear Dr. Gordon: I'm enclosing 20 copies and an original of the grant: A Distance Education Plan to Increase the Number of Graduate Social Workers in California Through the Development of Standardized Core Courses. A number of the supporting letters and Continuing Education Deans' signatures are missing since this is semester break on a number of campuses. If it's all right, I'll submit them at a future date. Thanking you in advance. Sincerely,
The California State University
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY COMMISSION ON THE EXTENDED UNIVERSITY SPRING 1999, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS COVER SHEET Authoring Institutions:
LEAD CAMPUS: Office of Continuing Education at California State University, Los Angeles Dean, Extended Education
University Long Beach
Individual signatures may be found in the addendum
Fresno Sacramento
San Bernardino San Diego San Francisco
San Jose
Stanislaus Date:
April 2, 1999
Project Title:
A Distance Education Plan to Increase the Number of Graduate Social Workers in California Through the Development of Standardized Core Curriculum Courses
Amount of CEE Funding Requested:
$100,000
Matching Funds Provided:
$ 25,000
Total Funds:
$125,000
Ja esJ, Campus California State University, Los Angeles
Hartman, Provost California State University, Los Angeles
One-page Abstract
The School of Health and Human Services at CSLA is proposing to coordinate a consortium of CSU accredited social work programs to enhance opportunities for a social work education in communities where accessible master's programs do not exist. Only nine CSU campuses currently offer an MSW degree, functionally excluding residents of rural and minority communities.
The School is
proposing to build on the successful experience of allied professions of nursing and education by developing nine core accredited courses that can be delivered to anyWhere in California and completed in the home community.
These core courses will facilitate the students' completion of requirements for
graduation at any of the nine campuses that offer the MSW in the CSU system. They will be acceptable as partial fulfillment of requirements for an MSW degree.
Social work programs on the following six
campuses will participate: Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Jose and Stanislaus. This initiative is rooted in the exponential increase in demand for graduate level social workers into the twenty-first century and beyond in light of California's changing demographics and current public policy directives stemming from welfare reform. Throughout the state and especially in rural communities, public child welfare offices are unable to recruit MSWs for employment, and even in large metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, county agencies are having difficulty in filling MSW mandated positions. The nine core classes will be proposed to the faculties of each school. While facilitating graduate education in an immediately employable discipline, the initiative aiso fosters communication between faculty and learning professionals via interactive technology, thus creating a synergy between technologies and curriculum/content experts. The British Open University has agreed to consult with faculty on curriculum development.
Project Description
Introduction and Background The School of Health and Human Services (SHHS) at CSLA, in collaboration with six accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) granting universities in the CSU system, is requesting support from the Commission on the Extended University (CEU) for a pilot initiative that reaches under-served populations throughout California, utilizing distance education technologies. The participating campuses have collaboratively developed an integrated instructional strategy designed to enhance social work education in communities where accessible programs do not exist and consequently master's level social workers are substantially unavailable to fulfill mandated public child welfare positions. Currently, only nine CSU campuses - mostly based in urban centers - offer an accredited MSW degree. The British Open University has been enlisted to assist social work faculty in the development of a distance education curriculum. We believe that this initiative addresses several CEU objectives, notably: 1.
Outreach to populations who are either unable or limited in their ability to partake of CSU educational programs; I.e., rural individuals, disadvantaged ethnic and racial minorities.
2.
Collaboration among multiple campuses and external agencies to recognize universally accepted foundation courses; I.e., six CSU campuses, NASW, CaISWEC, CIMH.
3.
Engagement of CSU faculty in the design and implementation of programs that use distributed learning technologies to provide instruction and support services.
4.
Utilization of external resources that support development and collaboration vis-a-vis international education programs; I.e., British Open University. A $50,000 CEU grant five years ago to develop a pilot distance education initiative, involving
CSU Long Beach's Department of Social Work in collaboration with remote campuses in Chico and Humboldt, has since spawned a nationally recognized model that in May 1998 graduated two cohorts of 20 students. The campuses were successful in leveraging early CEU support toward obtaining a substantial commitment of $692,000 from the California Social Work Education Center (CaISWEC) at UC Berkeley to launch the three-year program, including student tuition funds paid into the CERF fund. CalSWEC administers federal Title IV-E funds with the intent of
improving the delivery of child welfare service within public agencies.
A new and expanded
three-year distance education round began fall 1998, this time involving four remote campuses (Bakersfield, Channel Islands, Chico and Humboldt) and supported by a $736,749 contract from CalSWEC for each of the next three years. However, even with the addition of the Long Beach distance education program oltered through the CERF fund, the needs of rural social service agencies aren't being met. The four additional sites have added access for students from rural communities, but are not meeting the demand. To launch this timely and vitally needed initiative, the CSLA School of Health and Human Services is requesting funding in the amount of $100,000. Each CSU campus will develop one course, with coordination provided by the SHHS at CSLA. Since each course must be approved by the social work accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education, a portion of the budget is devoted to these expenses. Statement of Need Disadvantaged ethnic and racial minorities, especially those who reside in California's rural regions, depend greatly on public and private social services to help meet their physical, emotional and material needs. Yet, social service agencies are increasingly unable to recruit and retain professionally educated master's level social workers to provide competently a qualitative range of services to those in need.
Master's level social workers, due to their professional
education and training, are especially suited to deal with the variety of contemporary social problems challenging society. Requirements for the master's degree in social work (MSW) include two years of standardized study and 1,000 hours of supervised field instruction. This produces graduates philosophically and technically prepared to join the social service work force. The social work approach is distinguished by its emphasis on the fit between the person and his or her environment.
In other words, social workers are adept at assessing the concurrent needs of
individuals, families, groups, institutions and communities and are uniquely qualified to intervene on behalf of populations at risk.
The predominance, therefore, of social work graduate programs in urban centers impacts graduate school admissions in that interested rural applicants. especially minorities of moderate to low incomes. cannot afford to leave home to attend a full time two year program or to relocate to attend a three to four year program part time. Conversely. graduates of urban programs are less likely to seek employment in unfamiliar rural locales because. according to one director. of the differing lifestyles in these environmentally differing areas. Those most likely to accept full time employment as professionally trained social workers in rural communities are, as a result. individuals native to these communities. Therefore. not only does California need to graduate a greater number of master's level social workers each year. but also to ensure that these graduates are (1) representative of the overall population and (2) sensitive to the differing needs among the various ethnic, racial, and culturally distinguishable populations. The need for expanded master's level social work education is most keenly felt in isolated rural communities where agencies cannot find qualified staff to fill important human service positions. An estimated one-third of California counties do not have even one MSW employed in child protective services.
This lack of professionals employed in county human service
departments render these agencies unable to meet legislative and professional standards required for employees working with the most seriously abused and mentally ill clients. Furthermore, their clients do not receive the quality of care for which they are ethically and legislatively entitled. In comparably sized other states such as New York. there are more than 1,600 social work graduates from New York City's seven schools of social work alone. as compared with California's 1.200 graduates statewide. CalSWEC conducted a survey of California's 57 counties in November 1998 (Los Angeles County data was excluded). Findings indicated that more than one-half (53.5%) of non-master's level employees of very small counties were interested in obtaining an MSW and 43.1% of small counties. Yet, they were hindered in pursuing a graduate education by the absence of an MSW program to which they could commute while retaining their employment, or attend on a part-time or temporary leave basis. An earlier study by CalSWEC
identified a total of 345 unfilled child welfare positions, 26% of which required an MSW degree. Of the remaining positions, counties expressed a preference to fill 35% of them with MSWs. The CalSWEC study also found that only 37% of California child welfare workers had an MSW degree, a level considerably below state regulatory requirements. The lack of qualified candidates is compounded by a lack of racial and ethnic diversity. By the year 2000, more than one-half of the state population will be members of minority groups, yet the percentage of minority students enrolled in full-time MSW programs is less than 20%. In rural communities with large concentrations of ethnic and racial minorities (e.g., Latino farm workers in Central California and pockets of Hmongs and Laotian families in the far northern region), there are profound language and cultural barriers that compound the absence of MSW trained staff. Rural northern Califomia is especially impacted by the lack of professionally trained social workers. The closest universlly to the state's northern border that grants an MSW degree is CSU Sacramento -- more than 250 miles away. The enactment of welfare reform has compounded this situation. It is especially felt at the county government level where it has necessitated the adding of qualified personnel and retraining of existing employees. Since the early 1960s, when county welfare directors petitioned and received line-item funding from the state legislature to open graduate social work programs, social work faculty, students and graduates have played an important role in representing the interests of underserved popUlations through advocacy, empowerment, and service delivery. Proposed Project and Implementation Plan Building on prior distance education successes, we are proposing to assemble teams of social work faculty to develop up to nine core social work classes that will be delivered vis-a-vis distance education and other cutting edge technologies. The nine core classes, to be developed by the participating CSU-MSW programs, will be proposed to the faculties of each school to be accepted by any of these institutions as partial fulfillment for their master's program requirements. The curriculum being prepared will provide students with knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to be competent social work practitioners. All courses will incorporate a cross-cultural perspective with the goal of increasing the students' sensitivity to the human needs of all races,
ethnic and cultural groups and to the unique characteristics of diverse populations. In addition to facilitating graduate education among all Californians and especially those residing in isolated rural parts of the state, the program fosters communication between faculty and learning professionals via interactive technology, thus creating a synergy between technologies and curriculum/content experts. The British Open University - known for its success in delivering integrated systems of support over distances - has agreed to consult with faculty concerning curriculum development, and a portion of the budget is devoted to this expense. Faculty will be afforded released time to develop the curriculum. Support for this initiative has come from several quarters. On the one hand, the renewal of a second round of distance programming in Chico and Humboldt and the addition of sites in Bakersfield and Channel Islands, attest to the continuing demand and viability of MSW education. However, even with the new sites, demand is not being met. CaISWEC, located at the University of California at Berkeley, is again being asked to provide the matching funds and will vote on this proposal at its June meeting. CSLA will provide the match from the School of Health and Human Services account if CalSWEC does not approve this proposal. CalSWEC receives almost $14 million in federal funds each year to support training of new child welfare workers and the retraining of existing workers, with the vast majority of funding going to social work programs. In detailed discussions with representatives of the participating CSU MSW granting campuses, there have been strong expressions of a willingness to consider adoption of the core program model.
Aspects of the proposed model have successfully been applied by CSU
departments in such allied fields as nursing and education where a core curriculum, completed in the home community, facilitates the students' completion of requirements for graduation on a degree granting campus.
Such distance technologies as audio-video satellite and fiber optic
cable transmission, instructional video development, and asynchronous Internet access, including e-mail, have been utilized. Since all CSU campuses are linked by fiber optic cable, among the advantages of involving multiple CSU campuses is the opportunity to tap the best and the brightest faculty members from each campus as curriculum developers and instructors.
The development of
distance curriculum requires a level of forethought and preparation that is not necessarily needed in a single live classroom setting. Participating faculty, including representatives of the British Open University and the collaborating campuses, will be invited to a special orientation meeting on curriculum development and distance technologies. Though a cornerstone of this initiative is the development of high quality, multimedia teaching materials, other mediums including real-time fiber optic cable transmission, asynchronous Internet access for dissemination of instructional materials, and formation of chat room discussion groups are also planned. Upon receipt of an initial CEU grant in the amount of $100,000, we believe that it can again be leveraged as the distance education program at CSU Long Beach did through CalSWEC and other sources, including special sessions tuition, to sustain the program long-term. Based on the high level of interest among rural county child welfare employees in obtaining a MSW degree, CaISWEC's board of directors is expected to look favorably on a project that increases access to a social work education in rural areas. In addition to CaISWEC, the project will benefit from this small CERF fund planning commitment. Progress meetings will be held quarterly in conjunction with regularly scheduled quarterly meetings of CaISWEC, to which all CSU Social Work departments send representatives. CalSWEC is supportive of this initiative because it is similarly concerned about the lack of graduate level social workers available for employment in public child welfare agencies.
The
advantage of coinciding meetings with CalSWEC is that attendance at meetings is funded through federal Title IV-E monies, and thus there is no need to budget for in-state travel expenses for campus representatives. Proiect Goals, Objectives and Timeline A timeline has been developed for this initiative based on the following goal: To improve the quality of social services to poor and under-served minorities by increasing the number of master's level social work graduates in isolated and rural communities throughout California, using distance education.
Several objectives flow from the preceding goal. They are: 1.
To secure agreement among participating graduate social work programs to accept the core curriculum as partial fulfillment of requirements for a master of social work degree.
2.
To develop detailed curricula for nine social work courses, including specifications of the media to be utilized, materials to be produced, and content to be imparted.
3.
To initiate pilot testing of the courses at one or more distance sites.
4.
To provide a minimum of 24 hours of training for faculty responsible for the development of core courses.
The timeline for implementation of these objectives is projected as follows: •
June 30. 1999 - August 31, 1999: Hire part time staff members and convene advisory board of Deans/Directors of participating CSU campuses. Involve CSWE accreditation commission in the planning process and start WASC approval process.
•
September 1999: Secure formal faculty support from participating MSW programs, determine each campus's responsibility and identify faculty to develop curriculum.
•
October 1999: Provide training for participating faculty, including sessions planned by the British Open University. Start development of the evaluation process.
•
November - March 2000: Begin developing pilot curriculum, working interactively with project consultants and convene Deans/Directors Advisory Board.
Meet with CSWE
Accreditation Commission at Annual Program Meeting. •
April 2000: Hold interim meeting of project consultants from participating campuses. Review evaluation plan to assess progress, present project outlines, and reinforce technological possibilities.
Meet with British Open University consultant for their
evaluation of the curriculum. •
May 2000 - June 2000: Continue development of the curriculum, working interactively with project consultants. Meet with the Advisory Board of CSU Deans/Directors. Collect data for evaluation.
•
July 2000: Circulate draft curriculum among participating programs for review and comment.
Review of curriculum by British Open University consultants and CSWE
Commission on Accreditation and finalize WASC approval. •
August 2000: Finalize draft curriculum based on feedback from programs. curriculum for CSWE accreditation approval.
Submit
Present evaluation findings to Advisory
Board. •
September 2000: Pilot test curriculum vis-a-vis specified methodologies at remote sites.
•
November 2000: Complete project evaluation and financial report.
Evaluation The project will combine quantitative and qualitative assessment techniques.
The
analysis will focus on the curriculum development process, the MSW programs' adoption process, and the reported experience of faculty. Formative evaluation strategies will be utilized vis-a-vis the conjoint training and report session meetings so that feedback is provided participants. Evaluation of this project will involve quarterly formative reports and a summary report to the Advisory Board. Several research questions have been posed in connection with our distance education enterprise. They are as follows: •
What is the process by which a core curriculum can be developed and approved across social work programs?
•
What forms of distance education are best suited for a core social work curriculum offering?
•
How does this innovative educational model fit with other Council on Social Work Education approved initiatives? Will this initiative increase the supply of MSWs in underserved communities?
•
Based on these questions and the previously presented objectives, following outcomes will be assessed: •
Agreements to accept core curricula: written acceptance of the core curricula found in social work program minutes of meetings and other written authorizations.
•
Detailed core curricula for each of nine courses: copies of each detailed curriculum will be obtained and a content analysis provided of distance education techniques and strategies.
•
Pilot testing of courses: participant assessment of each course module will be conducted with formative feedback afforded the course instructor.
•
Faculty training on distance education: documentation of course hours and curriculum will be combined with pre- and post-testing of participant perceptions and knowledge about distance education.
Dissemination Plan There are numerous channels for dissemination of the results of this program.
Most
importantly, it will be shared with the participating MSW programs and CalSWEC, who we hope will become a financial partner.
Beyond this network, however, we anticipate interest from non-
CSU programs that are united through CalSWEC and that share a similar commitment to broad and accessible social work education.
Furthermore, the National Association of Deans and
Directors (NADD) of Schools of Social Work is now beginning a sponsored research project, Distributed and Technology-Enhanced Learning, and is very interested in the findings of this collaborative project for its national implications. A project of this nature has not been attempted in other states, and thus there is interest in its success. CSWE, the accrediting body for social work, is required to approve each course's design and the specific distance education plan. CSWE approval will open the door for other campuses to adopt or modify the newly developed curriculum.
James J. Kelly, Ph.D., Dean of the CSLA School of Health and Human Services, will coordinate this initiative. He will be assisted by Anita Harbert, Ph.D., Director of the CSUSD Department of Social Work and President of the California Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work. Gary Bess, MSW, Ab.D., President of Gary Bess and Associates, will coordinate the evaluation plan. James J. Kelly, Ph.D. Dr. Kelly is the Dean for the School of Health and Human Services at California State University, Los Angeles. Prior to this September 1997 appointment, Dr. Kelly was the director of, and a professor in the Department of Social Work at CSU, Long Beach. Before that, he taught at San Diego State University and the University of Hawaii. During his tenure at CSU, Long Beach, he was the driving force behind a distance education initiative between his campus and CSU, Chico and CSU, Humboldt whereby students at both remote campuses earned a MSW degree from CSU, Long Beach. Anita S. Harbert, Ph.D. Dr. Harbert is the Director of the School of Social Work at San Diego State University. She also founded and directs the University Center on Substance Abuse there, and oversaw the development of a distance education program in the Imperial Valley. She is also a prominent social work educator. She has served on the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education for nine years. She is currently the President of the California Social Work Dean's and Director's organization. Garv Bess. MSW. Mr. Bess is completing a doctoral program in social work at the University of Southern California. Since 1986, he has taught in schools of social work at USC, UCLA and CSU. Long Beach, which Included classes on community organizing, needs assessment and program planning, budgeting, and grant writing. He also has taught undergraduate classes in grant writing and health care management at California State University, Chico.
He currently coordinates and teaches in a masters of social work distance
education project in Chico offered by through CSU, Long Beach.
Budget Detail and Justification
A.
Project Personnel. 1.
$96,000
A part time program development specialist will be hired to coordinate the curriculum development activities and project development scheduling. S/he will be responsible for organizing recruitment efforts and administrative and logistical support for all project activities. S/he will report on a regular basis to the Dean of Health and Human Services on the status of the project planning preparations. This person will prepare all annual progress reports, financial reports, and program review documents for examination by the project advisory committee. (CaISWEC or CSLA School of Health and Human Services)
B.
$25,000
2.
British Open University Curriculum Consultants
$7,000
3.
Council on Social Work Education Accreditation Consultants
$5,000
4.
Evaluation Consultant.
5.
Faculty Development Consultant at 6 collaborating campus (9@ $7,000) $63,000
$13,000
Supplies and Expenses
$12,000
1.
Travel for project staff and consultants as needed.(Open U/CSWE)
$ 7,000
2.
Office supplies for the project coordinator will be purchased as needed
$ 1,300
3.
Telephone service with a direct number for the project will be established.$
4.
Postage and delivery service will be used to communicate with participants and other support agencies
5.
600
$1 ,000
University duplication will be used to prepare data collection forms, reproduce evaluation reports and other administrative documents
$2, 100
California State University Commission on the Extended University 1999/2000, RFP Budget
Source of Funds CEE Grant Request
Local Matching Source A CalSWEC or
Funds Source B CSLASHHS
22,321 2,679
22,321 2,679
(specify source) Source C
Faculty & Staff Salaries & Wages Benefits Consultants Student Help Salaries & Wages Benefits
88,000
,
Supplies
1,300
,
Services PhonePostage/Dup Consultant Travel Staff Travel
3,700 5,000 2,000
Materials Miscellaneous (specify)
TOTALS
100,000
25,000 or
25,000
ADDENDUM
Collaborating Organizations California Social Work Education Center (CaISWEC) CSLA School of Health and Human Services California Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Riverside County Department of Mental of Mental Health Collaborating Social Work Programs College of Social Work, San Jose State University Master of Social Work Department, California State University, Stanislaus School of Social Work, San Diego State University Collaborating Extended Education Programs San Diego State University California State University, Sacramento California State University, Stanislaus California State University, Fresno California State University, San Bernardino
04/01/99
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Ca1SWEC
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California Social Work Education Center focusing on public social services
April 1, 1999 " for
CS
Dr, Jim Kelly Dean, School of Health and Human Services CSU, Los Angeles 5151 State University Drive Los Angeles, CA 90032
Los
CSU,
CSU.
I have reviewed your Distance Social Work Education Proposal which you will be submitting to the CSU Commission on the Extended University. It directly addresses two Clitical needs within the state. First, it addresses the shortfall of master's level public child welfare workers in rural parts of the state. Second, it addresses the educational needs of workers in rural a.reas who are committed to liVing and working with the communities. I have placed this proposal on the agenda for the CalSWEC Board meeting on June 11, 1999,
You have been an innovator and leader in the development of distance social work education programs in California. You have always demonstrated the commitment to social work education and the capacity to follow through on complex projects. I feel certain that this proposed project will be successful under your leadership. I fully support your exploration of this option to traditional sodal work ed1.1cation.
{fCLA
Sincerely,
Ilj
Sherrill J. Clark, LCSW, PhD Executive Director
0/ (510)
"t
5cllOoi (510)
120
94720.7400
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES 5151 STATE UNIVERSITY DRIVE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90032-8160 SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (2131343-4600
April 2, 1999
Dr. Margaret Gordon Executive Secretary CSU Commission on the Extended University California State University, Dominguez Hills 1000 East Victoria Street Carson, CA 90747 Re:
A Distance Education Plan to Increase the Number of Graduate Social Workers in California Through the Development of Standardized Core Courses.
Dear Dr. Gordon: If the California Social Work Education Center Board of Directors does not approve our request for the $25,000 in matching funds, the School of Health and Human Services will provide the $25,000 in cash out of its resources.
The California State University
APR-01-1999 THU 08:34
CIMH-CMHDA
FAX NO, 916 446 4519
CALI FORN IA INSTITUTE FOR MENTAL HEALTH Promoting Excel/ence in Mental Health Services
March 31, 1999 James J. Kelly, Ph.D, Dean Califomia State University at Los Angeles School of HClllth and Human Services Dear Dr. Kelly, It is a pleasure to write this letter in support oCyour project to coordinate a consortium of CSU accredited social work programs to enhance opportunities for a social work cducation in communities where accessible master's programs do not exist.
The California Institute for Mental Health (CIMH) is a non-profit public interest corporation established in 1993 for the purpose of promoting excellence in mental health services through training, technical assistance, research and policy development. CIMH was established by California's county mental health directors, who serve as the Board of Directors along with consumer, family members, and public interest representatives, to provide a center to support locally delivercd publicly funded mental health scrvices through collaboration with all system stakeholders. As you know from our numerous discussions on the topic, California's public mental health system is seriously impacted by our inability to recruit quali fled professionals. Master level social workcrs make up the majority of our current professional workforcc, and are our most pressing recruitment.problem. Therc are simply not enough qualified MSW social workcrs to provide the services we are mandated to provide. This problem is most acute in our rural communities, but our urban areas are also impacted. As Califomia has bceome a multicnltural state, recruiting culturally competent and linguistically appropriate social workers has become a crucial problcm, 1'11 share with you a recent incident that illustrates the desperation of County Mcntal · Health regarding thc recruitment problem. One of our staff presented a workshop at last year's NASW Califomia Chapter Conference. At the last minute, he learned that organizations could set up recmitrnent booths at the Conference. He sent a fax to only the Small County Directors, offering to set up a booth on their bchalf if there was anced. Counties had two days to respond to him, He received over 100 announcements of vacant positions from the small counties in that two days, along with pleas for help. In my opinion, shared by virtually all 58 County Mental Health Directors in California, there is a severe shortage of MSW graduates each year to meet our current need. Trend
K Street. 2nd Floo! • Saoramento, CA 95814 • Phone: (916) 556-3480 • Fax: (916) 446-4519
P, 02/03
APR-01-1999 THU 08:35 AM
CIMH-CMHDA
FAX NO. 916 446 4519
analysis, based on state mental health initiatives, indicatcs that this need will continue to increase in the future. The prospect of using distance technologies is a particularly exciting oue. We have numerous individuals currently working in paraprofcssional positions thaI could and would advance if education were accessible. This proposal offers an opportunity for such persons. It also offers a potential ladder for people in low-income minority communities to matriculate through a program. graduating from one of the nine campuses that offer the MSW in the California State University system. In closing, I would like to offer this organization as a partner ifmental health is all arca selected for this project. Clearly, wc would like to sec mental health selected, as we believe our need is acute. We would be very pleased to provide collaboration and consultation on design, cirriculum, delivery, and any other aspect of the project. We look fOTWard 10 the positive outcome of your application for this project. Best regards,
Executive Director
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NAT ASSOC SOC WORKER
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NASW National Assoclotlon of SOClol Workers
CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
March 31,1999 Dr. James Kelly Dean, College of Health and Human Services CSU Los Angeles 5150 State University Drive Los Angeles, CA 90032 Dear Dr. Kelly: The 12,000 member California Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) supports wholeheartedly the proposal to provide online social work instruction in rural communities that would partially meet the reqUirements for a Masters in Social Work (MSW) degree. Professionally trained MSW social workers are desperately needed in Califomia's rural communities that are experiencing the social ills that come with population growth and the migration of the poor from more expensive urban areas. The need is particularly acute in child welfare and mental health. The State of California is promoting key initiatives in structured decision making, wrap around services, concurrent planning and family decision making that necessitate highly skilled and professionally trained child welfare workers. In mental health, most reimbursement systems require a MSW with a clinical license. The dearth of MSWs in rural areas could mean that no mental health services are available at all. Across the country, over 60% of the nation's mental health services are delivered by social workers. Their expertise is seriously needed in many rural communities hit hard by the urban influx. NASW knows of no better group of collaborators to deliver this project then the California Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, and the California Social Work Education Center. The addition of the British Open University will facilitate the next evolution of social work distance education from the current wildly successful on campus model to a virtual online model. NASW would also like to acknowledge your leadership, energy and enthusiasm in promoting past distance education efforts and this current initiative. Your involvement is without a doubt a guarantee that the project will succeed and succeed beyond all expeclations.
. ~eWong ~ Executive Director
1016 23rd Street· Soctomento, California 95816-4910 • (916) 442-4565 • (800) 538-2565
[email protected] (E-Mail) • FAX (916) 442-2075 • http://naswco.org/ 202 • Los Arge!es, 90036-3617 • 935-2050 •
APR-02-99 FRI 12:08 PM
RIV CO MENTAL HEALTH ADM
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
FAX NO, 9093584513
P, 02
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JOHN J. RYAN, DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH Reply to:
April 2, 1999
James J. Kelly, Ph.D., Dean School of Health and Human Services california State University at Los Angeles 5150 state University Drive Los Angeles, CA 90032 Dear Dr. Kelly: As Chair of the California Mental Health Directors' Human Resources Committee, I wish to wholeheartedly support your proposal to provide online social work instruction in rural communities. The work force issues that the pUblic mental health system here in California is facing warrant an innovative, creative approach. Please let me know how we can help to address this critical need.
POST OFFICE BOX 7549
RIVERsIDE. CALIFORNIA 92513
Apr-02-99 10:55
CaLL.
OF SOCIAL WORK
408 924-5892
April 1, 1999
San Jose State UNIVERSITY
College of Social Work of the Dean One Washington Square CA
408-924-5892 E-ma!i: i IWWW,sjsu_edu/deptS/ SocialWork
MSW & 8SW Programs Departments: African American Studies Mexican Studies Urban & Regional
Dr. James J. Kelly, Dean College of Health and Human Services & !Acting Dean of Continuing Education California State University, Los Angeles 5151 State University Drive Los Angeles, CA 90032-8160 I
Dear Dr. Kelly: I have reviewed the extended education proposal that would allow students throughout the state to take nine (9) online courses from any of the participating accredited social work programs making it easier for students in rural areas to pursue the MSW degree. We have had numerous discussions about the need to prepare more masters' level social workers particularly in areas that are not in close proximity to the nine CSU campuses that offer the MSW degree. This proposal offers us an opportunity to collaborate and to address a need that has been expressed by county welfare directors. I am very supportive of this proposal and want to thank you for taking a leadership role in its development. I know of your innovative and pioneering work in distance education at Long Beach and am confident that this project will be a success. You have the experience, expertise, and credibility to convene the deans and directors of the CSU and UC schools of social work as well as to develop and implement this project. I will bring the proposal to the faculty for discussion at their next regularly scheduled faculty meeting in April. Since my appointment in 1994, I have Idiscusscd the possibility of collaborating with you in distance education with the faculty and the response has been very positive. Our curriculum, which focuses on transcultural social work practice, is ideal for this project. We look forward to working with you on this very exciting project.
Sincerely,
The
College of Social Work
P.
APR- )-99 THU 4:23
CSU, STANISLAUS, MSW
FAX NO
209 667 3869
p )
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, STANISLAUS 801 Weat Monte VIsta Avenue * Turlock CalIfornia 95382
Master of Social Work
(209)
April 1. 1999
Jim Kelly. Dean School of Health and Human Services CSU Los Angeles 5151 State University Drive Los Angeles, CA 90032 Dear Dr. Kelly: I have had a chance to review the proposal to increase the number of social workers in California through Distance Education, I am fully in support of this effort and hope that we will be in a position to become a part of the program. There is a great need for social workers with an MSW in this state and there are many in regions that are relatively less accessible to existing programs. I commend your efforts in this regard,
Ellen Dunbar. Ph,D, Director
EDlbd
667-305
FROM
School of Social Work, SDSU
PHONE NO.
619 594 5991
Apr. 02 1999 10:35AM Pi
School
92182· fAX,
April 2, 1999
Dr. James Kelly, Dean School of Health and Human Services California State University ofLos Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90095
Dear Jim, 1 am writing to confirm the School of Social Work at San Diego State University'S willingness to Serve as a partner in the efforts to expand social work graduate education, through a state-wide distance education program. The need for social work educational opportunities in the state are significant, particularly for those living in rural parts of the state. The idea of a collaborative effort among the accredited programs in the USC system is an innovative approach to the problem In addition, using the experience of the United Kingdom's Open University Program will be useful to all involved. We stand ready to cooperate in this endeavor. Please contact us for assistance, which you may need to promote this effort. Sincerely,
Anita S. Harbert, Ph.D Director
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FROM
School of Social
SDSU
PHONE NO.
12:38PM SDSU CE5
619 594 5991
02 i
January 22, 1999
Dr. David S. Spence, Acting Chair Commission on Extended University Office of the Chancellors 400 Golden Shore, Ste. 324 Long Beach, CA 90802-4275 Dear Dr. Spence:
! am ill support of the proposed program. A Plan to lncrease Social Work Education on CSU Campuses Through Distance Education Programs, led by Cal State Los Angeles. This systemwide effort should produce a quality program and enhance the csu reputation. Sincerely,
Dr. Paula Kelly,
Dean
College of Extended Studies
P2
