Three Niagara University social work students receive award at national conference

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY — Social work seniors Paige Hergott and Olivia Harrington and junior Mackenzie Forbes received second place honors for their poster, “The Importance of connections and relationships within the social work field displayed through SWSA” at the 42 annual conference of the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, March 12-15, in Las Vegas. Forbes serves as president of Niagara’s Social Work Student Association.

Also at the conference, Dr. Beth Tripi presented a poster “Collaborative practice across model-types and systems using a Systems of Care framework,” and Dr. Rolanda Ward, Dr. Tanyetta A. Carter, and Kaylyn Townsend-Kensinger presented two workshops. “Student-Led Community-Based Voter Registration Campaigns: A University-Community Collaboration,” discussed the voter engagement community-based project, and “Training political advocates through experiential learning field practicum activities,” discussed the annual advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. Jennifer McCarthy, an MSW intern working with Dr. Ward, also presented a poster, “Increasing Voting Registration Access Among the Unhoused and Financially Insecure in Western New York.”

Founded in 1975, the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors is a voluntary, individual membership association representing the interests of undergraduate education and practice in social work. Nearly 800 strong, the association’s membership includes BSW program directors, baccalaureate faculty, field coordinators, social work educators, practitioners, and our most valuable commodity: our students. Together we focus on excellence in education and practice to help our communities thrive.