AASWSW Fellow News: Hospital Renovations, Holiday Conflict, and More

American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare fellows discuss psychiatric hospital renovations, holiday family conflict, behavioral healthcare in nursing homes, and win aging research awards.

The Renovations of Texas Psychiatric Hospitals

November 30, 2024 — Fellow and Robert Lee Sutherland Chair in Mental Health and Social Policy at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, King Davis, PhD, was quoted in Texas Monthly about the long-awaited renovations of Texan psychiatric hospitals. The article notes how mental health advocates assert that beautiful structures, thoughtful design, and access to fresh air play a role in treatment and recovery, but people are less likely to consider aesthetics in facilities due to mental health stigma. “The question now is: What are state hospitals designed to do? And are they prepared to meet new objectives for old diseases?” Dr. Davis says.

Read the full article from Texas Monthly.

Intercultural Conflict During the Holidays

December 1, 2024 — The holidays often bring families together, but togetherness can highlight political or intercultural tension. Fellow and professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, Geoffrey Greif, PhD, wrote an article in Psychology Today about holiday conflict and ways to deal with it. He discusses the importance of racial and cultural perspective-taking, traditions, lowering expectations, sticking to personal routines, and more.

Read the full article on Psychology Today.

Supporting Behavioral Healthcare in Nursing Homes

December 2, 2024 — Fellow and Director of the Aging & Longevity Studies Program at the University of Iowa, Mercedes Bern-Klug, PhD, is quoted in a McKnights Long Term Care News article highlighting the importance of providing nursing home staff with adequate training to address behavioral healthcare as facilities increasingly serve residents with serious mental illnesses. “Sometimes people need medications, psychosocial support, emotional support and housing support,” Dr. Bern-Klug said. “It’s called serious mental illness for a reason, and lots of services and support in place can really help a person live a more fulfilling life.”

Read the full article from McKnights Long Term Care News.

Fellow Honored with Barbara J. Berkman Award

December 3, 2024 — Fellow, Professor, and Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs at the Boston University School of Social Work, Judith Gonyea, PhD, has received the Barbara J. Berkman Award for Outstanding Interdisciplinary Research, Practice, or Policy in Aging and Health Care from the Gerontological Society of America. This lifetime achievement award recognizes her decades of outstanding interdisciplinary research, practice, and policy making in aging and healthcare. Dr. Gonyea’s work continues to address the complexities of older adults’ lives, often focusing on historically disadvantaged older populations while employing an intersectionality lens to reveal how overlapping identities shape the aging experience.

Read more from the Boston University School of Social Work.