The Social Work Cafe

Welcome! This section of the Social Work Cafe is the start of our discussion forum. The following names and descriptions are of individuals who have volunteered their time to be on-line Mentors. All Mentors have had at least two years experience in the field of social work, whether it be clinical, management, or education related. This program is NOT a substitute for on-the-job social work supervision for licensure or NASW mentorship programs.

The Social Work Cafe Mentor Match program has two goals:

1 ) To elicite student questions about the career of a social worker, and other global social welfare concerns;

2) To allow social workers, educators, and other like-minded professionals to exchange ideas and provide support or assistance to each other.

Participating Mentors

Marina Amaral, Social Worker/Master's Degree/PhD - you can e-mail me at 
marinaamaral81@hotmail.com . I am particularly interested in discussing subjects related to young people with a care background, transition processes from care (to birth families or independence), mental Health, particularly depression and related symptoms (specifically self-harm, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts) and Integrated Psychotherapies applied to young people in care and their families. I am available to discuss these subjects with people around the world and contribute to the development of any project in these fields.

Tara Fortner, LMSW - you can e-mail me at tafortner@gmail.com . I live in Overland Park, KS. I am a Field Intake Specialist for a large non-profit community mental health center. My job is to complete clinical assessments for children at risk of psychiatric hospitalization, in order to qualify them for intensive home & community based services so that they can avoid long-term hospitalization. I have been working with at-risk youth for almost 10 years in a variety of home & community based settings. I love what I do and can't imagine living life without being a social worker. I am currently working on my DSW (doctorate of social work) with the end goal being to obtain a faculty position at a local university. I want to help educate the next generation of social workers to be outstanding.

G D Gardner, CQSW DipSW Cert Management- you can e-mail me at  info@socialWorkProcesses.co.uk and visit my website at  http://www.SocialWorkProcesses.co.uk. I live in London England UK. I work for Elevate and we are a cpd social work training organisation in the UK.

Charles Garvin, PhD, ACSW, LSW - you can e-mail me at charlesg@umich.edu . I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Professor Emeritus of Social Work (Univ of Michigan), author, researcher, activist, private practitioner. I would like to discuss social justice.

Alexandra Jackson, Lcsw - you can e-mail me at Alexandra_jackson@yahoo.com . I live in Stockton, CA. Healthcare speciality oncoology.  Interests:healthcare disparities and technology /information disparity.  Work for TPMG /kaiser.  Going through huge changes with resistance from local management.  Mentoring in multi lingual and multicultural world while integrating with push towards more inclusion family /patient/spokesperson in decision making position. Inequity in healthcare and technology.

Prabhdeep Kaur, MSW - Forensics.Kaur@gmail.com - I live in Chicago, Illinois, USA. I work as a Forensics Clinical Social Worker where I meet with family members of defendants to conduct psychosocial evaluations to aide in answering the following questions: 1.) Is the defendant mentally fit to stand trial; 2.) Does the defendant need psychotropic medication to be fit to stand trial; 3.) Was the defendant sane at the time of the alleged offense; 4.) Did the defendant understand his/her miranda warnings

FORDJOUR SAMUEL KWADWO, DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK WITH INFORMATION (UNIVERSITY OF GHANA) - you may email me at FGEE2008@YAHOO.COM Currently teaching in a senior high school in ghana. The name of the organisation i am with the Ghana Education Service.

Manuela Mage, LGSW - you can e-mail me at manuelamage@hotmail.com . I am a recently LGSW, who has however, been working in the SW field for over 14 years. I am currently unemployed, looking for work and just recently moved to the Washington DC area. I would like to discuss the role of social work in society. The role of the social worker in advocacy. The responsibility the social worker has towards society. The commitment we make towards making the world a more just place for everyone.

New Wilmington Psychotherapy and Counseling, Susan M. McConnell, MSW, LCSW - you can e-mail me at 310joy@gmail.com . I live in New Wilmington, PA. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  I currently work for Children's Hospital UPMC Pittsburgh (Wexford) and have a private practice in New Wilmington, PA.  In our private practice we (Larry Cross, LCSW) see Adults, Children and Families.  I specialize in Children and Family issues, however I also work with adults individually.

Lori A. Melhart, MSW, CADC - you can e-mail me at lmelhart@yahoo.com or you can visit my website at  http://www.schoolsocialworksite.com . Lori A. Melhart has been a School Social Worker for over 11 years. With things changing for School Social Workers in the new RtI world, it seems they are going where none has gone before. Lori decided to prove this wrong and start a website dedicated to bringing School Social Workers together to support one another as they invent the future together.

Ejuks Osam, BSW/MSW, MA Theology, MDIV - you can e-mail me at ejuks@hotmail.com . I live in Dunedin. I am an international student who came to New Zealand to research a terminal degree in Social Work. I am Nigerian lived in the states for ten years where I studied for my BSW/MSW. I am currently awaiting my PHD results. I would like to discuss life's general struggles, addiction, and prospects of recovery.

Susan Shafer, LMSW - you can e-mail me at SuesBliss@aol.com . I live in Queens, NY. 1) August 2007– Present (4 years 7 months) CCNS Bayside Senior Center Manage the best senior center in the city, located in Bayside. We're open to adults 60+ and have something for everyone. We're a resource for seniors and their families. 2)Principal,Resumes & MORE! Consult with clients who are ready for a move up or out in their careers to develop a resume that opens doors and provide supportive coaching that results in clarity and confidence re: visioning ideal career move, strategy for job search, prepping for interviews, and knowing what you're worth. I also coach new managers to be great managers.

Rae Sirott, LCSW MT-BC - you can e-mail me at shirarae@aol.com . I live in Atlanta, GA. Creative approach to SW combined with Music Therapy (Board Certified) . Work as a service coordinator in an over-62 building.  Wellness & aging in place,community building. Social casework.

Bill Wardley-Smith - you can e-mail me at bill@muncus.co.uk . I am Manager of Social Work for Carolina House Trust the oldest Children's Charity in Scotland. I have been a social worker since 1996 and have experience of working with young people in a secure setting, through care and residential. I would like to discuss anything around children and being looked after and through care in other countries.

Richard Worden, MDiv, DMin, RSW, CFLE - you can e-mail me at elricworden@shaw.ca . I live in Medicine Hat.  20 years in church work, 24 years with Medicine Hat Famiuly Service and since retirement in 2006 recycled into private practice, Primary Care Net Work SW and lecturer at the local college on Death, Dying, and Bereavement IDST 485.