- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock /news-archive/tag/stephen-kapp/ ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Wed, 28 Jul 2021 20:51:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Blue & You Foundation Awards ��Vlog��ý Little Rock $605,000 Gift for Master of Social Work Students /news-archive/2021/07/28/blue-you-foundation-social-work/ Wed, 28 Jul 2021 20:51:20 +0000 /news/?p=79463 ...]]> The endowment will help address the growing behavioral health crisis in Arkansas by increasing the number of behavioral health professionals serving the state’s communities and training these specialists to practice in primary care settings. “The Blue & You Foundation endowment supports the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Social Work in their development of a program component that will train our graduates to specialize in this critical area of health care while providing financial support during their education,” said Dr. Stephen Kapp, director of the Master of Social Work Program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “In the end, this program builds the capacity to improve both mental and physical health outcomes in Arkansas.” The funding is part of $5.29 million in grants for behavioral health programs in Arkansas that the Blue & You Foundation announced July 16. The grants focus on eight Arkansas programs led by six established organizations that will address the growing behavioral health crisis in the state. The Blue & You Foundation is a charitable foundation established and funded by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield to promote better health in Arkansas. “We believe that addressing the behavioral healthcare needs of our state requires collaboration with local organizations that have demonstrated success in increasing access, improving outcomes and reducing stigma,” said Curtis Barnett, president and CEO of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “We recognize the impact behavioral health can have on the health of individuals, families, and communities as a whole. With these investments, we can help create healthier communities and give hope to those in need, while normalizing the conversation around behavioral health.” The Blue & You Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care Practice Endowment will provide stipends to students in the Master of Social Work Program who are working under the supervision of licensed social workers in primary care physician offices in the state. In turn, these funds will support the education of future social workers while they develop skill sets that would enhance the capacity of primary care physicians to provide meaningful physical and mental health treatment to Arkansans. “We are so grateful to the Blue & You Foundation for supporting our communities by addressing behavioral health head on with this meaningful endowment,” said Michael Johnson, director of development and external relations for the College of Business, Health, and Human Services. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is one of three universities in Arkansas, along with Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, to receive grants of $500,000 from the Blue & You Foundation to create endowments to directly support students in Master of Social Work Programs. The additional $105,000 will support start-up and administrative costs for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Master of Social Work Program. “From the onset of our research and discovery process, we knew that we’d be more successful in achieving our goal to improve behavioral healthcare in Arkansas by finding established and proven programs within the Natural State,” said Rebecca Pittillo, executive director of the Blue & You Foundation. “As we engaged with organizations across the state, I was amazed at the innovative approaches to challenging issues and the tremendous results already achieved. The programs led by the grant recipients announced today will go a long way in helping provide immediate and long-term support for Arkansans in need.” In Arkansas, the issue of behavioral health conditions is particularly serious. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that incidents of suicide, along with symptoms of anxiety and depression, are prevalent in Arkansas at rates higher than the national average. There is also an unmet need for behavioral healthcare in the state with 65.7 percent of adolescents reported having not received treatment for a major depressive episode, also significantly higher than the national average. “Mental health issues are a growing concern in the U.S.,” Kapp said. “People generally do not seek treatment at a mental health clinic or a therapist, this concern shows up in routine exams with their primary care physicians. Integrated Behavioral Health programs allow social workers in medical practices to treat this condition which not only leads to better mental health but it also minimizes the interference of poor mental health on overall physical health outcomes.” In the upper right photo, representatives from the Blue & You Foundation and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock celebrate the announcement of a new endowment for social work students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. From left, Curtis Barnett, president and CEO of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement, Dr. Ann Bain, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock executive vice chancellor and provost, Rebecca Pittillo, executive director of Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, Chancellor Christina Drale, Stephen Kapp, director of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Master of Social Work Program, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Michael Johnson, director of development and external relations, and Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock interim dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services. Photo by Ben Krain. ]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, EACC offers 2+2 social work program /news-archive/2020/02/10/ua-little-rock-eacc-offers-22-social-work-program/ Mon, 10 Feb 2020 15:46:43 +0000 /news/?p=76209 ...]]> Through a new 2+2 agreement, students may complete the first two years of lower division coursework and earn an Associate of Science in liberal arts and sciences degree in social work. Afterwards, students can transfer to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to complete their Bachelor of Social Work degree after two more years. “We are delighted to have East Arkansas Community College as a new partner. The School of Social Work has similar arrangements with three other schools (Hope/Texarkana, Pulaski Tech and National Park),” said Dr. Stephen Kapp, director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Social Work. “These arrangements create very clear and manageable paths for students from their local community to a professional degree in social work.” Students who have earned the associate degree from EACC with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA are eligible for admission to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s social work program with a junior classification. The Associate of Science in liberal arts and sciences is designed for students who wish to take the first two years of a four-year program with specific requirements before transferring to a four-year college or university. The associate degree offers the most flexibility for these students, who take a 35-hour general education core and 25 elective hours chosen from any discipline, such as an emphasis in social work, to fit their planned baccalaureate degree program. “There are many people in our service area interested in a degree in social work,” said Dr. Cathie Cline, president of EACC. “So many professions in our region benefit from this type of education. An ASLAS in social work is something that has been a goal of the college, and I am so pleased we have achieved that goal.”]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s rehabilitation counseling, social work graduate programs named to Best Graduate Schools for Health /news-archive/2019/04/02/rehabilitation-counseling-social-work-graduate-programs/ Tue, 02 Apr 2019 13:10:57 +0000 /news/?p=73849 ...]]> Two graduate programs have been named to U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 list of Best Graduate Schools for Health. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s graduate program in rehabilitation counseling ranked 47th while social work ranked 96th. As part of the release of Best Graduate Schools 2020, U.S. News & World Report published new rankings for graduate schools of health care management, physician assistant, public health, rehabilitation counseling, social work, and veterinary medicine. The rankings are based on peer assessment surveys of deans, administrators, and other faculty members at accredited degree-granting graduate programs in each discipline. “Whether you’re looking to pursue a degree in law, medicine or business, the Best Graduate Schools rankings offer the in-depth data and information you need to start your search,” said Anita Narayan, managing editor of education at U.S. News. “You can compare data on factors that most interest you – whether that’s how many law students pass the bar and are employed at graduation, or the student-faculty ratio and research expenditures at engineering schools.” Rehabilitation counselors help patients overcome physical, mental, emotional, and developmental disabilities and work in a variety of treatment and rehabilitation centers. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Rehabilitation Counseling program is a fully accredited online graduate program that prepares students to promote quality rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities through a pre-service and in-service education program that provides qualified, certified rehabilitation counselors to work in public and private agencies. In an advanced social work curriculum, students take courses in social welfare policy, human behavior and ethics, balanced with hands-on experience in clinical settings. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Social Work builds on a strong generalist foundation to prepare graduates for leadership roles in clinical practice and in management and community practice within the social welfare system in Arkansas. “Since joining the program, I have become intimately familiar with the distinctive aspects which justifiably set us apart,” said Stephen Kapp, director of the School of Social Work. “Our innovative curricula offers face-to-face and online options that suit the needs of our busy, diverse student population. Courses are taught by dedicated teachers composed of our permanent faculty and adjuncts from the community. All of our faculty share an understanding of best practices in their respective areas and a close connection with the local/state practice community. Finally, the school’s integral connection with the social work profession in Arkansas, supported by our talented alum, provides an excellent environment for the education of our students.”]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alum named ‘Arkansas Social Worker of the Year’ /news-archive/2019/02/25/social-worker/ Mon, 25 Feb 2019 18:16:09 +0000 /news/?p=73534 ...]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate Mandy Davis had never worked with people experiencing homelessness before she took a job in 2015 as a social worker at , which runs Little Rock’s only day resource center for the homeless. However, she quickly found ways to serve and has become an outspoken advocate for one of the city’s most at-risk populations. “I was able to build rapport with clients and when they saw what I was able to do, word spread,” she recalled. “People started calling me and coming to see me.” In 2017, she was promoted to director at Jericho Way and she now oversees a staff of seven people. Davis has been named the “Arkansas Social Worker of the Year” by the Arkansas Chapter of (NBASW-AR) and will be honored March 29 at an awards luncheon at the Marriott in Little Rock. Johanna Thomas, who was Davis’ professor at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, nominated Davis for the honor. “Her passion and drive were evident from the moment she entered the classroom,” Thomas said of Davis. “Her focus was often on social justice issues in her own community and state.” As a student, Davis received the Bachelor of Social Work Student of the Year award from the NBASW-AR and served on the chapter’s board. “Mandy epitomizes the values and ethics of the social work profession,” said Thomas, who is president-elect of NASW-AR and an associate professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Arkansas. “Her passion, drive, and advocacy on behalf of our unsheltered neighbors is not only inspiring, but is making a real difference in the lives of so many people.” Jericho Way, which is run by the nonprofit DePaul USA, operates in six countries and in six U.S. cities: St. Louis, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, Macon, Georgia, and now Little Rock. About 130 people visit Little Rock’s day resource center at 3000 Springer Blvd. daily. The center provides the city’s homeless with meals, case management, relief from the elements, help with job searches, hygiene services such as laundry and showers, transportation, telephones, and a computer lab. There’s also a medical clinic and clothing closet on site, and the agency is building small affordable housing units that will be available to low-income residents. Last year, the center served more than 49,000 meals, paid for countless shelter nights and much needed identity documents. They housed 62 individuals in 2018 with a more than 80 percent success rate. “Her work at Jericho Way illustrates the monumental impact that a social worker is capable of making,” said Dr. Stephen Kapp, director of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s School of Social Work. “The faculty, students, and alumni of the ��Vlog��ýLR School of Social Work are very proud of her accomplishments.” Davis, who grew up in western North Carolina, moved to Little Rock in 2009. As a nontraditional student, she started taking classes at ��Vlog��ý-Pulaski Technical College and received a full scholarship due to her high GPA and career choice. She then transferred to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to pursue a Bachelor of Social Work. After graduating in 2012, she worked for a year as a medical eligibility specialist before returning to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to complete her graduate degree. After earning a Master of Social Work in 2015, David went to work at at . “This job is a perfect fit,” she said. “My personal, professional, and organizational values all align. I think that’s why I’ve been successful. My employer gives me the space to create programs that meet actual needs and address emerging needs from the data. They truly listen to what’s going on at the ground level and help me implement programs or practices and hire to meet the needs.” Last fall, Davis returned to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a part-time instructor and taught field seminar for social work students. Students are required to have internships in their field before they graduate. Davis interned at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families when she was a student. The internship program is one of the strengths of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s BSW program, she said. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students have interned at Jericho Way, and Davis has even hired two of them – Kyle Francis, who completed the MSW program, and Kenya Ray who will complete the program in May 2019. “Internships placements are vital, and I think that’s something ��Vlog��ý Little Rock does really well,” she said. “You have to get out in the community and the field, in my opinion, while you’re a student. A lot of times you find out what you want to do or what you don’t want to do. It helps you figure out how you can best serve and which populations are best for you to serve.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate Mandy Davis, director of Jericho Way, has been named Arkansas Social Worker of the Year. Photo by Benjamin Krain]]> On the road to success /news-archive/2019/01/02/road-to-success/ Wed, 02 Jan 2019 17:42:29 +0000 /news/?p=73027 ...]]> For the past four months, Cynthia McLellan has logged 230 miles on her Mustang each Thursday on her weekly drive from Mena to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and back home. The trip takes six hours round-trip, but McLellan doesn’t mind too much. Every mile puts her closer to her goal to completing her college degree. McLellan has been taking online and hybrid classes in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program. The hybrid class requires her to come to campus once a week. “This is my dream, and there’s not a sacrifice I won’t make to make this happen for myself,” she said of the weekly drive. McLellan lives in Mena, a rural community on the state’s western edge, where she has worked in social services for more than 20 years. For the past 10 years, she has been the social services director at Rich Mountain Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. “I wanted to help others to face their challenges,” she said. “It’s my love. Even if I wanted to leave it, it would follow me.” McLellan earned an associate degree in 1999 from a two-year community college in her native New Jersey. She’s always known that she needed to complete a four-year degree for her career field, but accessibility has hampered her from doing so up until now. With a job she loves, and a husband, a stepson, and grandchildren all rooted in Mena, moving wasn’t an option, and educational opportunities in her community are limited. “I am unable to relocate,” she said. “I have to work and meet my responsibilities here.” McLellan, 45, had been searching for an online program when she discovered ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Bachelor of Social Work was the perfect fit. Her previous college credits transferred to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and she started the program in fall 2018 as a junior. She received a lottery scholarship, which helps offset tuition costs. At the time she was accepted, the online program was at maximum capacity, but there was a slot in the hybrid program, which allows students to complete courses mostly online with periodic meetings on campus. “Without this online program, I would be unable to attend college. There is no other program available to me,” she said. “With this online program, I’m able to continue working and attend college and take courses I need, and it plugs right into what I’m doing for a living. The courses I’m taking help strengthen what I do at the nursing home, and the nursing home will benefit from me getting a degree.” In the fall semester, she took five courses – 15 credit hours – while working full-time. Thursdays were the only days she spent on campus. She took advantage of the weekly trips, arriving early to meet with her academic advisors or professors. When the spring 2019 semester begins on Jan. 22, she’ll have all online classes, which will mean less drive time and more study time. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s online BSW program began in Fall 2018. Dr. Stephen Kapp, director of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s School of Social Work, says online programs are particularly helpful for training workers in high-demand areas. “In rural areas, there’s an absolute shortage of social workers,” Kapp said. “Through online programs, we’re able to build capacity in those areas.” Online classes also can be a challenge, McLellan said. “You have to be self-motivated and stay on top of deadlines,” she said. “I have to do that in the workforce anyway.” For the most part, McLellan has been impressed with the way technology provides ways for meaningful interaction between her and her professors and other students. On the first day of her Persuasive Writing class, she logged on and watched a video of professor Melvin Beavers welcoming her to class. In her Diversity class, she worked on a small group project with classmates living in Hot Springs and Little Rock. With Google Docs and Google Slides, the group often worked on projects simultaneously. “Distance learning is no longer just reading and writing,” she said. “I’m interacting with my professors and other students. We’re chatting and collaborating.” Social work is a profession to which McLellan feels a strong calling – perhaps because at one point she was on the receiving end of social services. In 1995, as a mother of four children, trying to go to college in New Jersey, McLellan struggled with poverty – even experiencing homelessness at one point. She saved enough money to stay in a motel where she could take public transportation to a community college. “After getting that degree, I was able to provide for my family,” she said. “With an education, you have power to make choices. I got myself out of poverty and broke the cycle.” Her daughter graduated from SAU last year with a 4.0 GPA and is now a kindergarten teacher. Her son joined the U.S. Army and is working toward a college degree in computer science. “It’s my turn now,” she said. “I really want that BSW for myself. It will be the icing on the cake for me.” ]]> On the road to success /news-archive/2018/12/21/cynthia-mclellan-2/ Fri, 21 Dec 2018 17:12:15 +0000 /news/?p=73021 ...]]> McLellan takes online and hybrid classes in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program. The hybrid class requires her to come to campus once a week. “This is my dream, and there’s not a sacrifice I won’t make to make this happen for myself,” she said of the weekly drive. McLellan lives in Mena, a rural community on the state’s western edge, where she has worked in social services for more than 20 years. For the past 10 years, she has been the social services director at Rich Mountain Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. “I wanted to help others to face their challenges,” she said. “It’s my love. Even if I wanted to leave it, it would follow me.” McLellan earned an associate degree in 1999 from a two-year community college in her native New Jersey. She’s always known that she needed to complete a four-year degree for her career field, but accessibility has hampered her from doing so up until now. With a job she loves, and a husband, a stepson, and grandchildren all rooted in Mena, moving wasn’t an option, and educational opportunities in her community are limited. “I am unable to relocate,” she said. “I have to work and meet my responsibilities here.” McLellan, 45, had been searching for an online program when she discovered ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Bachelor of Social Work was the perfect fit. Her previous college credits transferred to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and she started the program in fall 2018 as a junior. She received a lottery scholarship, which helps offset tuition costs. At the time she was accepted, the online program was at maximum capacity, but there was a slot in the hybrid program, which allows students to complete courses mostly online with periodic meetings on campus. “Without this online program, I would be unable to attend college. There is no other program available to me,” she said. “With this online program, I’m able to continue working and attend the college and take courses I need, and it plugs right into what I’m doing for a living. The courses I’m taking help strengthen what I do at the nursing home, and the nursing home will benefit from me getting a degree.” Right now, she’s taking five courses – 15 credit hours – while working full-time. Thursdays are the only days she spends on campus, but her Thursday class isn’t the same week after week. The courses rotate, so that on one Thursday, she’ll have Human Behavior in Social Environments with Professor Tina Paxton. The next week, she takes Policy I with Kathleen Logan, and the next week, Diversity with Kent Wolf. She takes advantage of the weekly trips, arriving early to meet with her academic advisors or professors. Beginning in January, she’ll have all online classes, which will mean less drive time and more study time. Right now, she’s holding four As and one B. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s online BSW program began in Fall 2018 and has 17 students. Dr. Stephen Kapp, director of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s School of Social Work, says online programs are particularly helpful for training workers in high-demand areas. “In rural areas, there’s an absolute shortage of social workers,” Kapp said. “Through online programs, we’re able to build capacity in those areas.” Online classes can be challenge, McLellan said. “You have to be self motivated and stay on top of deadlines,” she said. “I have to do that in the workforce anyway.” For the most part, though McLellan has been impressed with the way technology provides ways for meaningful interaction between her and her professors and other students. On the first day of her first Persuasive Writing class, she logged on and watched a video of professor Melvin Beavers welcoming her to class. In her Diversity class, she’s working on a small group project. One of her classmates lives in Hot Springs and two live in Little Rock. With Google Docs and Google Slides, the group often works on projects simultaneously. “Distance learning is no longer just reading and writing,” she said. “I’m interacting with my professors and other students. We’re chatting and collaborating.” On a recent night, she was working on a group project for Behavior Class and a fellow student needed help. “We exchanged phone numbers, and worked on paper online together,” she said. It is a profession to which McLellan feels a strong calling – perhaps because at one point she was on the receiving end of social services. In 1995, as a mother of four children, trying to go to college in New Jersey, McLellan struggled with poverty – even experiencing homelessness at one point. She got enough money together to stay in a motel where she could take public transportation to a community college. “After getting that degree, I was able to provide for my family,” she said. “With an education, you have power to make choices. I got myself out of poverty and broke the cycle.” Her daughter graduated from SAU last year with a 4.0 GPA and is now a kindergarten teacher. Her son joined the U.S. Army and is working toward a college degree in computer science. “It’s my turn now,” she said. “I really want that BSW for myself. It will be the icing on the cake for me.” Photo by Benjamin Krain]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock hires new director for School of Social Work /news-archive/2018/04/04/school-of-social-work-director/ Wed, 04 Apr 2018 15:16:34 +0000 /news/?p=70038 ...]]> School of Social Work. He starts July 1. Kapp has been a faculty member at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare for more than 20 years. He has held leadership positions, including that of associate dean for academic affairs and interim dean of the School of Social Welfare. As director of the School of Social Work, he will oversee 16 faculty members and two academic programs within the school, including the Bachelor of Social Work and the Master of Science in Social Work degree programs. In addition, he will work collaboratively with the director of the , which is the community service arm of the school. “Dr. Kapp is a teacher-scholar who brings substantial scholarly and administrative accomplishments to this important role,” said Velmer Burton, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I believe that his appointment will greatly benefit our students, faculty and staff in social work and enhance our ability to work with the Little Rock community and local social service agencies.” The School of Social Work is one of the schools within the College of Education and Health Professions. “We believe Dr. Kapp is the perfect visionary to lead the School of Social Work,” said Dr. Ann Bain, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. “He has professional experience as a social work practitioner as well as a proven track record of leadership in administrative leadership.” Before working in higher education, Kapp was a social work practitioner for 15 years. The vast majority of his work has focused on services to children and families in mental health, child welfare and juvenile justice. His scholarship and teaching have both focused on agency-based evaluation. His work has focused on the use of various forms of administrative and evaluative data in decision-making processes. Kapp holds an interdisciplinary doctorate in social science and social work from Michigan State University; a Master of Social Work from University of Michigan; and a BA in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “I feel very fortunate to join a program with a proud tradition supported by talented staff/faculty, passionate students and dedicated alumni,” Kapp said. “It is very exciting to have a opportunity to work with the entire ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Social Work community in support of its history of quality and innovation.” He and his wife, Mary Kennedy, have three adult children and one grandchild. Dr. Stephen Kapp, (pictured above right), will be the new director for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s School of Social Work. ]]>