The NASW-NYC CARES Member Ambassador

Spring 2021 Student Symposium: 

Paving the Way: A Conversation About Field Placement in the COVID-19 Environment

The NASW-NYC CARES Member Ambassador program is proud to present the second virtual student symposium, designed to support NYC social work students. Based on the overwhelming responses from attendees of the student town hall held in the fall semester that focused on student experience in the era of virtual learning, the spring 2021 student symposium will focus on field placement in the COVID-19 environment.

The goals for this event: 

• Discuss and share field placement experiences in the COVID-19 environment
• Hear from social work professionals who work in field placement
• Network with students of social work and social work professionals in NYC
• Get insight, resources, and tips for your own field placement journey
• Get updated on how you can become involved and engaged with the chapter if you're a new grad or soon to graduate

This event is FREE and open to ALL NYC social work students. 

Open to both NASW Members & Non-Members. 

 First Year Students are encouraged to join! 

Questions or accommodation requests should be directed to cares.naswnyc@socialworkers.org 

>>>>>> Register HERE for this event. <<<<<<

Our Featured Guests

Dr. Lucinda Acquaye-Doyle is Program Director and Associate Professor (Fall 2021) of Social Work at Dominican College in Orangeburg, NY. She received her B.A. from the SUNY Buffalo, M.S.W. from Stony Brook University and a Ph.D. from the Howard University School of Social Work.  Areas of teaching/research include social welfare policy, research, child welfare, macro practice, and international education. Dr. Acquaye-Doyle is currently the Vice President for the New York State Social Work Education Association (NYSSWEA).

Schanica Pickens, MSW earned her M.S.W. at New York University and is currently the Director of the MSW program and Director of Student Engagement and Academic Success at Adelphi University School of Social Work. Schanica is highly engaged and passionate about social justice, eradicating issues and bringing forward the voices of those who are most impacted and interrupting systems. Schanica currently serves on the Valera Health Academic Advisory Board, CUNY York Community Advisory Board, Fort Greene Strategic Neighborhood Action Program, and is the interim co-chair of the School of Social Work's Student Experience Committee. 

Livia A. Polise, L.C.S.W.-R, was drawn to the social work profession through her facilitation of creative arts groups for survivors of domestic violence and homeless children, and earned her M.S.W. at the Hunter College School of Social Work. Ms. Polise has worked in shelters, hospitals, community-based agencies, and private practice, focusing on issues including mental health and substance use, gender-based violence, and perinatal mood disorders, integrating mindfulness and yoga therapy into her social work practice. She maintains a steadfast commitment to social justice, and to elevating and centering the professional social work community as agents of change and leaders in the face of complex social contexts and oppressive systems.  Ms. Polise currently has the privilege of serving as the Director of Field Education for the Adelphi University School of Social Work, and is a candidate in Adelphi’s Ph.D. in Social Work program.

Hyacinth Spence, LMSW, has a master’s in social work from Fordham University, and has amassed over twenty years in the fields of social service and academia. Over the years, Hyacinth has worked in many mental health settings, which includes: Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (IPRT), PROS Program, Children’s Respite, outpatient Mental Health Clinics, and Psychiatric Crisis Hotlines, 911Crisis Project, Chairperson of Suffolk County Multicultural Committee, Member of Suffolk County Walk for Mental Health Committee. Currently. She coordinates and teaches courses in Supervision in Field Instruction, Field Education Coordinator, and a section of Social Work Integrating Seminar.