Mental Health/Social Work Initiatives

1. Mental Health/Social Work Initiatives Siena College VISTA Fellows Program Meghan Dunn

2. Social Work at Siena College “To promote an appreciation and respect for human diversity, social and economic justice and the consequences of human oppression, economic deprivation, and discrimination…. [and] to encourage active involvement and leadership in creating a just world.” ~Excerpt from Siena College Social Work Department Mission

3. Social Work Department • Work with the least advantaged in society • Core of Social Work is to be involved in the community • Focus on consumers

4. Siena College VISTA Fellows Program “SCVFP provides help to build, sustain, and promote civic engagement by fostering reciprocal relationships between students, faculty, administration and our local community in need. Our program focuses on assisting faculty members, students and community partners to work with all walks of life.  Our actions commit to our core values of St. Francis and allow our students, faculty and administration to seek direct actions towards academic excellence through their civic engagement and participating in programs that help to increase capacity in areas of our community that need it most.” ~Mission of the SCVFP

6. My VISTA Position • Volunteer Recruitment: • Recruit Siena students to attend Operation Dignity trip • Resource Mobilization: • Help site supervisor with Information Literacy Faculty Development Grant • Create Mental Health/Social Work Initiatives Wiki • Research Kendra’s Law, Timothy’s Law and other aspects of Mental Health

7. My VISTA Position Continued • Community Partnerships: • Strengthen partnerships already have (Office of Mental Health, etc.) and create new ones (St. Bonaventure, etc.) • Build Capacity: • Help consumers, families, etc. have better understanding of and greater access to Kendra’s Law • Educate various communities about oppression and discrimination of mental health consumers