VCU School of Social Work

Projects on the horizon

The following list of projects is just a sampling of the research projects ahead.

• Family law clinic
  The school is partnering with University of Richmond School of Law to develop a family law clinic to serve people in the greater Richmond area who cannot afford legal services. M.S.W. students would provide a range of wrap-around social work services to clients receiving legal assistance at the clinic. Dr. Tim Davey is working with M.S.W. faculty to bring this project to full fruition over the next three years.

• Improving cancer outcomes through family-patient communications
  Dr. Jacqui Corcoran is part of an interdisciplinary research team with Dr. Laura Siminoff of the VCU School of Medicine hoping to improve cancer outcomes by helping improve family-patient communications among people affected by cancer. A grant to the National Cancer Foundation is under review.

• Multicultural training for mental health workers
  Dr. Janice Berry-Edwards is collaborating with Judy Madden and the Montgomery County Mental Health Association’s N*Common mental health treatment program for immigrant individuals, families, children and adolescents. This project would provide multicultural training to mental health workers and evaluate its effectiveness.

• International adoption services in Guatemala
  Dr. Karen Rotabi and doctoral student Carmen Monico are working with child welfare providers in the communities of Guatemala to examine and improve international adoption services in that country.