Abstract for presentation at Global Social Work 2004

Bringing Together Social Justice and Health

  • Dr Charles Robbins, Stony Brook University, United States
  • Dr Frances Brisbane, Stony Brook University, United States
  • The School of Social Welfare at Stony Brook has a mission of social justice and a foundation of health care. We are dedicated to assisting traditionally devalued communities and groups in improving their health status and decreasing the current health disparities that exist. The School of Social Welfare maintains a Center for Health Promotion and Wellness. We work closely with community leaders as well as local and national NGOs and the faith community. We examine the relationship between allopathic medicine and what we have framed as "ancestral medicine." The goal is to
    empower communities and individuals to exercise control over their health status and the services available in their communities. All students in the MSW program are required to complete coursework in health. This presentation will offer a model for combining health and social justice. We will examine the activities of the School of Social Welfare as well as review the health curriculum offered to students. Additionally,
    there will be a discussion of the work of the School's Center for Health
    Promotion and Wellness.
    This oral paper will provide participants with the necessary knowledge and tools to implement health curriculum in their own settings.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd