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Adelle Sanders, D.P.A., M.S.W.
BSW Program Director and University Professor
Governor's State University
Qualifications:
I bring to the BPD experience with both large and small social work programs and social work teaching experience at both
the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as program administration experience. I came to Governors State University's
BSW Program (a small social work program), as a University Professor, in August 2002. In August 2003, upon the retirement
of Dr. Sonya Monroe, my BSW Program Director, I was appointed to this position. Prior to coming to GSU, I taught social work
for 15 years, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, for California State University, Sacramento, a large social work
program.
In addition to the above, I have 24 years post-MSW social work practice experience, mostly at the macro and meso levels
of social work. I have extensive experience with program development and community development, with over 25 years in local
and state service. I have also work as a consultant for over 25 years with California tribal nations in their restoration
and reconstruction efforts (nation building). In addition, I served as a cultural expert on Indian child welfare cases for
Sacramento County and facilitated domestic violence treatment groups for perpetrators of violence, both men and women.
Past or Current Involvement with BPD:
I am new to BPD. I joined the organization in fall 2003, after receiving my appointment as BSW Program Director. My involvement
to date has been as a reviewer of workshop proposals, both last fall and this year. I also convened a workshop at the 2003
BPD conference. I am eager and honored to become involved in the leadership of BPD.
Contributions to BPD and Social Work Education:
I bring with me knowledge and skills related to program development and governance. In addition, my academic experience
at both large and small social work programs gives me insight in what is involved to grow and sustain BSW programs, especially
when BSW programs can be overshadowed in favor of MSW and DSW programs. I also understand how difficult it is to sustain social
work programs, whether BSW, MSW, or DSW, at publically funded institutions given the dire financial constraints many of the
states are operating under. I have widely published articles in areas related to my research - marginalized populations and
social justice - particularly as related to the American Indian population.
Position Statement:
I believe wholeheartedly that the BSW degreed professional has become pivotal in the delivery of social work services
throughout the country. Because of this, it is imperative to promote sustainability and growth in our BSW programs. In that
light, I am in favor of the BPD's continued efforts to provide training and information that can assist BSW program directors
and the field directors in their efforts to build, sustain, and deliver BSW education.
Because of my lifelong passion for social justice, I vehemently am committed to aiding marginalized populations. I feel
that BSW programs in universities where there are MSW and/or DSW program are often marginalized. Because of this, I feel that
the leadership of BPD needs to be more proactive in generating public visibility of the importance of BSW programs and BSW
degreed professionals in delivering the much needed social work services throughout the country.
In understanding and serving marginalized populations and promoting social justice, I feel that greater emphasis needs
to be placed on developing social policy and social action education, as well as rich cultural diversity courses, within the
BSW social work curricula. I would call for a Social Justice Forum to develop guidelines for delivering such courses within
our BSW programs. Child welfare is another area that needs to be developed within BSW program curricula since so many local
child welfare agencies are hiring BSW level social workers. Finally, as America continues to gray, we need to place emphasis
on geriatric social work. We have to infuse content, or develop courses related to the elderly populations, within our curricula.
Given the current budgetary constraints of states that are impacting publically funded universities throughout the country,
some emphasis needs to be placed on sustaining and growing our social work programs, particularly for small programs. When
I assumed the Program Directors position at GSU, our BSW program enrollment was at an all time low (20 students). Through
active outreach and recruitment efforts and some personal contact, the enrollment is now 50 students, and it will reach 65
students by Fall 2004. With the growth in enrollment, in the near future our program will add another faculty position (we
now have two BSW faculty). This demonstrates my commitment to BSW education and BSW programs. I walk my talk. I do believe
we can sustain and grow BSW programs even in the hard budgetary times before us.
In light of my views, I pledge to take, if elected, the leadership in identifying ways we can promote a more public image
and in finding ways we can help BSW programs sustain their efforts and grow, even under extreme budgetary constraints and
even when they are viewed in competition with MSW and/or DSW programs. I also pledge to lead efforts to hold a forum to address
the development and advancement of social policy, social action, and diversity in social work curriculum, as well as classes
oriented to understanding and serving the elderly.
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