by Chloe Yopp
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work Dean and Kuralt Distinguished Professor of Public Welfare Policy and Administration Ramona Denby-Brinson has been selected as the Carl A. Scott Lecturer at the Council on Social Work Education’s 70th Annual Program Meeting (APM).
Denby-Brinson’s lecture, “Thank God the Apple Does Not Fall Far From the Tree: It’s Time to Safeguard African American Families’ Legacy,” illustrates how Carl A. Scott paved the way for generations of researchers and educators who in turn transformed social work practice. The backdrop to the lecture is a discussion of the U.S. child welfare system and the experiences of minoritized children and families. Using a multipronged approach of storytelling, music, art, data visualizations, and guided imagery, the audience will be challenged with the following proposition: Social movements of late might be well-served by an examination of our past practices.
“I am honored and excited to give the Carl A. Scott Memorial lecture this year. Scott was a giant in our field and because of his leadership, generations of scholars and practitioners have created programs and informed policies that contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities,” Denby-Brinson said.
Scott joined the staff of CSWE in 1968 as a senior consultant on minority groups and was at the helm of CSWE’s early efforts to foster human diversity in social work education. With initial funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, he single-handedly developed CSWE’s Minority Fellowship Program, which is among CSWE’s most vibrant and highly regarded initiatives.
“Since the time I was a graduate student, I have endeavored to emulate the work and career of Carl A. Scott, and his commitment to equity and social justice remains a driving motivation for my work.”
Denby-Brinson is a nationally recognized expert in culturally adapted child welfare services. She has published extensively about kinship care, as well as the mental health and well-being of African American children who are foster-care-system involved.
Denby-Brinson will give her lecture on Friday, Oct. 25, from 8:45 – 10:15 a.m. at CSWE’s 70th APM in Kansas City, Mo.
