IU School of Social Work faculty take part in IUPUI Symposium on Civic Engagement

Professor Erika Galyean

     April 11, 2008 – Professor’s Erika Galyean and Khadija Khaja of the IU School of Social Work were presenters at the IUPUI Symposium on Civic Engagement, highlighting the school’s extensive service learning opportunities within the curriculum for undergraduate students.

     Through the 3-year grant awarded from the IUPUI’s Commitment to Excellence funds, Professor Galyean developed the Child Welfare Service Learning Initiative (CSWI.

     The initiative’s objectives are to increase educational preparation and service in the area of child welfare in Indiana through (1) utilization of child welfare service learning field units that will function as community-based learning labs for selected courses; (2) development and expansion of service-learning activities and assignments in the area of child welfare within current course offerings and (3) increasing awareness, civic engagement, volunteerism and career interest in child welfare.

     Community partners include Children’s Bureau, Family Services, Department of Child Services, Youth Emergency Services and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Career Academy.

     Professor Khaja received a $5,000 Faculty Fellow award last year to study how better the topic of civic engagement can be taught as well as to undertake a survey of students to see if they followed through on lessons learned in her class, Smart Helpers of the World.