KU News Release

KU Social Work Day to focus on therapy, workshops, awards

LAWRENCE — Scott D. Miller, a Chicago-based therapist, author and trainer, will be the keynote speaker for the 57th annual Social Work Day at the University of Kansas.

Miller will give a talk titled “What Works in Therapy” at 9 a.m. Friday, April 20, at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Miller is a co-founder of the Institute for Therapeutic Change in Chicago. His books include “Escape from Babel: Toward a Unifying Language for Psychotherapy Practice” and “The Heart and Soul of Change.”

About 300 social workers, faculty and students are expected to attend the full-day program, which includes workshops and panel discussions. Workshops will cover topics such as homelessness in Lawrence, strengths-based practice with families and successful negotiation.

Mary Ellen Kondrat, dean of KU’s School of Social Welfare, will open the program at 8:30 a.m. with introductions and awards.

Kondrat will present Patsy Blalock, outgoing president of the alumni society executive board for KU’s School of Social Welfare, with a Recognition of Excellence certificate. Blalock is director of child placement services at KVC Behavioral HealthCare in Olathe. She received a master’s in social work from KU in 1995.

Helen Hartnett, assistant professor of social welfare, and Richard Spano, associate dean and associate professor of social welfare, will also receive Recognition of Excellence certificates.

Workshop topics and presenters (all in KU’s School of Social Welfare) are:

— Fidelity Measures: Giving Voice to Social Work Consumers by Mark Holter, associate professor
— Stories That Help Rise to the Challenge by Jim Kreider, lecturer
— Strengths Based Practice with Families by Chris Petr, professor
— The Elements of Successful Negotiations by Margaret Severson, associate professor

Registration and more information are available on the School of Social Welfare Web site.

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