Student & Alumni Organizations

What is Active Minds?

Active Minds is a national organization working to utilize student voices to change the conversation about mental health on college campuses.  By developing and supporting campus chapters of a student-run mental health awareness, education, and advocacy group across the country, the organization works to increase students’ awareness of mental health issues, provide information and resources regarding mental health and mental illness, encourage students to seek help as soon as it is needed, and serve as liaison between students and the mental health community.

Our mission:

To destigmatize mental health disorders by promoting an open, enlightened discussion of mental health; and to create a better life for all who suffer. To capitalize on the energy and dedication of young adults in the fight against the stigma that surrounds mental health disorders, and to educate, enlighten, and empower all young adults to ensure their own mental health before it ever reaches a tragic stage. 

What do we do as an organization?

Through campus-wide events and national programs, Active Minds aims to remove the stigma that surrounds mental health issues, and create a comfortable environment for an open conversation about mental health issues on our campus. In April, 2010 we held a campus-wide event entitled “Stress Out Day” where we distributed information about our organization as well as providing de-stressing activities such as: hula hoops, darts, games, music, dancing, stress balls, bubbles, drinks, candy and cupcakes, and meditation CDs.

For more information you can check out our website at:

Or you can contact our Faculty Advisor - Dr. Nancy Meyer-Adams at nmeyerad@csulb.edu

As we all begin the 2018-2019 school year, the members of the ASSW Board and I extend a warm welcome to everyone and again invite all undergraduate and graduate students to join our exciting student organization.  Membership is free!  Your active participation in this vibrant student organization is an excellent way to network with peers and faculty, discuss common interests in social work and social justice, get useful information, and participate in our social events and projects.  Plus...it’s a lot of fun!

Starting this Fall semester, ASSW will be organizing general meetings to accommodate both our DAYTIME and EVENING students:

For our students attending classes during the DAY, General Membership meetings will be held on the 2nd week of each month on Monday from 12:30-1:00pm downstairs in the SSPA Building in our Social Work Student Cente. 

October 8th, November 5th, and December 3rd

For students attending classes in the EVENING, we will have General Membership meetings on the 2nd week of each month on Wednesday from 4:30-5:00pm downstairs in our Social Work Student Cente.

October 10th, November 7th, December 5th

Also, the following student organizations and groups operate under the auspices of the ASSW: 

• Asian and Pacific Islander Students of Social Work Association
• Jane Addams Committee
• Tessie Cleveland Committee
• Latino Students of Social Work Network
• Active Minds
• Association for Social Work with Groups
• Macro Social Work Network

Social work students are welcome to join one or more of these Committees and groups.  Please check our ASSW bulletin board and BeachBoard for announcements of each committee’s events throughout the semester. Our new ASSW Executive Board is working hard on planning exciting events for the academic year – and we need your ideas!   

We have many other activities planned later this semester to benefit our school and local social service agencies. 

ASSW will continue to sell our awesome “CSULB School of Social Work” t-shirts, zip-ups, and hoodies as our ASSW group fundraiser. Watch for announcements of our apparel sale dates throughout the semester. The proceeds from these sales help support the Association’s numerous projects during the academic year helping our local community.  We count on your support for ASSW and our school! 

This Fall semester we will have our annual SOCIAL WORK WELCOME DAY gathering on:

• Monday, September 17th from 12:00-2:00PM on the SSPA Lawn area
• Monday, September 17th from 5:00-7:00PM in the SW Student Center
• Saturday, September 22nd from 12:00-2:00PM in the SW Student Center

Pizza and drinks will be provided along with raffle prizes. There will also be an opportunity to purchase our “CSULB School of Social Work” apparel at each of these events. Please come by and learn about our student organizations!

The ASSW Board joins me in wishing all of you a great and productive Fall Semester in our exciting CSULB School of Social Work!  We hope to see you at our next ASSW meeting!

The Asian Pacific Islander Student Social Work Association (APJSSWA) is grounded on solid social work principles of advocacy, awareness, empowerment, and the embodiment of sociocultural consciousness; thereby, it aims to uphold these fundamental values within the auspices of the School of Social Work and the community at large for the common good.

APISSWA’s Goals

• To serve as a resource base for students and faculty interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Asian Pacific Islander issues through the provision of relevant research materials.
• To create a forum where interested parties can learn and participate in mutally­enhancing cross-cultural experiences.
• To provide networking possibilities for students within the social work field.

We are recruiting new members! All are welcome!  Please check the breezeway for more information about upcoming events or contact and of our Faculty Advisors or officers:

• Dr. Phil Tan           ptan@csulb.edu
• Dr. Brian Lam       blam3@csulb.edu
• Dr. Chikako Nagai  cnagai@csulb.edu

APISSWA President: Allen Liu

Welcome to the new semester and academic year.  Have a fruitful and peaceful 2010/2011 Academic Year.

Join our Alumni Group today! You can also join CSULB SWAG on Facebook

A Message from the School of Social Work Strategic Planning Committee

Greetings Everyone:

Please click the link below for the results of the alumni input for the development of the 2012-2015 School of Social Work Strategic Plan.

CSULB Social Work Alumni Survey Results

The Strategic Planning Committee would like to extend its thanks to all of the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and field instructors who participated in the development of our new strategic plan. This plan is strengthened by the input of key stakeholders who are committed to ensuring the excellent reputation of the School of Social Work is maintained and enhanced.

The valuable information provided by the alumni was instrumental in the development of our strategic plan will chart the course of the CSULB School of Social Work for many years.

Thank you again for your assistance!
 

CSULB School of Social Work

Strategic Planning Committee

Julie O'Donnell (Chair)

James Ferreira

Marilyn Potts

Jeff Koob

Joy Rubin

Lisa Jennings

Nancy Meyer-Adams

Venetta Campbell 

For more information about workshops or SWAG membership, please email us or contact Judy Green.

2011-2012 Board of Directors

Phoenix Tran, MSW (‘07) Co-President

John Valenzuela, BASW ('09); MSW ('10) Co-President

Carly Collins, BASW ('04); MSW ('10) Vice-President

Rudy Martinez, BASW ('01) Secretary 

Jennifer Charette, MSW ('08) Treasurer

Laura Pinkham, MSW ('96) Historian 

Michael Darajorn, MSW ('10) Member at Large

Audrey Fisher Price, MSW ('92) Member at Large

Mildred Florido, MSW ('08) Member at Large

Lisa Rakusin, MSW ('10) Member at Large

Reyna Rauda-Trout, MSW ('04) Member at Large

Joi Russell, LCSW ('89) Member at Large

Past Presidents:

James Schrage ('93) President 

Eric Murillo-Angelo, MSW ('99) Co-President

Sjoekje Sasbone, LCSW ('99) Co-President

Faculty Advisors:

Judy Green, LCSW ('88)

Nancy Meyer-Adams, Ph.D. 

The Jane Addams Committee is the GLBTQ and Straight Alliance within the School of Social Work at CSULB. This committee is comprised of social work faculty, students, and their allies who address issues related to sexual identity in the social work profession. This committee works to promote understanding and acceptance of personal differences.

Jane Addams was a pioneer social worker in America and is best known as the founder of Hull House in the late 1800s. Hull House provided aid to poor, working-class families in Chicago. Her commitment to improving the lives of those around her guided her work for social reform and world peace.

Stand Up for Diversity!

Watch the Jane Addams Committee space on the Student Organizations Board in the breezeway outside the Social Work Main Office (SPA 161) for announcements about our next meetings and upcoming events.

For more information and to get on our email list, please contact Leslie Evans at Leslie.Evans@csulb.edu.

Hope to see you soon!

What does GLBTQ stand for?

G - Gay
L - Lesbian
B - Bisexual
T - Transgendered
Q - Questioning
Q - Queer 

The Latino students of the CSULB School of Social Work cordially invite you to join us in Fall semester activities.  The organization is open to all who have an interest in working toward the betterment of Latino families and communities. We invite your help and participation in events and activities that YOU would like to see happen in the Department of Social Work.

Watch the LSSWN space on the Student Organizations Board in the breezeway outside the School Office for announcements about our next meetings.

Or you can feel free to contact the current LSSWN President. You can also contact the LSSWN faculty advisors (Marissa Hansen, Kristina Lovato, and Susan Salas) for information about upcoming meetings and events.

Marissa Hansen - Marissa.Hansen@csulb.edu
Kristina Lovato - Kristina.Lovato@csulb.edu
Susan Salas - Susan.Salas@csulb.edu

We hope to see you soon!

The Tessie Cleveland Committee is named in honor of Dr. Tessie Cleveland, a nationally honored social worker, educator and administrator that served as faculty in our School for several years. 

Inspired by her example, the Committee’s mission is to provide an opportunity for Social Work students on campus to become educated about, exchange ideas and offer service to the African American community. In the fall of 2007 the Committee organized a very successful toy, book, sports equipment and school supply drive that benefited needy families locally and abroad.  Donations were given to the Sickle Cell Foundation, His Sheltering Arms, AFACT (A Foundation for African Children Today), and the Congress for Racial Equality. Over 200 hundred items were donated!

We welcome all students and hope that you will join us!

For more information and to be added to the e-mail list: please contact Dr. Yolanda R. Green, Faculty Advisor for the Tessie Cleveland Committee at ygreen@csulb.edu. She can also be reached at 562-985-8312.