“Innovations in Social Work Practice”, an open seminar co-organised by the Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and School of Social Work, Columbia University, was held on 7 June 2017.
The open seminar consisted of two sessions. Professor Alice CHONG of the Department of Applied Social Sciences was the moderator of the morning session which focused on the theme ‘Aging and mental health’. Professor Denise BURNETTE of Virginia Commonwealth University, Professor Ellen LUKENS of Columbia University and Dr Esther CHOW and Dr Sylvia KWOK of the Department of Applied Social Sciences of CityU presented their work and research in this session. Topics covered common mental disorders in the community, psychoeducation for individuals and their families, recovery from stroke using narrative therapy, and group protocol for alleviating adolescents’ anxiety with music therapy and positive psychology.
The afternoon session with a theme “Youth, ex-offenders, substance abuse, and violence” was moderated by Professor Ada MUI of Columbia University. Professors Andre IVANOFF and Susan WITTE of Columbia University and Dr Andrew LOW and Dr Cherry TAM of CityU shared their experiences on the treatment of suicidal behaviour with dialectical behaviour therapy; interventions for substance abuse, family violence and HIV risk; a school-based suicide prevention programme; and a prevention programme for young psychotropic substance abusers using a mindfulness approach.
Over 400 people attended the open seminar, mostly from local NGOs, universities and government agencies. The latest practice manual on narrative therapy, music therapy and a life mentor scheme prepared by CityU’s social work colleagues was handed out as a souvenir to the participants.
Cover: Over 400 people from local NGOs, universities and government agencies attended the open seminar.
Photo 2: Dr Esther Chow (first on front row right) and Dr Sylvia Kwok (middle of second row) presented their work in the morning session and shared their research with scholars from Columbia University.
