Monday, March 20, 2017

The UNCW College of Health and Human Services is again collaborating with campus and community partners for its annual weeklong celebration of health and wellness. This year, 18 events representing each of the college’s three professional schools (School of Nursing, School of Social Work and School of Health and Applied Human Sciences) are planned from March 27-31.

“This is our fourth year of hosting Health and Human Services Week and marks the largest number of collaborations with community partners,” said CHHS Dean Charles Hardy. “Underlying the celebration is the shared commitment to work together to enhance the health and quality of life of individuals, families and communities.”

Health and Human Services Week represents UNCW’s commitment to community engagement, fostering diversity and inclusion and enhancing learning experiences, as outlined in UNCW’s Strategic Plan.

Highlights of the week include:

• Cynthia Franklin, Ph.D., LCSW, will kick off the week by delivering the Research Day keynote address at 9:30 a.m. on March 27 in McNeill Hall room 1005. Her presentation is entitled, “Solution-focused Brief Therapy: From Practice Based Evidence to Evidence Based Practice.”
• On March 28, the Sixth Annual Poverty Symposium in Southeastern North Carolina will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in McNeill Hall, room 1005. This is presented in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences, Watson College of Education, Office of Community Engagement, Department of Public and International Affairs, Department of Sociology and Criminology and School of Social Work.
• In partnership with the UNCW Office of the Arts, CHHS’s Globalization, Culture and Diversity Committee hosts Mina Girgis, CEO and producer of “The Nile Project,” for a discussion on environmental health starting at 9 a.m. on March 29 in McNeill Hall, room 1051.
• CHHS’ Health Transformation Lecture Series is co-sponsoring the UNCW Leadership Lecture Series appearance by Bennet Omalu at 7 p.m. on March 29 in the Burney Center. Dr. Omalu, a physician, forensic pathologist and neuropathologist, is credited with identifying chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease afflicting many former NFL players. He is portrayed by Oscar-nominated actor Will Smith in the film Concussion.
• Students from Pine Valley and Bellamy Elementary Schools will join faculty and staff for the “UNCW Campus Wellness Walk” starting at noon on March 30 in front of McNeill Hall.
  *In the event of rain, the walk will be cancelled.
• The UNCW College of Health & Human Services and Office of Military Affairs are honored to present guest speaker David Chrisinger at 8:30 a.m. on March 31. He is a communication and veteran transition specialist who teaches a veteran reintegration course at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to help students tell their stories of war and coming home. 

All listed events are free and open to the public, but some require registration. Opportunities for continuing education credits are also available.

Complete information may be found at www.uncw.edu/chhs/hhsweek.

-- Caroline Cropp

#CHHS