TODAY news - June 10, 2004 - LLU Graduate School news

A special event for the LLU social work department took place on April 5, 2004, called "Celebrating 10 years of Community" where 250 guests gathered in Wong Kerlee International Conference Center. Ten years have passed since the master of social work program received its first level of accredited status.

"The event's title reflects the department's commitment to community service and collaboration," explains Terrence Forrester, MSSW, assistant professor, social work. "The anniversary celebration was a gathering of University administration, alumni, current students, and various community and state leaders in social services."

The banquet featured three speakers: James Kelly, PhD, associate vice president, continuing & international education at California State University, Hayward; John Ryan, MSW, MPA, director, department of mental health/public guardian, Riverside County; and Steve Mayberg, PhD, director, California department of mental health.

The guest speakers spoke of their commitment to the program and its development. In appreciation for their support, the department recognized them with special awards that symbolized their unique contributions to the program and community.

During the banquet, the faculty and staff of the department of social work thanked the guests-- alumni and friends--for their encouragement, creativity, and shared compassion for serving others. The guests included B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, president and CEO of LLUAHSC; Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, chancellor of LLU; Ron Carter, PhD, interim dean, School of Science and Technology; and W. Augustus Cheatham, MSW, vice president of public affairs, LLUAHSC, who also served as master of ceremonies for the event.

Preliminary discussion to begin a master's degree program in social work actually began in the 1960s. However, it was not until January, 1994, that the program accepted its first class. Dr. Behrens was instrumental in advocating for a strong social work program on campus in order to help complete the institution's mission of "making man whole."

The initial MSW program included two concentrations: clinical and policy. Subsequently, in 2000, the program offered its first PhD degree in social policy and social research. More recently, the Board has approved: an MS degree in criminal justice, a certificate in forensic science, a PhD degree in clinical social work, and a doctorate in public administration.

Beverly Buckles, DSW, chair/professor of department of social work, LLU, recognized the program's commitment to excellence in the community by quoting Norm Dollar, deputy director of department of public social services in San Bernardino County, that LLU social work graduates "have changed the context of professional social work practice in the Inland Empire."

A student-led research group in the department of counseling and family sciences had a desire to travel to Turkey for the XIV International Family Therapy Association's World Family Therapy Congress. So the students teamed up into groups, and in a five-month timespan produced eight different papers--all of which were accepted for presentation at the conference.

The conference, titled "Families in a Time of Global Crisis," was held March 24 to 27, 2004, in Istanbul, Turkey. Upon arrival, the 10 students continued their intensive preparation for the oral presentations as Colwick Wilson, PhD, associate professor, counseling and family sciences, and Cheryl Simpson, PhD, professor, counseling and family sciences, accompanied their students.

"It was such a privilege to work with a team as professional and competent as I did," says Katheryn Whittaker, doctoral student in marital/family therapy. "I was nervous at first because it was my first presentation at a conference. However, the feeling of accomplishment that I felt afterward surpassed those previous by far. All in all, it was amazing."

The titles of the papers were: "Adjustment patterns in immigrant pakistani families," "Disaster mental health: the psychological impacts of natural disasters and implications for mental health professionals," "The impact of man made disasters on children and adolescents: an intervention model," "Systematic rape: the psychosocial and biological impact on families and communities," "Competency practices: a theoretical model for counseling culturally diverse families and communities in times of global crisis," "Utilizing client's religion in the therapeutic process: creating hope and building resilience in times of crisis," "Emotional functioning and family cohesion: the systematic impact of the California wildfires on family functioning," and "Crisis as a means for growth."

"The marriage and family therapy program at Loma Linda helped me grow into a competent and professional presenter in a manner that I could not have appreciated until I stepped into the international arena," explains Karina Bravo, doctoral student in marital/family therapy.

Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji, is undergoing rapid development along its coastal zones, resulting in the modification of intertidal zones as well as of barrier and fringing reefs. Although cleared of native forests for use as pastoral land about 50 years ago, the area of land adjacent to Yaqara Bay is slated for a largescale commercial and residential development called Studio City during the next four years.

In order to inventory and eventually protect the marine life in the area, Stephen Dunbar, PhD, assistant professor, natural sciences dept, LLU, is heading the Yaqara Bay Biodiversity Inventory Project research team as principal investigator by conducting groundbreaking studies with the team.

"The project will benefit Fiji not only by providing an initial inventory of what kinds of small animals inhabit the region's marine environment and the discovery of new species, but will also provide opportunities for Pacific Island graduate students to carry out master of science or PhD projects on site," says Dr. Dunbar. "Of course, LLU natural science graduate students will also be involved, carrying out projects at the study site."

The board of directors of Paradise Entertainment Limited (PEL), the developers of Studio City, intends to follow world's best environmental practice in their development plans for the Yaqara area. An important part of the development is to establish a marine holding that is not only attractive, but also ecologically significant and environmentally protective.

The objectives for the study are: to sample the extensive marine invertebrate biodiversity of an area of the Southwest Indo- Pacific that has received little study of marine invertebrates at any scale; to collect as many specimens of the marine invertebrate cryptofauna of Yaqara Bay as is practical during a three-year period; to live sort, photograph, preserve, and identify specimens collected; to preserve specimens for specialist taxonomists for complete identification and description of species new to science using traditional morphological and modern DNA-based systemic studies; and to provide opportunities for taxonomic and collections management training to graduate students from Fiji and from the United States.

An equally important aspect of the project is educational outreach. "It's not only important for us to do good science, it's also vital for us to share what we find with other scientists, local government, and the Fijian community as a whole," explains Dr. Dunbar.

The field investigation team (FIT) is collecting specimens by various methods, including dip nets, light and bait traps, and by hand during day and night dives. In addition to these standard methods of collection, the team is using a non-destructive method with their artificial reef matrix systems (ARMS).

ARMS are a simple structure constructed to emulate the micro environment of the reef where many of the smallest invertebrates live. As the ARMS are placed into a variety of reef situations, the local animal community expands to the ARMS and is available for collection with minimal impact to the natural habitat.

The ARMS are assembled so they can be reasonably placed and recovered, then disassembled to collect the organisms that have inhabited the structure. After the collection is completed, the ARMS can be reassembled and placed back into the reef for additional collection time.

"Thus far, we've placed 40 ARMS in a range of habitats at less than 20-meter depths and are waiting for them to be colonized with animals," states Dr. Dunbar. Three ARMS are being left at each station, one to be recovered and replaced each year, one to be recovered after two years, and a third will reside at the station for three years. "Our plan is to return to Fiji this December to begin the first bulk collection of specimens."

They are developing educational programs in conjunction with Fulton College in Fiji, to show Pacific Island primary and secondary school teachers how much fun it is to teach children about the marine environment. "It can be extremely exciting for children to discover and interact with exquisite marine animals, from hermit crabs to dolphins!" says Dr. Dunbar.

Eventually, the team hopes to conduct the same kind of study throughout the entire country, giving them a better picture of the kinds of animals that inhabit specific habitats in coral reefs and inshore waters.

Supporter and sponsors of this study are: Coastal Resources Management; Fiji Ministry of Fisheries and Forests; Loma Linda University, department of natural sciences; American University, Washington, D.C.; Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County; OurSeas.org; Yaqara Pastoral Company; Walt Smith International, LTD; Yasawa Diving Fiji; and Fiji Water.

For more information and to see more photos regarding this research study you may visit <www.roblee.com/ourseas/yaqara /index.htm>.

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Revised June 21, 2004
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