HUMAN SERVICES
Department
FALL 2018
PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE IN THIS ISSUE
Assistant Professors
Academic Advising
Field Work
Study Abroad
HUSSA
Faculty
Events
Alumni and Resources
WELCOME FROM THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR WELCOME FROM THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Dear Human Services students, alumni/ae, colleagues, and friends,
You are reading our first Human Services Department newsletter, which
is very exciting for us and it’s been a long time coming! We plan to use this newsletter to not only
build community, but to keep you informed of our activities, news, and just to keep in touch. I
came to the CSUDH Human Services Program (HUS) in 2013 when the program had about 200
students. We now have about 400 students, so we have doubled in size. While this increase is
certainly exciting, we have also been engaging in the continual process of updating the curriculum,
strengthening the field component by instituting high impact practices, started to offer hybrid and
online courses, and embarked on offering study abroad courses in Vietnam and Norway (which
happened Fall 2017). All these endeavors have been met with broad support from students,
faculty, staff, the university, and the community. As a result of this support, we received
commendations from the university, during our six-year review, for being able to offer high
quality education with very limited resources.
In addition to this newsletter being a first, during the last four years, the HUS faculty and students
collaborated by starting a HUS student association (Human Services Student Association, or
HUSSA), which has been one of the most active student groups on campus. The leadership of
HUSSA has been invited to use this newsletter to report their activities, so I encourage you to read
about them and support HUSSA in whatever capacity you can. I believe student involvement on
campus and community activities is one of the best ways to enhance and enrich ones’ college
experience.
We also have a distinguished group of community HUS professionals who have agreed to serve as
members of the HUS Advisory Group. This group will begin meeting soon and will serve in an
advisory capacity to the HUS department in an effort to provide the best education to our
students. To that end, I invite you to be involved, to engage, and to collaborate with us so that we
can truly be a community of partners. In each other, we will find inspiration to innovate and move
the department into the next phase of its development. Please email me with feedback and
questions/suggestions at [email protected]. Thank you.
Phu Phan, MSW, PhD
Professor and Chair
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY DOMINGUEZ HILLS
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT 2
Professor Sarah Underwood is a new faculty member at CSUDH and a new resident
of Southern California. After finishing her PhD in August, she came to Dominguez
Hills excited and ready to teach Human Services. Dr. Underwood's background is in
social work, with a focus in adolescent psychosocial health. She looks forward to
getting to know all of you better.
Professor Annalyn Valdez-Dadia is a new faculty member at CSUDH. She joins
the California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) family with more
than 16 years of experience in the field of Public Health. Dr. Valdez-Dadia’s
research interests lie in cancer survivorship and patient navigation, in which
direct access to cancer support services for patients and caregivers are of
primary focus, as well as studies that focus on improving health care access for
underserved communities. She is excited to be part of the HUS program!
It has been my honor and privilege to join the HUS family since fall of 2015. As I
have shared with many of you in class, HUS holds a special place in my heart
because of our incredibly dedicated and resilient students, and a community of
faculty and staff who are committed to our students' success. I come to work each
day looking forward to not only teaching you about human services but also
learning from you what it means to be a good teacher and mentor. Despite a
full course load, multiple jobs, internship hours, family obligations, and financial
constraints - just to name a few - you still make it to class. You inspire me! I look
forward to walking with many of you at graduation in May 2019!
Assistant Professors
Hannah Nguyen, PhD
Sarah Underwood, PhD
Annalyn Valdez-Dadia, DrPH
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT 3
Greetings Human Services Majors! We are very excited to announce that Cristina
Prado will be the new Human Services Advisor. Ms. Prado has worked with the
College of Health, Human Services and Nursing (CHHSN) for 10 years before joining
our Advising Team. She began her work as a Student Assistant in the School of
Nursing, continued as Program Assistant for 8 years, and in 2017 became the
CHHSN College Scheduler. She has worked closely with the College Curriculum
Committee and was part of the Academic Affairs Space Facilities Committee. She is
an alumna, with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (2011), and a Master of Arts in
Sociology (2014). Ms. Prado is ready to take appointments and meet with you. Please
help us welcome her by stopping by and saying hello (WH, C-300; 310-243-2120).
Human Services Advisor
Fieldwork Coordinator
Hello students! Welcome to the 2018-2019 Academic Year. One of the most
exciting parts in the Human Services curriculum is fieldwork! We have many
Fieldwork Agencies in the Agency List, which is posted online. Check out
some new agencies on the list, such as the Orange County Probation
Department. Please let me know of any changes to the list as you start calling
and/or emailing these agencies, so that we can keep Agency List up to date. We
look forward to walking with you on this journey!
America Islas
Fieldwork Coordinator
Cristina Prado
Academic Advisor
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT 4
STUDY ABROAD Norway Study Abroad International Trip In April 2017, five students and a faculty member came to visit the HUS Department at CSUDH and in October 2017,
five Human Services students left for Norway with Dr. Phu Phan for an exchange project with the University
College of Southeast Norway! The international exchange included a comparison of how social welfare is provided
in both countries by visiting each other’s campuses, conducting tours of service providers, and participating in a lot
of wonderful and exciting activities. The students had a great time learning and interacting with each other, many
of which formed life-long relationships. Keep an eye out for upcoming international study abroad opportunities
within the near future!
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT 5
Vietnam Study Abroad International Trip On December 26, 2017, fifteen Human Services students left for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with Professors Allison and
Sueki for a 2-week trip! After an intense period of pre-trip seminars, they were suddenly in Vietnam for the course. The
students engaged with university students at local institutions, worked with homeless people, and participated in several
field visits to community agencies. The students were very excited to travel abroad and tour Vietnam, learning about the
Vietnamese culture and about social services in another country. The collage below tells only part of their trip, so you will
have to talk to the students who studied aboard to get the other half of the story.
STUDY ABROAD
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT 6
“PEOPLE UNITING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE”
The objective in the field of Human Services is to assist individuals and communities to function as effectively as possible
in the major domains of living. Human Services students are individuals with a passion and an innate desire for helping
others who require assistance by providing services that can positively impact their lives. CSUDH Human Services
students learn to develop a deep understanding of individuals and families, and how to best help them. Students are
exposed to great opportunities for networking, fieldwork experiences, and in sharing and advocating for good causes. By
joining the Human Services Student Association (HUSSA), students will be able to contribute to populations and
communities in need by volunteering their time and assisting with fundraising events for the community.
In the past, HUSSA has given back to the homeless population by hosting 2 events: (1) a “Can Food Drive” in which can
donations were taken to the homeless community in the City of Carson, and (2) “Feed the Homeless” where blankets,
coats, clothing, and food were donated to feed the homeless in Los Angeles’ Skid Row after Thanksgiving. HUSSA
members also collected undergarment donations and distributed them to a mental health recovery program, as well as
arranged a job fair for our United States Veterans and a fundraiser at Pieology Pizzeria.
Additionally, HUSSA provided art and stone therapy during their group meetings to help CSUDH students release some
stress that often accumulates during mid-semester exams and assignments. The members of this association have also had
fun by organizing karaoke night, where professors and students serenaded each other with their harmonious voices.
HUSSA members also started a new tradition called, “Friendsgiving.” During this event, HUS students and staff come
together for a potluck reunion before the Thanksgiving celebration and school break. Recently, HUSSA had their first
resource fair, which involved partnering with El Nido Family Services to provide a group of teen parents the opportunity
to explore and build stronger social connections between themselves, community resources, and CSUDH students. It was
a way to empower and encourage these young parents to continue their education, and it provided CSUDH students with
possible internship sites and job opportunities. HUSSA is always looking for new members, so come and join them!
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT 7
Meet the Faculty of Human Services
Daniel Brezenoff, LCSW
Lecturer
Academic Years: 5
Areas of Expertise: Social
Work, Mental Health,
and Political Advocacy
Al Garcia, MSW
Lecturer
Academic Years: 13
Areas of Expertise: Mental
Health and Substance Abuse
Meka Brown, MA, MS
Lecturer
Academic Years: 5
Areas of Expertise: Aging,
Social and Community
Services, and Non-profit
Administration
Carmen McCorvey, MSW
Lecturer
Academic Years: 5
Areas of Expertise: Social
Work, Child Welfare
Tri Le, MSW
Lecturer
Academic Years: 11
Areas of Expertise: Social
Work, Community
College Counseling
Heidi Rhoades-Allison,
LCSW
Lecturer
Academic Years: 7
Areas of Expertise: Social
Work and Mental Health
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT 8
Human Services Department
Lisa Sueki, PhD
Lecturer
Academic Years: 5
Areas of Expertise:
Multicultural Affairs
and Advocacy
Jacqueline Stevens, MSW
Lecturer
Academic Years: 5
Areas of Expertise:
Clinical Social Work,
Child Welfare, Coaching
and Mentoring, and
Reflective Supervision
HUS New Student Orientation 1st Annual HUS Internship Fair September 14, 2018 September 25, 2018
10:00 am - 1:00 pm 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Claudia Hampton Hall (WH-165) LSU, Ballroom B
Facilitator: America Isles Facilitator: America Isles
4th Annual Speakers’ Bureau HUS Resume Workshops October 18, 2018 November 1st & 8th, 2018
LSU, Ballroom C LSU, Room 326
5:00 - 8:00 pm 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Facilitator: Meka Brown Facilitator: Heidi Rhoades-Allison
Alma Melena, MA
Lecturer
Academic Years: 6
Areas of Expertise:
Advising, Coaching and
Mentoring
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT 9
Hello Toro family! I have had the pleasure of being a student and assistant during my
time at CSUDH. I graduated December of 2016 and got a job in the human services field.
I was offered a position as a Case Manager-DV Victim Advocate at Lutheran Social
Services in Garden Grove, CA, where I was an intern during my last semester. The
internship afforded me the opportunity to become employed with this agency starting at
$20.00 an hour. I believe this was made possible due to the outstanding support and
education at CSUDH. I truly enjoyed all of my experiences at CSUDH and I grew
immensely through self-discovery. I would like to thank the faculty and staff for
advising and mentoring me and for the patience that was given to me. This is only the
beginning of my career and I plan to apply for graduate school too. Keep doing a great
job with the human services students. I am proof of what happens when great
individuals such as the faculty in the HUS department gets involved! Coming from a
low income and broken home, teen parent and a dreamer, I am now on a path to
success! Thanks, again.
Human Services Resources
Alumni of Human Services By Ignaly Dircio
Are you curious about the jobs and/or the salary ranges that are available in
Human Services? Do you want to know about the Human Services credentialing
process and how to become a Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS-
BCP)? Check out the resources below.
www.nationalhumanservices.org/
www.socialservice.com
www.ihiresocialservices.com
www.nationjob.com/hs
https://www.indeed.com/q-Human-Services-jobs.html
https://www.monster.com/human-services-careers
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer...of_Human_Services/Salary
For additional resources, please visit the Human Services Department, located at
the East Academic Complex (EAC) 902.
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT 10
NEWSLETTER STAFF Credits
Design and Layout Meka Brown
Pamela Curtis
Editor Meka Brown
Acknowledgements We would like to thank the CSUDH Department of Human Services for their input to help materialize
our first department newsletter. Thanks to our students for sharing their photos from the study abroad
trips and the Human Services Student Association (HUSSA) for your contribution. We could not have
done this without the faculty, staff, or our students. Thank you!
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