As part of a plan to strengthen the
Department of Social Work at the University of Arkansas at
Monticello, social work faculty are reaching out to the
community and region to help provide support for local social
work agencies.
Donna Taylor, who joined the faculty in August, is a
member of the Coordinated Community Response Team for Drew
County, which assists victims of domestic violence with support
from various community entities. Taylor is also assisting in the
development and implementation of a crisis support team which
will provide counseling, support and guidance to mental health
first responders who deal with individuals and families who have
faced injury and death from accidents, murder and aggravated
assault. Additionally, Taylor is creating a community advisor
committee that is designed to offer community input for
consideration by the Department of Social Work.
“What Mrs. Taylor is doing is part of what we hope will
be a growing role in the community and region for our
department,” said Dr. Joel Carr, director of the Department of
Social Work. “Social work isn’t just a classroom discipline. We
want to play an active role in providing help to those in need
and have a positive impact on Monticello and southeast
Arkansas.”
Taylor, who holds a master’s of social work degree from
Rutgers University, is a licensed certified social worker for
the state of Arkansas. Since joining the UAM faculty she has
assisted with the development of the program as it moves toward
reaffirmation by the Counsel of Social Work Education. UAM is
scheduled for a reaffirmation visit in 2013.
Taylor’s core courses at UAM include Social Work and
Health Care, Social Work and Aging, Social Welfare Policy 1 and
2, and Social Work Practice I1. Her professional interests
include clinical social work (health and mental health), culture
and diversity, geriatric social work practice, social welfare
policy and practice (analysis/evaluation), and student advising
in social work education.
For more information, contact Dr. Joel Carr at (870) 460-1388.
