Debra Greenwood
Assistant Professor
Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice
EMAIL: DGreenwood@bmcc.cuny.edu
Office: N-651N
Office Hours:
Phone: +1 (212) 776-7259
Debra Greenwood, LMSW, has been at BMCC since Fall 2007. She teaches Introduction to Social Work, Direct Practice Skills, Social Welfare Policies and Programs, and Field Experience I and II. She taught Policy I and II as an adjunct Instructor at Fordham University’s MSW program for five years prior arriving at BMCC, and Policy I as an adjunct Assistant Professor at Hunter summer 2009 and 2010. She has worked in higher education for about twelve years, teaching, directing community-based learning programs, and as a research associate in institutional research. Outside of academia, she has worked in policy analysis and advocacy, community organizing, child protective services, Headstart, and clinical work with children. She has a certificate in child and adolescent mental health and is currently in the dissertation stage at the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service.
Expertise
Welfare policy, Social Justice Issues, Small Group & Interpersonal Communication, Policy advocacy, Direct Social Work Skills
Degrees
- M.S. LMSW – Licensed Master Social Worker – 2008, State of New York Department of Education,
- Ph.D. Fordham Graduate School of Social Service – expected 2012, Social Work,
- B.S. Eastern Washington University, Social Work,1993
- M.S. Eastern Washington University Graduate School of Social Service, Social Work,1995
Courses Taught
- This course introduces students to the field of Human Services and the profession of Social Work. Those human services which deal with social and personal problems are explored as well as the knowledge base, the skills base and the values base of the social work profession. Students are exposed to the methods of working with people as individuals, in groups and on a community level. This course meets the requirements as a liberal arts elective in social science.
- The course is designed to train students in the use of helping skills and techniques utilized in the field of human services. Some of the areas covered in the course include interviewing and counseling, making referrals, assessment, group process and behavioral techniques. Course content will include completion of web-based professional certification(s) such as; child abuse identification and prevention, psychological first aid, and elder abuse identification and prevention, thus preparing students for field experience/internships and human services employment.
Prerequisite: HUM 101 - Students are placed for one day per week in human service settings where they learn first-hand about agency structure and function, the activities of human service professionals, and the application of human service skills. Settings include community centers, hospitals, family service agencies, community residences for the developmentally disabled, senior citizen centers, homeless shelters, child psychiatry clinics, etc. A one hour weekly class session reinforces the agency experience through case presentations and group discussion. This course is open only to students enrolled in the Human Services curriculum. Please note: This course has 1 hour lecture and 7 internship hours per week. Prerequisite: HUM 101 and [HUM 201 or Gerontology Major]
- This course follows the same format as HUM 301, Field Experience in Human Services I. Remaining in the same field placement, the student deepens his/her knowledge and strengthens his/her skills through continued practice and supervision. This course is open only to students enrolled in the Human Services curriculum. Please note: This course has 1 lecture hour and 7 internship hours per week. Prerequisite: HUM 301
- This course will acquaint students with the social welfare system of the United States. An historical perspective helps to illuminate the evolution of current policies, programs and practices. Poverty in the U.S. is analyzed as well as the specific programs which have been developed to alleviate it. Cross-cultural approaches to social welfare are also examined. Prerequisite: POL 100
Research and Projects
Publications
Honors, Awards and Affiliations
- Award for Excellence in Education
Alpha Theta Kappa – Alpha Kappa Chapter BMCC, awarded 2009