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Social Justice in Action: Introducing Interim Dean Charmaine Williams and Updates and Reflections on FIFSW’s Talk It Out Online Counselling Clinic
January 24, 2022 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Please join us for the next lecture in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work Alumni Association’s 2021-2022 Alumni Event Series: “Social Justice in Action: Introducing Interim Dean Charmaine Williams and Updates and Reflections on FIFSW’s Talk It Out Online Counselling Clinic.”
Date: Monday, January 24th, 2022
Time: 6:30pm—8:00pm
Location: Zoom
All are welcome to attend.
Brought to you by: FIFSW Alumni Association
About the Talk:
Introducing Interim Dean Charmaine Williams
We begin our event with an insightful Q&A with Interim Dean Charmaine Williams, who began her term on January 1, 2022. Hear her perspectives on the future of social work and the profession’s role in advancing social justice.
Talk It Out Online Counselling Clinic: Updates and Reflections
The COVID-19 pandemic, economic hardships and an increased awareness of police violence and anti-Black racism have made the need for high-quality, free and accessible mental health services more urgent than ever. In March 2021, the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) at the University of Toronto launched the Talk It Out Online Counseling Clinic to provide free remote counselling services to individuals and families across the Greater Toronto Area, particularly lower-income and Black communities that are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and face other challenges. We will be joined by Professor Lin Fang, Clinic Director, who will share updates and reflections about this vital new service. Professor Fang will be joined by Vhil Castillejos, Manager, Community Wellbeing, Kimbra Iket, Community Wellbeing Worker, and Basma Hakem, Community Wellbeing Worker (youth) at the Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre.
About Interim Dean Charmaine Williams
Professor Charmaine C. Williams joined the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work in 2002. Her research bridges practice and access and equity issues that affect various populations including racial minority women, LGBTQ individuals in local and international context, and individuals and families affected by serious and persistent mental illnesses. The majority of her practice experience has been in the mental health care system where she worked in inpatient and outpatient services, providing interventions for individuals, families and groups. She has also been involved in organizational change initiatives in the health care sector, and has extensive experience developing and delivering professional education in the areas of anti-racism, cultural competence, mental health and addictions.
Professor Williams is currently serving as Interim Dean of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. Prior to taking on this role, she was the Vice-Dean of Students at the School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto.
About Professor Lin Fang
Lin Fang is currently an Associate Professor, holds the Factor-Inwentash Chair in Children’s Mental Health and is the Director of the PhD Program. Lin has over 10 years of clinical experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State. During the pandemic, Lin launched the Talk It Out Counseling Clinic that provides free short-term counselling services to lower income and Black communities in the Greater Toronto Area.
Lin’s program of research has focused on advancing the theoretical and empirical knowledge of positive child and youth development through etiology and intervention research as well as community-based research and services. Recently she also began to investigate the impact of anti-Asian racism on the East Asian youth and their families. She has published and presented widely in the areas of adolescent substance use, information and communication technologies (ICTs), and mental health and cross-cultural experiences among immigrant youth.
Talk it Out Online Counselling Clinic Donors & Sponsors
We would like to acknowledge the generous support of Janis Rotman for her lead gift. We would also like to acknowledge the support of:
Joan & Bernard Aaron
Judy San
CIBC
TELUS Friendly Future Foundation
Alumni and Friends