NYU Launches McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research
The Silver School of Social Work at New York University is launching a major new initiative dedicated to the study of chronic poverty, The McSilver Institute of Poverty Policy and Research. Funded and inspired by a large gift from NYU alumni Constance and Martin Silver, the Institute will partner with social service agencies in the NYC-area to undertake the complex and in-depth approaches demanded by the challenges of poverty in the United States. While this Institute will concentrate on the consequences of poverty as it affects children, families, the elderly, homeless, victims of domestic violence, the disabled and others, the major effort will be to use the knowledge gained through current and planned research efforts to directly impact these constituencies.
The value of this work will be directly related to the more than 600 not-for-profit social agencies with which the Silver School of Social Work has ongoing relationships. Many of these agencies now train NYU graduate social work students and constitute the City's social service network and safety net.
The launch of the Institute commenced on October 3 with speaker Geoffrey Canada CEO of Harlem of Children's Zone, to be followed on October 16th with Linda Gibbs Deputy Mayor for Human Services and an experienced panel of experts. This two-phase introduction will bring over 100 invited agency heads together as an invitation to explore the opportunities presented by the McSilver Institute.
Growing out of these two major conferences will be a process to select up to 10 pilots across agency service lines (elderly, children, disabled, etc.) that will enable them to advance their practice and enhance their staff's capacity to more effectively serve their clients who are suffering from the consequences of poverty.
The Institute will engage other programs and faculty within the University as well as experts in the field who can be helpful in both the formation and direction of the program. Following the October 16th conference, an interactive Web site will be established, which will enable all participants to share information (practices and outcomes) and to serve as a significant instrument of dissemination of information.
Dean Lynn Videka, Professor Robert Hawkins, and Executive-in-Residence and Professor Phil Coltoff will constitute the leadership team for this undertaking.
You can view the Oct. 16th Conference Agenda here: http://www.nyu.edu/socialwork/povertyevent/.