UB Social Work 2023 Agenda

SOCIAL WORK CONFERENCE 2023

Respecting Diversity through Joint Social Action

May 10, 2023

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | House of Culture, Belize City

AGENDA

SOCIAL WORK

Respecting Diversity through Joint Social Action

May 10, 2023 8:00

WELCOME REMARKS

Dr. Vincent Palacio, President, University of Belize

INTRODUCTION TO ZONES OF REGULATION

Azalia Larrieu, MSW, CCTS-I

YOUTH AND MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION

Fermin Olivera, MSW

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID

Eleanor Bennett, PNP

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Lisa Johnson, MBBS, DM

PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE - EXPERT PANEL DISCUSSION

2:15 p.m.

Dr. Charles Lee Johnson

Moderator

Dr. Kendra Flores Carter Maternal Health Specialist

Dr. Cecilio Eck

Pediatrician

Dr. Carol Babb Director, Peace Works Belize

Ashley Rocke Pastor

Hon. Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

Minister of Human Development, Indigenous People’s Affairs

AZALIA LARRIEU, MSW, CCTS-I

Azalia Gongora Larrieu is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Belize with the Ministry of Health and a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist with Trauma Institute International. She has proudly been a dedicated educator for more than 8 years at the University of Belize, lecturing in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Social Work Department, and currently, the Academic Chair of the Social Work Department. She has provided clinical and administrative supervision to social work students, interns, and professionals. Continuing to advocate for others she is currently the Vice-President of the Mental Health Association. Her passion lies in helping people see themselves at their full potential and helping them to get there.

Azalia completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Western Kentucky University, in the United States of America. She has a broad range of clinical experience working with individuals and groups across the lifespan. She uses a variety of modalities and therapeutic techniques to help her clients maintain a healthy and positive functioning.

Her accomplishments supersede her, as she has had experience in working with Victim Advocates in the execution of Kentucky’s Victims Assistance Academy. She was a trainer and presenter, focusing on Trauma Informed Practice.

Her past experience working with the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA), Bowling Green, Trial Office, providing alternative sentencing, has prepared her to understand better the effects of drugs and alcohol on individuals and families.

Her true passion continues to be her home country, Belize, where she has planned and executed Social Work Conferences, including training on Vicarious Trauma. She is the founder of META Belize dedicated to offering continued education and counselling in the field of Clinical Social Work and Mental Health. Azalia continues to work along with the Ministry of Public Service in Belize via the Employee Assistance Program, and the Department of Human Services in Belize.

FERMIN OLIVERA, MSW

Education: Fermin obtained a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Northeastern State University and a Master of Social Work (MSW) with a focus in clinical social work (Counselling) from the University of Oklahoma.

Work: Fermin has worked in the social sector both in Belize and in the U.S.A. for over thirty-five years as a social worker—in Belize his work focused on residential/ custodial care for children in conflict with the law and was the Director of the Community Rehabilitation Department in the Ministry of Human Development for many years until his departure in 2009. While at the University of Belize (UB) since August 2010, he collaborated and published work in the areas of HIV (Prevalence and Patterns of HIV/AIDS Risk Factors in Recovering Addicts: Empirical evidence for Intervention strategies) and in drug use (Prevalence and pattern of drug use among 3rd Form students at secondary schools in Belize City).

As a lecturer, he teaches a broad range of courses within the social work program with a preference for practice courses, policy and social work, and the law. His community service is primarily done with agencies that focus on child welfare, undertaking a variety of roles from supporting program evaluation, and providing training for institutional capacity building to providing direct counselling services to underprivileged families and especially children.

At UB Fermin has held several administrative roles, Coordinator and Chair at the department level on several occasions and served on several committees, team leader for the 1st and only program review conducted to date, and is currently a member of the current program review team and member of the review team for the Criminal Justice and Criminology Program being developed by the Faculty of Business.

ELEANOR BENNETT, PNP

For approximately 10 years, Mrs. Eleanor Bennett headed the National Mental Health Program of Belize. In that role, she worked for the advancement of community mental health and paid special attention to the integration of mental health into primary health care and suicide prevention. She also coordinated the training and supervision of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) in 2018-2020 and implemented an auditing system for some aspects of the work of the PNPs. Mrs. Bennett holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Policy and Services from the New University of Lisbon and nursing credentials from the Bliss School of Nursing.

In 2018, She was honoured with a long-service award by the Ministry of the Public Service for 25 years of serving the People of Belize as a Registered Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing administrator for Mental Health. Her service continues as the Registrar for the Nurses and Midwives Council of Belize. She continues to contribute to the development of mental health, in Belize and other Caribbean countries as a policy consultant. Mrs. Bennett also lectures at tertiary institutions in Belize including the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Belize.

REV. DR. CHARLES LEE-JOHNSON

Rev. Dr. Charles Lee-Johnson is an Associate Professor at California Baptist University, Co-Chair of the Racial Equity Task Force, and Chair of the Social Work Department at CBU. Dr. LeeJohnson also serves as the Senior Pastor of the Life Church in Riverside and is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Family Life and Education Center, a social service agency that provides services and programs for vulnerable kids and families throughout the United States. Dr. Lee-Johnson has received numerous commendations and is inducted into the United States Library of Congress “Who’s Who”. Dr. LeeJohnson has worked collaboratively with the White House (Office of the First Lady) for the Helping America’s Youth Conference series, and his programs were recognized as “best practice” models for engaging marginalized families. Dr. Lee-Johnson works extensively with international communities including Nigeria, Malawi, Egypt, Jamaica, Bahamas, and more. Dr. Lee-Johnson was selected by the National Association of Social Workers, Region H, as the 2010 Social Worker of the Year, and he is unequivocally committed to the positive development of young people, families, and communities across the world. His ability to integrate his professional knowledge with practical skills enables him to effectively work with diverse populations. Dr. Lee-Johnson’s enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge make him one of the most dynamic and inspirational social workers in America.

DR. KENDRA FLORES-CARTER

Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter is a Published Author, at California Baptist University, a Professor of Social Work, and a Researcher in the social and behavioural sciences field specifically women’s and child health. An advocate for social justice and change, she has dedicated her career to bringing educational awareness to disparities/equity concerns in healthcare experiences and various other psychosocial issues affecting marginalized women and children.

A former Medical Social Worker for over 10 years, Dr. Flores-Carter worked to provide services to children suffering from Trauma related to Child Abuse/Neglect and women experiencing significant life crises such as Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Abuse Complications, Incarceration, Homelessness and Mental Illness.

Dr. Flores-Carter is recognized both locally, nationally, and internationally as an expert educator in women’s and child health. Dr. Flores-Carter is the founder of the Janet Don’t Cry Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to bringing education, support, and resources on mental health globally.

DR. CECILIO ECK

Dr. Cecilio Eck is a son of Belizean soil - growing up as a child in Belize City on Craig Street and Majestic Alley and attending school at Holy Redeemer Primary School. He attended Saint John’s College High School and Sixth Form and won the Belize Open Scholarship to attend Medical School at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. He would spend 15 years there, completing his specialization in Pediatrics and working in the public and private arenas.

He returned home 18 years ago and has worked at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for the past 15 years, being the Head of the Department of Pediatrics for 8 years. He has been appointed as a board member for The Inspiration Center, World Pediatric Project- Belize, and is the present President of Friends of Pediatrics, an NGO providing medical financial grants to children in need.

He is a co-owner of Coral Grove Medical Center along with his wife of 30 years, Mrs. Lysette Eck, and the proud father of three kids Kalene (Environmental Lawyer), Tyler (Master’s in Computer Science) and Reanne (his last hope to become a Doctor).

DR. CAROL BABB

A career educator who rose to the highest level of management in Belize’s formal education system, Dr. Carol Babb has earned recognition and distinction for being just as passionate and proactive about imparting practical life skills, instilling discipline, and cultivating positive attitudes as essential tools for success.

Commencing her career as a teacher at the Primary School level, she quickly ascended to School Principal, and later to General Manager of Anglican Primary Schools in Belize. On the strength of her experience and outstanding record, she was appointed Deputy Chief Education Officer, and later Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education.

Since retiring from the Government Service, Dr. Babb has intensified and expanded her efforts to promote learning in practical areas such as Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, and Media Literacy. She has been doing this effectively through non-government organizations in which she is involved, such as Peacework Belize, of which she is a founder and the Executive Director, and in partnership with embassies, international and local agencies, such as financial institutions, schools, churches, resource centers, and women groups.

Dr. Babb has received valuable training in Financial Literacy from experts at PricewaterhouseCoopers, recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious and progressive accounting firms (PwC).

Dr. Babb also serves as Education Director on the Board of Management for Holy Redeemer Credit Union (HRCU), the largest credit union in the country. And, to further promote Financial Literacy for children, she has authored two books, titled “Jacito Learns to Save” and “Jacito Opens an Account at HRCU”. Besides her doctoral degree in Higher Education from Oklahoma State University (USA), she also holds a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from the University of North Florida (USA, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the Licentiate College of Preceptors.

PASTOR ASHLEY ROCKE

Pastor Ashley Anthony Rocke is the Senior Pastor at the Lake Independence Baptist Church for over 32 years. He worked with the Belize Electricity Limited for 21 years before going into full-time Ministry with the Church. Whilst at the Belize Electricity Limited. he served for ten years as President of the Belize Energy Workers Union.

Pastor Rocke also has served on various Boards. These include the Belize Credit Union League where he served for 10 years and the Development Finance Corporation on which he served for four years. During his tenure as a director on the DFC Board, he was successful in acquiring the ICSA Accredited Director Certificate. He also served for twelve years as President of the Evangel Credit Union Ltd, as well as the Chairman of the Sadie Vernon Technical High School and the Stella Maris School Boards. He currently serves as President of the Baptist Association of Belize as well as on the Leadership Intervention Unit. Pastor Rocke also served in the Senate during the last administration.

Pastor Rocke is also a trained Counsellor through the Barbados Baptist College in Barbados, through the University of the West Indies open campus in Belize, and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counsellors. He has offered his service as a counsellor to families, men, women, youths, and children, across Belize. He loves his God, family, and the Church to which he is called to Minister and serve the community dearly. He is married to Mrs. Lisa Rocke for over 38 years and together they have three grown children, Jamie-Lee Rocke, Dr. Tamarie Rocke, and Ashley Rocke 2.

HON. DOLORES BALDERAMOS GARCIA

Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia is the newly appointed Minister for the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous People Affairs.

Minister Balderamos has served previously in the ministry and is cognizant of issues impacting the people of Belize. As a trained teacher and attorney, Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia will continue to focus on and support these issues through education, strengthening the existing legal framework, and working in close collaboration with organizations like this to support our Belizean Population.

RESPECTING DIVERSITY through JOINT SOCIAL ACTION

SOCIAL WORK CONFERENCE