Biography
James T. Decker, Professor, joined the CSUN faculty in the summer of 2006 as chair/director of the social work department till 2009. He was appointed to the Director of the Institute of Social and Behavioral Science in the summer of 2009. His degrees include a Ph.D. in Organizational Development from the University of Minnesota, Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, and MSW degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Dr. Decker has been the Director and Graduate Coordinator of three different MSW Programs: Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Radford University, Radford, Virginia. Dr. Decker was also Chair of the Department of Social Work, Human Services, and Allied Heath at Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky as well as The Department of Social Work at California State University, Northridge, and Director of the BSW Program at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Dr. Decker has consistently received high teaching evaluations, published thirty juried articles, has one book published, twenty book chapters, monographs, and has presented over 100 juried papers at international and national conferences. He presently serves on five editorial review boards and has served as Principal Investigator for over thirty-five federal, state and county grants totaling over $11,366,288. Dr. Decker also has experience in organizing and writing self-studies for CSWE in addition to his role as a Site Reviewer for CSWE.
Dr. Decker was the Senior International Non-Resident Scholar (2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008) in the Academic Fellowship Program at Tbilisi State University in the Republic of Georgia, assisting in the development of a new Master of Social Work program, and since January, 2007 is the Co-Director and Professor of the Social Work Department at Ilia Chavchavadze State University, Tbilisi, Georgia. Dr. Decker has over twenty-five years of private practice experience working with families and individuals, and in the areas of substance abuse, domestic violence PTSD. Since September 1994-Present is an Expert Witness in Child welfare, PTSD, Capital Murder, Child Custody Cases. 10
He was Executive Director/CEO for seventeen years of a large managed behavioral health organization in California. He is a Jungian Analyst and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of California since 1982.
Education
- Ph.D. Pacifica Graduate Institute, Clinical Psychology
- Ph.D. University of Minnesota, Administration Research and Policy
- MSW, SUNY, Stony Brook
- BA, CSUN, Sociology
Courses Taught
- Advanced Social Work Practice with Urban Families I & II
Selected Publications and Presentations
Journals
Decker, James T., Brown, Constantine, Jodi, L., Ashley, Wendy, Lipscomb, Allen, (2018). “Mindfulness, Meditation and Breathing Exercises: Reduced anxiety for clients and self-care for social work interns” Social Work with Groups: a journal of community and clinical practice Special Issue: DIO: 10.1080/01609513.2019.1571763
Decker, James, T., Park, Hyun-Sun, Ashley, Wendy, Bame, Christina, (2018) “How the legal status of undocumented students affects their access to higher education, public health and mental health services” Journal of Education & Social Policy, Vol. 5 No.2. June 30, 2018.
Ashley, Wendy, J., Decker, James, T., Shorena Sadzaglishvili, Priebe Nina. (2018) “Enhancing the Science of Social Work and Expanding Social Work Research in Transitional Countries” Journal of Sociology and Social Work. DOI: 10.15640/jssw.v5n2a3 pp 20-28
Brown Constantine Jodi L., Ong Jacqueline, Mathers Jessica, Decker, James T., (2015). “Compassion Fatigue and Mindfulness: Comparing Mental Health Professionals and MSW Student Interns” Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. DOI:10.1080/23761407.1302959
Decker, James T., Brown, Jodi, Tapia, Jessica, (2016) “Learning to Work with Trauma Survivors: Lessons from Tbilisi, Georgia.” Social Work in Public Health DOI:10.1080/19371918.2016.1188744.
Decker, James T, Brown, Jodi, Stiney, Crystal, Jacqueline Ong, “Mindfulness & Compassion Fatigue/Compassion Satisfaction Among Social Work Interns” Special issue of Social Work & Christianity, Religion and Spirituality in Competency-Based Social Work Practice. pp. 28-42 Volume 42 Number 1, Spring 2015.
Decker, James T, Brown, Jodi, “Psychosocial Needs for Men Breast Cancer in Men: A Case Study,” The Journal of Scholastic Inquiry: Behavioral Sciences, pp. 7-22, Volume 3, November 2014.
“Just for Men Brest Cancer in Men: A Case Study” submitted to Social Work in Public Health, April 2012 (Under Review).
Levin, A. & Decker, James T., “The Assessment of Staff Satisfaction as compared to Client Satisfaction in Two Department of Social Service Residential Treatment Facilities” Journal of Residential Treatment for Children and Youth, Volume 23(3/4), 2008.
“Are Baccalaureate Level Social Workers Who Graduate from Accredited BSW Programs Prepared to Enter into Positions Working in Alcohol & Other Drug Treatment Programs?” (November, 2005), Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 4, 25-38 with M. Brenner and M. Murtagh.
“Alcoholism Treatment: What Roads to Recovery Will Be Traveled in the 21st Century?” (2003), Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 2, 4, 45-63 with McMormill, Kyra, Lowe, Charles, Elliott, and Willie.
Books
Decker, James T., Males and Psychological Pain and Trauma: Real Men Don’t Cry, But They Drink, Whittier Publications, New York, 2008, ISBN 978-1-57604-274-8
Decker, James T., Shorena Sadzaglishvili, Ph.D., MSW, Marvin Feit, Ph.D, MSW, Developing Sustainable International Social Work Graduate Programs: Opportunities and challenges to further strengthen the social work profession in other developing countries. CSWE submitted in April 2012.
Decker, James T., Males and Psychological Pain and Trauma: Real Men Don’t Cry, But They Drink, Whittier Publications, New York, 2008, ISBN 978-1-57604-274-8
Book Chapters
Silvia, Laurie & Decker, James T., “Assimilating Artistic Expression in Sound Social Work Practice” submitted to International Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups, White Hat Communications. December 2011 (Under Review)
Decker, James T., in (Ed.) Stanley, S., Social Work Education in Countries of the East: Issues and Challenges, “Developing Sustainable Graduate Social Work Education in Tbilisi Georgia,” Nova Publishers, 2011.Papers-Juried
“Developing Sustainable Graduate Social Work Education in Tbilisi Georgia,” 2010 APM CSWE Annual Program Meeting, Portland Oregon, October 16, 2010.
“Self-care: Ways of Controlling Compassion Fatigue,” 2009 Aging in America ASA-NCOA Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 18, 2009.
“Male Alienation: Pain and Shame Leads to Silence and Depression,” 1st Annual National Conference on Social Work with and for Men, Tuscaloosa, Al., April 29, 2008.
“Developing Sustainable International Graduate Programs,” 2007 APM CSWE Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA. October, 28, 2007.
“Developing Graduate Social Work Education in Former Soviet Republics,” 15th International Symposium, Hosted by Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China, July 17, 2007.“Rewriting Stories, Changing Beliefs: The Use of Narrative Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with the Aging,” 2007 Joint Conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging, Chicago, Ill., March 8, 2007.
“A Hands on Mentoring Model to Guide Your Research, Teaching and Community Service,” “We Count!—Documenting our Progress and Success” 2007 California State University, Northridge Faculty Retreat, Oxnard, CA., January 23, 2007
“Are Baccalaureate Level Social Workers Prepared to Work in the AOD Program?”, 2006 APM CSWE Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, February 17th, 2006 with M. Brenner.
Productions
Every Way Women Talk Show: Mitchell Brown Productions
The Breast Cancer World Doesn't Care About Men With Breast Cancer James T Decker's Male Breast Cancer Story, September 13, 2014, Pasadena CA
Journal Articles- Juried
Decker, James T., Brown, Constantine, Jodi, L., Ashley, Wendy, Lipscomb, Allen, (2018). “Mindfulness, Meditation and Breathing Exercises: Reduced anxiety for clients and self-care for social work interns” Social Work with Groups: a journal of community and clinical practice Special Issue: DIO: 10.1080/01609513.2019.1571763
Decker, James, T., Park, Hyun-Sun, Ashley, Wendy, Bame, Christina, (2018) “How the legal status of undocumented students affects their access to higher education, public health and mental health services” Journal of Education & Social Policy, Vol. 5 No.2. June 30, 2018.
Ashley, Wendy, J., Decker, James, T., Shorena Sadzaglishvili, Priebe Nina. (2018) “Enhancing the Science of Social Work and Expanding Social Work Research in Transitional Countries” Journal of Sociology and Social Work. DOI: 10.15640/jssw.v5n2a3 pp 20-28
Brown Constantine Jodi L., Ong Jacqueline, Mathers Jessica, Decker, James T., (2015). “Compassion Fatigue and Mindfulness: Comparing Mental Health Professionals and MSW Student Interns” Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. DOI:10.1080/23761407.1302959
Decker, James T., Brown, Jodi, Tapia, Jessica, (2016) “Learning to Work with Trauma Survivors: Lessons from Tbilisi, Georgia.” Social Work in Public Health DOI:10.1080/19371918.2016.1188744.
Decker, James T, Brown, Jodi, Stiney, Crystal, Jacqueline Ong, “Mindfulness & Compassion - Fatigue/Compassion Satisfaction Among Social Work Interns” Special issue of Social Work & Christianity, Religion and Spirituality in Competency-Based Social Work Practice. pp. 28-42 Volume 42 Number 1, Spring 2015.
Decker, James T, Brown, Jodi, “Psychosocial Needs for Men Breast Cancer in Men: A Case Study,” The Journal of Scholastic Inquiry: Behavioral Sciences, pp. 7-22, Volume 3, November 2014.
Journal Articles-Juried and Under Review
Decker, James T., Brown, Jodi, “Learning to Work with Trauma Survivors: Lessons from Tbilisi, Georgia” for review in the special addition of Clinical Social Work Journal; Mental Health and Social Work Services in the Aftermath of Disasters. December, 2014.
Brown Constantine Jodi L., Ong Jacqueline, Mathers Jessica, Decker, James T., “Compassion Fatigue and Mindfulness: Comparing Mental Health Professionals and MSW Student Interns” The Social Science Journal. November 2014.
Posters-Juried
“Trauma: How it relates to Displaced People” 2011 APM CSWE Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia
Panels-Invited
Alliances with International Partners, Conference on International Social Work, Boston College, Boston, MA., March 11, 2007.
Papers-Invited
“Elders at Risk: Compassion Fatigue,” Annual Meeting of the Veterans Affairs, Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Sepulveda, CA. June 26, 2008.
Compassion Fatigue: Managing Social Work Burn-out, NASW-CA San Fernando Valley Local Unit, Region G, Van Nuys, CA, November 3, 2006.
Challenges in Graduate Social Work Program Management, Academic Fellowship Program (AFP) Caucasus Conference, Tbilisi University, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, March 3rd, 2006.
Curriculum Development for Field Instruction and Community Practice, Academic Fellowship Program (AFP) Caucasus Conference, Tbilisi University, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, March 4th, 2006.
Workshops-Invited
“Historical Trauma and How it Relates to Displaced People: After a War,” Ilia Chavchavadze State University, Tbilisi, Georgia, November 7, 2008.
“Working with Displaced Children with Trauma: After a War” ” Ilia Chavchavadze State University, Tbilisi, Georgia, November 8, 2008.
“Trauma Work for Displaced Social Services Workers in Community Settings: Working with children with PTSD,” Ilia Chavchavadze State University, Tbilisi, Georgia, November 9, 2008.
“British Social Work versus United States Social Work Models: Integrating Both Models into a Georgia and Former Soviet Union Republics International Graduate Curriculum, Cross Regional Discipline Meeting of AFP Fellows Social Work and Psychology, International Higher Education Support Program, Open Society Institute, Tbilisi University, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, November 18, 2006.
What is the Future of Graduate Social Work in Georgia and Other Former Soviet Union Republics, Cross Regional Discipline Meeting of AFP Fellows Social Work and Psychology, International Higher Education Support Program, Open Society Institute, Tbilisi University, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, November 19, 2006.
Social Work Practice and Field Education, Academic Fellowship Program (AFP), International Higher Education Support Program, Open Society Institute, Tbilisi University, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, May 8-11, 2006 with S. Sadzaglishvilli.
Grant Reviewer
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 1997-Present
Editorial Advisory Boards
Critical Social Work 2009-Present
Social Work in Public Health 2008-Present
Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment 2008-Present
Journal of Global Social Work Practice 2008-Present
Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work 2006-PresentBook Reviewer
Sage Publications 2007-Present
Cengage Learning (Brooks/Cole Publications) 2008-presentAbstract Reviewer
Annual Program Meeting CSWE - 2018(3)
Addictions
International
SpiritualityAnnual Program Meeting CSWE - 2017(3)
Addictions
International
SpiritualityAnnual Program Meeting CSWE - 2016(3)
Addictions
International
SpiritualityAnnual Program Meeting CSWE - 2015(3)
Addictions
International
SpiritualityAnnual Program Meeting CSWE - 2014(3)
Addictions
International
PracticeAnnual Program Meeting CSWE - 2011(3)
University Community Partnerships
Addictions
International
Annual Program Meeting CSWE - 2010 (2)
Addictions
International
Annual Program Meeting CSWE - 2009 (2)
Addictions
International
Annual Program Meeting CSWE - 2008 (2)
Addictions
InternationalLicensure
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, California - LCS 9715
November 1982-Present
Research and Interests
My research interest is in International Social Work and developing a sustainable MSW Program in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. I am interested in developing a faculty/student exchange program with Tbilisi as well. I still consult with Native American Tribes and issues related to burn out with social service organizations.