Social work

Alejandra Acuna, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW, PPSC (On-Leave AY 2020/21, 2021/22)

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Associate Professor
Email:
Office location:
ST 207

Biography

On-Leave AY 2020/21 & 2021/22

Alejandra Acuña, Associate Professor, earned a PhD in Social Welfare from UCLA and an MSW from UC Berkeley.  She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and holds a Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) in Child Welfare and Attendance and School Social Work.

Dr. Acuña has over 30 years of work experience in health and human services in various settings – non-profit community-based organizations, child protective services, and public-school districts. Dr. Acuña has taught courses at CSULA, UCLA, and CSUN and won local and national awards for field instruction. Her research interests include urban youth and families, trauma- and resilience-informed and responsive systems, and cultural approaches to mental health treatment.

  • She is social work faculty for the Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, which provides interdisciplinary leadership training in adolescent health for five core disciplines including medicine, nursing, nutrition, psychology, and social work.
  • She is a professional expert for the LA Unified's (LAUSD) division of Student Health and Human Services.
  • She provides training and evaluation for the Tutçint Reinvestment Program, whose mission is "creating social justice leaders by reclaiming our Indigenous knowledge and focusing on the holistic approach to well-being."
  • She created the YouTube channel, "Promotores de Bienestar Mental," featuring bilingual (Spanish/English) videos, created by CSUN MSW students, graduates, and colleagues using their scholarship and clinical skills to make mental health topics accessible to a Spanish-speaking audience.
  • She is also an executive board member of Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural and Bookstore, founded by Luis J. Rodriguez and Trini Rodriguez with a mission "to transform community in the Northeast San Fernando Valley and beyond through ancestral knowledge, the arts, literacy and creative engagement."
  • She founded Minority Male Mentoring (M3), a multi-disciplinary and multi-tiered approach for men of color in higher education.

Education

  • PhD (2015) University of California, Los Angeles, Social Welfare
  • MSW (1996) University of California, Berkeley, Social Welfare
  • BA (1989) Vanguard University, Biology

Courses Taught:

Human Behavior and Social Environment

Psychosocial Assessment and Diagnostic Formulation

Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice

Social Work Research Methods and Graduate Project

Advanced Social Work Practice with Urban Families

Advanced Social Work Practice in Urban Communities

Urban Social Policy and Advocacy

Family Crisis, Trauma and Grief

Publications:

Acuña, A., Franke, T., & Lipscomb, A.E. (2021). Coping and Resilience: PTSD Screening and Brief Intervention for Underrepresented Students at a Public University, Social Work, in press.

Acuña, A., PTSD Screening for Male College Students of Color. Under review.

Acuña, M.A., & Martinez, J.I. (2018). Pilot Evaluation of Back to Basics Parenting Training in Urban Schools. School Social Work Journal, 42(2), 39-56.

Kataoka, S., Vona, P., Acuña, M.A., Jaycox, L., Escudero, P., Rojas, C., Ramirez, E., Langley, A., & Stein, B.D. (2018) Applying a Trauma Informed School Systems Approach: Examples from School Community-Academic Partnerships. Ethnicity & Disease, 28(2), 1-10

Acuña, A. & Kataoka, S. (2017). Family Communication Styles and Resilience among Adolescents. Social Work62(3), 261-269.

Acuña, A., Martinez, J., Ricks, B., Swain, J. (2017). Minority male mentoring: A multi-tiered model for college success. In S. Whalen (Ed.), Proceedings of the 13th National Symposium on Student Retention, Destin, Florida. (pp. 217-232). Norman, OK: The University of Oklahoma.

Acuña. A. & Escudero, P. (2015). Helping those who come here alone. Phi Delta Kappan, 97, 42-45.

Presentations (recordings):

  1. Empowering Men of Color Feb 2020 Webinar
  2. CSUN Provost's Student Success Series Event – "Bridging the Gap Together: More Practical Strategies for Student Success"
  3. LAUSD Parent & Community Services: Stress Management & Emotional Wellbeing Part 1
  4. LAUSD Parent & Community Services: Stress Management & Emotional Wellbeing Part 2
  5. LAUSD Parent & Community Services: Stress Management & Emotional Wellbeing Part 3
  6. Minority Male Mentoring (M3) Program Part 1
  7. Minority Male Mentoring (M3) Program Part 2
  8. IG Live with Profesora Acuña - The Journey to Visionary: Understanding the Heart it Takes to Reach a Desired Vision
  9. Western Symposium: Trauma-Informed De-escalation and Safety
  10. Kaiser Permanente Latinx Association Summit: Integrating Ancient Indigenous Wisdom & Practices into Mental Health Treatment
  11. Meaningful Theories for Student and Family Engagement

Print Media about Dr. Acuña's Projects: