Social Work Student Amy Krentzman receives Jane B. Aron Doctoral Fellowship

NASW Foundation presents award to Case Western Reserve University student

Washington, DC – The National Association of Social Workers Foundation is pleased to announce that Amy Krentzman is the recipient of the Jane B. Aron Doctoral Fellowship for 2007-2008.  This Fellowship Program provides partial support to doctoral students who are engaged in dissertation research in health care policy and practice.

Ms. Krentzman will explore the disparity in health policy and practice that indicates that African Americans recover from alcoholism through different pathways than Caucasians.  To this point, research has determined that there are different processes and interventions that enable someone to recover from alcoholism.  Ms. Krentzman’s research suggests that a framework of spirituality and religion provide a different set of strengths to the African American community.

This research is particularly important because it is the intersection of several social problems – alcoholism, racism and health disparities.  By understanding the roots of the recovery from alcoholism, health policy and practice can be modified to enable more to participate.  Health policy related to alcoholism touches all aspects of life, employment, pregnancy, criminal justice and illness, among others.

“Ms. Krentzman’s study has promise of improving our knowledge of social supports such as spirituality/religion in the treatment of alcoholism,” says Dr. Kathleen Farkas, associate professor at Case Western Reserve University.  “I have confidence that her findings will build the evidence base and contribute to policy and practice in the treatment of alcohol and other drugs.”

For more information about the NASW Foundation or the Jane B. Aron Doctoral Fellowship, please visit www.naswfoundation.org or e-mail foundation@naswdc.org.

About the National Association of Social Workers
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, D.C., is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 150,000 members.  It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers.  NASW also seeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.