Sept. 30, 2011
BCU Social Work Professor Appointed to Federal Posts
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Heather
Craig-Oldsen, associate professor of social work and
department chairperson at Briar Cliff University, recently
was selected as chairperson for two federal reviews of
discretionary grant applications to bureaus of the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in
Washington, D.C.
In her appointment to the U.S.
Children’s Bureau, Craig-Oldsen made funding recommendations
for innovative services for youth in foster care who are
transitioning to adulthood from state, tribal, county and
private foster care systems nationwide.
“If systems are not in place to
help youth in foster care become independent, they are at a
distinct disadvantage,” said Craig-Oldsen. “My oversight
work in Washington is one more example of how Briar Cliff’s
social work department continues to be part of a national
effort to improve outcomes for children and families in the
United States.”
In addition, Craig-Oldsen advised
on new collaborative Tribal programs to more efficiently
provide child welfare services to Native families eligible
for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). The DHHS
Office of Family Assistance oversees the exclusively Tribal
grants associated with the TANF program.
“These discretionary grants will
provide funding to 10 Tribal sites that document innovative
ways to collaborate on improved services to Native families
who require financial assistance in addition to child
welfare services,” Craig-Oldsen explained.
At Briar Cliff, Craig-Oldsen also
serves as principal investigator for the Siouxland Indian
Child Welfare Traineeship Project, a grant funded program to
develop and promote child welfare competencies with a focus
on Indian child welfare through social work education at
Briar Cliff.
Briar Cliff
University is a Catholic institution with an enrollment of
more than 1,150 students from 32 states and 11 countries.
Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of
excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an
environment of care, compassion and service. For more
information, please visit
www.briarcliff.edu.
