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Description
Fowlkes, Alma - Oral History Interview - CSWA ❧ Interviewer: Esther Gillies, LCSW. Date: 11/30/2011. An interview with Alma Fowlkes, MSW, as she discusses her social work career with Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). ❧ CONTENTS: (00:31) -- Introduction by Esther Gillies. (02:09) -- The beginning of Fowlkes career for DCFS. (03:50) -- Staff development specialist for Exposition park -- Services and eligibility were being separated. (04:42) -- Training for staff and foster parents. (05:34) -- MAPP Program - Model Approach to Partnership and Parenting. (08:00) -- Parenatal Program -- Drug-exposed babies. (10:11) -- Early influences. (11:30) -- Budget standards differ for drug-exposed babies. (12:00) -- National Grandparent program development & Respite Program. (13:50) -- The demands of fostering drug- and alcohol-exposed babies. (15:25) -- The development of Kinship services. (17:20) -- Program design in 1970s with Adult Protective Services. (20:08) -- Early event planning with DCFS. (20:55) -- Alma Fowlkes Award created by workers and foster parents. (21:40) -- Christmas party with 3,000 attendees. (24:59) -- Planning events on limited budget. (27:44) -- Planning an Easter Egg Hunt for the children. (28:55) -- Annual picnic in the park. (30:25) -- The necessity for appreciation and recognition of social work staff. (32:00) -- Eat-in to improve staff moral. (33:38) -- Creative use of MSW Interns. (34:55) -- Families Helping Families Program. (38:00) -- Region 2 moves into separate office -- Creating a good working environment. (43:20) -- Black Families Unit. (44:50) -- Advice for future social workers regarding working in a large bureaucracy. (48:05) -- Benefits of working in a large bureaucracy. (54:45) -- County dress code. (56:35) -- Establishment of Senior's Committee in Region 2. ❧ Alma Fowlkes. Interviewed by Esther Gillies. Date of interview: 11-30-11. Length of Interview: 1 hour and 2 minutes. DVD containing interview. ❧ ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: 1. Department of Children's Services Gospel Hour Contest Program. 2. Very Important Parents Newsletter. 3. Families Helping Families NACO Award.
Type
moving image
Format
1 video (1:01:22) interviews oral histories (document genres) video/mp4
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