Mary Elizabeth Dillon, Ed.D, MSW
University of Central Florida
COHPA School of Social Work
12805 Pegasus Drive
HPA I – Room 224
Orlando, FL 32816-3358
Home: (321)252-3119
Cell: (918) 269-0763
Work: (407)-823-3967
Email:
Email:
PERSONAL DATA
Born: Scranton, Pennsylvania
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Ed.D.Nova Southeastern University Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services. Focus area "Child and Youth Studies." Miami, FL Dissertation Title: “Childhood Victimization and the Protective Service System as Factors Associated with Female Involvement in the Juvenile and Adult Justice Systems. Degree Completion: April, 2007
M.S.W.Barry University School of Social Work (Concentration in Mental Health) Miami, FL - 1993
B.L.S.Barry University (Social Welfare Concentration) Miami FL - 1991
Marywood College (various liberal arts classes in preparation for Bachelor's Degree) Scranton, Pa - 1985-1989
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
8/8/14-PresentLecturer, University of Central Florida School of Social Work
8/8/2013-14Visiting Instructor,University of Central Florida School of Social Work
8/8/2011-13Adjunct Professor, University of Central Florida School of Social Work
Teaching Courses:
SOW 5306 - Social Work Practice II: Interventions
SOW 4730 – Documentation in Social Work Practice
SOW 6348 – Clinical Practice with Individuals
SOW 3352 – Practice II: Interpersonal Skills in Social Work
SOW 5132 – Diverse Client Populations
SOW 3300 – Practice I: Generalist Practice in Social Work
SOW 3104 – Assessing I: Human Development
SOW 5105 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
SOW 6123 – Psychosocial Pathology
SOW 6109 – Violence Against Women: A State, National, and Global Perspective
SOW 6604 – Medications in Social Work Practice
1/22/09 to 8/3/11Adjunct Professor, University of Oklahoma Graduate School of Social Work
Teaching Courses:
Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Individuals
And Families I. Two Sections: SOW 5233-980 and SOW 5233-981.
SOW 5733 The DSM-IV in Social Work: Assessment and Diagnosis. Developed this course that was previously taught as an online course and was adaptedfor classroom teaching. The course was designed to assist the student in understanding and using the prevailing psychiatric taxonomic system, the DSM-IV-TR. This course examined the benefits and risks of this taxonomy in relationship to diversity, culture, prevention, treatment, and recovery from a mental illness.
SOW 5253 – Social Work Practice and the Addictions: Alcohol and other Drugs
1/2010 to 7/30/11Faculty Liaison OU School of Social Work Concentration year students Field Placements at the Mental Health Association in Tulsa, Housing Programs, Families & Children’s Services Adult Mental Health Programs, and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Eddie Warrior Women’s Correctional Center.
8/2009 to 2010Associate Investigator of a Science to Service grant to Evaluate the OC-OK-Co-Occurring Disorder Screen in a Primary Health Care Practice Setting. Funded by the “Oklahoma Science to Service” Increasing State Capacity in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Research, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
11/2004 to 2009Associate Investigator, the Oklahoma Co-Occurring State Incentive Grant Evaluation Project (a SAMHSA funded project)—Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Oklahoma City.
12/2004 to 2011Member of the Education Committee. Mental Health Association in Tulsa.
1996 Guest Lecturer at Florida International University School of Social Work. Lecture on topics such as: Community-based organizations, Grant Writing, Gender Sensitive Issues, Policy implications for at-risk females, Drug and Alcohol Education.
1995 to 1999Member of New Horizons Community Mental Health Center's Family Service Treatment Plan Committee.
1994 to 2004EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE BISCAYNE INSTITUTE, INC.
The Biscayne Institute is a not-for-profit corporation that provides educational and psychosocial after school programming to at-risk, low income adolescent girls and their families in inner city Miami, FL. The focus of the education and intervention services provided by The Biscayne Institute relate to child abuse and neglect, school failure, poverty, substance use/abuse, and school failure. This program model has been developed to economically fill the gap in the juvenile justice system.
1994 to 1999Supervision of school-based social workers at three inner-city Catholic schools through Catholic Community Services School Based Family Services Program. Supervision includes the assessment and service plan development of Medicaid targeted case management.
1992-1994EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, P.A.C.E. CENTER FOR
GIRLS/DADE, Miami FL
Ensure compliance of the P.A.C.E. Center For Girls mission. Provide a safe, productive, cost effective program that meets established objectives. Overall responsibility for entire program operation including staff, budget, students, interns, volunteers, and Board of Directors. Oversee the promotion and expansion of the program through education, grant writing, community and media awareness, fund raising and advocation. Assure that all staff, teachers, volunteers, Board of Directors, are sensitive to the special needs of the at-risk, multi-cultural population of the girls that P.A.C.E./Dade serves.
1993Participated in second-year student internship as required by the Barry University Master's of Social Work Program. This internship was completed at Jackson Memorial Hospital's "Rape Treatment Center." Duties included completing in-take information on patients, psychosocial assessment, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, community counseling referrals, triage staffing between social workers, nurses, physicians and administrators. This also was excellent exposure to the litigious aspects that social workers must deal with. This invaluable learning experience accorded the opportunity to work with physical and sexual trauma victims. The ages of the victims ranged from infants to the elderly, and from boys and girls to men and women, also from the average citizen to prostitutes, the homeless, prison inmates, etc. Due to the severe psychological and physical trauma these victims suffer, a meticulous psychosocial assessment much be done on each victim. Careful attention had to be given to the patient's affect as it relates to suicidal ideation, psychotic breaks, possible substance abuse, etc. If any of these indicators were suspected, a cross-team working relationship was conducted with the Crisis Stabilization Unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
1991-1992 PROGRAM DIRECTOR, Mental Health Association in Miami-Dade County. A WOMEN'S PLACE, Day Shelter for Homeless Women and Children. MIAMI, FL
Responsible for administration and operations of program. Duties include supervision of staff, students/interns, and volunteers, case management, counseling clients, and crisis intervention. As well involved in pubic speaking related to community education regarding women's issues, particularly the plight of homeless women and children. Fund-raising was a primary activity and in part determined the level of services provided at A Woman's Place. Operations required community networking at all levels (private and public) to maximize community resources for the clients.
1992Participated in a student internship program through Barry University at a United Cerebral Palsy group home, as required by the Master's of Social Work Program. Duties included developing Individual Treatment Plans for the clients, case management, development of behavior modification plans for the clients, individual and groups counseling, provided structured activities and field trips, etc. The clients served at this group home had a wide range of mental health problems. This field work experience afforded exposure to mental health diagnoses such as Cerebral Palsy, Tourette's Syndrome, Tardive Dyskenesia, Schizophrenia, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Organic Brain Disease, etc.
1991-1992DATA MANAGER, PROJECT LINK-UP, MIAMI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, MIAMI, FL
Assisted in development of a computer network system linking homeless shelter providers. Responsible for the operation of the computer system, a case management program and other computer services for homeless clients at the shelters. Trained and supervised personnel on the computer system both at the main center and at homeless shelters. A great deal of direct work with providers was required to coordinate and organize the services.
1991HIV/AIDS PREVENTION EDUCATION STUDY, Dade Community Foundation. Miami, FL
Assisted in organizing, coordinating and conducting focus groups, data collection, data management, and writing the final report, An Assessment of HIV/AIDS Prevention Education in South Florida. A six month study conducted for and funded by the Dade Community Foundation. Miami, FL
1989-1990BARRY UNIVERSITY, POSNER STUDIES:
Assisted in Data Collection, Data Management and writing the final monograph, The Magnitude and Nature of Homelessness in South Florida: A Year Long Study of Homeless People in Shelters and on the Street 1988-1989.
1985-1989Assistant Director, Marywood College, Council Of International Programs, School Of Social Work
Scranton, Pa
Responsible for setting up the program that brought approximately 84 Social Workers from around the world to participate in a yearly 4 month education and work/study program at Marywood College. Duties included development of an intensive 3 week orientation schedule that introduced the professionals to various social service agencies, meetings with local, state, and federal government officials regarding funding for social services, conducted workshops related to various treatment modalities used in the United States (i.e. drug/alcohol, child abuse, mental health, etc.), supervised field placement of social work interns placed in various agencies, liaison between agencies and Marywood College. Attended the opening ceremony of the program in New York City where all the affiliates from across the country met with members of the United Nations. Also attended the closing ceremonies in Washington DC meeting with various members of the State Department, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education.
GRANT WRITING EXPERIENCE
2010: Co-wrote a proposal that was funded in January 2010 by the Zarrow Foundation. The proposal asked for and received $12,000 to use for stipends for four (4) students in a newly developed Mental Health Field Unit in Tulsa.
2011: Co-wrote and received a second grant from the Zarrow Foundation for $24,000 to use for stipends for eight (8) students for the second year of the Mental Health Field Unit in Tulsa. I also participated in the selection of students and worked with participating agencies. In addition, I am the faculty liaison responsible for developing and piloting the “Teaching and Learning” agreement as per CSWE’s new EPASstandards.
Was successfully awarded a $100,000 continuation grant from Miami-Dade County Department of Human Services. This grant works with girls who have been referred to our Program as an alternative to detention.
Received a $49,500 grant from the Governor's Drug-Free Communities Program to provide anti-drug/alcohol/tobacco and violence prevention to at-risk girls ages 5 to 16 years old.
Successfully contracted with Catholic Community Services to provide staff and peer tutors from The Alpha Omega Sorority Program at St. Mary's Cathedral School in Little Haiti for their Restorative Summer School Program. Amount of contract reward $8,900.
Submitted and received a grant in the amount of $80,845 for FY97-98 to add an additional component to The Alpha Omega Sorority Program. It is entitled the Restorative After-school Program (RAP HOUSE). This prevention/diversion program targets at-risk girls ages 5 to 10 years old. Program staff and the older girls in the Alpha Omega Sorority Program work as tutors and mentors to these young inner-city girls.
Submitted and was approved for a second year of funding in the amount of $69,543 from the Community Juvenile Justice Partnership Grants Program for FY 97-98.
Department of Juvenile Justice Grant in the amount of $98,000 was renewed for second year funding for FY 96-97.
Successfully wrote a grant to the Community Juvenile Justice Partnership Grants Program in the amount of $77,292 for FY 96-97.
Successfully wrote and procured a grant in December 1996 from the Community Juvenile Justice Partnership Grant Program for an additional after-school component to the Alpha Omega Sorority entitled the Rap House Program. The total amount awarded for this grant is $80,845.
Successfully wrote a grant to the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention for $98,000 per year for three years for start-up costs to run "The Alpha Omega Sorority Program."
Successfully wrote a grant to the Knight Foundation for $50,000 over two years to fund a full-time social work position to work with at-risk adolescent inner-city females.
Obtained a grant from the State of Florida Hurricane Relief Fund for $98,000 for building repair and renovation costs. This grant also augmented funds to provide direct services to at-risk adolescent inner-city girls.
Procured a $7,500 grant from the Dade Community Foundation to establish a speakers bureau entitled "Youth Serving Youth." The girls who participated in this speakers bureau provided presentations in local inner-city schools on such topics as teen pregnancy, youth violence, drug and alcohol abuse, etc.
Obtained a $5,000 grant from the Norman Shulevitz Foundation to provide scholarships to at-risk inner city girls to attend Girl Scout camp in Key West, Florida.
Successfully wrote a grant in the amount of $98,000 to the Florida Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Authority Community Juvenile Justice Partnership. This partnership grant was a interagency collaboration between a local school for at-risk girls, the Metro Dade Police Department, The Dade County School Board, HRS District XI, and the Metro Dade Parks and Recreation Department. The focus of this grant was to provide after school and weekend diversionary and prevention activities for at-risk inner city girls and their families.
Co-wrote a $100,000 grant for the Dade County Mental Health Association that was funded through Ryan White Funds.
BOOKS and MONOGRAPHS
Cherry, A., Dillon, M.E., & Rugh, D. (2001).Adolescent and Teen Pregnancy: A Global View. Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. Westport, CT.
Cherry, A., Dillon, M. E., & Rugh, D. (2002). Abuse of Alcohol and other drugs: A Global View. Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. Westport, CT.
Cherry, A.L. & Dillon, M.E. (2010). Social Work Practice: Using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (In Press). Eddie Bowers Publishers. Peosta, IA.
Cherry, Andrew L.; Dillon, Mary E. (2013). “Teenage Pregnancy.” In Oxford Bibliographies in Childhood Studies. Ed. Heather Montgomery. New York: Oxford University Press.
Cherry, A. & Dillon, M. E. (2014). International Handbook of Adolescent Pregnancy: Medical, Psychosocial, and Public Health Responses. NY: Springer. Doi: 10.1007/978-1-4899-8026-7
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Cherry, A. & Dillon, M.E., (1996). Research as social action in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. Journal of Social Service Research. 22 (1/2) 71-87. Co-published simultaneously in Research on Social Work and Disasters. Ed. Calvin L. Street & Susan A. Murry. The Haworth Press, Inc. N.Y.
Cherry, A., & Dillon, M.E. (1996). Research as social action in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. Journal of Social Service Research, 22(2): 71-87.
Cherry, A., & Dillon, M.E. (1997). A middle class response to disaster: FEMA’s policies and programs. Journal of Social Service Research, 23(1), 71-87.
Cherry, A. & Dillon, M.E. (1997). A middle class response to disaster: FEMA's polices and programs. Journal of Social Service Research. 23 (1) 71-87.
Cherry, A. L., Byers, L.B. & Dillon, M. E. (In press). An international perspective on teen pregnancy. In Ehiri, J. (UAB, USA) & Meremikwu, M. (International Health Research Unit, Liverpool, England) (Eds.), International perspectives on maternal & child health. Washington DC: Springer Publishers.
Cherry, A. L., Dillon, M. E., Hellman, C. & Barney, L. D. (2007). The AC-COD Screen: Rapid Detection of People with the Co-occurring Disorders of Substance Abuse, Mental Illness, Domestic Violence, and Trauma. Journal of Dual Diagnosis.
Cherry, A. L. & Dillon M. E. (2013). The AC-OK Co-occurring Screen: Reliability, Convergent Validity, Sensitivity, and Specificity. Journal of Addiction, 2013, (Article ID573906), 8-15.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND INVITATIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:
Cherry, A., Dillon, M.E., & Bowie, S. (April 1990). The changing mosaic of homelessness: Is it becoming an African-American problem. A conference presentation, American Orthopsychiatric Association's 67th Annual Meeting.
Guest Speaker: Linking Forces Conference. (1992). A Children's Mental Health Conference for Mental Health Agencies, Schools and Parents. "School and Mental Health concerns with homeless children." Miami, FL
Participated in a panel testimony on National Hearings on "Violence in the Child's Life" convened by Children's Express, (1993). Washington, DC.
Exhibitor and Presenter (1993) Dade County Public Schools "Youth Expo." Presented problems of girls at-risk of entering the juvenile justice system.
Guest Speaker at the annual Florida Association For Women Lawyers of Dade County seminar. (1993). "Girls in the juvenile justice system."
Presented at the yearly conference of The Social Action Award Committee of "The Society for the Study of Social Problems. (1993). Sponsored by the Publishers of the Journal Social Problems, Miami, FL.
Presented at the Governor's Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Conference at Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. (1993). Conference presentation: "Breaking the Cycle - Florida's Call to Action, A Conference on Minority Over-Representation in Florida's Juvenile Justice System."
Guest Speaker, First Annual Wynwood Women's Fair (1993). "The Plight of Homeless and Near Homeless Women and Children." Miami, FL
Guest Speaker, American Society of Public Administration (1994). "Critical Mass: Juveniles and the Criminal Justice System." Miami, FL.
Cherry, A., Dillon, M. E., & Bowie, S. (March 1995). Research as social action in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. A conference presentation for the Council on Social Work Education, 41st Annual Program Meeting.
Cherry, A., Dillon, M. E., & Sainz, A. (February 1996). A middle class response to disaster: FEMA's policies and programs. A conference presentation at the Council on Social Work Education, 42nd Annual Program Meeting.
Cherry, A., Dillon, M. E., & Sainz, A. (January 1998). A six-year longitudinal study of a substance abuse prevention program: Instrument construction and measuring effectiveness. A conference presentation presented at the Research for Social Work Practice International Conference, Miami FL.
Dillon, M.E., & Glemaud, M.J. (April 1998). Drug awareness wins neighborhoods (D.A.W.N.): Project restorative summer school program. A conference presentation presented at the Florida Statewide Prevention Conference, Building Safe and Drug-free Communities in Tampa, FL.
Dillon, M.E., & Cherry, A. (Feb. 2002). Teaching the Controversial: A PTSD DX in Children? A conference presentation at the Council on Social Work Education, 48th Annual Program Meeting.
Cherry, A. & Dillon, M.E. (Feb. 2002). Psychological Debriefing: Teaching the Untested. A conference presentation at the Council on Social Work Education, 48th Annual Program Meeting.