This past summer, NCSSS launched an international institute in Rome, Italy focused on social work responses to trauma.  Students began the course asynchronously by reading materials and watching videos about international social work and learning about how social work is practiced in different parts of the world. They then arrived in Rome for a 10-day in-person course where they discussed how social workers respond to trauma with a focus on issues around children in schools, immigration, and the criminal justice system. They worked together in groups throughout the week, participated in field trips to various community organizations where social workers sought to address trauma, met with faculty from other countries, and then presented a proposal for how to address a social issue back in their own communities. During this time, they also got to know each other through their time at the Rome Center and various excursions including aperitivo and dessert nights! 

For students interested in such a course, we are excited to offer the course again during the summer of 2024. Next summer we'll also be welcoming faculty from Korea (thanks to the connections with Dr. Eun Koh) and Peru (thanks to the connections with Dean Regan)! We also have other US and Italian universities interested in joining our collaboration and we are excited about how these partnerships will expand the learning experience for our students. If anyone would like more information about joining our summer course, please contact Dr. Mellisa Grady grady@cua.edu or you can go to the CUA Study Abroad website for more information.