University of Hawai’i Alumni: Dean Delva Brings Hawaiian Culture to Social Work
As the Dean of BU School of Social Work, Jorge Delva has prioritized social and racial justice through his support for initiatives such as the Equity & Inclusion Committee and the school’s strategic plan. However, much of his experience can be traced back to his education in Hawai’i, where much of social work practice did not translate to the state’s diverse populations. A recent article by University of Hawai’i illustrates his efforts to make social work a more equitable field, and how his research has continued to identify ways to prevent and reduce equity gaps.
Excerpt from “Jorge Delva Brings Lessons from Hawaiʻi’s Cultures to Global Social Work Research,” originally published by University of Hawai’i Alumni:
‘Most of what I was learning in my social work classes was from research conducted on the mainland, and it didn’t hold up very well with the social and economic justice problems we were having in Hawaiʻi,’ he says. ‘We would tell people with substance use problems to skip family functions because the presence of alcohol could lead to relapse. But many struggled with this feedback as family relationships and interdependence are such strong values among the many cultures in Hawaiʻi. It became clear we needed to research other strategies to offer more culturally appropriate options.’
This realization sparked a desire to research the influence of culture on mental and behavioral health.
These days, Delva not only leads the BU School of Social Work and holds the Paul Farmer Professorship, he also directs the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health and continues his research. In one recent paper, he and his co-authors found that although more people with mental health disorders are participating in internet support groups, there are differences between income levels and racial/ethnic groups in participation rates. Other work found that culturally adapted interventions are effective for people of color with substance use disorders. Delva speaks at national and international conferences on the role of social work science in social justice.”