This spring, Bemidji State University’s social work program will celebrate a historic milestone as it recognizes its 50th year of training highly skilled professionals who have gone on to do immeasurable good in the Bemidji region and beyond.Don Frees, an adjunct instructor who was the program’s first official faculty member, began teaching social work courses at BSU.

[aesop_quote type=”block” background=”#ffffff” text=”#000000″ align=”right” size=”1″ quote=””In the last 50 years, there also have been huge strides in de-stigmatizing mental health and oppressive practices, but the conversation and work will need to remain in the forefront for us to not move backward.”
– EMILY PAINE, BSU ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR” parallax=”off” direction=”left” revealfx=”off”]

in 1964. The program expanded in 1969 with the addition of three new part-time faculty members hired from the Bemidji community: Lyle Lauber of Gilfillan Youth Services, Charlie Melberg of Lutheran Social Services and Lloyd Johnson from county social services.

Shortly after this expansion, a committee of Bemidji-area social work practitioners — led by BSU sociologist Dave Nordlie — began meeting to develop a proposal for a full social work major at Bemidji State. The state university system approved the curriculum proposal in 1970, and BSU’s full social work department officially opened its doors in the fall of 1971.

DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCES RAPID EARLY GROWTH

Success for the department came early, as it received full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education in 1974 — just three years after it began.

Mary Ann Reitmeir, professor emerita of social work, said the accreditation was an important step forward that helped the program prepare social work graduates for futures as trained, skilled and ethical professionals.

“Prior to accreditation of the program, our social work graduates were considered paraprofessionals or case aids,” she said. “Accreditation made the program a professional degree. It also meant clear guidelines on competencies such as social work theory, research, social policy and social work values and ethics.”

Accreditation helped the department grow, and over the next few years it added additional classes and new minor concentrations. Lauber, who had joined the faculty during its 1969 expansion, developed a minor in chemical dependency and secured funding for an on-campus chemical dependency drop-in center.

“The chemical dependency minor prepared countless students to enhance their work in the helping professions, and for many students to become licensed alcohol and drug counselors working in the field of chemical dependency,” he said.

[aesop_parallax height=”400px” img=”https://www.bemidjistate.edu/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/137/2022/06/SOWK_SpagDinner2011.jpg” parallaxbg=”on” captionposition=”bottom-left” lightbox=”off” floater=”off” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”none” overlay_revealfx=”off”]

In addition, the social work department was ahead of its time in adding focus areas on race and cultural appreciation throughout the 1970s. Faculty member Don Crompton developed courses in race relations and intercultural communications, which continues today as a core requirement for social work majors. Mary Thrash supported these early efforts as a volunteer consultant, and later taught and volunteered in various roles in the social work program for nearly 14 years.

Building on Crompton’s work, fellow faculty member Lila George collaborated with the National Indian Child Welfare Association to provide cultural competence training to all social work faculty. This training engaged faculty and students to work cross-culturally in professional social work settings.

A FOCUS ON REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE

Throughout the social work program’s 50 year history, classroom instruction has been supplemented by extensive opportunities for students to apply their skills in hands-on, real-world environments.

One such example is Social Work Day at the Capitol, an annual legislative policy and advocacy event coordinated by Minnesota’s chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. BSU has been an active and regular participant in the event, affording students with an opportunity to advocate for social work-related issues and policy directly with state legislators, attend conferences, network with seasoned social work practitioners and participate in a variety of volunteer activities.

[aesop_image img=”https://www.bemidjistate.edu/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/137/2022/06/SOWK_DayAtTheCapitol.jpg” panorama=”on” alt=”Day at the Capital” align=”center” lightbox=”off” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]

BSU’s social work students also have been engaged in projects throughout the Bemidji community. Reitmeir recalled a particularly impactful student-led program called “Bags of Wishes.”

“The program was developed by two students who were stunned by the limited resources available for guests at temporary shelters in town,” she said. “They successfully engaged other social work students to raise resources to meet basic needs and raised almost $10,000 along with donations of clothing, personal hygiene products and food.” BSU’s Social Work Club continued the “Bags of Wishes” initiative for more than 10 years.

RECENT EXPANSIONS

Building on its rich and storied history, BSU’s social work department continues to be active in developing new ways to reach students.

Over the past decade, the department has invested time and resources in an expansion of its online/on-campus hybrid program, the Social Work Integrative Model. The program began in 2011 as a cohort-based program, meeting on campus one Saturday each month with other coursework delivered online.

Rebecca Hoffman, associate professor of social work, said the program created new pathways for non-traditional college students to pursue a social work education from BSU.

“It was a way to reach more students and expand the number of social workers in the region,” she said. “The program has been a huge success. Students in our cohorts appreciate the in-person programming that connects them with their peers and faculty members each month. They also gain practice skills through their monthly Saturday class sessions.”

The program’s success has led to growth. Expanded cohorts now admit up to 30 students into the program each fall.

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The rich history and active growth of BSU’s social work department has its faculty keenly focused on its purpose to meet Minnesota’s increasing need for trained and capable social workers in the future.

Hoffman said that the department’s history provides an impermeable foundation on which that future is being built.

“Every member of the social work department is committed to honoring the legacies of our predecessors,” she said. “Those legacies combine excellence in education and service to students with a commitment to preparing graduates for the important work of serving the diverse communities of northern Minnesota.

“Moving forward, we will seek new and creative opportunities to bring seasoned practitioners into the classroom, lean into our partnership with our advisory council — which will shape our curriculum to meet the unique needs of this region — and develop quality internship opportunities in human service organizations throughout the state.”

Hoffman said the department also intends to continue developing the hybrid program and create as many opportunities as possible for students throughout the region to seek a social work degree.

[aesop_parallax height=”400px” img=”https://www.bemidjistate.edu/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/137/2022/06/1975LyleLauberCJ026-scaled.jpg” parallaxbg=”on” captionposition=”bottom-left” lightbox=”off” floater=”off” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”none” overlay_revealfx=”off”]

Emily Paine, currently an adjunct instructor in the department, is excited to be a part of the program’s growth.

“Moving forward, the social work department will continue to adapt its practices to accommodate technology as one of the many tools that social workers can use to engage and support others,” she said. “In the last 50 years, there also have been huge strides in de-stigmatizing mental health and oppressive practices, but the conversation and work will need to remain in the forefront for us to not move backward.”

Overall, the department’s past has given it a clear vision for its future — to remain steadfast in its dedication to a profession which serves the underserved, advocates for those who cannot be heard, and empowers strength and resiliency in everyone it encounters.

50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Bemidji State, the Department of Social Work and BSU Alumni & Foundation collaborated to celebrate 50 years of the program’s history.

The event was held April 22, 2022, and included a meal, a presentation featuring photos from throughout the program’s history, and a multi-generational panel of program alumni.

Paine said the event gave current students and alumni alike an opportunity to reconnect with the program’s history while setting an invigorating foundation for the future. “After the significant changes that we’ve collectively seen, we are looking forward to reconnecting with our colleagues, peers and those who have mentored us along the way,“ she said.

For more information on the 50th anniversary celebration, visit bsualumni.org.