For Immediate Release

March 15, 2007

Vincent Guilamo-Ramos Receives Latino Social Work Leadership Award

New York, NY – Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, an associate professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work, has been selected to receive the 2007 Latino Social Work Leadership Award.  Each year, the Task Force honors a select group of Latino social workers for their contributions to the Latino community.  Dr. Guilamo-Ramos will receive the award at a ceremony held for honorees on March 15th.

“I am honored to accept the Latino Social Work Leadership Award,” says Dr. Guilamo-Ramos. “I would like to extend my gratitude to the Award Committee for presenting me with this honor and to my fellow recipients for their contributions to the social work profession and to the betterment of the Latino community. Together, I am confident that our efforts will support Latino youth, families and communities to attain the opportunities that will secure them a healthy and bright future.”

The Latino Social Work Task Force has been working in collaboration with the National Association of Social Workers, NYC Chapter (NASW-NYC) and the Puerto Rican Family Institute, Inc., (PRFI) to develop a scholarship program to increase the number of Latino social workers necessary to serve the increased demand for linguistically and culturally sensitive services to the Latino community.  The scholarship program provides scholarships to Latino men and women with significant financial need residing in the New York metropolitan area that have been accepted or are enrolled in a Master’s level social work program. For information about scholarship opportunities, please visit http://www.naswnyc.org/scholarships/ latinoscholarship.htm.

For more information or to interview Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, please contact Jeannie Hii at 212-851-2327 or [email protected].

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About CUSSW (www.socialwork.columbia.edu)
For more than 100 years, the Columbia University School of Social Work has been the leader in practice and policy. Located in New York City, the School offers Master’s and Doctoral programs which are nationally and internationally recognized for their excellence. With a signature curriculum and far-reaching field education experience, CUSSW continues to be at the forefront of clinical practice, public policy, teaching, research and social work innovation in the 21st Century.

About Vincent Guilamo-Ramos
Dr. Guilamo-Ramos has worked primarily with minority youth and their families. His interests are related to family based approaches to reduce adolescent risk behaviors. Dr. Guilamo-Ramos was employed at the Hetrick Martin Institute, a social service agency dedicated to meeting the unique needs of gay, lesbian, transgender, and questioning youths. In addition, he has worked at a number of New York City based social service agencies serving Latino youths and their families. Currently, Dr. Guilamo-Ramos is a national trainer on the HIV /AIDS Spectrum Project (NASW-National Office). In this role, he has trained social workers around the country on the mental health aspects of HIV disease.