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Diplomas / Degrees

Ph.D., New York University (2001)
M.S.W., New York University (1989)
B.S., Northwestern University (1974)

Recent Courses

Foundations Of Social Work Practice I
Foundations Of Social Work Practice II
Social Work Education: Issues And Processes
Social Work Practice In The Prevention And Treatment Of Substance Abuse

Teaching Specializations / Interests

Social Work Practice, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment, Social Work Education and Curriculum

Research Interests

Substance Abuse, Social Work Education and Curriculum

Grants / Sponsored Research

March, 2009 – President’s Faculty Development Award, Adelphi University. Research grant awarded to support evaluation of a training for substance abuse counselors.

July, 2007- Present: Council on Social Work Education Gero Infusion Grant. Principal Investigator for a $40,000, two-year project to evaluate the effectiveness of innovations to infuse advanced-level MSW courses with gerontological content. Co-investigators: Philip Rozario, Patrica Joyce and Bradley Zodikoff. Funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation.

June, 2004-June 2005. Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Behavioral Science Training Program, National Development Research Institutes/Medical Health Research Association, NY, NY.

Invited Presentations and Lectures

Showing first 5 of 7. View All

Fenster, J. (20 June 2009). Infusing gerontology content into graduate courses in mental health and substance abuse . Eastern Conference on the Teaching of Psychology, James Madison University, Staunton, VA

Fenster, J. (19 June 2009). Addressing academic dishonesty in the academy . Eastern Conference on the Teaching of Psychology, James Madison University, Staunton, VA

Michael, S., Fenster, J., & Cohen, C. (01 November 2008). Developing a comprehensive strategy to address academic dishonesty: A case study . Annual program meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Philadelphia, PA.

Fenster, J., Zodikoff, B. & Bulin, T. (31 October 2008). Piloting a gero-enriched curriculum in advanced level MSW courses . Annual program meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Philadelphia, PA.

Fenster, J. (05 June 2008). Fenster, J., Working with older adults with substance abuse problems. NASW Addictions Institute, Fordham University, NY, NY

Other Scholarly / Artistic Work

Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications:

Fenster, J. (2006). Post-doctoral training for social workers: My year at NDRI. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 6(3), 125-127.

Fenster, J. (2006). Characteristics of clinicians likely to refer clients to 12-Step programs versus a diversity of post-treatment options. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 83, 238-246.

Fenster, J. (2005) The relationship between optimism about race relations, black awareness, and attitudes toward transracial adoption. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 13(3), 45-67.

Fenster, J. (2004). Can welfare mothers hack it in college? A comparison of achievement between TANF recipients and general population community college students. Journal of College Student Retention, 5(4), 421-430.

Fenster, J. (2003). Race, religion, altruism and the transracial adoption debate: A survey of Catholic, Protestant and Jewish social workers. Social Thought, 22(1), 45-61.

Fenster, J. & Rose, L. (2003). Testing a curriculum to teach cultural competence to non-mainstream college students interning in mainstream agencies. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 23(3/4), 127-142

Book Chapter:

Fenster, J. (2005) Substance abuse issues in the family. In G. Mallon, & P. Hess (Eds), Child Welfare for the 21st Century: A Handbook of Children, Youth & Family Services. NY: Columbia University Press.

Book Reviews:

Fenster, J. (2004). Review of Cannabis: Report of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs. International Criminal Justice Review.

Fenster, J. (1999). Review of Kadushin & Kadushin’s The Social Work Interview. Journal of Social Distress and the Homelesd.

Research Reports/Teaching Guides:

Matto, M. & Fenster, J. (2005). Incorporating sources and avoiding plagiarism in writing for Social Work. Handout and Workshop booklet prepared for orientation of entering AUSSW students.

Festinger, T. & Fenster, J. (2005). Characteristics of mothers referred to substance abuse treatment through a co-location program in New York City. Research study conducted in collaboration with Veritas, Inc. Substance Abuse Treatment Services, NY, NY.

Media

Fenster, J. (2006, November 6). Quoted in the US Weekly article “Inside Keith’s Treatment”, regarding the nature of substance abuse treatment and recovery.


Fenster, J. (2008, August 4). Cited in article in National Review by Kevin D. Williamson: “Lost generation: Adoption in America has collapsed -- here's what to do about it (Cover Story).

Honors and Accomplishments

July, 2004- July 2005 - Post-Doctoral Fellow, National Development Research Institutes (NDRI)/Medical Health Research Associates (MHRA).

March, 2002 – President’s Faculty Development Award, Adelphi University. Research grant awarded to support study on substance abuse aftercare.

May, 1999 – Fahs Beck Fund for Research and Experimentation. Grant awarded to support study on social worker attitudes toward transracial adoption.

Professional Activities

Editorial Board, Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions (Hayworth Press), 2006-present.

Editorial Board, Journal of Teaching in Social Work (Routledge, Taylor & Francis), 2009-present.

Community and Corporate Leadership

Service on Advisory Boards, Task Forces, and Board of Directors:

• NASW Welfare Reform Task Force, NY, NY, 1999-2001.
• Board of Directors, Single Parent Resource Center (non-profit agency providing services to single parents and their families), NY, NY, 2001-2008.
• Advisory Board, AUSSW Continuing Education Program, Postgraduate Certificate in Addictions, 2009-2010.
• Advocacy Council, Citizen’s Committee for Children of New York, 2002-2003.
• Alcohol, Drugs and Violence Advisory Board, Garden City, NY, 2002-2005. This task force spearheaded the piloting of the PRIDE questionnaire in Garden City schools, as well as other drug and violence prevention programs for the Garden City community.