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Diplomas / Degrees

Ph.D., University of Chicago (1999)
M.S.W., University of Michigan (1983)
B.A., Muskingum College (1981)

Recent Courses

Advanced Research Topics
Child Abuse And Neglect
Field Instruction I
Field Instruction I ( O Y R )
Field Instruction II
Field Instruction II ( O Y R )
Field Instruction III
Field Instruction IV
Field Instruction IV Extended
Social Work Research I
Social Work Research II

Teaching Specializations / Interests

Child Abuse and Neglect, Qualitative Methods of Research, Welfare Reform

Research Interests

Engagement in Child Welfare Services; Client Use of Agency-Initiated Services; Worker Use of Knowledge; Impact of Welfare Reform; Immigration and Child Welfare; MSW Child Welfare Training Outcomes; Parenting

Grants / Sponsored Research

2007 Fulbright Scholar Award to Trinidad and Tobago. Awarded to lecture/research for Spring semester 2007 at the University of the West Indies. Project: Understanding the Context and Norms of Child-Rearing in Trinidad and Tobago. (Funded by the U.S. Department of State, $32,600)

2006 From “Good” Beginnings for Babies to “Better”: A social work program innovation and evaluation. Principal investigator of a study to evaluate the outcome of an added mentoring component to a teen parenting program. (Funded by the Adelphi University Institute for Parenting, $5,467)

2003 Investigators to Investors: Building and keeping competent child protective service professionals. Principal investigator of five year grant to train MSW child welfare professionals from New York City ACS. (Funded by the Dept.of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau, $375,000)

2001 Worker-parent engagement in community-based child and family services. Principal investigator of three-year grant to study the practice of child welfare in New York City. (Funded by the New York Community Trust at $200,000)

2001 Study of social welfare transitions. Co-principal investigator of one year grant to study welfare leavers in Dutchess County, New York. (Funded by Dutchess County DSS at $25,000)

2001 What do clients want? An exploratory study of welfare mothers. (Funded by a Faculty Development Award, Adelphi University, at $1,500)

1998 Dissertation Research Grant Recipient, Fahs-Beck Fund for Research and Experimentation. ($2,000)

Book Chapters

Altman, J.C. & Gohagan, D. (2009). Work with involuntary clients in child welfare setttings. In Rooney, R (Eds.). Strategies for work with involuntary clients, 2nd Ed. (pp. ). NY: Coumbia University Press.

Altman, J.C. (2005). Engagement in children, youth, and family services: Current research and best practices. In Mallon, G., & Hess, P (Eds.). Child Welfare for the 21st Century: A handbook of practices, policies and programs. (pp. 72-86). New York: Columbia University Press.

Recent Articles

Showing first 5 of 14. View All

Altman, J.C. (2009, 5). Review of the book, Child Welfare Research. Research on Social Work Practice, 19, 3, 372-374.

Altman, J.C. (2008, 11). A study of engagement in neighborhood-based child welfare services. Research on Social Work Practice, 18, 555-564.

Altman, J.C. (2008, 6). Engaging families in child welfare services: Worker versus client perspectitves. Child Welfare, 87, 3, 41-61.

Altman, J.C. (2008, 1). Review of the book, The Healthy Families America Initiative. Families in Society Online, 89, 1-2.

Altman, J.C. & Goldberg, G. (2008, 1). Rethinking social work's role in public assistance. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 35, 4, 71-94.

Conference Presentations and Papers

Showing first 5 of 18. View All

Altman, J.C. (15 January 2009). Children under development: The politics of need. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference., New Orleans, LA

Altman, J.C. (27 October 2007). A model for translating research knowledge into child welfare practice with immigrants. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, San Francisco

Altman, J.C. (19 October 2007). Lost in development: Children of the Beetham. 2nd Caribbean Research Conference on Children’s Issues, Kingston, Jamaica

Altman, J.C. (19 October 2007). Toward understanding the durability of the use of corporal punishment among Trinidadians. 2nd Caribbean Research Conference on Children’s Issue, Kingston, Jamaica

Altman, J.C. (with students Barrett, G.J., Brown, J., Idusogie, L., McClendon, Y., Ruiz, T., Skepple, C. & Thomas, L. (29 June 2007). Translating knowledge for child welfare practice internationally. Association of Caribbean Social Work Educators Conference, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

Other Scholarly / Artistic Work

Altman, J.C. (2004). Engagement in neighborhood-based child welfare services. Final report presented to The New York Community Trust.

Altman, J.C. & Goldberg, G.S. (2003). The quality of life of former public assistance recipients in Dutchess County, New York. Final report presented to the Dutchess County Legislature.

Honors and Accomplishments

Fulbright Scholar Award, 2007, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago

Professional Activities

1985-present Member, Academy of Certified Social Workers

1983-present Member, National Association of Social Workers

1998-present Member, Council on Social Work Education

1999-present Member, Society for Social Work and Research
Annual Conference Abstract Reviewer, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Consulting Editor, Families in Society, Child Welfare

Community and Corporate Leadership

2007-present Member, Amity Regional Board of Education, Woodbridge, CT.

2006-present Board Member, TEAM Community Action Agency, Derby, CT.

2004-present Chair, Columbus House Soup Kitchen Outreach Program, Woodbridge, CT.

Licenses & Certifications

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, State of Connecticut