Dr. Valerie Stokes, LISW ’93 Professor of Social Work, Department Chair and Director of Academic Diversity Initiatives
Education:
Ph.D., University of South Dakota
M.S.W., University of Nebraska at Omaha
B.A., Northwestern College
712-707-7084
vstokes@nwciowa.edu
VPH 206
Dr. Stokes joined Northwestern’s social work department after serving as executive director of The Bridge, a transitional housing agency in Orange City. She previously spent seven years as a therapist at Northwestern, including four as co-director of student counseling services. She also has worked as a program supervisor at the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence and as a social worker at the Crittenton Center in Sioux City. A licensed independent social worker and licensed master social worker, Stokes holds a doctorate in human development and educational psychology. She was the 2012 recipient of the college's Teaching Excellence Award.
PSY225 - Developmental Psychology: Adulthood
(4 credits) This course explores psychological issues and theories in normal adult development, with emphasis on cognitive, social and personality functioning from young adulthood to old age.
SWK225 - Diverse Populations and Social Justice
(4 credits) Examines theoretical foundations for understanding dynamics of social inequity, privilege, and oppression; focus on diversity and on populations at risk due to racism, sexism and classism; self-assessment of students' racial and cultural heritage as it shapes their attitudes and biases toward different cultural and racial groups; emphasis on helping students become culturally competent social workers who are grounded in their faith and who identify with the profession's respect for diversity and commitment to social and economic justice. Open to non-majors. Prerequisites: PSY100SS, SWK200, or SOC101SS, or permission of instructor. Note: Transfer credits will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. No academic credit will be granted for social work courses taken in programs which are not accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. No academic credit will be granted, in whole or in part, for life experience or work experience. Students must achieve a grade of "C" or above in all social work core foundational courses. If not, the student must repeat the course until the standard has been achieved.
SWK300 - Direct Helping Skills
(3 credits) This course is designed to help students develop basic interviewing skills and techniques in the area of social work. This course will provide foundational skills in interviewing so that students can work effectively with individuals, families and groups from all diverse populations. Different techniques of interviewing and theoretical principles of interviewing will be investigated. Students will increase their practical skills through the use of an interactive learning environment and through intensive use of video feedback and role playing. Prerequisite: SWK225. Note: Transfer credits will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. No academic credit will be granted for social work courses taken in programs which are not accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. No academic credit will be granted, in whole or in part, for life experience or work experience. Students must achieve a grade of "C" or above in all social work core foundational courses. If not, the student must repeat the course until the standard has been achieved.
SWK360 - Social Policy & Advocacy
(3 Credits) Examines social policy development and the political process, with special attention to the poor and disadvantaged. This course will assist students in acquiring skills to see the inadequacies, gaps and inequities in socialpolicies in the past and present and help them develop critical thinking and advocacy skills, plus a commitment to change. Prerequisites: SWK200, SWK225 and be at the junior level; or permission of instructor.Note: Transfer credits will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. No academic credit will be granted for social work courses taken in programs which are not accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. No academic credit will be granted, in whole or in part, for life experience or work experience. Students must achieve a grade of ?C? or above in all social work core foundational courses. If not, the student must repeat the course until the standard has been achieved.
SWK400 - Family Systems: Theory & Practice
(4 credits) This course is designed to help students develop basic skills in working with diverse families at varying family life stages and composition. Concepts of family-centered practice, including strategies of engagement, problem analysis/assessment, evidence-informed intervention for change strategies, theoretical approaches, and evaluative effectiveness are studied and practiced. Prerequisite: SWK370 and be at the senior level. Note: Open to social work majors only. Transfer credits will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. No academic credit will be granted for social work courses taken in programs which are not accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. No academic credit will be granted, in whole or in part, for life experience or work experience. Students must achieve a grade of "C" or above in all social work core foundational courses. If not, the student must repeat the course until the standard has been achieved.
SWK420 - Community Systems: Theory & Practice
(4 credits) Examines generalist Social Work practice theories and skills with organizations and communities. Students will develop competencies related to larger system practice, such as networking, community needs assessment, organizational theory and dynamics, larger system planned change processes, program evaluation, social action, community planning, grant writing, and supervision. Prerequisite: SWK370 and be at the senior level. Note: Open to social work majors only. Transfer credits will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. No academic credit will be granted for social work courses taken in programs which are not accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. No academic credit will be granted, in whole or in part, for life experience or work experience. Students must achieve a grade of "C" or above in all social work core foundational courses. If not, the student must repeat the course until the standard has been achieved.
Reisetter, M, Schweinle, A, & Stokes, V. (2008, approved with revisions to The Qualitative Report). Elements of Engagement for Successful Learning.
Stokes, V., & Schweinle, A. (2007). Sleep and academic functioning. Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development, 7, 27-37.
Almond-Reiser, T.M., & Stokes, V. (2007). Texting is changing the social environment of adolescent females. Paper presented at annual meeting of the Mid-West Educational Research Association. October 2007. St. Louis MO.
Stokes, V. (2009, July). Community Needs Assessments on Immigration: Issues in a Small Rural Community. Presentation at 34th Annual National Institute on Social Work and Human Services in Rural Areas, Duluth, MN.
Stokes, V. (2009, April). One Rural Community’s Needs Assessment on Immigration. Presentation at Iowa Chapter National Association of Social Workers, Des Moines, Iowa.
Stokes, V. (2008, March). Domestic Violence and Education: How witnessing trauma influences learning process. Invited presentation for Family Crisis Center’s Empowering in Unity workshop, Sioux Center, Iowa.
Stokes, V. (2008, February). Domestic violence: prevalence, dynamics, patterns, and power issues. Invited guest lecturer for Northwestern College psychology students, Orange City, Iowa.
Stokes, V. (2008, January). A Nurse’s guide to domestic violence: How to ask the right questions and recognize abuse from examination cues. Invited guest lecturer for Northweste
Consultant, Family Crisis Center, fall 2009–present
Social Work Promotions Committee, Iowa Chapter, National Association Social Workers, fall 2009–present
Tri-County Domestic Violence Coalition, February 2008–present
Quantitative Statistics Teaching and Research Assistant, University of South Dakota, 2006-07
Iowa Coalition on Homelessness, June 2007–present
The Bridge, Orange City, Iowa, volunteer grant writer, March 2007
State of Iowa Suicide Prevention Task Force, 2002–06
Board member, Community Health Partners, Orange City, 2000-04
Healthy 2010 Coalition, Sioux County, IA, 2001–02
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), 3rd Judicial District, IA, 1998-99
CSADV (Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence), 1995-96
Opportunities Unlimited, Sioux City, Iowa, 1994–95
Domestic Violence Aid Center, Sioux Center, Iowa, 1990–91
Children’s Haven International, Reynosa, Mexico, service project volunteer, March 1990
Salvation Army, Sioux City, Iowa, 1987 and 1988
National Association of Social Workers
National Association of Christians in Social Work
Christian Association of Psychology Studies
NASW IA - Rural Northwest Iowa Branch co-coordinator, 2007-2008
NASW IA - Social Work
Promotion/Membership Committee, 2008-2010
NASW IA - Clinical Supervision Task Force,
2010
NASW IA - Vice President, 2011- 2013, returning again as VP 2014 for three-year term.
Board member for CASA (Center for Assistance,
Service, and Advocacy) of NW Iowa.
Teaching Excellence Award, Northwestern College, 2012
NAMI-Iowa recipient of the Heros in the Fight award, 2008