May 2019
On June 12, AERA, the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, and the National Academy of Education will hold a congressional briefing to address current scientific research surrounding the pressing need to reduce violence in schools and communities. The event, which is open to the public, will be held in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2261, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Experts will present empirical research detailing the impact of gun violence on the education and well-being of students, their families, and local communities. They will also address evidence-based policies and practices that can assist with successfully mitigating weapons and violence, increasing student empowerment, and enhancing community safety.
“Gun violence in our schools and communities is a continuing national tragedy that demands our commitment and focus as researchers and as a nation,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “This Capitol Hill briefing aims to bridge the gap between research and policy, by putting the best of evidence front and center.”
The briefing will feature the following panelists:
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Sean Joe, professor of social work at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis |
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Dorothy Espelage, professor of psychology at the University of Florida |
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Marlene Wong, professor of clinical social work at the University of Southern California |
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Ron Avi Astor, Marjorie Crump Endowed Professor of Social Welfare, Luskin School of Public Affairs, Graduate Department of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles |
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Lauren Hogg, student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL |
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Pia Valenzuela Escudero, executive director at the Los Angeles University School District, Division of Student Health and Human Services |
Other sponsoring organizations include the American Psychological Association; the Brady Campaign; the Clark-Fox Policy Institute, at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis; the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy; the Grand Challenges for Social Work Steering Committee; the National Association for Rural Mental Health; the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors; the National Association of Social Workers; and the School Social Worker Association of America.
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