I've always practiced social work as part of an interdisciplinary team from my earliest
days working in community mental health, early intervention and child welfare. I believe
firmly that the path of the future for health and behavioral health services is integrated
care -- behavioral health and primary care co-located and professionals from primary
care, behavioral health and other health professionals collaborating to provide people
the very best services from a whole health framework. Thus, I have been working with colleagues
from the health sciences at WCU to develop interprofessional graduate course offerings,
the first of which was offered in June 2016. The goal is to develop a graduate certificate in integrated
care and eventually a Center on Integrated Health, Recovery, and Resiliency.
Presentations
- Bean, N.M., Davidson, P.G., Metz, S.M., & Nuzzi, G.M. (2016, November). Teaching across the
boundaries of health disciplines: The imperative for interprofessional education.
Presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta,
GA.
- Moss, T., Bean, N.M., Pooler, D.K., & McGuire, L. (2016, November). Building an interprofessional lens
for social work practice in the classroom and field. Panel discussion at the Council
on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
- Bean, N.M. (2015, October). First instill hope: Toward recovery and resiliency. Presentation at TEDx West Chester Salon, West Chester, PA.
- Bean, N.M., McDonald, V., & McGovern, B. (2014, October). Recovery in social work learning network
event – Presentation on the new curriculum framework of the West Chester University
MSW Program: Recovery, resiliency, and capacity-building. Showcase presentation at
the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Tampa, FL.
- Bean, N.M., McDonald, V., & McGovern, B. (2014, October). Revisioning the MSW concentration
curriculum: A recovery, resiliency, and capacity-building framework. Paper presented
at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Tampa, FL.
- Bean, N.M., & Davidson, P. (2014, October). Multi-dimensional recovery: Diet, depression, and
disease management. Presentation at Crossing the Boundaries of Health Disciplines:
Promoting Recovery and Resiliency symposium, West Chester, PA.
- Bean, N.M. (2014, September). Recovery, resiliency and trauma-informed integrative health services:
A new paradigm. Keynote lecture at the annual meeting of the National Association
of Social Workers-Nebraska Chapter, Omaha, NE.
- Bean, N.M. (2011, October). The Federal Health Care Reform Act and its impact on social workers,
social work practice and health care reform in Pennsylvania. Presentation at the meeting
of the National Association of Social Workers-Pennsylvania Chapter, Lancaster, PA.
Publication
- Buck, P.W., Bean, N., & de Marco, K. Equine-assisted psychotherapy: An emerging trauma-informed intervention.
Under review for Advances in Social Work Practice.
I've been a volunteer with the American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services
since the fall of 2001, when I received training shortly after 9/11. Since then, I
have served after countless local, state, regional, and national disasters. I am currently
Co-Captain of the American Red Cross Eastern Pennsylvania Region Disaster Mental Health
Services volunteers. I am a national trainer in Psychological First Aid and Foundations
of Disaster Mental Health. I have been inspired by those who have survived horrific disasters.
I have conducted participatory action research with women from New Orleans who survived
Hurricane Katrina, culminating in a multimedia performance, "Women of NOLA: Voices
of Resilience Before, During, and After Hurricane Katrina," during which the women share
their survival narratives on stage. I believe participatory action research and performance
can change the world.
Presentations
- Bean, N.M. (2014, September). Lessons learned from the frontlines of disaster: The amazing resilience
and recovery capacity of survivors. Breakout session at the annual meeting of the
National Association of Social Workers-Nebraska Chapter, Omaha, NE.
- Bean, N.M. (2011, October). Rebuilding New Orleans and finding ourselves: The effects of rebuilding
New Orleans on three Pennsylvania social workers. Presentation at the meeting of the
National Association of Social Workers-Pennsylvania Chapter, Lancaster, PA.
My work and research with service members, veterans, and military families goes back
to the late 1990s, when I was a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of
Maryland. My research focused on family violence in the military and the impact of
work with military families has on social workers and other behavioral health professionals. Since
then, I have continued my work with service members, veterans and military families as
a volunteer with the American Red Cross services to the armed forces and with The
Soldiers Project. About five years ago I developed a course entitled Social Work with Veterans
and Military Families: A Resilience and Trauma-informed Approach. I am completing
a three-year study regarding the utilization of narrative approaches, including journaling
and PhotoVoice, in learning and teaching about work with veterans and military families.
Presentations
- Bean, N.M., & Navarrete-Bell, K. (2015, November). Narrative Approaches to Working with Service
Members, Veterans and Military Families: An Experiential Workshop. Presentation at
the conference of The Soldiers Project, Los Angeles, CA.
- Bean, N.M. & Navarrete-Bell, K. (2014, October). Narrative approaches (journaling, photovoice)
to teaching and practicing military social work. Presentation at the Council on Social
Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Tampa, FL.
- Bean, N.M. (2014, September). Narrative approaches (photovoice, journaling) to support service
members, veterans and military families healing from trauma. Breakout session at the
annual meeting of the National Association of Social Workers-Nebraska Chapter, Omaha,
NE.
- Bean, N.M., Davidson, L., Pennycuick, T., & True, G. (2014, June). Narrative approaches (journaling,
photovoice) in teaching and learning about military social work. Presentation at the
Military and Veteran Social Work Conference, St. Leo, FL.
- Bean, N.M., Davidson, L., Pennycuick, T., & True, G. (2013, November). Narrative approaches
(journaling, photovoice) in working with veterans and military families. Presentation
at the Pennsylvania Veterans Forum, Harrisburg, PA.
- Bean, N.M., & Facundo, R. (2013, November). Narrative approaches (journaling, photovoice) in
teaching and learning about military social work. Presentation at the Council on Social
Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Dallas, TX.
- Bean, N.M. (2012, November). Social work education on serving veterans and military families:
A resilience-informed approach. Presentation at the Council on Social Work Education
Annual Program Meeting, Washington, DC.
- Bean, N.M., Martin, J., & Voss, R. (2012, July). Social work education on serving veterans and
military families: A resilience-informed approach. Presentation at the annual meeting
of the National Association of Social Workers, Washington, D.C.
- Bean, N.M., & Martin, J. (2012, February). Addressing the behavioral health and relationship
needs of military members, veterans, and their loved ones. Presentation at Bryn Mawr
College, Bryn Mawr, PA.
- Bean, N.M. (2011, November). Community partnerships to strengthen and build resilience in veterans
and military families: Findings and implications from WCU’s ‘Reporting for Duty’ conference,
Fall 2010. Presentation at the Reporting for Duty II Conference, West Chester, PA.
- Bean, N.M. (2011, November). Emerging and best practices for serving veterans and military families.
Presentation at conference of The Soldiers Project, Philadelphia, PA.
Presentations
- Bean, N.M. (2015, October). Keeping it real: Strengthening the practice voice in social work
education. Panel discussion at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program
Meeting, Denver, CO.
- Bean, N.M., & Hodzic, I. (2014, October). The lifelong impact of childhood bullying experiences
– How they might affect motivation to become a social worker. Presentation at the
meeting of the National Association of Social Workers-Pennsylvania Chapter, King of
Prussia, PA.
- Bean, N.M. (2012, March). Ethical considerations in trauma work. Continuing education program
at West Chester University, West Chester, PA.
- Bean, N.M. (2011, October). Facts of licensure. Presentation at the meeting of the National Association
of Social Workers-Pennsylvania Chapter, Lancaster, PA.
Publication
- Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, West Chester University -- 2015
- SAGE/CSWE Award for Innovative Teaching in Social Work Education -- 2012
- Lifetime Achievement Award, National Association of Social Workers - Pennsylvania
Chapter -- 2011