Master of Social Work

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

• Bean, N.M., Lucas, L., & Hyers, L.L. (2014). Mentoring in higher education should be the norm to assure success: Lessons learned from the Faculty Mentoring Program, West Chester University, 2008-2011. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 22(1), 56-73.

• Co-captain and trainer, American Red Cross Eastern Pennsylvania Region Disaster Mental Health Services
• Volunteer clinician, The Soldiers Project
• National instructor, American Red Cross military family services
• Pennsylvania Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory and Training Commission
• Council on Practice Methods and Specializations, Council on Social Work Education
• Co-chair, Crossing the Boundaries of Health Disciplines: Promoting Recovery and Resiliency -- October 2014
• Founding board member, lowernine.org

•  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