Instructor:  SWP31A/B: Social Work Practice Seminar (2007-2008).

Ryerson School of Social Work, Toronto

 

Field Research Supervisor: Research Project for M.S. (Non-Thesis) in Rehabilitation Science(2001)

CLSC Rene-Cassin, Montreal

 

Course Assistant and Guest Lecturer:  Elder Abuse in the Community (2000 – 2002) 

McGill School of Social Work, Montreal

 

Instructor:  Introduction to Social Work, Special BSW Program (2 years: 1998-2000)

McGill School of Social Work, Montreal

 

Teaching Assistant: Introduction to Social Work, Regular BSW Program (3 years: 1997-1999)          

McGill School of Social Work, Montreal

                                   

Co-Facilitator: Communication Skills Workshop (1999)

Kahnawake Community Social Services (Mohawk Nation), Montreal

Assistant Instructor: Effective Communications Course (Social Work Section) (1999)          

McGill Faculty of Education, Montreal

 

Teaching Assistant: Advanced Clinical Practice (MSW Program) (1999)

McGill School of Social Work, Montreal

 

Teaching Assistant:  Social Work in Schools (1998)

McGill School of Social Work, Montreal

RESEARCHER, CLSC René-Cassin (1997-2006).

University-affiliated local health and social services agency specializing in social gerontology with teaching and research mandate. Research projects included:

·         Social Work Intervention Practices with Older Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence (Co-investigator)

·         Development of a Brief Physician Suspicion Index for Elder Abuse (Co-investigator)

·         Judicial Recourses for the Prevention of the Mistreatment of Older Adults (Research Professional)

·         Development of a Theoretical Framework for Research in Social Gerontology (Consultant)

RESEARCHER/EXPERT CONSULTANT, World Health Organisation/INPEA (2001/2).

International action-research project.

• Performed qualitative analysis of 8 national research reports.
• Participated in international working group to develop global strategies against elder abuse.
• Drafted final report aimed at policy-makers around the world.

HEALTH POLICY RESEARCHER, Hollander Analytical Services Ltd. (2001-2002).

Research consultant on several national health policy projects, including:

·         Assessing New Models for the Delivery of Medical Services: Inventory and Synthesis (for The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons)

·         Development of National Strategies for the Synthesis and Dissemination of Health Canada Health Transition Fund Project Results (for Health Canada)

 

RESEARCH POSITIONS, McGill University, Montreal

·         Principal Investigator: Connections: Internet Access for Frail Seniors

·         Assistant Director: Sex, Drugs and HIV: Canadian Medical Education Responding to Diversity

·         Assistant Editor: Montreal Family Violence Resource Directory

·         Focus Group Leader: Evaluation of L’Abri en Ville (community housing)

·         Research Assistant: Child Neglect Followup Study

·         Research Assistant: Client Outcomes in Child Welfare

·         Research Assistant: Chili-Canada Social Development Project: Empowering Single Mothers

·         Research Assistant: Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse

·         Research Assistant: Seniors’ Advocates Study

·         Research Assistant: Vocational Counselling and Employment for Blind People

Straka, S.M. & Montmigny, L. (2006). Responding to the needs of older women experiencing domestic violence. Violence Against Women, 12, 251-267.

Dumas, A., Laberge, S., & Straka, S.M. (2005). Older women’s relation to bodily appearance: The embodiment of social and biological conditions of existence. Ageing and Society, 25(6), 883-902.

Podnieks, E., Straka, SM, MacKendrick, C., & Wong, R. (2002). Enhancing the faith community's capacity to address elder abuse. Conference Proceedings of the 2002 ONPEA Elder Abuse Conference, Sharing Solutions, Defining the Future, November 18-20, 2002, Toronto.

Lithwick, M., Beaulieu, M., Gravel, S. & Straka, S.M. (1999). The mistreatment of older adults: Perpetrator-victim relationships and interventions. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 11(4), 95-112.

Oxman-Martinez, J., Rowe, W.S., Straka, S.M., & Moreau, J. (1998). La négligence: Une dimension négligée en recherche et en pratique. Canadian Social Work Review, 15,125-144.

Oxman-Martinez, J., Rowe, W.S. & Straka, S.M. (1998). Dichotomy between child disclosure of sexual abuse and the child welfare system’s response. Social Worker, 66, 56-65.

Oxman-Martinez, J., Rowe, W.S., Straka, S.M. & Thibault, Y. (1997). Explorant la baisse de l’incidence et le dévoilement tardif dans le cas d’enfants victimes d’abus sexuels. Revue Québécoise de Psychologie, 18, 77-90.

Quebec Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (authors: Straka, S.M. & Sullivan, R.) (2004). Setting up regional multidisciplinary consultation teams: A guide for countering elder abuse. Montreal: QNPEA.

Hollander, M.J., Miller, J., Ritter, R., MacAdam, M., & Straka, S. (2002). The cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of home and community care within the broader continuum of the health care system. (Prepared for the Home and Continuing Care Unit, Health Services Division, Health Canada.) Victoria, BC: Hollander Analytical Services Ltd.

WHO & INPEA (Bennett, G.B., Perel Levin, S., & Straka, S.M.) (2002). Missing voices: Views of older adults on elder abuse. Geneva: World Health Organization.

Straka, S.M. (in press). The social gospel movement in Canada. In F. Turner (Ed.), The Canadian Encyclopedia of Social Work.

Straka, S.M. & Moss, M. (in press). The Congregation of Notre Dame. In F. Turner (Ed.), The Canadian Encyclopedia of Social Work.

Straka, S.M. & Clark, F. (2001). Internet access for frail seniors: Its effect on psychosocial wellbeing. TALIS Third Age Learning International Studies: Proceedings of the International Research Seminar, 11, 44-53.

Clark, F. & Straka, S.M. (2000). Providing Internet access to frail seniors in institutional settings. In Actes du congrès, XXe Congrès de l’Association internationale des universités du troisième âge (AIUTA). Québec, QC : Université de Laval.

Straka, S. & Clark, F. (2001, May). The psychosocial benefits of providing frail older adults with Internet access. Vital Aging, 7(2), p.3. 16

Straka, S. & Israel, S. (2000, October). Elder abuse research: A collaborative approach. Vital Aging, 6(3), p.3.

Lithwick, M. & Straka, S.M. (2000). Developing collaborative multidisciplinary and multisectorial models for the prevention and intervention of elder abuse: The Québec experience. Conference Proceedings from the Ontario Conference on Elder Abuse, April 2000, Toronto.

Straka, S.M. & Clark, F. (2000, March). Connections: Internet access for frail older seniors to improve their psychosocial well-being. (Final Research Report). Montreal: The McGill Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University.

Clark, F. & Straka, S.M. (2000). Internet access for frail seniors: The Connections experience. (Coordinators’ Manual). Montreal: The McGill Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University.

Dulka, I.M. & Rowe, W.S. (1997). Montreal family violence resource directory. Montreal: The Centre for Applied Family Studies, McGill University School of Social Work (S. Straka, Assistant Editor).

Israel, S., Souaid, N., Beaulieu, E., Straka, S., Cytrynbaum, F., Nunez, A., Grenier-Houde, L., Wehbi, S. (2003). Le centre québécois de consultation sur l'abus envers les aînés. Presented at the Quebec Conference on Elder Abuse: A Collective Response, April 14-15, 2003, Montreal, QC.

Yaffe, M.J., Wolfson, C., Lithwick, M., Straka, S., Flohr, D., & Podnieks, E. (2003). The development of a tool to assist family physicians in the detection of elder abuse. Presented at the Quebec Conference on Elder Abuse: A Collective Response, April 14-15, 2003, Montreal, QC.

Montminy, L., Racine, G., Israel, S., Hockenstein, E., & Straka, S. (2002). Être un aidant …épuisé et violent … envers l’autre conjoint en perte d’autonomie. Presented at the Colloque sur la Violence: peut-on légitimer ou excuser l’usage de la violence?, Longeueil, Québec, November 7-8, 2002.

Podnieks, E. & Straka, S. (2002). Enhancing the faith community’s capacity to address elder abuse. Presented at the 2002 Ontario Elder Abuse Conference, Toronto, November 18-20, 2002.

Straka, S.M., Israel, S., Montminy, L, Racine, G., & Hockenstein, S. (2002). Interventions with older women experiencing conjugal violence: Pilot study results. Presented at the 2002 Ontario Elder Abuse Conference, Toronto, November 18-20, 2002.

Yaffe, M.J., Lithwick M, Straka S, & Wolfson, C. (2002, November). Elder abuse: A cause of morbidity and mortality in seniors. Presented at the 24th Annual Section of Teachers Workshop of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, Montréal, November 7-9, 2002.

Straka, S.M., Montminy, L., Racine, G., Hockenstein, E., & Israel, S. (2002, October). Conjugal violence against older women: The need for an integrated approach. Presented at the 2002 Annual Conference of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, Aging and Society: Taking Charge of the Future, Montreal, October 24-26, 2002.

Straka, S.M. & Pelosi, A. (2002, May). The Preparedness of Canadian Social Work Students for Practice with Religious/Spiritual Clients. Presented at the First Annual Canadian Conference on Spirituality and Social Work: Spiritual Diversity and Social Work, Toronto, May 25, 2002.

Straka, S.M., Bennett, G., Kalache, A., & Perel Levin, S. (2002, May). The WHO-INPEA global strategy for the prevention of elder abuse. Presented at the 2002 CASSW Annual Conference (in conjunction with HSSFC), “Anti-Oppressive Practice and Global Transformation: Challenges for Social Work and Social Welfare,” Toronto, May 25-29, 2002 .

Yaffe, M.J., Lithwick, M., Wolfson, C. & Straka, S.M. (2001, October). Can a brief suspicion index identify elder abuse in family practice? Paper presented at the Family Medicine Forum 2001 of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, October 25-27, 2001, Vancouver, B.C.

Yaffe, M.J., Lithwick, M., Wolfson, C., & Straka, S.M. (2001, July). Physician screening tools for elder abuse. Invited plenary presentation at 5th Annual Meeting of the Minds Conference on Domestic Violence: Impact on Elders. Harrell Center for Domestic Violence, university of South Florida. Clearwater, July 15-18, 2001.

Straka, S.M., Yaffe, M.J., Lithwick, M., Wolfson, C., Jasserand, F., & Podnieks, E. (2001, April). Elder abuse: A rarely explored cause of mortality and morbidity in older adults. Paper presented at the 6th Annual Research Day in Geriatrics, McGill University, Montreal, April 27, 2001.

Clark, F. & Straka, S.M. (2000, September). Providing Internet access to frail seniors in institutional settings. Paper presented at the International Association of Universities of the Third Age Conference: Seniors Looking to the 3rd Millenium, Quebec City, Quebec.

Clark, F. & Straka, S.M. (2000, September). Internet access for frail seniors. Presented at the Talis 2000: Third Age Learning International Studies Colloque, Montreal, Quebec.

Clark, F., Straka, S.M., & Lozoff, A. (2000, May). Internet access for frail seniors. Paper presented at the T.R. 2000: Therapeutic Recreation for the Millennium Conference, Montreal, Quebec.

Straka, S.M. & Clark, F. (1999, November). Internet access for frail seniors. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Canadian Association on Gerontology: The Dawn of a New Era: Challenges for Baby Boomers, Ottawa, November 4-7, 1999.

Straka, S.M. (1999, February). The women’s spirituality movement in North America: A closer look. Paper presented at the Canadian Theological Students’ Conference, Montreal, Quebec.

Straka, S.M. (1998, October). Social worker - client religious differences. Paper presented at the 48th Annual Convention and Training Conference of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW), Toronto, Ontario.

Straka, S.M. (1998, October). Contradictions in the religious experience of women: Implications for social work practice. Paper presented at the 48th Annual Convention and Training Conference of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW), Toronto, Ontario.

Oxman-Martinez, J., Davies, L., Krane, J., Straka, S.M. & Moreau, J. (1998, July). Child neglect: The problem of a unisectorial approach. Paper presented at the XIV World Congress of Sociology, Montreal, Quebec.

Montminy, L., Racine, G., Israel, S., Straka, S., & Hockenstein, E. (2002, April). Recherche exploratoire sur les pratiques d’intervention auprès des femmes âgées vivant de la violence conjugale. Presented at Les Conférences-Midi du CRF du CLSC Côte-des-Neiges, Montréal, April 4, 2002.

Montminy, L., Racine, G., Straka, S., Israel, S., & Hockenstein, E. (2002, March). Les pratiques d’intervention auprès des femmes âgées vivant de la violence conjugale : un projet en développement. Presented at Les Midis du CRIVIFF, École de service social, Université de Montréal, Montréal, March 27, 2002.

Straka, S.M. & Israel, S. (2001, November). Agir sur l’abus, la négligence et la violence envers les aînés. Invited presentation to public health programming professionals at the series of noon conferences sponsored by the Department of Public Health of Charles LeMoyne Hospital, Longueuil, Quebec.

Straka, S.M. (2001, March). Faith leaders respond: Dilemmas and conflicts. Invited speaker at a meeting of the Provincial Faith Interest Group, Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Toronto.

Straka, S.M. (2000, October). Elder abuse in cultural communities: Issues for faith communities. Invited as keynote speaker at a meeting of the Provincial Faith Interest Group, Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Toronto.

Straka, S.M. (2000, September). A theoretical framework for research. Presented to the CQRS Research Team in Social Gerontology, Institute for Social Gerontology of Quebec, Montreal, Quebec.

Straka, S.M. (2000, September). Religion and social work: Understanding each other across epistemological boundaries. Paper presented at the Doktorklub, Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.

Straka, S.M. (1998, November). Contradictions in the religious experience of women: Implications for social work practice. Paper presented to McGill Ph.D. Students and Faculty.

Chair of the Sharing of Knowledge Committee (2002-2003)

VIESS Research Team [Aging, Social Exclusion, and Solidarity]

Quebec’s provincial research team in the area of social gerontology.  Located in the Institute for Social Gerontology of Quebec/ CLSC René-Cassin

 

Member, VIESS Research Team (2000-2006)

 

English, French, German.