Department of Social Work opens ASU CARE in North Jonesboro

October 15, 2010 -- The Arkansas State University Department of Social Work has opened ASU CARE (Community Action Reinforcing Empowerment) at 600-A Marshall Street in North Jonesboro.  The program, created by chair of the Department of Social Work Dr. Barbara Turnage, and director of ASU CARE Dr. George Jacinto, will assist residents living in North Jonesboro.

On October 30, ASU CARE will sponsor a fall festival on Marshall Street from 3-6 p.m.  Many area social service agencies, the Jonesboro Fire Department and D.A.R.E. will attend the festival. Games for children will be available, and refreshments will be served.  This Fall Festival will officially mark the beginning of ASU CARE’s presence in North Jonesboro.

ASU CARE will work to focus on issues such as substance abuse, crime, employment-seeking activities, health disparities, education, social capital, family services and youth development.  The program will be staffed by social work student interns from ASU with oversight by program faculty.  

 “The student-resident combination in North Jonesboro will be a reciprocal relationship where the residents can benefit by working with students, and students can develop skills in linking residents to needed services in the community,” said Dr. Turnage. “The services provided will include assessment of individual and family needs, linking individuals and families to agencies that can help provide food, clothing, medical and mental health services, training and employment services and other services as needed.”

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin and members of his staff have worked with the College of Nursing and Health Professions at ASU in the development of this program. Jonesboro Mayor Perrin stated, “There are overlapping services being offered in Jonesboro, and it would be beneficial to have an agency that could provide linkages to the many local services for citizens who need social and economic assistance.”

Carol Crawford of the Jonesboro Housing Authority has worked with the college to provide office space at 600-A Marshall Street to house the program.

“This will be a good location to offer services in North Jonesboro,” said Crawford.  “Residents from many of the neighborhoods will be able to walk to the ASU CARE office for assistance.”  Jacinto said, “ASU CARE wants to partner with all of the helping agencies in Jonesboro and to act as a referral source to appropriate service providers for residents to meet their needs.” 

According to Dr. Susan Hanrahan, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, “The long-term goal for ASU CARE is to more comprehensively identify resident needs and issues in North Jonesboro and assist individuals in prioritizing their needs and working with the clients to make the connections necessary for positive outcomes. 

“In addition, students can advise the college about programming that should be developed to support the residents and advise the city of issues that need additional attention. Good case management is an art and a science; there are needs in this community and we feel very fortunate to have partners that support our work in this prime location.”

For more information, contact Dr. Turnage (bturnage@astate.edu) at (870) 972-3596, Dr. Jacinto (gjacinto@astate.edu) at (870) 972-3137 or Crawford (carolc@jurha.org) at  (870) 935-9800.

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