Blake Beecher PhD LICSW Associate Professor, Graduate Director Eastern Washington University, School of Social Work 208 Senior Hall Cheney, WA 99004 509 359-4547 bbeecher@ewu.edu Education University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah PhD. in Social Work, 2006 University of Nevada, Reno Master of Social Work (MSW) 1999 Weber State University, Ogden, Utah Bachelor of Social Work, Minor Psychology 1998 Academic Experience Associate Professor, Eastern Washington University, School of Social Work, 9/13-Present Graduate Director 7/12-Present Assistant Professor, Eastern Washington University, School of Social Work, 9/08-9/13 EWU is one of the larger schools of social work in the region and has both BSW and MSW programs in multiple sites across the state Assistant Professor, Brigham Young University Hawaii, Department of Social Work, 8/06-8/08 BYU Hawaii is one of the most ethnically diverse and most international university, per capita, in the U.S. Practicum Clinical Instructor, University of Utah, College of Social Work, 1/03-7/06 Teaching EWU BSW courses taught: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I and II, Theories of Micro Practice EWU MSW courses taught: Engagement and Assessment, Intervention and Evaluation, Clinical Diagnosis and Evidence Based Treatment, Motivational Interviewing, Research Projects, Clinical Assessment (in person and online), Mindfulness and Acceptance Approaches in Behavioral Health, Advanced Social Work Practice in Integrated Healthcare, and Integrative Seminar BYUH BSW courses taught: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II, Social Work Practice with Groups and Families, Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare, and Community Mental Health
Publications Beecher B., Reedy, A. R., Loke, V., Raske, M., & Walker, J. (2014) An exploration of social work needs of rural behavioral health agencies. Currently under review for publication with Contemporary Rural Social Work. Matthews, A.N., Beecher, B., Hofer, P.J., & Short, R.A. (2014). An exploratory evaluation of a treatment mall at a state psychiatric hospital. Currently under review for publication with the American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Stansbury, K. L., Schumacher, M., Beecher, B., & Clute, M. (2014). Social service providers perspectives on casino gambling in older adult clients. Accepted for publication in the Journal of Gambling Issues. Stansbury, K.L., Peterson, T.L., & Beecher, B. (2013) An exploration of mental health literacy among older African Americans. Aging and Mental Health, 17(2), 226-232. Beecher, B., Eggertsen, L., Furuto, S., & Reeves, B. J. (2012). International student views of social work in select Asian and pacific island countries. Social Work Education, 31(4), 435-450. Stansbury, K. L., Beecher, B., & Clute, M. (2011). African American clergy's perceptions of mental health and pastoral care to elder congregants. Journal Of Religion & Spirituality In Social Work: Social Thought, 30(1), 34-47. Beecher B., Eggertsen, L., Reeves, B.J., & Furuto, S. (2010). International student views about transferability in social work education and practice. International Social Work, 53(2), 203 216. Beecher, B. (2009). Mental health practitioners views toward the families of individuals with schizophrenia and barriers to collaboration. Journal of Family Social Work, 12(3), 264-282. Beecher, B. (2009). The medical model, mental health practitioners, and individuals with schizophrenia and their families. Journal of Social Work Practice, 23(1), 9-20. Beecher, B. (2008). Mental health practitioners collaboration with the families of individuals with schizophrenia. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 8(4), 342-351. Current Projects Stansbury K. L. & Beecher B. Senior center director views about gambling and problem gambling. A qualitative exploratory article with 10 senior center directors in Washington State.
Beecher B. & Stansbury K. L. Raising awareness of problem gambling with child welfare workers. A quantitative evaluation of the impact of a 3 hour problem gambling seminar 25 child welfare workers in Washington State. Beecher, B. Measuring Stigma and Attitudinal Perceptions toward Individuals with Mental Illness: Definitional Ambiguity. This article addresses scales most commonly used in attitudinal research with discussion about definition assumptions and obfuscations. Practice Experience Beecher Clinical and Consulting Services, 3/11-present Consultation, supervision, crisis intervention, and clinical services (EAP) provided to hospitals and long-term care facilities Psychosocial and Rehabilitative Services Supervisor, Valley Mental Health Pathways to Recovery, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1/02-7/06 Administrative, supervisory, therapeutic, and psychoeducational services provided in an outpatient program treating adults with serious mental illness and addictions Speakers Association Volunteer Liaison, Salt Lake City, Utah, 5/02-7/06 Coordination and facilitation of speaking engagements to schools and community organizations with a consumer self-advocacy group aimed at reducing the stigma toward individuals with mental illness Day Treatment Supervisor, Valley Mental Health Short Term Alternative Treatment (STAT), West Valley City, Utah, 6/00-1/02 Therapy and skills development services provided on an individual and group basis to adults with serious mental illness in a day treatment setting, responsibilities also include program development, program coordination and supervision of clinical staff Family Preservation & Proctor Care Therapist, Youth and Family Centered Services, Wasatch Family Services, Salt Lake City, Utah, 7/99-8/01 Individual and family therapy with at-risk adolescents who are in State custody proctor care; coordinated with caseworkers, juvenile court, schools, and families Leadership Development Harvard Management Development Program Class of 2013, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA. Grants 2012 CSWE & SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions Social Work and Integrated Behavioral Health Curriculum Project Award (5,000)
2012 Empire Health Foundation, Rural Mental Health Needs Assessment, Principal Investigator (6,000) 2010 Washington Division of Behavior Health and Recovery grant for a 3 phase comprehensive evaluation of the Treatment Mall at Eastern State Hospital. Granted and later rescinded due to state budget cuts. Joint project with Washington Institute for Mental Health Research and Training & EWU dept of Occupational Therapy (70,000) 2013 EWU Faculty Research and Creative Works Grant Award (5,000) 2010 EWU Faculty Research and Creative Works Grand Award (5,000) 2009 EWU Faculty Research and Creative Works Grant Award (10,000) Submitted Grants (not funded) Increasing the capacity of senior center personnel to prevent problem and pathological gambling in older adults. (2011) Co-Investigator with Kim Stansbury, PhD., Eastern Washington Faculty Grants for Research and Creative Works, 1 year, $20,000. Raising Awareness of Problem Gambling with Child Welfare Workers. (2010) Co- Investigator with Kim Stansbury, PhD. Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, 1 year, $25,000. Balancing recovery with symptom management in working with individuals with psychosis: an eclectic practice oriented approach. (2009). Child Intervention, Prevention, and Services Summer Research Institute. 1 year, Training and Development Grant. Conference Presentations/Trainings Beecher, B. (2014, May). New Directions in Assessing and Measuring Functioning and Disability. Presentation at the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, Honolulu, HI. Beecher, B. (2013, June). Value and Meaning Focused Practice: A Practical Approach Consistent with Recovery Model Principles. Presentation at the 7th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health, Los Angeles, CA. Stansbury, K. L. & Beecher, B. (2012, March). Social service providers perspectives on casino gambling in older adult clients. Presentation at the International Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities, Honolulu, HI. Beecher, B. & Stansbury K. L. (2012, January). Strengths based assessment and practice. Agency training at Solid Ground: a community action, poverty advocacy, housing and homeless prevention organization, Seattle, WA.
Beecher, B. (2011, April). Moving Away from the Deficit Model: Valued Living as the Primary Focus in Practice. Presentation at the International Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities, Honolulu, HI. Stansbury, K.L., Beecher, B., & Marshall, G.L. (2010, November). Social service providers perspectives on casino gambling in older adult clients. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA. Beecher, B. & Stansbury, K.L. (2010, August). The impact of problem gambling in child welfare. Training with Department of Child and Family Services staff, Spokane, WA. Beecher, B. (2010, April). The treatment mall in inpatient psychiatric hospitals: aspirations and evidence. Presentation at the International Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities, Honolulu, HI. Beecher, B. (2008, November). Psychoeducation in evidence-based mental health practice. Presentation in the EWU lunch and learn speaker series, Cheney, WA. Beecher B., Eggertsen, L., Reeves, B.J., & Furuto, S. (2007, July). International student views regarding social work in their home countries. 15 th International Consortium on Social Development, Hong Kong, China. Beecher, B., Eggertsen, L., Reeves, B.J., & Furuto, S. (2007, June). Issues of Transferability in Social Work Education and Practice with International Students: western & indigenous views. Presentation at Indigenous Voices in Social Work, Makaha, HI. Beecher, B. (2006, November). Mental health practitioners and family collaboration. Plenary conference presentation at the International Society for the Psychological treatment of Schizophrenia (ISPS), Auckland, New Zealand. Service University EWU 2012- Present: Graduate Director, Chair Graduate Committee 2011-2013: Personnel Committee 2012 Search Committee member for 6 faculty hires 2013 Search Committee member for 3 faculty hires 2010-2012: Graduate Committee member 2009-Present: University Institutional Review Board (IRB) alternate 2008-2010: Co-Chair Admissions Committee BYUH 2006-2008 Member of the Faculty Advisory Committee (University Senate) and department assessment, curriculum, and scholarship committees, key member in writing and participating in the CSWE Reaccreditation process
Professional & Community 2013-Present: Member, Children s Administration Critical Incident Committee member Spring 2012 Co-Occurring Community Collaboration Outreach. Headed project to meet with and gather community input on our training of students in treating co-occurring disorders and to increase community outreach and collaboration with local agencies 2011-Present: Reviewer of article submissions to Social Work Education, a journal of a critical and reflective nature concerned with the theory and practice of social care and social work education at all levels. 2011- Present: Member of the Region 1 Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence Advisory Committee. The purpose the design team is to: 1) gather regional input on training needs and gaps that would go into the statewide plan, and 2) oversee and support implementation of statewide training plan. 2008: Consultant with the project: Development of a Case-Based Educational Tool for Mental Health Training in Primary Health Care, a collaborative project between Brigham Young University Hawaii and the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil (PUCRS) 2007-Present: Reviewer of article submissions to Schizophrenia Research, a journal for international researchers and clinicians within the global schizophrenia research community. Almost 4000 institutes have access to this journal - the largest specialist journal in the field