Joseph A. Kumi, M.S.W.

Lecturer
Chair, Curriculum Committee

Prior to joining the School of Social Administration in the fall of 2005, Mr. Kumi taught advanced family therapy and other advanced practice courses at the University of Washington School of Social Work, Seattle, Washington. While teaching full-time in Seattle, he maintained a psychotherapy private practice and also worked as a mental health consultant to the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences in a secure custody setting for incarcerated juveniles with mental health diagnoses. His prior professional experience of over twenty years consists of direct service experience in both inpatient and outpatient treatment settings and increasingly responsible management positions as a clinical program director, special education program administrator, clinical supervisor of school-based mental health services, rural health clinic manager, and a health policy analyst.

Education:

• 1996, Certificate in Critical Issues in Urban Special Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• 1995, Ethnic Minority Mental Health Certificate, Univ. of Washington, School of Social Work.
• 1989, Master of Social Work (Clinical), Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.
• 1980, Bachelor of Arts, Providence College, Otterburne, Manitoba, Canada.
• 1978, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Teaching Areas:

• Advanced Practice with Children & Families in the Social Environment
• Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families & Groups I & II
• Integrative Seminar
• Institutional Racism
• Practice of Social Service Delivery I & II
• Seminar in Social Work Practice

Research Areas:

• Multicultural mental health assessment, multisystemic intervention and consultation
• Effectiveness of school-based treatment interventions
• Family and couples therapy
• Child and adolescent development and treatment; juvenile delinquency issues
• African/African American families; refugee and immigrant families and their educational achievement
• Trauma intervention
• HIV/AIDS prevention/education
• Social justice, oppression, international social work and literacy

He is also participating a National Science Foundation research project within the College of Education that seeks to understand undergraduate students´ dropout from "gateway" science courses by using entity/incremental theory of achievement motivation. He is currently enrolled in the Educational Psychology doctoral program in the College of Education here at Temple University pursuing research interests in the promotion of academic achievement of students of color dealing with mental health challenges through the use of effective psychoeducational interventions.

Professional Interests & Community Service:

• Mental Health/Psychotherapy
• Multiculturalism in Mental Health Services

Currently serves as an advisory member of the board of directors of a local refugee and immigrant agency and served on the 2006-2007 Mayor of Philadelphia´s Blue Ribbon Commission on Children´s Behavioral Health Issues.