Valire Carr Copeland, M.S.W, Ph.D., M.P.H,

Valire Carr Copeland, MSW, PhD, MPH. Professor. School of Social Work and Graduate School of Public Health; Associate Director, Public Health Social Work Training Program. Faculty affiliate, CHOP Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities and Autism Program (LEND). Co-investigator with integrated health care expertise for working with families & children in general, and families & children of color specifically. PI for pilot grant studying Autism in African American families, and Parental Perceptions of Access to and Utilization of Services: Autism in African American Families An experienced researcher, educator, and trainer who has served as the Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, and Investigator on several multi-year projects—federal, state, and local. Her research has evolved from Maternal and Child Health issues, policies, programs, and services to health and wellness in populations of color across the life span to end-of-life care. Her contributions are intended to increase research interest in closing the racial disparity gaps that exist in the utilization of and access to health and mental health services. Dr. Copeland’s teaching, training, and research identify build on developing, evidenced-based engagement and intervention strategies for increasing access to, and utilization of, treatment and intervention services. As a researcher with expertise in health care, the purpose of my training agenda is to build the knowledge, skill, and training connections between social work in health care via the bio-psychosocial framework. Dr. Copeland’s collaborations include colleagues in Public Health, Medicine/Family Medicine, Nursing, and the Health Sciences. She worked with, trained, and educated many undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students during her tenure at the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, I have led workshops and training seminars for faculty and community workers in culturally appropriate community health practice, social justice, advocacy, and multicultural education. According to Dr. Copeland, “My accomplishments have allowed me to make meaningful contributions to the academic foundation of professional social work knowledge, values, and skills with regards to the bio-psycho-social aspects of health and wellness through the conceptual frameworks of health promotion and health behavior. Building a behavioral health training component within social work education facilitates our professions’ continual advancements in social work and health care from a research, education, and practice perspective. This framework is very much related to our disciplines’ holistic approach to individuals, families, group, and organizations”.