International Activities

I maintain ongoing involvement with Shimna House Addictions Program, Downshire Hospital, Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. I have provided in-service trainings on chemical dependence and HIV disease to Shimna House and other chemical dependence program personnel throughout Northern Ireland and place Marywood University School of Social Work students there annually in summer placements. Students spend from four to twelve weeks in placement, some earning independent study credits by completing a project based upon their experiences there. Others earn field credits, doing block placements. More recently an arrangement has been developed for students to work with mental health services in both the hospital and the local health service out-patient programs. As with the addictions placements, these can be done either for independent study credits or as block placements.

My published research [Lyter, L.L., & Lyter, S.C. (2003). Why some youth don’t use alcohol: Protective factors and implications for parenting skills. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions.3 (2), 3-23], done with Sharon C. Lyter, Ph.D., was used in the development of a United Kingdom grant funded parent-focused prevention program, Talking to Your Children About Tough Issues (TATI). The published materials identify that research and I was interviewed and featured in the accompanying DVD. Sharon C. Lyter and I have provided training to the TATI trainers throughout Northern Ireland.

I had previous ongoing involvement with Toynbee Hall, London, England where I did archival searches and placed Marywood University School of Social Work students there in summer placements. As with the programs in Northern Ireland, some students completed independent study projects, while others did block placements. Students have worked with summer camp programs for children with Stepney Children’s Fund and with the Elders Program on site at Toynbee Hall.

In addition to London and Downpatrick, I have also worked on international placements with students in Australia, Germany, Scotland, and India. One student independent study project and data from others have been used for presentations at international conferences, and several have been submitted for publication in professional journals. Students and I continue to search for new international opportunities in response to their personal interests.

My own international travel, study, and presentation involvements have included England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and Korea.

Buddha – Dongwhasa Temple, Daegu, Korea Confucius - Daegu Confucian Academy

Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea St. Patrick’s Tomb – Downpaterick, Northern Ireland

The Mournes – Newcastle, Northern Ireland Wall Murals – Belfast, Northern Ireland

Downshire Hospital – Downpatrick, Northern Ireland Dublin, Ireland

Trinty College – Dublin, Ireland L.L. Lyter & S.C. Lyter with TATI Trainers

Dunadry, Northern Ireland