Official Title: Assistant Professor | Research Coordinator for the Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty: 健康科學學院
電郵: helen.liu@usj.edu.mo
Short Bio
Prof. Helen Liu is an assistant professor at the University of Saint Joseph, Faculty of Health Sciences in Macau. She received her MSW from Rutgers University School of Social Work and her Ph.D. from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. She is a researcher-practitioner in social work and an associate affiliate of China Center for Social Policy Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City. Her work has been supported by the Education and Youth Development Bureau, Social Welfare Bureau, and Macao Foundation. Her research interest is primarily in the area of promoting child and family well-being, with fostering family resilience and developmental outcomes in children and adolescents. Her recent publication is entitled “the Needs of Different Stages of Marriage and Family Life Course in Macao & Family”, which is to explore the developmental tasks, adjustments to the different stages in their family life cycle so as to identify the social services in the marriage and family sector which may help in the transition from one stage to the other.
Prof. Helen is also the USJ Prison Outreach Programme Leader. Her current research project is to promote relevant and useful research in working together with Coloane Prison, contributing to the establishment of quality and effective services of the outreach programme. Her other research interests include the following topics: 1) Stress, Mental Health, Resilience; 2) Human Development and Acculturation; 3) Social Policy and Management in Macau, Hong Kong, and Mainland China. Beyond the research experience, Professor Helen has experience teaching in other higher education institutions in Taiwan and in the United States since 2012.
Publications
Selected Publications
Ribeiro Leong, O. N. & Liu, S. W. (2022). An exploration of building up the quality of parentchild relationship in residential childcare in Macao. Asian Social Work and Policy Review,16, p114-125 (Corresponding author). (Scopus)
Liu, S.W. ＆Teixeira, V. (2021). 澳門居民婚姻及家庭生活不同階段的需求調查結案報告。The Needs of Different Stages of Marriage and Family Life Course in Macau. University of Saint Joseph, Macau. http://library-opac.usj.edu.mo/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=176150.
Liu, S.W., Zhai, F., and Gao, Q. (2020). Parental Stress and Parenting in Chinese Immigrant Families: The mediating role of social support. Child & Family Social Work, 25 (s1):135-148. (SSCI, Scopus)
Liu, S.W., Zhai, F., and Gao, Q. (2017). Parental Acculturation and Parenting in Chinese Immigrant Families: the mediating role of social support, China Journal of Social Work, 10:2-3, 203-219. (Scopus)
Liu, S.W. & Chuang, C.L. (2017). A Study on Coping Strategy of the Sustainable Operations at X university under Declining Birth Rates. Journal of Chinese Management Development,6(1), 45-59. (in Chinese)
Liu, S.W. (2013). Bilingual Social Workers in Mental Health Service Provision: Cultural Competence, Language, and Work Experience. Asian Social Work and Policy Review, 7, 85-98. (Scopus)
Manuscripts in Preparation
Liu, S.W., and Lei, S.K., Parental Stress and Family Relations in Macao: the Mediating role of parenting styles (Child & Family Social Work).
Selected Funding Supports
2022-2023 Macao Foundation, Youth Cyberbullying-Understanding Contextual Paths toPrevention and Resilience Principal Investigator (MF/2022/ACA/04).
2020-2022 Higher Education Bureau Grant, “Resilience in Corrections After the Implementation of the Outreach Program: a Pathway to Rehabilitation”, Principal Investigator (HSS-USJ-2020-02).
2020-2021 Macao Foundation Grant, “Family Dynamics and Child Development in Macao”, Principal Investigator (MF/2020/50).
2019-2021 Social Welfare Bureau Grant, Macao Foundation Grant, “The Needs of Different Stages of Marriage and Family Life Course in Macao”, Principal Investigator. The Macau Catholic Family Advisory Council has commissioned USJ, Faculty of Social Sciences and Education to explore the developmental tasks, adjustments to the different stages in their family life cycle.
2019-2020 Macao Foundation Grant, “Building up the Quality of Relationship between Foster Children and their Birth Parents”, Principal Investigator (MF/2019/52) .
2018-2019 Macao Foundation Grant, “Management of Social Welfare Services in Macau”, Co-Principal Investigator (MF/2018/20).
Professional Presentations
July, 2022 Liu, S.W. Prison Education, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration: A Case Study in Macao, China. Paper presented at IFCU 7th International Psychology Congress – Psychology in Dialogue: Three paths, one goal, Porto, Portugal.
July 2019 Liu, S.W. Management of Social Welfare Services in Macau. Paper presented at the 14th European Academic Research Conference on Global Business, Economics, Finance & Social Science Paris, France.
May 2016 Liu, S.W., Gao, Q. and Zhai, F. Parental Stress and Parenting Behaviors among Asian immigrant parents in New York City. Paper presented at the 2016 International Conference on All-Age Care of Social Work, Miaoli, Taiwan.
Jan. 2014 Liu, S.W., Gao, Q. and Zhai, F. Social Support-A Mediator on the Role of Parental Socioeconomic and Acculturation Stress in Chinese Immigrants’ Intergenerational Relationship. Paper presented in the symposium entitled “Differential Risk and Protective Factors for Mental Health and Acculturation Outcomes Among Major Latino- and Asian-American Subgroups: Needs for Ethnic Sensitive Practices” at Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) 18th Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Oct. 2013 Liu, S.W., Gao, Q. and Zhai, F. Parental Stress, Acculturation, and Parenting Behaviors among Chinese Immigrant Parents in New York City. Paper presented at the 55th Annual Conference of American Association for Chinese Studies. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick. New Jersey.
Modules
Year 1 Master
"This course covers the purpose, values and contexts of social work practice. It explores social and psychological thoughts, and theories relevant to social work practice. Major concepts and principles are discussed utilizing an interdisciplinary perspective.
The course reviews the characteristics of potential client populations and the socio-cultural contexts for intervention. It involves the analysis of direct and indirect professional practice tackling novel situations in local context. "
"As a result of the rapid economic growth and development of Macau, the Mainland and Hong Kong, Macau has experienced dramatic social and demographic changes. It is foreseeable that cross-border marriages and single-parent families will come to represent a significant proportion of families in Macau. As families are increasingly under stress, more proactive family policies and services are required to meet the challenges ahead.
This course explores the changes in family structure and functions, and seeks to familiarize students with policies and social services provided to strengthen and support family life in Macau. The roles of social workers in family services will be studied. Policies and services (at macro level) as well as models of therapy (at micro level) will also be discussed. "
Year 1 Bachelor
This course examines biophysical, psychological, and behavioral domains of human development from prenatal to adolescence. Individuals and families’ interactions with the environment are emphasized during each phase of the life circle: infancy and early childhood, adolescence and young adulthood, middle adulthood, and the later years. Major theories to underpin assessment and interventions with individual and family client systems are presented, within the broader context of a systems approach.
"This course module integrates the rights-based approach (RBA), theories, goals, objectives, principles and practice guidelines on community organizing (CO), community-based and community-driven development (CBD) and (CDD) respectively.
It will discuss and differentiate the basic models of community practice and its purposes in twenty-first (21st) century context, such as (a) neighborhood and community organizing, (b) organizing functional communities, (c) social, economic & sustainable development, (d) program development and community liaison, (e) social planning, (f) coalitions, (g) political and social action, (h) movements for progressive change, (i) asset based community development.
Furthermore, this module will also discuss the processes for people empowerment, community profiling, community assessment and community-driven development (CDD) approach. "
Year 2 Bachelor
This course is an introduction to the study of children in families, and the larger communal and national context in which they operate. We first trace the historical development of the modern family, map cross-cultural familial differences, and study variations in child status. We analyze the joint responsibility of the family and the Welfare State for children's well-being, development, and protection. We then focus on differences in family functioning and community context and on the corresponding childhood experience and adult life course.
This is the second one of a two-semester sequence in Human Behavior and Social Environment. This course examines biophysical, psychological, and behavioral domains of human development from young adult to elderly. Individuals and families’ interactions with the environment are emphasized during each phase of the life circle: young adulthood, middle adulthood, and the later years. Major theories to underpin assessment and interventions with individual and family client systems are presented, within the broader context of a systems approach.
This course is the foundation social work practice course in the areas of Management, Community Organization, and Policy Practice. Using the core curricular themes of multiculturalism, diversity, social justice, and social change as an organizing framework, this course covers basic content in management, community organization, and policy practice methods, and prepares students to take the more advanced courses such as program design, budgeting, personnel, information processing, social planning, community development, community organization in special settings, policy analysis, and development and evaluation. It is partly survey in nature, touching on a range of methodologies and emphases, and providing an appreciation of the historical and contemporary importance of these methods in social work. In addition, it deals with the process of professionalization and introduces students to a range or practice tools.
This course explores the changes in family structure and functions, and seeks to familiarize students with policies and social services provided to strengthen and support family life in Macau. The roles of social workers in family and children services will be studied. Policies at macro level will also be discussed.
Year 3 Bachelor
This module provides students with the social science tools needed to solve organizational problems and influence the actions of individuals, groups and organizations. It prepares managers to understand how to best organize and motivate the human capital of the firm, manage social networks and alliances, and execute strategic change. This will be accomplished through knowledge of competitive decision-making, reward system design, team building, strategic negotiation, political dynamics, corporate culture and strategic organizational design.
This course explores the psychodynamic of change in family structure and function, and seeks to familiarize students with social services provided to strengthen and support family life in Macau. The role of the social worker in family services will be studied. Service programs and policies as well as methods of treatment will also be discussed.
As an integral part of the Licenciate studies, all undergraduate students at USJ are required to prepare and present a portfolio of their work. The portfolio is assembled over the entire duration of their undergraduate studies, and is to consist of selected pieces of work that they have produced during their studies. A student’s portfolio may contain examples of assignment work, tests and examination answer scripts, presentations and project reports, and other work done by the student during his or her studies.
Year 4 Bachelor
Students will be encouraged to recognize and understand the ongoing redefinition of societies as communities and the affirmation of the individual as a person. These capacities are relevant pre-conditions to students as they become cultured and transnational scholars. Students will be encouraged to delve into their learned and inherited cultural traditions to study and develop deeper awareness of notions, principles, methodologies and techniques useful to building family, academic, business, and civic communities that can and should make a difference. Recent research in the new science of networks will help the understanding and implementation of these ongoing transformations.
Field practice provides students with the opportunity to integrate classroom knowledge to practice skills. Students are placed in a social service agency, government or non-government, under the individual supervision of a fieldwork supervisor. During this period, students have the opportunities to familiarize themselves with the functions of the service delivery system and begin to develop skills of social work practice and to test their ability to relate meaningfully to people in a helping situation.
This second field placement helps students achieve grater competence and independency in service delivery upon graduation. Every effort is made to expose student to a variety of settings and methods of social work practice according to his/her learning needs and areas of interest.
