tania alameda-lawson

Assistant Professor

Office: (607) 777-9159
Office Location: Q Pod, Engineering Building
Fax: (607) 777-5683
E-mail: talawson@binghamton.edu

Dr. Tania Alameda-Lawson (Assistant Professor of Social Work) began her tenure at Binghamton University in 2010 following a nearly 15 year appointment in the Division of Social Work at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS). Her current research interests include innovative designs for family and community engagement, full-service community schools, as well as inter-professional education and training programs. Dr. Alameda-Lawson has many years experience as a practicing social worker who served vulnerable and special needs populations. She directed and developed the nationally-recognized "Rainmaker" parent engagement model in Miami, Florida which has since been replicated in low-income African American, Latino, and Appalachian communities in several states across the country. As a part of her work with the Rainmakers, Dr. Alameda-Lawson served as a consultant for numerous organizations including the Clinton Administration and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Dr. Alameda-Lawson earned her MSW and PhD in Social Welfare Policy from Florida International University. She currently serves as Co-Director of the Center for Best Practices in Full-Service Community Schools in the Institute for Intergenerational Studies.

Educational Background

Ph.D. in Social Welfare Policy Florida International University 2003

M.S.W. Florida International University 1990

B.A. University of Miami 1985

Current Research Interests

Empowerment and strength-based practices with disadvantaged children, youth, families, schools, and communities.

Community development with special emphasis on asset-based neighborhood and community development guided by local residents, especially parents.

Community-based participatory research (CBPR)

University-Community Engagement

Family-centered, culturally competent, community-based service delivery systems.

Transformational leadership in service systems to improve outcomes for disadvantaged populations

Interprofessional education and practice (including service integration)

Selected Publications

In Press. Lawson, M., & Alameda-Lawson, T. A case study of school-linked, collective parent engagement. American Educational Research Journal.

2010 Alameda-Lawson, T., Lawson, M., Lawson H. Social workers’ role in facilitating the collective involvement of low income, culturally diverse parents in an elementary school. Children & Schools, 32 (3), 172-182

2002 Lawson, M. & Alameda-Lawson, T. What’s wrong with them is what’s wrong with us. Journal of Community Practice, 9 (1), 77-97.

2002 Alameda-Lawson, T. & Lawson, M. Building community collaboratives. In M. O’Melia & K. K. Miley (Eds.), Pathways to power: Readings in contextual social work practice (pp.108-127), Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

1996 Alameda, T.: RAINmakers: The consumers' voice. In K. Hooper-Briar and H. Lawson (Eds.) Expanding partnerships for vulnerable children, youth & families. Washington DC: Council on Social Work Education.

1996 Hooper-Briar, K., Lawson, M., & Alameda, T.: Partnerships for vulnerable children and families: Empowering families and communities to develop educational and life success for poor children. Institute on Race & Ethnicity Report, Texas A. & M. University Press: College Station, TX.