Leon Banks, Jr. VITA banks03@uga.edu EDUCATION: Ph.D. School of Social Work, University of Georgia, 2007 MSW, Savannah State University, May 1999 BS Psychology, Howard University, May 1994, Minor: Chemistry Savannah State College, Summer Quarter 1991; September-December 1990, Liberal Arts: Fall & Winter 1994. LICENSURE: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Georgia PRESENTATIONS: Society of Prevention Research 2007 National Association of Forensic Social Workers 2003 Rural Social Work Conference at Savannah State University 1999 EMPLOYMENT HISTORY: August 2014 - Present: Director of the BSW Program, University of Georgia, Athens GA. Responsible for the overall supervision of BSW program. August 2013 - Present: Director MSW Admissions/Lecturer, University of Georgia, Athens GA Responsible for the overall supervision of the MSW admissions department. Also responsible for the recruitment of potential MSW students. Duties also include teaching classes across the MSW curriculum. August 2009 - July2011: Temporary Assistant Professor University of Georgia, Athens GA. Responsible for the preparation of class lectures, structure and student evaluation in specified classes in the School of Social Work. Also responsible for providing advisement to students in the Title IVE program and MSW students enrolled in the University of Georgia School of Social Work August 2007 - Present: Co-Owner Equilibrium, LLC, Jonesboro Georgia Responsible for the overall management and clinical directions of the company June 2007 - June 2009: Adjunct Professor University of Georgia, Athens, GA. Responsible for the preparation of class lectures, structure and student evaluation in specified classes in the School of Social Work August 2003 - May 2007 Teaching Assistant University of Georgia, Athens, GA. Responsible for the preparation of class lectures, structure and student evaluation in specified classes in the School of Social Work.
December 2001- Present Access and Visitation Case Manager Families First, Atlanta, GA. Responsible for assisting non custodial parents achieve visitation rights with their children. Also act as a liaison between the various state agencies and the custodial parent. August 2002 May 2003 Research Assistant University of Georgia, Athens, GA. Responsible for conducting various research studies utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods. January 2001-August 2002 Prison Mental Health Counselor D. Ray James Prison Folkston, GA. Responsible for providing intensive individual and group therapy for inmates on the mental health caseload, including helping develop a mental health diagnosis. Also responsible for providing crisis management for the institution on a as needed basis. Responsible for case management for inmates receiving mental health services. July 2000- January 2001 Prison Counselor D. Ray James Prison Folkston, GA. Responsible for accessing various services for inmates and provide individual and group counseling. Also acted as a liaison between the prison administration and the inmates. Responsibilities also included case management of inmate s institutional records. July 1999- July 2000 Prison Counselor Coffee Correctional Facility Nichols, GA. Responsible for accessing various services for inmates and provide individual and group counseling. Also acted as a liaison between the prison administration and the inmates. Responsible for developing various programs for the inmate population such as HIV/AIDS support groups, GED tutoring programs and facilitating substance abuse groups. Responsible for case management of inmate institutional records. February 1997 June 2000 Therapeutic Foster Care Consultant Beaufort, SC. Responsible for training Therapeutic Foster Parents with different behavioral intervention in addressing the needs of emotionally disturbed children. Also responsible for general case management and acts as a liaison between referral agents and the community. June 1995- January 1997 Associate Teaching Parent Genesis Home, Beaufort, SC. Provided Counseling to youth ages 13-21 in a moderate management group home Responsible for keeping youth records up to date and assisted in identifying appropriate home placements for youths. Also the liaison between home, school and identified youth. Provided both group and individual counseling. June 1993-August 1993 and June1992- August 1992 Supervisor, Project YESS (Youth Employment Strategies Services) Savannah, GA. Responsible for the overall coordination of this summer program for 12-17 year olds; developed in-service training for staff and pre employment skills training for participants; assisted with the job placement and Saturday clean-up components; coordinated the closing award banquet
RESEARCH: October 2003-June 2004 Conducted a program evaluation for the Safe Relationship Network This evaluation included creating tools, analyzing data and providing a reports for stakeholders. June2003-August 2003 Georgia Welfare Reform Project. Assisted in revision of the survey instrument and also assisted in the data collection process. This research was done under the direction of Dr. Ed Risler and Dr. Larry Nackerud. TEACHING EXPERIENCE: 2013 Spring: Lecturer: University of Georgia School of Social Work Masters of Social Work Program (Cultural Diversity) Goals: To assist students in learning the effects of race, sexual orientation, class, ethnicity and disability as it relates to inter group, interpersonal and inter-system relationships 2012 Fall: Lecturer: The University of Georgia School of Social Work 2012 Spring: Lecturer: University of Georgia School of Social Work Masters of Social Work Program ( Cultural Diversity ) Goals: To assist students in learning the effects of race, sexual orientation, class, ethnicity and disability as it relates to inter group, interpersonal and inter-system relationships 2012 Fall: Lecturer: The University of Georgia School of Social Work Masters of Social Work Program ( Human Behavior and the Social Environment) Goals: Assist students learn theories of development across the life span 2012 Fall: Lecturer: The University of Georgia School of Social Work 2012 Spring: Temporary Assistant Professor: University of Georgia School of Social Work Masters of Social Work Program (Cultural Diversity) Goals: To assist students in learning the effects of race, sexual orientation, class, ethnicity and disability as it relates to inter group, interpersonal and inter-system relationships
2011 Fall: Temporary Assistant Professor: The University of Georgia School of Social Work Masters of Social Work Program (Human Behavior and the Social Environment) Goals: Assist students learn theories of development across the life span 2011 Fall: Temporary Assistant Professor: The University of Georgia School of Social Work 2011 Summer: Temporary Assistant Professor: The University of Georgia School of Social Work Masters of Social Work Program ( Oppression in Social Work). Goals: To assist students in learning about Oppressed groups and social work s in assisting these groups 2011 Spring: Temporary Assistant Professor: The University of Georgia School of Social Work Masters of Social Work Program (Evaluation of Family-Centered Social Work 2010 Fall: Temporary Assistant Professor: The University of Georgia School of Social Work Masters of Social Work Program (Research Methods): Goals: To Teach students research methods and the application to social work 2010 Summer: Temporary Assistant Professor: The University of Georgia School of Social Work Masters of Social Work Program ( Oppression in Social Work). Goals: To assist students in learning about Oppressed groups and social work s in assisting these groups 2009 Fall: Temporary Assistant Professor: The University of Georgia School of Social Work Masters of Social Work Program (Practice with Family and Groups) Goal: To teach students current theories and practice techniques when working with families or conducting groups 2009 Fall: Temporary Assistant Professor: The University of Georgia School of Social Work Intervention: Goal: To assist students in learning the application of various research 2009 Fall: Temporary Assistant Professor: The University of Georgia School of Social Work Masters of Social Work Program ( Human Behavior and the Social Environment) Goal: Assist students in learning theories of development across the life span 2007 Fall: Adjunct Professor: The University of Georgia School of Social Work Bachelor of Social Work Program ( Human Behavior and the Social
Environment) Goals: Assist students learn theories of development across the life span 2007 Spring: Graduate Teaching Assistant: The University of Georgia School of Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work Program (Generalist Practice III). Goals: Assist students learn theories of macro practice and the relationship between policy and social work practice 2006 Fall: Graduate Teaching Assistant: The University of Georgia School of Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work Program (Introduction to Social Work). Goals: Responsible for teaching students the history and overall purpose of the social work profession. 2006 Spring: Graduate Teaching Assistant: The University of Georgia School of Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work Program ( Generalist Practice III). Goals: Help students learn theories of macro practice and the relationship between policy and social work practice 2005 Fall : Graduate Teaching Assistant: The University of Georgia School of Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work Program (Generalist Practice II). Goals: Helping students to understand relevant issues regarding the social worker s role in assisting families with an assortment of issues. 2005 Spring: Graduate Teaching Assistant: The University of Georgia School of Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work Program (Research Methods I). Goals: To assist students gain an understanding between research and practice and to teach students the fundamental components of a Single System Design. 2004 Fall: Graduate Teaching Assistant: The University of Georgia School of Social Work, Masters of Social Work Program (Family and Group Theory). Goals: To teach students current theories and practice techniques when working with families or conducting groups. Students also learned how to conduct a family assessment and prepare a group proposal. 2004 Summer: Graduate Teaching Assistant: The University of Georgia School of Social Work, Masters of Social Work Program ( Substance Abuse). Goals: To assist students in gaining an understanding about role of Social Work when treating individuals with substance abuse issues. 2004 Spring: Graduate Teaching Assistant: The University of Georgia School of Social Work, Masters of Social Work Program (Family and Group Theory). Goals: To teach students current theories and practice techniques when working
PUBLICATIONS: VITA with families or conducting groups. Students also learned how to conduct a family assessment and prepare a group proposal. 2003 Fall: Graduate Teaching Assistant: The University of Georgia School of Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work Program (Introduction to Social Work). Goals: Responsible for teaching students the history and overall purpose of the social work profession. Lowe, L., Jones, C.D. & Banks, L. (2006). Preventing Dating Violence Public Schools: Journal of School Violence., 6(3). Banks, L., Hatcher, S., & Risler E.A. (2009) The Disproportionate Legislative Waiver of Minority Youth Into the Criminal Justice System. In T. Maschi, C. Bradley, & K. Ward (Eds). Forensic Social Work: Psychological and Legal Issues In Diverse Settings (pp 289-298). New York, New York: Springer Briggs, H.E., Banks, L., & Briggs, A.C. (2014). Cultural and behavioral health determinants of risky behavioral practices of vulnerable African-American females with corrections involvement. Journal of Forensic Social Work.