The Porter-Cason Institute was established in 1995 with funds from Dorothy Cason, a 1946 alumna of the Tulane School of Social Work, in honor of Elizabeth Porter, one of her professors. Dorothy credited Elizabeth Porter with teaching and emphasizing professionalism in social work. Dorothy valued and emulated that professionalism throughout a very successful and rewarding practice. Dorothy passed away shortly after her endowment to the school and the Porter-Cason Institute is committed to making the best use of her legacy dedicated to the importance of the teaching and learning process.
Mission
Consistent with Ms. Cason’s expressed wishes that “the income from this fund shall be used for the teaching of family therapy at the advanced level", the mission of the institute is as follows:
To enhance the teaching/learning of mental health, addicition, and the family practices for TSSW students, faculty, field supervisors and alumni, as well as in the community (e.g., New Orleans Metro Area), region, nation, and world. This will be done through the development, evaluation, and dissemination of exciting, creative, and innovative teaching and learning activities.
For more information, please contact the Porter-Cason Institute Administration.
- Porter-Cason Institute Director: Parker Robinson, LCSW-BACS, psternbe@tulane.edu, (504) 862-3475
- General Inquiries: TSSW_PCI@tulane.edu
Family Institutes and Resources
The goal of the Porter-Cason Institute is to not only advance mental health, addiction, and the family practice but also to inform social work practitioners about the latest and most effective mental health, addiction, and the family practices methods, techniques and research.
Porter-Cason Accomplishments
Highlights of the work of Porter-Cason Institute for the Family
Board Members
The Porter-Cason board is made up of family therapists and mental health professionals from across the globe.
Training that creates an active learning community
We have developed a model for training that creates an active learning community where those trained participate in future trainings of others and actively work in peer supervision and support groups. We subsidize training for not for profit agencies that otherwise could not afford to get staff trained in the best evidence based and effective models of treating families, children and couples. The model enables community building , networking, resource building , cross training and experience between the private and not for profit therapeutic communities in Louisiana and throughout the deep south.
Porter Cason Emotionally Focused Therapy Training and Practice Community Development Project:
The Porter Cason Institute for the Family brought Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence based practice to Louisiana. We have supported the training of over 60 individuals, 8 are now certified and helping with training others. Certification requires video presentations of an individual’s work with couples and is rigorous. Each training sequence requires 12 full days of training before eligibility to work toward certification. We have live sessions with couples during our trainings. We have 4 peer supervision groups reviewing each others work and studying tapes. We have an active Louisiana steering committee and are providing preliminary introductions to the method at state professional meetings this fall.We have a Louisiana Emotionally Focused website launched.
Read a description of community impact by one of the agencies receiving training.
The Porter-Cason Institute is developing a work plan to approach our project parallel to Nola for Life (City program). In addition , The Porter-Cason Institute is part of the New Orleans City work group on the children aging out of Foster Care. This group is tasked by the mayor to develop a legislative agenda for these children. In addition we are tasked with understanding gaps in service. The Annie Casey Foundation is staffing the project.