Suzanne L. Cross

Title: Associate Professor
Office Location: 218 Baker Hall
Phone: 517/432-3726
Fax: 517/353-3038
E-mail: suzanne.cross@ssc.msu.edu

Education

• Ph.D, Michigan State University
• MSW, University of Michigan
• BS, Michigan State University

Professional Interests

• Gerontology issues with a special interest in kinship care
• Elder maltreatment and neglect
• Bereavement therapy with a special interest in historical trauma
• Collaboration with communities to address concerns
• Issues related to Child Welfare and the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978

Research/Grants

• Gerontology Enrichment in the MSW Program. John A. Hartford Foundation, 2005-2008.
• American Indian elders parenting their grandchildren: Three major factors influencing their role. Families and Communities Together (FACT) Coalition, 2003-2005.
• American Indian Elders as grandparents caring for grandchildren. Pearl J. Aldrich Endowment in Gerontology, 2003-2004.
• Care giving in Indian Country (Seminar). Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, 2003.

Teaching

• SW 200H - Introduction to Social Work
• SW 290 - Special Topics in Social Work: Gerontology
• SW 340 - Foundations of Social Work Practice
• SW 491 - Social Work Practice in Gerontology (BSW & MSW)

Articles & Publications

• Cross, S. L. & Day, A. G. (2008). American Indian grand families: Eight adolescent and grandparent dyads share perceptions on various aspects of the kinship care relationship. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, Vol. 17(1).
• Cross, S. (2006). Indian family exception doctrine: Still losing children despite the Indian Child Welfare Act. Journal of Child Welfare, 85 (4), 671-690.
• Cross, S. (2004). In honor of the lessons of the elders. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 10 (2), 26-34. Department of Social Work, California State University, Long Beach, CA.
• Day, A. & Cross, S. (Spring 2004). Legal options for grandparents raising their grandchildren. NASW Aging Section Connection, 6-9.
• Cross, S. (May 2003). Maltreatment and neglect in American Indian communities. NASW Aging Section Connection, 1 & 10-11.
• Hall, R. E., Rodriguez Le Sage, M. & Cross, S. (2002). The marginalization of biracial students: Implications for school social work. Journal of School Social Work, 13 (1), 32-46.
• Carter, C., Cross, S., Lie, G. Y., & Zorita, P. M-B. (1996). Diversity and aging. In Women and aging in Arizona. Phoenix AZ: Soroptimist International of Phoenix, Inc.
• Cross, S. Older adults in the classroom: An insightful venture in learning life's lessons. Presentation Abstracts. Anaheim, CA: National Gerontological Social Work Conference, February 28-March 1, 2004.
• Cross, S. (Spring 2004). Social work students facilitate grandparent focus groups on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Reservation. MSU School of Social Work Newsletter, 8.

Presentations

• American Indian grandparents parenting their grandchildren in Michigan: A qualitative study report 2005. Tenth Annual American Indian Alaskan Native Social Work Educators' Association Conference, Chicago, IL. February 2006. Also: Fifth Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, Honolulu, HI. May 2006.
• American Indian grandparents parenting their grandchildren. 32nd Annual Meeting: Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Indianapolis, IN. February 2006.
• Older Adults in the classroom: An insightful venture in learning life's lessons. 22d Annual Conference: Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, Detroit, MI. November 2004.
• Importance of Mentoring: Student involvement in a qualitative American Indian research study. 22d Annual Conference: Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, Detroit, MI. November 2004.
• The impact of residential boarding schools on American Indians. 16th Annual Arizona Indian Council on Aging Conference. Gila River Indian Reservation, AZ. April 2004.
• Grandparents as sole providers of care for their grandchildren: Members of eleven tribal nations in Michigan share their concerns. 8th Annual Meeting: American Indian Alaska Native Social Work Educators Association. Anaheim, CA. February 2004.
• Older Adults in the Classroom: An insightful venture in learning life's lessons. 2d National Gerontological Social Work Conference, Anaheim, CA. February 2004.
• American Indian Elders Parenting Grandchildren. 15th Annual Arizona Indian Council on Aging Conference. Gila Indian Reservation, AZ. April 2003.

Other

• 2005-2007. CSWE Board of Directors.
• 2002-2007. Chair. CSWE Native American Indian Task Force Strategic Issues.
• 2002-present. Planning Committee Co-Chair. Michigan Indian Day Celebrations.
• 2004. Who's Who in Social Sciences Higher Education.
• 2004. Volunteer Leader, NASW Aging Section.
• 2004. Planner/Participant. American Indian Dance Exhibit. 22d Annual Conference: Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors. Detroit, MI.
• LMSW (State of Michigan)
• Certificate in Gerontology, Institute on Aging, Ann Arbor.