Fall 2009 - Columbia University School of Social Work

Spectrum 11Dr. Alfred J. Kahn: a Giant in ComparativeInternational Social WelfareAlfred J. Kahn, Professor Emeritusat the Columbia UniversitySchool of Social Work andworld-renowned social policyscholar and educator, passed awayon February 13th in New Jersey. Hewas 90 years old.Dr. Kahn was the proud recipientof the first social welfare doctorateawarded by the School in 1952.He taught at the Columbia UniversitySchool of Social Work for 57years—from 1947 to 2004. Thosewho studied child welfare and familypolicy, poverty and social welfarewill remember the monumental comparativework of Dr. Kahn who, alongwith Professor Sheila Brody Kamerman,shaped the discourse in manyfields for decades. Program and policyrecommendations advanced byDrs. Kahn and Kamerman were embracedby many international NGOsand were brought to life in socialwelfare programs around the world.His ideas also contributed to thedevelopment of graduate socialwork education. His lectures on thehistory of social welfare were rich,widely acclaimed, and informed byexperiences that were drawn fromhis leadership role in the profession.“He was especially committedto the value of comparative policyresearch, and would remind studentsof its importance,” recalls Dr.Kamerman. “He would emphasize tostudents that ‘comparative policy researchis key to understanding one’sown country. If your focus is limitedto your own country, your perspectiveis very limited. It’s like generalizingfrom a sample of one.’”Dr. Kahn was a prolific author,a highly sought after consultant,a much admired educa tor, and afierce advocate for children andfami lies. As an advocate, Dr. Kahnfavored universal social benefits andservices, saying that they ought tobe “good enough for every American,not for the poor alone.” He wasa consultant to federal, state, andlocal agencies, international organizations,and foreign governments.In this role, he shared his expertiseon family policy, cash and serviceprograms, local community serviceplanning and coordination, and issuesof equality and equity. As author,editor, co-author, andco-editor, Dr. Kahn producedmore than 25 booksand 300 articles and chaptersthat have continuingrelevance and a palpableimpact worldwide.Early in his research career,Dr. Kahn served as aconsultant to New York’sCitizens’ Com mittee forChildren (CCC). In this capacity,he provided leadershipto research staff andcommunity lay leaders,and he authored some 15studies of city and stateprograms con cerned withtruancy, youth, police,children’s courts, protectiveservices, and childguidance programs forat-risk youth. The widelypublicized and discussedresults offered blueprints for reformat the local and national levels. Theywere also the foundation for a 1963volume, Planning Community Servicesfor Children in Trouble, witha foreword by Eleanor Roosevelt,CCC board member, who wrote: “Toomany communities have been willingto accept the agency and institutionas the planning unit. Examinationof experience discloses thateffective interven tion is so complexa process that it is doomed to failureunless all agencies are part ofa truly integrated, carefully plannednetwork.”In the early 1980s, Dr. Kahnchaired the influential Committeeon Child Development Researchand Public Policy of the NationalAcademy of Science. He was the recipientof awards and honors fromvarious universities and professionalassociations, including several honorarydegrees, one from the Universityof York in England, awardedjointly to him and Dr. Kamerman inrecognition of their pioneer ing workin cross-national child and familypolicy research.Dr. Kahn will be long rememberedas a social work pioneer, author, consultant,teacher, and advocate. Butfor former student Professor Wen-JuiHan, he will also be remembered forhis kindness. “If I have ever beenkind and gentle, it is because ofProfessor Kahn who has shown mehow much being gentle and kindcan make a person’s day and lifewonderful. I will remember him themost as one who is true to himselfand others around him.”Dr. Kahn is survived by his daughter,Nancy Valerie Kahn, his brotherand sister-in-law, Melvin and EveylnKahn, and his sister, Batya Weissman.In memory of Dr. Kahn, contributionsmay be made to The AlfredJ. Kahn Doctoral Fellowship Fundat Columbia University School ofSocial Work, c/o the Office of Developmentand Alumni Relations, ColumbiaUniversity School of SocialWork, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue,New York, NY 10027.$1.3M GiftEnhancesStudent AidFundsThe Columbia University Schoolof Social Work received a$1.335 million gift from acharitable trust establishedby the late Isadore and Ruth Ginsberg.At a time when the nation isfacing an uncertain economy, giftssuch as these are transformational.The Ginsbergs’ generosity willsignificantly enhance two previouslyestablished student aid funds. Theamount will be allocated in equalshares to the Ida R. and Mitchell I.Ginsberg Social Policy Fund for second-yearmaster’s candidates with astrong interest in social policy, andthe Judith Ginsberg Memorial FellowshipFund for grants for studentsat the end of their first year with aninterest in the disabled.Columbia University’s long traditionof excellence and Ivy-Leaguereputation has always attracted thebest and brightest students. Eachyear, students at the School of SocialWork contribute half a million hoursof community service in 450 agenciesthroughout the New York tristatearea. Our students are trainedby leading-edge scholars to becomeinnovators in practice, policy, education,administration, and research.Our alumni have private clinicalpractices, provide leadership as facultymembers and deans across thecountry, work at Fortune Global 500companies, and head social serviceand government agencies in the U.S.and across the world.“The Ginsbergs were proud supportersof the School and its missionduring their lifetimes,” says DeanJeanette Takamura. “Their gift providesan important example of thepowerful impact of bequests. Manyaspiring social work professionals willbenefit from their generosity.”With nearly 90% of students requiringfinancial aid, scholarshipsenable thousands of future socialwork leaders to attend Columbia andmake an impact on the world. Formore information on how you canprovide scholarship support, contactthe School at 212-851-2368 orsswalumni@columbia.edu.