Message from the Director

ALVIN L. SALLEE, LISW, ACSW

Director and Visiting Professor

Center for Family Strengths

University of Houston - Downtown

Before joining UHD as Director of the Center for Family Strengths, Professor Sallee served as Director of the Family Preservation Institute for 20 years. He has chaired two Family Policy Task Forces appointed by both Governors King and Anaya. He chaired the New Mexico Social Work Licensing Board and the Governor’s Task Force on Social Work. In 1994 he was hired by Texas to help develop a statewide Family Preservation program.

Professor Sallee began teaching at Texas State University, San Marcos in 1974 while working with the Center on Social Work Research at the University of Texas, Austin. Joining New Mexico State University in 1976, Professor Sallee served as the Academic Head of the NMSU Social Work Department for 18 years, beginning the BSW and MSW programs and founding the Family Preservation Institute in 1990. After 33 years at NMSU, Professor Sallee retired to join the University of Houston-Downtown.

Professor Sallee has extensive experience at the national level including the National Association of Social Work Board of Directors and the Competency Certification Committee. As a member of the Exam Committee of the Association of Social Work Boards he has written questions and reviews the National Social Work licensing exams.

In social work education, he served as President of the Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, on the Council on Social Work Education Board and as an Accreditation site visitor and chair. As the Director of the Family Preservation Institute from 1995 to 2009, he oversaw the development of 15 videotape training modules and 19 national training conferences with family experts. He has served as editor of the Family Preservation Journal and the textbook series editor for Eddie Bowers publishing.

Professor Sallee has authored or coauthored eight books and over 50 articles and reports. Most recently he co-authored the Methamphetamine Handbook: What you need to know. He has authored and administrated over 50 grants and contracts totaling more than $15M. Over 30 universities and states have employed Professor Sallee as a consultant on funding and social work education.

Professor Sallee and his wife are adoptive parents and former foster parents. He has completed over 30 adoptions and serves as an expert witness in child abuse legal cases.

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Last updated or reviewed on 3/14/12