To learn more about YORK’S COVID-19 response, visit our Coronavirus Updates page.

Skip to Main Content
Letteney, Susan
 

Letteney, Susan

Curriculum Vitae

Professor
Social Work

Phone: 718-262-2614
Office Location: AC-3A11C
sletteney@york.cuny.edu

Office Hours  
Tuesday  2-3 PM 
Wednesday  2-3 PM 
Thursday  2-3 PM and 5-6 PM 
By appointment   

Education

Degree Institution Field Dates
DSW  Yeshiva University  Social Welfare  1997 
certificate  New York University  Post-Master's Advanced Clinical Social Work  1993 
MSW  Hunter College  Social Work  1988 
BS  Vanderbilt University  Education/Special Education  1977 
Susan Letteney is Professor of Social Work in the Social Sciences Department at York College and Research Fellow at the Center for Community and Urban Health at Hunter College School of Public Health. She teaches courses on social welfare programs and policies, human behavior, community organizing and generalist practice skills. Dr. Letteney has developed Writing Intensive and online courses. Her research focuses on issues that confront children and families affected by HIV and AIDS, including disclosure, stigma, social support, caregiving, custody planning and children’s adjustment to a parent’s HIV illness. Her social work practice experience includes the clinical and policy aspects of health/mental health programs for women and children. She has designed permanency planning, mental health and chemical dependency programs for underserved women and children in New York City.

Areas of Expertise

HIV Disclosure to Infected and Affected Children
Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Family
Future Care and Custody Planning
Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors of Social Workers and HIV/AIDS
Sexual Minority Women and Health Care

Articles in Field Of Expertise

Krauss B., Letteney, S. & Okoro, C.. "Why Tell Children: A Synthesis of the Global Literature on Reasons for Disclosing or Not Disclosing an HIV Diagnosis to Children 12 and under." Frontiers in Public Health. 2016: .

Krauss, B. Letteney, S., De Baets, A.J., Baggaley, R. & Okero, F.A.. "Caregiver's HIV disclosure to children 12 years and under: A review and analysis of the evidence." AIDS Care. 25 2013: 14.

Krauss, B. Letteney, S., De Baets, A.J., Baggaley, R. & Okero, F.A.. "Disclosure of HIV status to HIV-positive children 12 and under: A systematic cross-national review of implications for health and well-being." Vulnerable Children and Youth. 8 2013: 20.

Letteney, S., Krauss, B., & Kaplan, R.. "Examining HIV Positive Parents’ Disclosure to Their Children: A Biopsychosocial Approach." Journal of Social Work in Public Health. 27 2012: 25.

Letteney. "Fathers' with HIV Disease and Disclosure to Children: Reported Experiences and Unique Characteristics." Journal of Human Behavior and the Social Environment. 22 2012: 24.

Krauss, B., Letteney, S., De Baets, A., Murugi, J. & Okero, F.A.. "Guideline on HIV disclosure counseling for children up to age 12." World Health Organization (WHO). 2011: 46.

Letteney, S.. "Disrupted Caregiving and Maternal HIV Disease: A Proposed Model for Evaluating HIV-Affected Children's Psychosocial Adjustment." Social Work in Health Care. 49 2010: 753-763.

Letteney, S.. "Social Workers' Self-Efficacy and Comfort Providing Care for HIV-Affected Children." Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work. 15 2010: 47-60.

Letteney, S.. "Disclosure of Maternal HIV Status to Children: Key Psychosocial Correlates." Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services. 5 2006: 67-84.

Letteney, S. & Heft LaPorte, H.. "Deconstructing Stigma: Perceptions of HIV Seropositive Mothers and Their Disclosure to Children." Social Work in Health Care. 38 2004: 105-123.

Beckerman, N. & Letteney, S.. "Couples of Mixed HIV Status: Key Emotional Issues." Social Work in Health Care. 31 2000: 25-41.

Letteney, S.. "Comparison of Hybrid and Face-to-Face Learning Environments." . : .

Monographs in Field Of Expertise

Presented Papers, Lectures, and Exhibitions and Performances

" Sexual Minority Women and Quality of Health Care: Differences among Women Who Do and Do Not Disclose Sexual Identity to Primary Care Providers " March 2016: Eastern Sociological Society.

" lth Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors and Quality of Care among Sexual Minority Women in New York City " November 2015: The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.

" Contextualizing HIV Disclosure to Children: The Influence of Culture on Truth-Telling About Disease " February 2011: The Society for Cross Cultural Research.

" Fathers with HIV Disease and Disclosure to Children: Ethnicity, Social Support and Symptoms " February 2011: The Society for Cross Cultural Research.

" Ethnicity, Age and Disease Stage: Correlates of Parents' HIV Disclosure to Children " February 2009: The Society for Cross Cultural Research.

" Parents' HIV Disclosure to Children: Perceptions of Urban HIV+ Parents and HCWs in the United States " June 2009: World Health Organization (WHO).

" Parent's HIV Disclosure to Children: Using Research to Inform Policy " July 2008: 1st National Research Conference on Child and Family Programs and Policy.

" Disclosure Rates and Reasons in Urban HIV+ Parents " February 2008: The Society for Cross Cultural Research.

" Perceptions of Urban, In-Treatment HIV Positive Parents:A Biopsychosocial Approach " August 2007: The Society for the Study of Social Problems Annual Conference.

" Psychosocial Adjustment of Children in HIV-Affected Families: A Conceptual Model " May 2007: Wurzweiler School of Social Work Anniversary Conference.

" Parent’s Disclosure of HIV to Their Children:Social Support, Psychological Distress, and Disease Stage " March 2007: National Association of Social Workers.

" Understanding the Relationship of HIV Disease to the Psychosocial Adjustment of Children in HIV-Affected Families " November 2006: New York State Social Work Education Association 39th Annual Conference.

" Social Work and the Continuous Care of Children in HIV-Affected Families " February 2005: The Council on Social Work Education.

" Conversations and Reactions to the Disclosure of Parental HIV: The Voices of Parents Concerning Their School-Aged Children " January 2005: The Society for Social Work and Research.

" Social Support, Gender, Race and Age: Key Correlates of Parental HIV Disclosure to Children " July 2004: American Psychological Association.

" Social Support and Parental HIV Disclosure to Children " January 2004: The Society for Social Work and Research.

" Gender, Race and Age: Significatn Factors Related to Parental HIV Disclosure to Children " July 2003: The National Institute of Mental Health.

" The Epidemic's 3rd Decade: New Issues in the Care of Children " July 2003: The National Institute of Mental Health.

" Writing and Social Work Practice " May 2003: CUNY Writing Across the Curriculum Conference.

" Differences in Perceptions of Stigma and Disclosure Behavior Among HIV Seropositive Women " January 2003: The Society for Social Work and Research.

" The Changing Face of HIV: From Terminal Disease to Chronic Illness " November 2002: New York State Social Work Education Association.

" Issues Facing Children Infected With HIV and their Caregivers " August 2002: American Psychological Association.

" Deconstructing Stigma: The Role of Perceived Stigma in the Disclosure Patterns of HIV Positive Mothers " August 2001: New York State Social Work Education Association.

" Future Care and Custody: Constants and Changes in a Half-Decade of Program Experience with HIV=Affected Families " July 2000: The National Institute of Mental Health.

" Caregiver Contact and Cultural Sensitivity as Predictors of Successful Future Care and Custody Planning with HIV Seropositive Families " July 1999: The National Institute of Mental Health.

" The Referral Problems of HIV Positive Parents: Influence on Accessing Permanency Planning " July 1999: The National Institute of Mental Health.

Professional Honors, Prizes, Fellowships

Research Fellow, Center for Community and Urban Health, Hunter College School of Public Health: 2006-2012.

CUNY Faculty Publication Program Award: 2003.

York College Technology Fee Award: 2006.

Grants-In-Aid

PSC-CUNY 46, Sex[Ed] in the City v. 2.0: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors and Quality of Care among Urban Sexual Minority Women. 2015-2016: $5,994.

CUNY HHS Dean's Award, Project MATCHE (Mentored-Approach to Training in Community Health Evaluation). 2013: $15,000.

The World Health Organization, Assessment of Evidence on Guidance of HIV Disclosure for Children. 2010-2013: $16,000.

PSC-CUNY 40, Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice Skills in Social Workers. 2009-2010: $2,600.

PSC-CUNY 37, Planning for the Continuous Care of Children in HIV0Affected Families: A Study of the Training Needs of Social Workers. 2006-2007: $4,057.

PSC-CUNY 36, Maternal Caregiving of Children in HIV-Affected Families. 2005-2006: $4,200.

PSC-CUNY 34, Social Workers' Knowledge, Attitudes and Bahavior: Future care and Custody Planning for HIV-Affected Families. 2003-2004: $4,322.

PSC-CUNY 33, Social Workers' Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior: Pilot Study. 2002-2003: $4,650.

President's Incentive Award to Faculty Research, Social Workers' Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior. 2002-2003: $1,000.

President's Incentive Award to Faculty Research, The Relationship of Social Support and Mood to HIV Disclosure in Families. 2001-2002: $1,000.

PSC-CUNY 32, The Relationship of Social Support and Mood to hIV Disclosure in Families. 2001-2002: $4250.

Other Professional Activities and Public Service

Member, Editorial Board Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment: .

Founder, Social Work Subdivision The Society of Cross Cultural Research: .

Reviewer, Journal of Social Work Education: .

Reviewer, AIDS Care: .

Reviewer, African Journal of AIDS Research: .

Reviewer, Advances in Social Work: .

Reviewer, Pearson Education, Allyn & Bacon: .

Reviewer, Center for Urban and Community Health, Hunter College School of Public Health: .

Research Fellow, National Drug Research Institute: .

Research Consultant, UN AIDS HIV in the International Workplace: .