"A state of the art compendium of the I&R of the new millennium. Emphasizing technology, it also addresses operational issues, staffing, training, standards, organizational contexts of operation, and the proliferation of I&R services over time and geography..."
--Susan Sarnoff, DSW, Assistant Professor and Graduate Chair, Ohio University Department of Social Work
"This book updates the vast social, demographic, political and organizational patterns in the web of human services. From the organizational structure of this book, it should have utility and appeal across a fairly broad array of professionals--certainly I&R providers, but as importantly for human service planners and evaluators, and policy makers."
--Karen S. Haynes, PhD, President, University of Houston-Victoria
"Levinson is one of the founding mothers of the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems...through this new book, she continues to lend her depth of knowledge toward the advancement of the field."
--Leta K. Weintraub, President, New York State Alliance for Information Referral Systems
Risha W. Levinson, DSW, professor emerita at the Adelphi University School of Social Work in Garden City, New York, holds a doctorate in social welfare from the Columbia University School of Social Work, and a master's degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago.
Dr. Levinson coauthored a book on Accessing Human Services: International Perspectives (Sage) in 1984 with Karen S. Haynes, PhD. In 1988, Dr. Levinson authored a textbook on Information and Referral Networks: Doorways to Human Services published by Springer.
Based on a federal grant that Dr. Levinson received from the U.S. Administration on Aging in 1984, she was the director of this library-based I&R training program, known as Senior Connections, which involved students and older volunteers. In 1995, this program was transferred from Adelphi to the Nassau Library System.
Dr. Levinson received the "Distinguished Service Award" from the Alliance of Information and Referral Service (AIRS) in 1990 for her contribution to the field of Information and Referral services and the AIRS organization. In 1991 Dr. Levinson was awarded an 18-month research grant in gerontology studies from the Gray Panthers to analyze intergenerational programs conducted jointly with older volunteers and interdisciplinary students in I&R internships. In 1992 Dr. Levinson was the recipient of the "Social Worker of the Year Award" as elected by the New York State Association of Social Workers.
Dr. Levinson has delivered many papers at conferences, conducted seminars and workshops on Information and Referral, and authored numerous articles and chapters in books related to practice issues and policy implications of I&R.
