Bio:

Dr. Rizzo has extensive practice experience as a healthcare social worker in a physical rehabilitation setting. Her practice specializations include stroke, spinal cord injury, pediatrics, arthritis, and sexuality issues for chronically ill and disabled individuals. She also has several years experience as a facilitator of countywide community partnership and coalition building focused on long term care issues and meeting the needs of elders in her home community.

Research Interests:

• Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of social work interventions in health care and aging
• Palliative care
• The implications of health policy and health care financing for social work practice

Current Projects:

• Principal Investigator. Evaluation of Disease Management Programs Implemented through the 2007 New York State Capacity-Building Legislative Allocation. April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008.

Recent Publications:

Books and Chapters
Rizzo, V. (in press).  Medicaid and Medicare. Encyclopedia of Social Work, 20th edition. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Journal Articles
Mizrahi, T. & Rizzo, V. (in press). The role of social workers in addressing the psychosocial problems of patients in New York City’s neighborhood health centers. Journal of Health and Social Policy.

Claiborne, N. & Rizzo, V. (2006). Addressing Sexual Issues in Individuals     with Chronic Health Conditions. Health & Social Work, 31(3), 221-224.

Rizzo, V. (2006) Social Work Support Services for Stroke Patients: Interventions and Outcomes. Social Work in Health Care, 43(1), 33-56.

Behrman, G., Mancini, M., Briar-Lawson, K., Rizzo, V, Baskind, F., &Valentine, C. (2006). Geriatric social work education: Exploring strategies to advance public sector funding. Journal of Social Work Education, 42 (1), 371 – 382.

Rizzo, V. & Fortune A. (2006).  Cost-effectiveness and social work practice (editorial). Research on Social Work Practice, 16 (1), 5-8.

Rizzo, V. & Rowe, J. (2006). Studies of the Efficacy of Social Work Services in Aging with a Focus on Cost Outcomes: A Review of the Literature. Research on Social Work Practice, 16 (1), 67-73.

Rizzo, V. & Kirkland, K. (2005) Adolescent reactions to parental cancer: Strategies for providing support. The Prevention Researcher, 12 (4),10–12.

Rizzo, V, Mizrahi, T., & Kirkland, K. (2005). Psychosocial Problems among Patients in Neighborhood Health Centers. Journal of Community Health, 30   (2), 125-140.

Smith, T., Toseland, R., Rizzo, V., & Zinoman, M. (2005).Telephone caregiver support groups. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 44 (1/2), 151-172.

Toseland, R., & Rizzo, V. (2005). What’s different about working with older people in groups? Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 44 (1/2), 5-23.

Lupoli, J., & Rizzo, V. (2004). The Impact of Technology on the “older nurse;” Findings of the Study, Part 2. Home Healthcare Nurse,22(10), 668 – 670.

Perloff, J. & Rizzo, V. (2004). Guide for Parents: 10 tips for talking with   children about a parent’s life-threatening illness.  Contemporary Pediatrics, 21(5), p. 84. (Spanish version available)

Lupoli J. & Rizzo, V. (2003). The impact of technology on the ‘older nurse’.” Home HealthCare Nurse, 21 (10), 691- 692.

Last updated December 03, 2007.