Teresa DeCrescenzo

An interview with Teresa DeCrescenzo, MSW, as she discusses her work with LGBT youth, the political environments she encountered, and the different tools she used to change regulations.

Director of GLASS

California Social Work Hall of Distinction Biography

Interviewed by Joseph Wise. Date of interviewL 5-1-2015. Length of interview: 35 minutes. DVD containing interview.

Interview Topics

(00:30) – Introductions. (01:00) – Entrance into the field. (03:00) – Political climate during her early career. (04:30) – Coming out and effect on career. (05:30) – Time at USC. (06:49) – Drumbeat of homophobia . (09:11) – Movement away from homophobia. (11:33) – Formation of Gay Lesbian Adolescent Social Service. (15:45) – Mobile Health Outreach Project. (17:30) – Fighting regulations. (20:00) – Policy work – including the youth. (22:08) – Most satisfying experiences. (23:44) – Work post-GLASS . (24:50) – Future of advocating for LGBT community . (27:00) – Looking back, do it differently?. (29:30) – Advice for future social workers; right thing the first time, every time. (30:36) – Missing component. (32:20) – Final comments