FSU College of Social Work Becomes Trauma-Aware Certified

An initiative started in 2022 by Dr. Jim Clark, FSU’s provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs and former dean of the College of Social Work, began a journey for Florida State University to become a trauma-aware community. The initiative is built upon Provost Clark’s vision to promote a university-wide commitment to fostering resilience, skill-building and trauma awareness.

The initiative began through Provost Clark’s Trauma and Resilience Collaborative, which harnessed the interdisciplinary expertise on trauma and resilience at FSU. The initiative is led by the FSU Resilience Institute for Strength and Empowerment and its director, Dr. Angi Yoder-Maina.

Thanks to interdisciplinary trauma and resilience experts, including Karen Oehme, director of the Institute for Trauma and Resilience Studies, and Dr. Mimi ma, director of the FSU Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy, an organizational certification was created - Strength through Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) Certification. The certification is available across FSU through the human resources platform (contact RISE@fsu.edu for more information).

In 2025, the College of Social Work received the Organizational Certification for Trauma and Resilience, making it the first academic unit at Florida State to complete the training and the first college in Florida to earn the organizational certification.

“The College of Social Work is a natural place to lead by example to become trauma aware as an academic unit,” shared Dr. David Springer, dean of the College of Social Work, when the college began pursuing the certificate in late 2024. “Our profession and curriculum emphasize being trauma aware to effectively serve clients and communities as well as to work towards breaking the cycle of trauma.”

Those pursuing the STAR Certification must meet a 90% participation rate across their organization, with participants completing training on understanding trauma and resilience and how to foster better communication skills and support for individuals who have experienced trauma.

The College of Social Work and its affiliates have been FSU leaders in trauma and resilience. The Institute for Trauma and Resilience has created several Pathways to Professional Advancement, including two professional certifications on trauma and resilience, college student wellbeing and many more.