Alumni & Friends

Graduate Appointed to Florida Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse

On August 20, 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed six state experts to the Florida Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. The commission was established in 1999 by the Florida Legislature as a way to review, evaluate and make recommendations for change to the state systems addressing mental health and substance use,

2021-2022 Student Leaders at the College of Social Work

As Florida State University welcomed back students to campus in August, student organizations and their new leaders are faced with the fun challenge of reconnecting with their peers in person. The FSU College of Social Work is excited to profile the amazing students leading the FSU Student Association of Social Workers (SASW) and the FSU Macro Social Work Student Network (MSWSN) who have dedicated themselves to the busy and ambitious lineup of social, networking and education events for students in the College of Social Work and across campus.

Student Receives Mantra Health 2021 Scholarship for Students of Color

Social work student Merari Flores Saldana was awarded the 2021 Scholarship for Students of Color Pursuing Degrees in Mental Health by Mantra Health, a digital mental health clinic that partners with institutes of higher education. In her second year at Florida State University, Merari will graduate with her Master of Social Work with a clinical focus in spring 2022.

FSU Researchers: Family Ties Play Important Role in Mental Health of Asian Americans

Family cohesion and regular religious attendance play a critical role in positive mental health outcomes for Asian Americans, according to new research from Florida State University.

Amy L. Ai, a professor in the College of Social Work, led an interdisciplinary team that found family cohesion reduced the incidence of anxiety disorders among Asian Americans while regular religious attendance lowered their rate of substance use disorder. Family conflict increased instances of both substance use disorder and depression.

Social Work Student Channels a Passion for Change into Community Advocacy 

Social work student Taylor Biro can’t recall when she first became involved in community advocacy, only that her interest in it was developed and nurtured by the educators at SAIL High School in Tallahassee, Florida. SAIL, established in 1975, was the first accredited alternative school in Florida that emphasizes individualization, democratic decision-making and applying academics in a humanistic atmosphere. “We were given the autonomy to design our learning,” she recollected.