Alumni & Friends

Counseling is critical in the aftermath of Orlando shootings

James Clark, dean of the College of Social Work at Florida State University, has been in Orlando where the state chapter of the National Association of Social Work is meeting. The setting puts him right in the middle of the aftermath of one of the worst cases of mass shootings in the country.

Beyond the criminal investigation, there is the huge responsibility to address the needs of the families affected by the 49 deaths.

While much has been made about the “blue wall of silence” among police officers, a new study found that police officers don’t turn a blind eye when other officers perpetrate domestic violence.

In June 2016, 22 middle-school-aged youth participated in the fifth annual Arts and Athletics Camp sponsored by the Florida State University College of Social Work. Five MSW students served as camp counselors and worked with partners across the university to expose the youth to various forms of art, activities, and sports, in an effort to increase their self-esteem and confidence, thereby promoting positive youth development. An additional goal of the camp is to expose the youth to college and to promote post-secondary education.

Jim Clark is no stranger to dealing with high-stress, traumatic events.

Clark, who has served as the dean of Florida State University’s College of Social Work for about a year, lent his expertise in Orlando after the recent terrorist attack at the Pulse nightclub that devastated the LGBTQ community.

Katrina Boone, the director of field education for the FSU College of Social Work, has been appointed to a three-year term with the Council on Field Education, a group within the national Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

American Addictions Center (AAC) announced the recipients of its 2016 Behavioral Health Academic Scholarship Program. Among the winners was FSU College of Social Work BSW student Samantha Ferrara (third place). Ferrara and second place winner, Patricia Francois an MSW student at Columbia University, will each receive $2,500. First place winner Rhonda Kelly, a master’s student in clinical mental health counseling at University of Colorado at Denver will receive $5,000.

The Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW, Institute) was created in June 2014 to conduct research, policy analysis, and program evaluation of child protection and child welfare services. In November 2016, the FICW introduced its new website, ficw.fsu.edu, to assist child welfare policymakers and stakeholders access current research.

A group of FSU College of Social Work students and faculty enjoyed a transdisciplinary conversation and seminar on the topic of hate. Dr. Lawrence (Larry) J. Friedman, currently a teacher at Harvard University and an emeritus professor of history and philanthropic studies from Indiana University, led the discussion.  Dr.

Florida State University College of Social Work’s best and brightest gathered Thursday, Sept. 29 for an evening celebrating five distinguished graduates for their significant accomplishments and contributions to the field of social work. Sixty-five social work scholarship recipients also were honored for their academic achievement.

Coercive practices and treatments in social services are common but seldom subjects of critical public discussion. Florida State University is changing the conversation by taking a look at the pros and cons of coercive approaches in the helping professions and institutions relevant to students, academics, local and state government, private agency professionals, clinicians and interested citizens.