Brehon Family Services (Brehon), a nonprofit organization in the Big Bend area of Florida, has provided support services to woman and children since 1978. The organization has impacted thousands of lives in the region and supported more than 600 women and children at the Brehon House, a residential housing program for women experiencing homelessness.
In September 2022, the Center for the Study and Promotion of Communities, Families, and Children (CFC Center) at the College of Social Work was awarded a two-year Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant funding the Southeast Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (ROTA-RC).
Bryan Miller, a social work graduate (MSW, 1999), co-edited the book Oncology and Palliative Social Work: Psychosocial Care for People Coping with Cancer, published by Oxford University Press.
Three-time graduate Dr. Megan Deichen Hansen recently became an assistant professor with the College of Medicine (COM), a research-intensive position aligning well with her other role working alongside Dr. Heather Flynn to help run research and evaluation efforts at the COM Center for Behavioral Health Integration.
Daniel De Santiago was inducted into the Garnet & Gold Scholars Society at Florida State University during the summer 2024 semester before graduating with his Bachelor of Social Work. The society inducted 12 undergraduates this semester who display excellence within and beyond the classroom in three of five areas, including international, internship, leadership, research and service. For Daniel, he excelled in international, internship, and leadership.
Originally from Clearwater, Florida, Lisa Jackson came to Florida State University with the ambition to work with young adults. A two-time FSU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology (2013) and her Master of Social Work degree (2015), she knew she wanted to work in higher education to help youth adjust to the collegiate environment.
“My MSW application highlighted my desire to work with students navigating life on campus,” Lisa explained. “It’s an amazing time of life where students begin emerging into adulthood while facing many unique challenges.”
Florida State University (FSU), a leader in innovation, is launching a new online professional development training on meeting the needs of neurodivergent clients. The Professional Certification in the Fundamentals of Neurodiversity was developed at the FSU College of Social Work by the Institute for Family Violence Studies in conjunction with the FSU Center for Academic and Professional Development.
Online MSW Student, Harley Atkins, has worked in the field for more than six years with a particular interest in supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. As Lead Permanent Supportive Housing Programs Coordinator for Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina for the past four years, he has helped disabled individuals and families to find permanent housing in his local region.
Robyn Metcalf Blank joined The Griffin Group (TGG) as a Principal with the firm. She will head up the firm’s non-profit and education practice. The firm provides government relations, business, and non-profit development services with an emphasis on education, agriculture, land use/real estate, child welfare, local government, criminal justice, healthcare, and information technology.
As a first-generation American, Erika Cuffy calls Florida home after her parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba in the 1970s. She discovered at an early age how much she loved people and finding ways to connect and help them.
