CSW General

Dear College Students,

Raised by parents who taught business and economics, Sherry Jackson had her sights set on a degree in business as she set out for college. But when she arrived at Florida State University as an undergraduate, she quickly realized her passion focused more on the social and behavioral sciences. With a degree in cultural anthropology under her belt, she decided to stay at Florida State because of how much she enjoyed her undergraduate experience and to pursue an MSW because of the national reputation of the FSU College of Social Work.

When Margarita Amado-Blanco started her undergraduate studies at Florida State University, she was still an exploratory/undecided major with an inclination toward assistance for disadvantaged persons and special education. She dabbled in liberal arts classes, including international affairs and psychology, but found herself hooked by her first social work class as she began her minor in social welfare.

As the director of International Programs at the FSU College of Social Work, I make frequent site visits to agency sites around the world to create and sustain international field placements for social work students.  This year, my trip happened to coincide with Brexit Day, January 31st, the day the United Kingdom (UK) officially withdrew from the European Union.

Doctoral Student Rachel Harris along with Doctoral Candidates Melissa Murphy and Sarah Rakes recently had their study entitled, “The Psychometric Properties of the Outcome Rating Scale Used in Practice: A Narrative Review” in the Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work.  

The Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal has been around for over thirty years, but has only just recently been accepted into the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI), a database incorporated the world’s leading social science academic journals from across more than fifty disciplines.

FSU students in the College of Social Work were able to learn about laughter therapy and hospital clowning in a workshop hosted by professional clown doctor, David Engel.

Clown therapy is when professional entertainers visit people in times of need, such as hospital patients, and perform comedy. Without props or built sets, the clowns rely on their individuality and talent to perform for patients.

With the retirement of Elder Care Services CEO Mark Baldino in 2019, Elder Care Services’ board of trustees conducted a national search for the ideal candidate to lead the agency into its fiftieth year as a senior service leader in the Big Bend region of Florida. At the end of the search, the ideal candidate was found in their own director of volunteers and engagement, Jocelyne (Josie) Fliger.

The Florida Legislative Session begins on January 14, 2020. As the president of the National Association of Social Workers Florida Chapter (NASW-FL), I am eager to share this information with you regarding Legislation Education Days.  NASW-FL is geared up to meet with and lobby our representatives regarding several important bills that are pertinent to the social work profession and the individuals, families, and communities we serve.

As a Tallahassee native, Hannah Kinnon has always been proud of her hometown. “This city has a small-town community feel, coupled with the political and governmental opportunities a capital city provides,” she explained. “Attending FSU has given me an opportunity to experience a totally different side of my hometown.”

Kinnon began her undergraduate experience at Florida State University (FSU) as an exploratory major, searching for a service-oriented major that would allow her to help others. A friend described her own major in social work, and Kinnon was “captivated.”