Faculty & Research

Florida’s Fostering Success Program launched this year with the Florida State University Success Institute, a week-long overnight professional development and employment readiness training from June 17-22, 2018. The Institute, which is only one component of the Fostering Success program, is a collaboration between the FSU College of Social Work and the Florida Department of Children and Families, along with participating local child welfare experts, social work faculty members, and former Fostering Success participants.

As Florida State University prepares to welcome more than 6,000 freshmen this fall, the university is offering a new online tool to help students adjust to campus, improve mental health, increase resilience and reduce stress.

Amy L. Ai, Ph.D., Professor in Florida State University’s College of Social Work and a Faculty Affiliate with the Institute for Successful Longevity, was honored by the International Association of Applied Psychology for her long and distinguished history of scientific contributions to health psychology.

IAAP’s Division 8: Health Psychology gave Ai its Distinguished Health Psychology Contribution Award for 2018.

This year was the seventh annual College of Social Work Arts & Athletics Camp. The Camp utilizes arts and athletics to introduce local middle school aged youth, ages 11-14, to the university environment and encourage them to pursue higher education. This program aims to enhance leadership development, grow confidence in academic achievement, socialization, and other life skills for young adults living in the local community, including those with limited social and economic opportunity.

International Programs at the FSU College of Social Work began with efforts of one faculty member, Patricia (Pat) Lager (MSW, 1983, BA 1967). Pat transitioned from work in the areas of mental health and child welfare education, teaching at Florida A&M University before being hired by [then] Dean Ray Bardill. “I graduated from FSU, so I’ve always loved this university and the College of Social Work. It’s a passionate program,” Pat related about taking on her first academic role at FSU as a part-time field faculty placing students in their internships.

Experts from across the state gathered last month at Florida State University in an effort to improve the standards of child abuse prevention services in Florida.

The FSU-headquartered Florida Institute for Child Welfare hosted the Child Abuse Prevention Research Symposium April 26-27 at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center.

Five award recipients were honored in Tallahassee on March 27, 2018 for their contributions to the social work profession, education, and the community. The awards were presented at the 2018 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Florida Chapter, Big Bend Unit celebration breakfast at Tapestry Senior Living.

March is National Social Work Month. The FSU College of Social Work, celebrating its 100th anniversary, holds more experience than any other institution in Florida offering social work education and was the first in the world to offer a Master’s in Social Work through an accredited online program. Below FSU Social Work Dean Jim Clark shares his vision for the future of the college. 

Florida State University recently met with a delegation from East China University of Science and Technology in an effort to forge a relationship for future research collaboration and student exchanges.

The partnership was initiated by FSU College of Social Work Dean Jim Clark and Professor Amy Ai, who have extensive experience with Chinese scholars in health, trauma and social work.

Florida State University College of Social Work has chosen an accomplished expert in non-profit leadership as the new director of the Center for Study and Promotion of Communities, Families and Children (the Center).