Faculty & Research

With research indicating that the early stage symptoms of depression emerge in early adolescents there is a strong need for early intervention, according to Assistant Professor Dr. La Tonya Noël.

“”It is when these symptoms are not addressed at this stage that it progresses to Major Depressive Disorder, which can be a lifelong struggle,” Dr. Noël stressed. “So all the research basically indicates that it’s best to intervene early to prevent this.”

Some doctors are too quick to prescribe antidepressants to parents who have suffered the death of a child either during pregnancy or within the first month of life, according to a study conducted by Florida State University researcher Jeffrey R. Lacasse.

In a study of 235 bereaved parents participating in an online support community, Lacasse found that 88 — or 37.4 percent — of them were prescribed a psychiatric medication to help them cope. Some women received prescriptions within a week of losing their children.

The Institute for Family Violence Studies in Florida State University’s College of Social Work has partnered with the Center for Public Safety Innovation at St. Petersburg College to create a Spanish-language version of an online training program to prevent domestic violence in the homes of law enforcement officers.

The Spanish-language online training went live March 17 and is free to all law enforcement agencies in Puerto Rico.

At the conclusion of the spring 2014 semester the College of Social Work will bid farewell to long-time faculty member Karen Keroack.  For over 28 years Karen has served as an invaluable member of the faculty, acting as an instructor and area coordinator for the Gainesville Part-Time MSW Program.

The Institute for Family Violence Studies within the Florida State University College of Social Work, with a multidisciplinary partnership, launched a unique online prevention curriculum and resource site for medical professionals on domestic violence.

For the fifth year running the Law Enforcement Families Partnership, a vital part of the FSU College of Social Work’s Institute for Family Violence Studies, was awarded a Prudential Productivity Award. The partnership was honored, along with other recipients, at an awards luncheon on June 3, 2014 at Florida State.

Starting this July, Dr. Neil Abell director of the College’s international programs will take on a leadership role with the Council of Social Work Education’s (CSWE) as a member of the Council on Global Learning, Research, and Practice for another three-year term.

At the end of July, Dr. Beverly Atkeson will retire from her position as the director of the College of Social Work’s Louise R. Goldhagen Evaluation and Consulting Center (The Multidisciplinary Center or MDC).  Dr. Atkeson joined the MDC in 1983 as a psychologist after serving as an assistant professor at the University of Georgia. She became the director of the MDC in 1996.

Dr.  Amy L. Ai will have the unique opportunity to be one of three representatives of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) to present at the GSA’s Chinese Congress and Exposition on Gerontology and Health Industry, September 12-14 in Suzhou, China.  Dr.

The College of Social Work welcomes a bright, new faculty member to its social work family Dr. Shamra Boel-Studt. Dr. Boel-Studt prior to joining the College was finishing her doctoral dissertation in social work at University of Iowa. Learn more about Dr. Boel-Studt’s research and experience by reading the interview below.