BREAKING THE CHAINS OF INCARCERATION IN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES
For African American males, the consequences of low social status due to incarceration are compounded by racial discrimination and stereotypes. Consequently, the portrait of African American males puts them under heightened scrutiny and increases the number of adverse encounters with police and society. This issue led Dr. Precious Skinner-Osei, instructor in the Sandler School of Social Work to examine why re-entry programs are not as effective for African American men when compared to others. The research, which she co-authored with her husband, was recently published in the Journal of Prison Education and Re-entry, looked at African American men’s re-entry experience, family reunification and recidivism. ... Read On
SOCIAL WORK PROFESSOR RECEIVES HIGHEST UNIVERSITY HONOR
Congratulations to Dr. Danielle Groton, assistant professor, on being awarded the 2020-21 FAU Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award! Exclusively selected by students, the award is given to the teacher who, in the eyes of the student selection committee, represents the highest level of excellence in teaching, student advising and service to the university, the community and... Read On
MINOR IN SOCIAL WORK ADDED TO DEGREE PROGRAM OFFERINGS
As of Fall 2021, students across the university have the option of pursuing a minor in Social Work, which pairs well with majors in Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology, Nursing, Education, Public Administration, Health Science, and Business. View Flyer | Learn More 
FORDHAM UNIVERSITY FEATURES DEAN & PROFESSOR AS 'COMPASSIONATE, COLLABORATIVE' COMMUNITY LEADER
Naelys Luna, Ph.D., MSW, founding dean of the FAU College of Social Work & Criminal Justice and professor in the Sandler School of Social Work, will serve as a panelist on the "Compassionate and Collaborative Leadership in our Communities" discussion, part of the Fordham Women's Summit on Philanthropy, Empowerment and Change... Read On
NEW ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR JOINS SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM
Alumna Ashley Zantop, MSW, LCSW has joined the Sandler School leadership team as the new associate director of operations and community engagement. Ashley is responsible for the many administrative operations of the school as well as all community programming offered through the Office of Professional Development and the Robin Rubin Center for Happiness and Life Enhancement... Read On
(L-R) Dr. Marianna Colvin, associate professor; Dr. Morgan Cooley, associate professor; Dr. Heather Thompson, director
of the Sandler School; Dr. Heather Howard, assistant professor; and Dr. Joy McClellan, MSW program coordinator
FLORIDA INSTITUTE FOR CHILD WELFARE RESEARCH AWARDS
Each year, the Florida Institute for Child Welfare awards statewide affiliate awards, which fund translational research projects within the sphere of child welfare that will result in policy or practice recommendations. Two of the three awards for 2021 were given to Sandler School of Social Work faculty - the Affiliate Award for Priority Research and the Affiliate Award for Translational Research... Read On
$50,000 SCAIFE GRANT AWARDED
Dr. Heather Howard, assistant professor, recently received a $50,000 grant from the Scaife Family Foundation to support her Peer Recovery Support program, “An Empowerment Model for the Mother-Infant Dyad Impacted by Trauma”. The empowerment model supports mothers in reaching their... Read On
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH NAMES CHIPS FELLOW
Dr. Morgan Cooley, associate professor, has received the competitive CHIPS (Child Intervention, Prevention, and Services) fellowship, which was created to support researchers in the areas of intervention, prevention, and the provision of services for children and adolescents ... Read On
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SLEEP MEDICINE INVITES FACULTY TO PRESENT ON 'SLEEP HEALTH AMONG UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS'
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recently hosted a virtual reception to hear updates from award recipients who are building sleep health awareness in communities. Drs. Danielle Groton and Christine Spadola were invited to present an overview and update on their AASM-funded grant project entitled, Empowering Social Workers to Promote Sleep Health among Underserved Populations. Drs. Groton and Spadola have developed sleep health training for social work students and received valuable feedback from training participants that is helping to inform and improve the intervention modules. 
PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS: COMMUNITY-ENGAGED SERVICE, TEACHING
Congratulations to Patricia Gustafsson, LCSW on receiving the 2021 Presidential Award for Community-Engaged Service and to Dr. Precious Skinner-Osei on receiving the 2021 Presidential Award for Community-Engaged Teaching! They... Read On
NASW CODE OF ETHICS UPDATES ON SELF-CARE, RACISM, INEQUITY
NASW recently announced some important revisions to the Code of Ethics regarding explicit inclusion of self-care and explicit expectation that social workers have a responsibility to clients (not just society) to address racism, discrimination, and inequities, and acknowledge personal privilege. Dr. Allan Barsky synopsized... Read On
INSTRUMENTAL ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK FACULTY WITHIN OFFICE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL ED. & PRACTICE
The Office of Interprofessional Education & Practice promotes collaborative care across professional disciplines. Georgia Brown, MSW, coordinator of field education, serves as an IPEP Associate Director, and has been instrumental in the inclusion of social work students in these critical learning opportunities and acquisition of crucial skills in interprofessional practice. IPEP accomplishments would not have been possible without many of our Social Work faculty, like Drs. Allan Barsky, Heather Howard, Dean Naelys Luna and many others who have helped IPEP succeed during a challenging year. 
SOCIAL WORK ALUMNUS SUPPORTS ROCHESTER LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH DE-ESCALATION & CRISIS SVCS.
Dre Johnson (’19) was featured for his work with the City of Rochester in his role on the city’s new Person in Crisis “PIC” Team. The PIC Team aids the Rochester Police Department by de-escalating crisis calls, connecting community members with available crisis services, diverting crisis calls coming in to 911 to the most appropriate response option – activating law only when needed; and strengthening supports post-crisis to address a full range of needs that can stabilize and prevent future crises. Watch Video
BSW STUDENT EARNS TOP SPOT IN UNDERGRAD RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Congratulations to Matthew Patterson, mentored by Dr. Dani Groton, for taking first place at the university's 11th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. His presentation was entitled "A PhotoVoice Study on the Lived-Experience of Students Attending College While Homeless"
... Read On
SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS REINFORCE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Despite the pandemic, future social workers Jade Adams, Arielle Esch, and Alison Norris helped our communities vulnerable homeless population by creating hygiene bags that can... Read On
UPCOMING CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES + EARLY BIRD PRICING
The Sandler School is an approved CEU provider of the Council on Social Work Education, and many states accept CEUs from CSWE-accredited institutions in other states. Check out a sampling of our upcoming courses below. Visit Website
UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES
HOT OFF THE PRESSES: FEATURED PUBLICATIONS

Collins C., & DeRigne, L. (2021). Losing Hold of the American Dream: A Qualitative Exploration of the Relationship Between Foreclosure and Psychological and Physical Health. Journal of Family Issues, 42 (4): 695-721. View Article


Thompson, H.M., Colvin, M.L., Cooley, M.E. et al. Factors Predicting Service Referrals for Youth in the Child Welfare System. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal (2021).


Cooley, M.E., Thompson, H.M., et al. Parental monitoring by foster parents, youth behaviours and the youth-foster parent relationship. Child & Family Social Work (2021). View Article


Cohen EV, Luce V, González M.J., et al. Improving Team Skills of Health Care Practitioners: Effects of an Interprofessional Education Program. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions (2021).


Wohlsifer, D.B., Suttenberg, L.P. & Park, J. A Reflection on Special Challenges and Amending Pedagogy in Clinical Social Work Practice Courses During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Clinical Social Work Journal (2021). View Article


Groton, D.B. & Spadola, C. “I ain’t getting enough rest”: A Qualitative Exploration of Sleep among Women Experiencing Homelessness, Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness (2021). View Article


~~~

Barsky, A. (2021). Freedom To Discriminate and the Professional Obligation of Social Workers. The New Social Worker. View Article

Barsky, A. (2021). Ethics Alive: Special Report on the 2021 Revisions to the NASW Code of Ethics. The New Social Worker. View Article | Listen to Podcast
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Nearly 40 percent of our students need financial aid to complete their degrees, pursue their careers, and make a positive difference in our world. Your generosity makes a far greater impact than you could possibly imagine.