Bachelor of Social Work
- Florida’s largest BSW program with an average of 600 students
- Florida’s Top 3 BSW program based on monthly alumni earnings within a year of graduation
Master of Social Work
- U.S. News & World Report Top 100 program
- #3 MSW in the nation based on student evaluations
- One of FAU’s largest graduate programs with an average of 300 students
Doctor of Social Work
- Florida’s first DSW program, which trains scholarly clinicians for leadership positions
(L-R) Allan Barsky, PhD, MSW, professor in the Sandler School of Social Work; Atensia Earp Bowen, interim field education coordinator and instructor; Naelys Luna, PhD, MSW, dean of the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice; and Precious Skinner-Osei, PhD, MSW, assistant professor and BSW program coordinator.
(L-R) Sandra Jakubow, academic advisor and Soar-in-4 program coordinator; Samantha Wolpert, BSW major; Autumn Morant, BSW major; Naelys Luna, PhD, MSW, dean of the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice; Rachael Schmidt, holistic success consultant and philanthropic supporter; Cassidy Chapman, BACJ major; Madison Coddington, BACJ major; and Victoria Armand, BACJ major.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC RANKS IN TOP 20 AMONG U.S. PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
For Social Mobility, Research, and Community Service
Five public universities in Florida were ranked among the top 50 in a national assessment conducted by Washington Monthly that evaluates institutions based on social mobility, research, and community service. Ranked 41st overall and 19th among public universities, Florida Atlantic University topped University of South Florida and Florida State University ranked 47th and 48th overall, respectively.
“Florida Atlantic’s rise in the rankings is a testament to our commitment to offer a high-quality education that is accessible to all students,” FAU President Stacy Volnick said. “We are proud of the efforts of everyone involved in the success of our students and honored to be recognized by Washington Monthly for this achievement.” Read Full Article
RESEARCH HUB | WHERE TODAY’S DISCOVERIES BECOME TOMORROW’S SOLUTIONS
Our renowned faculty pursue multidisciplinary and community-engaged research, leveraging multiple in-house centers and institutes and an extensive network of scholars and organizations that wraps around the globe. The award-winning research coming out of the College of Social Work & Criminal Justice enhances the lives of individuals, families, and communities; informs a wide spectrum of solutions to societal and human needs; and contributes to the scientific basis of our professions.
We are well on our way toward fulfilling one of our five strategic priorities: integrate the cross-disciplinary research and scholarship portfolios between our two schools, across the university network and deeply within our communities. With this launch, we are seeking to:
- Grow & Disseminate research & scholarship where we already excel.
- Deliver meaningful impact within our communities, classrooms and professions.
- Broaden recognition of the college’s research & scholarship efforts.
- Bolster multidisciplinary, cross-school and cross-university research & scholarship.
- Elevate our college's research as a powerful tool for championing change.
- Heighten innovative community-based research & visibility of technology.
- Engage students in hands-on, transformative research opportunities.
- Demonstrate contributions to the FA Race to Excellence pillars & platforms.
Professional Development Courses
As clinicians, we understand the critical importance of high-quality continuing education. As research and evidence-based treatment evolves, standards of care shift. Whether you are just beginning your clinical journey or are a seasoned clinician ready to expand your scope of practice, we've got you covered for the upcoming year.
Check out the courses below and register today!
You can also visit our website for a complete course listing and frequent additions. To make sure you’re the first to know about new courses, you can request email notifications and like us on Facebook for course updates and School news.
The FAU Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work is an approved provider of the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling, the Florida Board of Psychology, the Florida Office of School Psychology, and the Florida Board of Nursing (BAP #50-6251), as well as the Florida Certification Board (#5350-A) and the Council on Social Work Education. Many states accept CEUs from CSWE-accredited institutions in other states.
Did you know?
Funds raised through the Office of Professional Development provide students’ scholarships and assistantships, and support faculty and students with research projects, attendance and presentations at national and international conferences, and other projects related to advancing our school's academic excellence and community engagement.
Agency Training Available
New Agency Training Available! Foundations in Narrative Therapy: This 6-hour course will provide clinicians with specific Narrative Therapy interventions that can be applied to multiple populations across the age span. Emphasis will be placed on using Narrative therapy as a powerful tool of intervention for many specific diagnoses utilizing a trauma-informed lens.
The Office of Professional Development within the FAU Sandler School of Social Work offers a wide variety of training options for community agencies. All workshops can be facilitated online or in-person, offer flexible scheduling, and can be fully customized to meet your unique agency needs. Take a look at our menu of options here.
*NEW* Agency Trainings Available!
Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Current Research and Recovery Strategies
Assertive Community Treatment: A Paradigm Shift in Treating Severe Mental Illness
2024-2025 Training Schedule for FAU’s Office of Professional Development - more details to follow.
Leadership Certificate For Behavioral Health Professionals | 40-hour Online-on-demand | Opens October 7 - January 24
Telehealth Certificate For Mental Health Professionals | 12-hour Online-on-demand | Opens November 4 - December 22
Robin Rubin Center for Happiness and Life Enhancement
FREE Wellness Workshops, yoga, and meditation are back!
FREE Bi-monthly Yoga (Every 2nd & 4th Monday) Register here!
FREE Weekly Meditation session (Every Friday @ Noon) Register here!
Wellness Events Calendar - 2024 through 2025:
December:
“Healing to Hault the Pattern” with Dr. Crystal-Ann England, LMFT
- Date: Tuesday, December 3 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm
- Online via Zoom
- Event Support: Marcheley Adam
January:
2025 New Year: Integrative Wellness Series for Mind, Body, and Spirit
Dates/Topics/Support:
- 01/08 Mindset Mastery: Cultivating Healthy Thinking Habits with Robin Rubin, MSW (Patricia)
- 01/15 (Patricia)
- 01/22 Spiritual Wellness with Ananda Nelson (Danile & Kayla)
- 01/29 Nutritional Wellness (Danile or Kayla)
- Online via Zoom
- Date: Sunday, January 26, 2025 from 9am – 4pm
- Online via Zoom
February:
Rhythms of Resilience: A Celebration of Black History with Tammy Patterson
- Date: Wednesday, February 4 from 12 - 1pm
- In-person: FAU Housing Lawn - 777 Glades Rd. Bldg 46, Boca Raton, FL 33431
- Date: Friday, February 7, 2025 from 8:30am – 12:30pm
- Online via Zoom
Mindfulness Walk & Bird Talk with Kyle Matera
- Date: Friday, February 14 from 9 – 11am
- In-person: Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands
- Event Support: Laurie Suttenberg
March:
Soul Surfing: Face the Waves & Elevate Your Life with Rachael Schmidt
- Date: Tuesday, March 25 from 12 - 1pm
- In-person: SO112
- Event Support: Robin & Danile
April:
The Power of Good Quality Sleep with Dr. David Wohlsifer-Landsman,
- Date: Tuesday, April 8 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm
- Online via Zoom
- Event Support: Danile
August:
Qualified Supervisor Training
- Date: Wednesday, August 14 - Friday, August 16, 2025 from 8:30am – 12:30pm (12 hours total)
- Online via Zoom
Social Work News Updates
Soar-in-4 Students Lunch With Dean Luna
The Soar-in-4 Scholars program is a by-invitation-only program that celebrates high-achieving students. Scholars accepted into the program commit to sustained academic excellence, graduating with their undergraduate degree in four years or less and accessing hands-on support, incentives, and personalized attention from their advising and faculty mentors.
Heather Howard, PhD, LCSW, associate professor, is featured in the following podcast: PODCAST: FL Institute for Child Welfare: "Supporting Mothers with Substance Use Disorder”
Student and Faculty Achievements and Honors
Danielle Groton, Ph.D., DSW Coordinator & associate professor; Allan E. Barsky, JD, MSW, Ph.D., professor; and Christine E. Spadola, Ph.D., M.S., LMHC; received the Best Article Award by the Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management for their research article, “Perceived impacts of a viewpoint diversity law in Florida’s State Universities”
Student and Faculty Conference Presentations
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Meeting
Student and Faculty Publications
Allan E. Barsky, JD, MSW, Ph.D., professor, published the following articles and research reports:
Barsky, A. E. (2024, October 15). Exceptions to privilege when clients threaten their therapist: Why recorded sessions were admitted into evidence at the Menendez murder trial. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/agens-scientiam/202410/exceptions-to-privilege-when-clients-threaten-their-therapist
"Impacts of a Florida Law Restricting Access to Gender-Affirming Medical Care,” is available at https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/f3ba3e59-c86b-4b75-ae43-07df8c1787bb/
downloads/80b24a99-2738-4fd3-b6f6-74e379bf3051/Impacts_of_a_Florida_Law_Restricting_
Access_to.pdf?ver=1731265253984
Barsky, A. E. (2024, November 12). Anticipating restrictions on rights with our patients: Assisting patients whose healthcare access and other rights are at risk. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/agens-scientiam/202411/anticipating-restrictions-on-rights-with-our-patients
Research Shows Foster Parents Need More Rigorous Training
Results from a research study led by Morgan Cooley, PhD, LCSW, associate professor, support the need for more rigorous evaluation of preservice training for foster parents to better support the needs of the child and family following placement. Published in the journal Children and Youth Services Review, the study found that only about half of foster parents remembered which preservice training they received, and nearly a third of participants did not feel prepared to foster after completing the training.
"This article makes a significant contribution to the field of foster care," said Michael Robinson, PhD, MSSW, CAADC, professor and director of the Sandler School. "The study's findings, rec- ommendations, and limitations provide valuable information for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to enhance the support and preparation of foster parents."
Co-authors include Heather Thompson, PhD, LCSW, associate professor; Marianna Colvin, PhD, associate professor; Robin Jimenez-Bean, MSW, Sandler School alumna; and Martie Gillen, PhD, associate professor of family youth and community sciences at the University of Florida.
M. Cooley, H.M. Thompson, M. Gillen, M. Colvin, R. Jimenez-Bean. (2024). Preservice training perspectives among Florida foster parents, Children and Youth Services Review. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107957
Morgan Cooley, PhD, LCSW, associate professor; Heather Thompson, PhD, LCSW, associate professor; Marianna Colvin, PhD, associate professor; and Martie Gillen, also published additional research as follows:
Cooley, M.E., Gillen, M., Thompson, H.M., Colvin, M. (2024). Need for Foster Homes, Foster Parent Recruitment, and Licensure: Comparing Foster Parent and Child Welfare Worker Perspec- tives. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-024-00991-y
Social Work Alumnus Receives 'Hope Recognition' Award
The Alumni Committee of the Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work is also looking for alumni volunteers to serve in our alumni committee. Volunteers will participate in planning in-person and online alumni events. Please email your interest to: Kyle Matera kmatera@fau.edu or Laurie Suttenberg lsuttenberg@fau.edu
The FAU SSW Alumni Society is planning future in-person and virtual mixer events. Click here to fill out and submit the form to receive emails about these alumni gatherings. Please share this link with FAU SSW alumni friends. We hope to see you at a future event!
Naelys Luna, PhD, MSW, dean of the FAU College of Social Work and Criminal Justice, (second from left) was asked to serve as a panelist at the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, for a discussion on "Front Lines Leadership." Her co- panelists included Travis Albritton, PhD, MSW, M.Div., associate dean at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work; Jenny Jones, PhD, MSW, ACSW, dean and professor at the Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work at Clark Atlanta University; Lori Messinger, PhD, MSW, dean of the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee; and Nancy Myer-Adams, PhD, MSW, professor and director of the School of Social Work at Cal State in Long Beach.
Sandler School of Social Work alumnus John Puls, MSW (c/o 2017), LCSW, MCAP, was recently honored with the "Hope Recognition" Award, presented at the Gratitude for Giving Breakfast hosted by Sierra Tucson. The award is given for advocacy, education, and prevention in the field of substance abuse. Puls is a psychotherapist and co-founder of Full Life Comprehensive Care, a private crisis intervention, case management, and psychotherapy practice that specializes in severe mental illness, psychotic spectrum disorders, and substance use disorders. He is also a forensic testifying expert witness, an adjunct instructor in the Sandler School of Social Work, and was named Alumni of the Year at the Heart of Social Work event in 2023.
(L-R) Morgan Cooley, PhD, LCSW, associate professor in the Sandler School of Social Work; David Simpson, PhD, MSSA, LCSW, assistant professor; Allan Barsky, PhD, MSW, professor; Precious Skinner-Osei, PhD, MSW, assistant professor and BSW program coordinator; and Marianna Colvin, PhD, associate professor.