We here at Florida International University are celebrating a year of success one that I know will make a tremendous impact in the years to come.
This year, the Florida Board of Governors designated FIU a Preeminent State Research University. This designation will open doors to new research opportunities and create new avenues for our FIU community to continue to reach new heights. I am also thrilled to share that for the first time in its history, FIU was ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 50 public universities in the nation.
At the FIU School of Social Work, we are thrilled to see our university rise in recognition because we know the impact this will have not only on our students, faculty, and staff, but also on the community at large.
While we celebrate our university, I’d be remiss if I didn’t share how proud I am of our social work community. I invite you to explore our highlight booklet to see a few of the many successes our faculty, staff, and students have achieved this year. Through our dedication to advancing social, economic, racial, and environmental justice locally and globally, collaborating with the community, and addressing critical societal challenges, our school is continuing to make a profound difference here in Miami and beyond.
Thank you for your support,
Mary Helen Hayden, EdD, LCSW, DCSW Director
School of Social Work
FIU Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
FIU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
FIU Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work is located in Miami, Florida, a city rich with diverse communities and uniquely situated to address local and global social welfare issues. Our vision is to be a power agent for positive change in achieving health and well-being for all. The School of Social Work offers programs of study that prepare graduates to work in governmental, academic, non-profit, and for-profit settings in community, regional, state and national systems.
Through classroom and field experience, our students gain knowledge and skills vital to the practice and research of social work. As a result, our graduates significantly impact the community and contribute substantially to the field of social work through direct practice, administration, advocacy, and research.
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Master of Social Work (MSW)
MSW/MPH Combined Program
MSW/Juris Doctor Joint Degree Program
Ph.D. in Social Welfare
TOP 100 #5
Public School of Social Work in the Nation
U.S. News & World Report
School of Social Work in Florida
U.S. News & World Report
ACTIVE STUDENTS IN FALL 2024
140
Bachelor’s
182 19
Master’s
DEMOGRAPHICS
Ph.D.
INTERNSHIPS
67% of Advanced Clinical MSW Internships funded by fellowships with tuition waivers and stipends
359 Placements throughout South Florida
MEET OUR JUNIOR FACULTY
A focus on end-of-life interventions in U.S. correctional facilities
Inspired by her dissertation on the meaning-making experiences of correctional healthcare advocates, Dr. Shivani Kaushik produced a study that explored the motivational factors of incarcerated individuals who participate in an end-of-life care program. Her research has allowed her to present at both national and international conferences this past year, including The National Conference on Correctional Health Care in Las Vegas, NV, and the Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health in Phoenix, AZ.
Improving HIV care delivery and outcomes among women living with HIV
Dr. Sofia Fernandez’s work has contributed to the understanding of interpersonal and clinic level practices that influence whether a woman feels respected. Findings from a recent publication highlight ways to provide care that is more aligned with these experiences. This study is part of Dr. Fernandez’s larger work and commitment to addressing persistent and known social and structural determinants of health among diverse groups of women through culturally responsive, respectful care delivery.
Examining climate change and mental health
Dr. Berenice Castillo recently received support from the FIU Population Health Initiative to study the impacts of sociocultural factors and climate changes on mental health. This research aims to leverage both social science and climate data to gain insights into the complex relationship of factors that influence mental health. Dr. Castillo’s work on substance use trajectories and variation among Latino adults recently led to an invitation to present her research at the annual National Hispanic Science Network (NHSN) conference in New Orleans, LA.
SOCIAL WORK INTERNS AND FIELD
INSTRUCTORS HONORED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
Every spring, the FIU School of Social Work recognizes social work students who have completed internships at various agencies throughout South Florida, celebrating their hard work and commitment to the field. Field instructors who go above and beyond to educate and mentor these students are also recognized for their efforts.
The internship helps students meet the competencies and behaviors set forth by the Council on Social Work Education during their practicum. Students learn to integrate their classroom learning and knowledge into their practice in the internships under the supervision of field instructors.
This year, the three students and three field instructors below were recognized for their contributions.
Field Instructors Awardees
BSSW Field Instructor of the Year
Karine Adams
Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court
Criminal Mental Health Project
MSW Generalist Field Instructor of the Year
Twala Kelly
University of Miami
Mailman Center School Health Initiative
MSW Advanced Clinical Field Instructor of the Year
Zuany Haspil
Miami Dade County Public Schools
Student Intern Awardees
BSSW Student Intern of the Year
Trinity Nieves
MSW Generalist Student Intern of the Year
Sharon Monrabal
MSW Clinical Student Intern of the Year
Brandy Starks
DANIEL ORÉ
ADELAIDA ROSARIO
Social Welfare alumna Adelaida Rosario is a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), where she serves as a Separations Team Lead. She is actively promoting partnerships between FIU and USPHS.
Social Work alumnus Daniel R. Oré is chair of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools social work program. He received the Golden Alumni Award at the School of Social Work’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.
MARÍA EUGENIA CONTRERAS PÉREZ
Prior to graduating, Social Welfare alumna María Eugenia Contreras Pérez won 2nd place in FIU Stempel College’s annual Research Day, presenting on the Outcomes of a Brief Motivational Intervention for Heavy Alcohol Use in Racial or Ethnic Minority Compared to White Emerging Adults. Today, she is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Rutgers Addiction Research Center (RARC) at Rutgers University.
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER SHARES MENTAL
HEALTH TIPS
According to the American Psychological Association, more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem. Victoria Gray, clinical social worker and assistant clinical professor, helps us understand how to best support ourselves.
Q: How much is too much social media?
The amount of time that's healthy for a person to be on social media is really going to be dependent on that person. What I would recommend is that you would first assess how much time you're actually spending. For a lot of us, we might be spending more time than we really realize. And then do another step. Ask yourself, how do I feel at the end of spending that time? Do I feel energized? Do I feel positive, or do I feel more isolated? Those are going to be two important factors when considering how your social media use might be affecting you.
Q: What are your views on mental health now being a more accepted topic of discussion?
We have a lot more awareness and education around mental health, which is a big step forward. However, we're not there yet. We still have mental health disparities for a lot of different groups of individuals, such as those belonging to racial, ethnic, or sexual minority groups. And we're not where we hope to be yet, as a mental health profession, in terms of getting the word out and getting people to be comfortable about talking about their own mental health.
Q: What are some healthy coping strategies for when we’re stressed or burnt out?
Do a coping skills assessment, ask yourself, “How am I coping?” We all tend to cope in very positive ways, but we also might have these negative coping skills that we want to be assessing and determining, “What are my positive coping skills?” And it could be anything from reaching out to a friend or going for a walk. It could be making good choices around what you eat, getting some extra rest, writing, and reading. But we also want to pay attention to some negative coping skills and you're going to have to determine what some of those might be. To give some examples, maybe using or misusing substances, maybe avoidance, such as avoiding things that we know we need to get done.
Appointments & Awards
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK EMPOWERS STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY THROUGH ACT WORKSHOP
This fall, the FIU School of Social Work, with support from the Hampton House and Casa Valentina, hosted a transformative Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshop at the Hampton House in Miami, FL.
ACT focuses on six core clinical processes:
Acceptance: Embrace thoughts and feelings without trying to change them.
ACT in ACtion at the Historic Hampton House
Cognitive Defusion: Alter interactions with thoughts to reduce their impact. Being Present: Cultivate mindfulness and awareness of the present moment. Self as Context: Recognize oneself as more than just thoughts and feelings. Values: Identify what is truly important.
Committed Action: Take meaningful steps aligned with your values.
Led by clinical assistant professors Dr. Shed Boren and Victoria Gray, the event brought together 150 attendees with the aim to educate clinicians about ACT, encourage networking, emphasize the importance of the environment as it relates to behaviors, and encouraged students to engage with core concepts related to social work.
