About National Center
The National Center for Social Work Trauma Education and Workforce Development is a collaboration between the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service and the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. As a member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), the National Center works alongside NCTSN committees, developers of evidence-based trauma treatment methods, schools of social work, and community providers. This center aims to address the critical need for high-quality trauma education among current and future social workers.
Co-Directed by Dr. Virginia Strand and Dr. Robert Abramovitz, the National Center boasts a team of experienced professionals with expertise in social work, psychiatry, research, education, and training. Both directors have made significant contributions to the field of traumatic stress studies and continue to advocate for improved trauma education.
The National Center employs several accomplished faculty members and staff, including Laura Katz, the Project Director; Dr. Marciana Popescu, the Director of Evaluation; Dr. Susan Hansen, Faculty Associate; Dr. Rachelle Kammer, Faculty Associate; Dr. Howard Robinson, Faculty Associate; Dr. Lyn Slater, Faculty Associate; Sean M. Richards, Evaluation Research Assistant; Stephanie Bosco-Ruggiero, Communications and Research Assistant; Loriane Merone, Administrative Assistant; and Mireille Fauteux, Project Assistant. Each of these individuals brings unique skills and experiences to the table, ensuring that the National Center remains at the forefront of trauma education and workforce development.
The National Center offers numerous programs and resources designed to enhance trauma education for social workers. These initiatives include:
- Core Concepts Training Sessions: Led by Dr. Susan Hansen and other faculty associates, these sessions provide mental health professionals with comprehensive training on core concepts related to trauma treatment for children and adolescents.
- Learning Collaboratives: Under the guidance of Dr. Rachelle Kammer and Dr. Lyn Slater, these collaboratives facilitate discussions around best practices in trauma treatment and child welfare practice adaptation.
- Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Practice: Spearheaded by Dr. Lyn Slater, this initiative focuses on adapting original trauma treatment courses for child welfare audiences, promoting effective interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce child trauma in cases of abuse and neglect.
- Evaluation Research: Led by Dr. Marciana Popescu, evaluation research efforts focus on the effectiveness of federal funding in building organizational and community capacity, particularly in relation to intimate partner violence and women’s legal status.
Both the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service and the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College share missions dedicated to cultural diversity, human rights, social and economic justice, and promoting and enhancing human and community well-being. In line with these values, the National Center for Social Work Trauma Education and Workforce Development continues its crucial work in addressing trauma and fostering a new generation of socially responsible and informed social workers.
Mission
Vision: Transformed social work trauma education and enhanced and sustained trauma treatment services
Mission: To prepare the current and next generation of social workers for trauma informed and evidence-based practice
- Enhance capacity to provide high quality evidence-based trauma treatment
- Expand opportunities for collaborative application of trauma informed practices in schools of social work, community agencies, and consumer and professional networks
Our Work
The National Center fulfills its mission by building the capacity of:
- Schools of social work to provide trauma-informed, evidence-based, child, adolescent, and family trauma treatment education and training;
- Social work students to become trauma-informed, evidence-based, culturally sensitive practitioners;
- Community agencies to provide trauma-informed services and evidence-based trauma treatment; and
- Field instructors to supervise students in delivering trauma-informed services and evidence-based trauma treatments.