On March 14, Barry University’s School of Social Work hosted the 2017 Professional Conference. This year’s conference, Clinical Innovative Approaches to Support Survivors of Sexual Trauma, underscored our commitment to provide the professional community with professional development opportunities that are cutting-edge, innovative and evidenced-based.

We were honored to have Dr. Pat Ogden as our keynote speaker. Ogden is the founder of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. The institute is internationally recognized, specializing in somatic-cognitive approaches for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and attachment disturbances. She has authored several articles and books, including “Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy” and “Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment.”

During the morning workshop, Ogden engaged participants in a phenomenal learning experience titled A Psychology of Action: The role of the body in trauma treatment. We were also privileged to have Shandra Woworuntu as our Plenary. Woworuntu is a survivor of human trafficking and is the founder of the Mentan Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program. She is also a powerful international advocate and activist, motivational speaker, and lobbyist.

The day was filled with workshops presented by experts in the field of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Restorative Justice, Narrative Approaches to healing, Canines as Co-Therapists, Mindfulness and Therapeutic Practice, EMDR, Military Sexual Trauma, Biopsychosocial Model of Disease and Suffering. It ended with Communal Yoga.

We thank the community for recognizing the School of Social Work for its trauma-informed advanced clinical practice program framed by our commitment to human rights and social justice.

Thanks to the Student Academic Leadership Fellowship, four students assisted the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy’s (CRISP) third annual Social Work Day on the Hill. Students Daryl Campbell, Zacharys (Sasha) Morales, Hailee Jefferys and Tiffany Hodgson were invited to represent the School of Social Work at the event. This year’s event honored former Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns, and launched the Ed Towns Congressional Fellows Program.

Towns founded the Congressional Social Work Caucus in 2010 to provide a platform on the Hill that allows social workers to engage Congress through various activities and to expand access to internships for social work students.

He created Social Work Day on the Hill in 2015 as a day during Social Work Month when national social work organizations, social work schools and departments, and social workers of all stripes could gather on the Hill to salute social work members of Congress. The day also celebrates the many contributions social workers have made to our nation through service with the federal government.

Daryl Campbell, MSW (Summer ’17)

Area of Interest:

• Social Work Policy Analysis
• Assessing and Treating Mental Health Disorders
• Substance Use Disorders

Zacharys (Sasha) Morales, MSW (Spring ’17)

Area of Interest:

• Clinical Practice with Children and Adolescents
• Human Services and Non-profit Organizational Management

Hailee Jefferys, BSW (Spring ’17)

Area of interest:

• Clinical Practice with adolescents and adults who have experienced interpersonal trauma, specifically sexual assault and domestic violence
• Community mental health outreach and education

Tiffany Hodgson, BSW (Spring ’18)

Area of interest:

• Mothers diagnosed with Postpartum Depression & Psychosis

Congratulations to Professor Sambra Zaoui for being chosen as the 2017 NASW Miami-Dade Social Work Educator of the Year!

The National Association of Social Workers Florida Chapter established the Social Work Educator of the Year Award to honor an exceptional educator who has demonstrated dedication to students and education, in addition to advancing the profession through research.

Zaoui lives out social work’s core concepts and mission, and her passion transcends to her students. She equips them with the tools and skills they need to succeed in the profession, more importantly, skills that will genuinely impact the lives of those they serve. She utilizes her professional experience to further bridge theory and practice with an illustration of practical application.

"I believe, as social workers, there are underscoring themes that must be threaded throughout each course, such as the message of cultural humility, human rights and social justice, advocacy, the self-determination of each client, the indispensable need for self-awareness and mindfulness, and the ability to assess each client, family, group and/or organization through a trauma informed lens,” Zaoui said. “Themes such as these are always threaded in my discourse and compliment our trauma-informed curriculum."

Anthony Torres

Anthony Torres served on active duty in the U.S. Army from 2002-2006, which included a year-long deployment to Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq, where he provided mental health treatment to U.S. troops and Iraqi detainees. Following an honorable discharge, he relocated to Miami, Fla., to continue his education. He earned a master’s degree in social work from Barry University in 2016.

Torres is the executive director of the Combat Hippies, a collective of combat veteran performing artists who use spoken word poetry to raise awareness of veteran’s issues and promote post-traumatic growth. Barry University’s School of Social Work hosted the Combat Hippies for a Veteran’s Day performance in 2015. He was also a 2016 finalist for Barry University’s Community Impact Award.

When did your desire to become a Social Worker start?

Growing up, I was labeled an “at-risk” youth due to several factors, including a single-parent home, low socioeconomic status and being Latino. I witnessed my mother work for several social service organizations over the years, providing services to AIDS patients, teen mothers and people recovering from addictions. Before I knew it I found myself working as a peer mentor for teens in a community action agency in upstate New York. As an adult, I worked in mental health for both the U.S. Army and the Department of Veterans Affairs for several years, but I felt something was missing. I realized that I had been involved in advocacy, community engagement and volunteer work for most of my life, and I missed it.

What made you choose Barry University to complete your graduate studies?

As I researched social work programs in South Florida, Barry University easily topped my list. I appreciated the trauma-informed curriculum, the small class sizes and the streamlined application process. Most of all, I felt supported and welcomed as a military veteran. I made my decision to attend Barry immediately after an information session with admissions director Philip Giarraffa. It was clear to me that this program was a perfect fit for my experience, knowledge and interests.

Have you had any meaningful internship experiences?

The most impactful internship experience was with Sunrise Community Inc., where I provided individual and group therapy to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I had experienced compassion fatigue in my previous employment, and interning with Sunrise reinvigorated my commitment to continuing this work. I was well-trained by my supervisor (and Barry alumna) Linda Angress, MSW, in medical conditions facing the clients, such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida. I gained a renewed sense of empathy from this training experience, and it was truly a life-changing opportunity.

Is there anyone who inspired you or helped you along your journey?

I was fortunate to have Dr. Heidi Heft LaPorte as my professor twice while in the program. I left every class (and discussion) with Professor LaPorte feeling inspired and motivated. Her knowledge and experience in the social work field speaks for itself. What was most impactful to me was her emphasis on self-care and compassion. Her dedication to students and clients reminded me that working in this field is a privilege, honor and responsibility.

What are your plans for your future career?

Since graduating from Barry University, the Combat Hippies have performed at the historic Seminole Theatre in Homestead, the National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military — National Summit in Tampa, and at Miami Dade College’s AshokaU Exchange. The Hippies were also awarded a 2016 Knight Arts Challenge Grant to encourage public conversations about the trauma of war by touring a new spoken-word performance based on the stories of local veterans and refugees from the Middle East. I recently wrote a blog post for HowlRound, a theater and arts organization, in which I shared how the Combat Hippies formed as a group.

I am excited for the next chapter of my professional career and I’m proud to say that I am a graduate of Barry University’s School of Social Work.

Laurel Dettman MSW ’16

Before coming to Barry for her MSW, Laurel Dettman graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies. During her time at Barry, she interned at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and at a private practice called Counsel and Connect Inc. She has experience working with children and with LGBTQ people of all ages, as well as victims of human trafficking. She recently published an article on socialworker.com about working with her first transgender client.

When did your desire to become a Social Worker start?

I feel like I was always meant to be a social worker,I just didn’t know it until I thought about getting my master’s degree. I have always loved helping others and have volunteered many times for many different agencies and enjoy seeing the happiness in others.

What made you choose Barry University to complete your graduate studies?

I chose Barry to pursue my master’s degree in social work because I had heard great things about the program and wanted a place where the professor’s really cared about the students and their learning, and that is definitely what Barry is. Another reason is that Barry offers a clinical social work program that is trauma informed, which is what I wanted so that I could have a full, well-rounded social work perspective.

Is there anyone who inspired you or helped you along your journey?

Throughout my time at Barry, Professor Fabio Naranjo was a huge inspiration. He is an amazing professor and person, and has a clear passion for social work that is truly motivating. I enjoyed the class and opportunities that I got to share with him. Another person who was influential was my supervisor when I was an intern at Counsel and Connect Inc., Noemi Marquez, LCSW. She is also a graduate of Barry. She is an amazing clinician and has helped to guide me in my journey as a social worker.

I am currently employed at the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe in the Early Head Start program as a Family Advocate.

Our nation can endure deep crevices of poverty that hold people in bondage; while unjust, from its depth some of our brightest stars have risen and given hope to others. Our nation can withstand the unjust conditions of homelessness; for out of this national tragedy compassion thrives. Our nation will not crumble under the stress of political discord; such conflict brings forth the voice of a people. But hatred and its unruly expressions, burn the very soul of a nation and among the ruins, human dignity is lost. The Barry University School of Social Work embraces the survivors of such expressions of hate and denounces anti-Semitism, racism, and violence. We stand on the premise, that our nation will not turn back. Our nation will not allow the snarls of hatred from our past to echo into our future. The best of our nation will stand against bigotry, dousing the flame of hatred that shames us. As a School, we stand resilient on the principle that all humans are created equal and have the earthly right to the pursuit of happiness; to walk the streets without fear; to worship, work, and learn without alarm; and be proud to be on American soil. Be the Voice of Change. Stand with us for human rights and social justice.

Respectfully,

Phyllis F. Scott, PhD.
Dean

From Survivor to Supporter Panel and Q&A

April 6th 10:00am-12:00pm | Andreas 111

Panelists:

• Somy Ali is founder of No More Tears, a non-profit organization that assists victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.
• Bianca Rudge earned her MSW from Barry University and is a mental health counselor.

Moderator:

• Laura Finley

Hunting Ground Screening & Dialogue

April 20th from 6:00-9:00pm | Weber Hall

More Information: http://thehuntinggroundfilm.com/