The Florida Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers has named Professor Jill S. Levenson, PhD, LCSW, Social Worker of the Year for Miami-Dade. The award celebrates distinguished clinicians, educators, policymakers, scholars, and organizations working to make a difference in the field of social service.
As a SAMHSA-trained, internationally recognized expert in trauma-informed care, Dr. Levenson has published more than 100 articles about policies and clinical interventions designed to prevent sexual abuse, including projects funded by the National Institute of Justice and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Her groundbreaking research on the link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and sexually abusive behavior has paved the way for innovations in treatment programs that now utilize a trauma-informed approach. She has also been a practicing clinical social worker for over 30 years, using a scientist-practitioner model to inform her research and her work with survivors, offenders, and families impacted by sexual trauma. Earlier this year, Dr. Levenson was inducted to the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, an honor society of distinguished scholars and practitioners; and in 2019, the Journal of Social Service Research named her among the top 100 social work scholars in North America.