Adelphi to Launch the Nation's First-Ever Environmental Justice Certificate Program for Social Workers
Garden City, NY (08/27/2020) — This fall, Adelphi University's School of Social Work will launch a new virtual postgraduate certificate in Environmental Justice for Social Workers. The program, a first of its kind in the United States, is designed to prepare social workers for the rapidly changing world we live in, including COVID-19, air pollution and climate change.
The certificate program, created and taught by Kelly Smith, DSW, founder of the Institute for Social Work and Environmental Justice, will incorporate practical and actionable curriculum for social workers by addressing the effects of climate change on the most vulnerable populations. The course is being offered through the School of Social Work's Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development and was the brainchild of Dr. Smith and Renee M. Rawcliffe, director of continuing education and professional development. Prior to coming on board at Adelphi, Rawcliffe worked in disaster response and recovery as a social worker for a large nonprofit organization and saw firsthand the devastating impact climate change had on individuals, families and communities.
"While climate change and environmental justice impact all areas of social work practice, and a majority of surveyed social workers agreed that environmental issues are essential to social work, only 8 percent of those social workers felt their courses adequately covered these issues," said Dr. Smith. "Increasing continuing education in this area can spark innovative thinking among social workers as they consider the intersections between practice and policy initiatives and work to solve these wicked problems."
Courses will run on Thursday evenings, September 17 through December 10, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Field instructors and Adelphi alumni will receive a 20 percent discount. Veterans and current students will receive a 35 percent discount.
The School of Social Work is an approved provider of continuing education credits to social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and creative arts therapists. Successful completion of this course will result in the award of 24 CE hours.
Learn more about Adelphi's School of Social Work's continuing education and professional development and the postgraduate certificate in Environmental Justice and Social Work.
About Adelphi: A modern metropolitan university with a personalized approach to higher learning.
Adelphi University is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university offering exceptional liberal arts and sciences programs and professional training with particular strength in its Core Four-Arts and Humanities, STEM and Social Sciences, the Business and Education Professions, and Health and Wellness. Adelphi is dedicated to transforming students' lives through small classes, hands-on learning and innovative ways to support student success.
Founded in Brooklyn in 1896, Adelphi is Long Island's oldest private coeducational university. Today Adelphi serves nearly 8,000 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, New York-just 23 miles from New York City's cultural and internship opportunities-and at dynamic learning hubs in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, and online.
More than 116,000 Adelphi graduates have gained the skills to thrive professionally as active, caring citizens, making their mark on the University, their communities and the world.
Media Attachments
Adelphi University / New York
Taylor Damian, 516-993-5677, tdamian@adelphi.eduShare this Story
Recent News
- Irish Tenor Michael Londra's Celtic Yuletide Comes to Adelphi PAC - December 7
- Adelphi Introduces Learning Sciences Doctoral Program
- Adelphi Hosts Public Health Experts for Health Equity Talk
- Adelphi Named a College of Distinction Best College for International Students
- Adelphi Hosts Apprentice Challenge: Business Conference for Local High School Students
- Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program Receives 5-Year, Federal Grant to Support Young and Metastatic Patients
- Tony and Grammy Award Winner Debbie Gravitte Brings Big Band Broadway to Adelphi PAC
- Adelphi's Department of Music's Orchestra Returns with an Evening of Classical and Contemporary Music
- Adelphi Offers Workshop on Flexible Degree Programs for Working and Busy Individuals - November 13
- Adelphi's Department of Theatre Presents Caryl Churchill's "Love and Information"