University of Central Florida School of Social Work

Home
United States
Orlando, FL
University of Central Florida School of Social Work

Education. Research. Community. Unleashing potential by advancing social work policies & practices.

09/03/2026

We know healthcare is better with a team-based, collaborative approach.

A curriculum-embedded interprofessional education (IPE) program for CHPS students will be piloted this year to help our students prepare for careers with exactly this in mind.

This program kicked off last week with a social event complete with pizza, IPE bingo and a visit from Knightro. The goal for students was to learn about the roles and responsibilities of their peers in other health disciplines and communicate collaboratively and effectively.

What’s ahead for the program? We’ll introduce healthcare delivery topics such as social determinants of health and trauma-informed care, focusing on how these topics support patient care, and how interprofessional collaborative practice can further improve health outcomes.

08/21/2026

The future of social work is bright, and we are thrilled to welcome our newest BSW students who began their journey with the School of Social Work at this week's orientation session! They met with our talented faculty and learned about upcoming coursework, field education opportunities, research, and ways to connect with student groups. This is an exciting time for the BSW program, which also launched a new, fully online program option this fall.

Thank you to Associate Professor and BSW Program Director Asli Yalim, along with Admissions Specialist Kendall McCormick and Student Resource Specialist Hernando Otero, for coordinating this important session for our incoming Social Work Knights!

07/28/2026

Lindsey Hildebrand is graduating this week with a master's degree in social work (MSW) from our online MSW Program. 🎓 An Order of Pegasus recipient, Hildebrand has participated in Phi Alpha Honors Society, AmeriCorps Survivor Link Program, Omega Lambda Nu Honors Society, and the UCF Social Work Study Abroad Program in Taiwan. She was the outings leader at Sierra Club Military Outdoors and a yoga instructor for the Veterans Yoga Project.

"I would be most excited to tell my freshman-year self 'you will get the chance to collaborate with genuinely incredible people in the social work program who care about developing you and preparing you to be a well-rounded clinical social worker entering the field,'" Hildebrand says.

Hildebrand plans to move to Oregon and become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Congratulations, Lindsey! ⭐

07/22/2026

🩺This was a day that could shape a career! 🍏

We were pleased to welcome 68 high school students who spent part of their summer discovering what a future in healthcare can look like at this year's Health Leaders Summer Academy.

Presented in partnership with the UCF College of Medicine, the academy gives students an inside look at career paths that help build stronger and healthier communities. Throughout the day, participants gained hands-on experience, from working with simulated patients to examining assistive technology to learning about movement as medicine.

Students also toured our state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Innovation Center, where they experienced some of our unique technologies that support education, research and patient care, including holograms, manikins and our immersive simulation suite. We can't wait to see where these inspired healthcare leaders go next!

07/06/2026

Associate professor of social work Asli Cennet Yalim spoke with the Forced Migration Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis about her work on the well-being of immigrant and refugee populations, across the United States and Türkiye. Drawing from community and qualitative approaches, her research focuses on the voices of displaced communities to understand their needs and amplify youth perspectives.

“We really want to hear from youth. They are the experts of their own lives. So, they will tell us what they need, what their struggles are, how we can help them not only at schools, but also in their neighborhoods, in their communities.” says Yalim.

Read more https://forcedmigration.wustl.edu/member-highlight-may-2026-dr-asli-yalim/

06/30/2026

Social work has shaped communities and impacted lives across generations since the late 1800s. Associate professor of social work Asli Cennet Yalim recently spoke with CounselingSchools.com about the profession, her advice for aspiring professionals, and the most meaningful aspects of her career.

“What really makes social work unique is that we don’t just work with individuals; we also work with families, communities, and at the policy level. We advocate for change, help shape policies, and address systemic issues.” Yalim says.

Read more https://www.counselingschools.com/careers/social-worker

06/23/2026

Associate professor of social work, Reshawna Chapple, recently spoke with Katie Couric Media about guidance for individuals coping with ongoing grief and seeking meaningful ways to honor a loved one's memory beyond the funeral. From navigating the shock after everyone has gone home to finding ways to support yourself, Chapple highlights the importance of patience, connection, and self-compassion.

Read more https://katiecouric.com/health/mental-health/how-to-cope-when-grief-feels-endless/

06/22/2026

Associate professor of social work, Bethany Backes, an expert on intimate partner violence, spoke with the Orlando Sentinel about the urgent need to recognize warning signs and respond quickly to domestic violence in order to protect victims and their children. Drawing on years of research and frontline experience, Backes brings to light the consistent challenges survivors face as her research exposes gaps in the criminal justice system and calls for stronger enforcement of protections in domestic violence cases.

“Children are another weapon that is used by the abuser,” said Backes. “Whether they directly harm the children or threaten to harm the children – all of those things are tactics used by abusers to terrorize the victim.”

Read more https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/20/toddlers-deaths-in-orange-highlight-disturbing-domestic-violence-trend/

06/16/2026

Hello, social work Knights!

We loved seeing so many of our social work alumni on Friday at Cantina Catrina, where they gathered for a happy hour and networking event held in conjunction with the NASW Florida Annual Conference. 💛🖤

We're proud to have more than 34,000 graduates from the College of Health Professions and Sciences. Stay tuned for more opportunities to connect with fellow CHPS alumni in the year ahead!

05/19/2026

Congratulations to Ashley Brevil who crossed the commencement stage this month with a Ph.D. in Public Affairs - Social Work Track! Her next steps? This exceptional grad will be serving as a social work supervisor with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

This spring she served as adjunct faculty with our School of Social Work and we’re happy to share that she’ll continue to lend her time and talents to us in this role this fall.

She is pictured here (center) with social work Associate Professor Asli Cennet Yalim, who served as her dissertation chair, and Associate Professor Trenton Marsh in the College of Community Innovation and Education.

Address

12805 Pegasus Drive
Orlando, FL
32816

Website

https://healthprofessions.ucf.edu/socialwork/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when University of Central Florida School of Social Work posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to University of Central Florida School of Social Work:

Want your university to be the top-listed University in Orlando?