UNF professor named ‘Social Work Educator of the Year’
Jennifer Barr, University of North Florida’s Bachelor
of Social Work program director, has been named Social Work Educator of the Year by the Northeast Florida Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Several UNF students also received awards that will be presented during a virtual ceremony on March 25.
Barr is recognized for demonstrating outstanding leadership skills, contributing a positive image for the social work profession, taking risks to achieve outstanding results on behalf of social work students or social work education, and making a significant contribution to social work education.
Barr began her social work career assisting clients who experienced domestic and sexual violence, including working in emergency housing environments, providing support during sexual assault nurse examinations and assisting with the legal injunction process at the Refuge House, Inc. in Tallahassee, Fla. Barr gained a majority of her practice experience and received her Licensed Clinical Social Worker designation working in the field of mental health and substance abuse and providing a wide range of clinical services to persons experiencing severe and persistent mental illness, in both inpatient and community-based settings, at Tallahassee’s Apalachee Center, Inc.
As a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor, she has facilitated Adult Mental Health First Aid certification courses to a variety of audiences. In addition, Barr serves as an auditor with expertise in mental health and evaluates the mental health practices in the Florida prison system with the Florida Correctional Medical Authority.
UNF social work students also recognized with awards include:
- Julianna Smoak: BSW Student of the Year
- Carly Weiss: MSW Student of the Year
- Chloe Birch: JJ Daniel Social Work with Children Award
- Taylor Neilly: Michael J Wilson Award for Social Justice