Areas of Interest
“If we believe in social justice, we can’t pick and choose who it applies to.” – Dr. Jill Levenson
Biography
Academic and Professional Qualifications
Ph.D., Social Welfare, 2003. Florida International University, Miami, FL.
MSW, Clinical Social Work, 1987. University of Maryland, School of Social Work, Baltimore, MD.
BA, Sociology, 1985. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
- SAMHSA GAINS Certified Trainer: How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Reponses, 2023
- Completed EMDR clinical training (2021) and post-training experience with consultation.
- Forensic Social Work Certificate Program of the National Organization of Forensic Social Work (June 2020)
- SAMHSA Trained Trauma Informed Care Instructor, 2016
Trauma-Informed Clinical Practice
Dr. Levenson has been actively practicing as a licensed clinical social worker in South Florida for over 30 years. She has also been a qualified supervisor for Florida LCSW & LMHC licensure since 1999. She began her social work career in 1985 in child welfare, and then expanded this expertise to treating both survivors and perpetrators of interpersonal trauma in clinical settings. She utilizes a scientist-practitioner model to infuse evidence-based trauma-informed practices in her clinical practice and in her teaching. Dr. Levenson stays informed about best practices and emerging research in trauma-informed care by attending and presenting at workshops, conferences, and continued study in trauma-related fields.
Commitment to Trauma-Informed Education
Dr. Jill Levenson is a SAMHSA-certified Trauma-Informed Care instructor, and specializes in applying TIC in clinical, behavioral health, forensic, and correctional settings. Dr. Levenson has a wealth of experience working with marginalized or vulnerable groups, and a commitment to supporting students from trauma-impacted backgrounds.
Dr. Levenson models the TIC pillars in the classroom, helping students ground all their interventions and interactions in safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment, peer support, and cultural/gender relevance. She emphasizes integration of the TIC principles to create safe, supportive learning environments and building resilience among students.
Community Engagement
Dr. Levenson has been engaged in community work or partnerships with organizations supporting individuals affected by trauma (e.g., survivors of interpersonal violence, family members of justice-involved persons, people experiencing homelessness, and survivors of the Parkland shooting). Dr. Levenson advocates for evidence -based and trauma-informed re-entry services for people involved in the criminal justice system and their family members.
Dr. Levenson has delivered TIC trainings in more than 25 states, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, and Hong Kong. She has provided TIC training, consultation, and/or technical assistance services for organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Prisons; PA Dept. of Human Services; WA Behavioral Health Administration; WA Department of Corrections; Boston Veterans Administration; CO Dept. of Corrections; FL Dept of Corrections; FL Dept of Children & Families; Chapman Partnership for the Homeless in Miami; Broward County FL Public Schools; Children’s Services Council of Broward County FL; Orange Blossom (Orlando) Family Health Center; North Texas State Hospital; and the CA Forensic Mental Health Association.
Publications, Presentations, Research, Awards
Dr. Jill Levenson is an internationally recognized expert in sexual harm and trauma. Her primary area of research focuses on social policies and clinical interventions related to sexual abuse prevention. Dr. Levenson has published over 125 articles and 6 books, and her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Justice (NIJ), the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).
She has also published many articles about applying TIC to various marginalized client populations. Her groundbreaking research on the link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and sexually abusive behavior has paved the way for innovations in treatment and prevention programs that now utilize a trauma-informed approach.
In 2019 Dr. Levenson was named by the Journal of Social Service Research as one of the nation’s top 100 social work scholars. She was the 2019 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for the Treatment & Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA). In 2020 she was awarded Miami-Dade County’s NASW-FL Social Worker of the Year! Dr. Levenson was honored to be named as Barry University’s Professor of the Year in 2016.