Reflections on Behavioral Health Crisis in Communities: Reimagining Social Work Curriculum and Practice

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Keywords:

social work curriculum integration, interprofessional collaborative education, mental health, crisis response

Abstract

Social work prepares future generations of behavioral health professionals who comprehensively understand community-based mental health challenges. Social workers collaboratively partner with different disciplines in designing systems (human and technological) that reflect a seamless delivery for community residents, especially where residents enter the mental health systems through 911 calls. This paper describes how a graduate social work student and a faculty team collaborated with professionals from different backgrounds to design such a system. Additionally, the experience details the importance of social workers partnering with first responders—often the first point of contact for community residents regarding mental health. The lessons learned can guide how social work pedagogy can be more reflective of current complex community needs wherein the curriculum is horizontally and vertically integrated and guided by interprofessional collaborative practice. Additionally, these lessons speak to the dilution of hegemony practiced by faculty vis-à-vis social work students.

Author Biographies

Kiarra Donnelly, KD Creative Wellness, LLC

Kiarra Donnelly, LMSW is Therapist, KD Creative Wellness, LLC, Atlanta, GA (kdcreativewellness@gmail.com).

Monica Nandan, Kennesaw State University

Monica Nandan, PhD is Director of Strategic Partnership and Social Impact and Professor of Social Work, Department of Social Work and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA (mnandan@kennesaw.edu).

Michelle Rhue, Kennesaw State University

Michelle Rhue, PhD, LCSW is Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA (mrhue@kennesaw.edu).

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Published

2025-12-28

How to Cite

Donnelly, K., Monica Nandan, & Michelle Rhue. (2025). Reflections on Behavioral Health Crisis in Communities: Reimagining Social Work Curriculum and Practice. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 31(4), 81–94. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/2112

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