Clinical Instructor

Kayla Behrens, MSW, LCSW/LISW

Kayla Behrens, MSW, LCSW/LISW is a professor of Social Work in the College of Arts and Sciences. Kayla Behrens is a clinical instructor within the BSW program and an adjunct instructor within the MSW program. Kayla has 10+ years and experience in medical social work, working with a variety of populations.

Contact Us

563-333-5705

behrenskaylar@sau.edu

Education and Training

MSW, St. Ambrose University
BA, Luther College, Sociology

Courses Taught

Intro to Social Work

This is an introductory social work course in which students will learn about the profession of social work, its field of practice, values and ethics, policies and history of the social work profession, its interactions with contexts which shape practice, and its promotion of social and economic justice to advance human rights, alleviating critical social problems, and promoting individual and community well-being. An overview of principal social work values, codes of ethics, practice methods, research considerations, and policy issues and emphasizes the unique experiences of diverse and at-risk population groups facing various social challenges. The course will also offer knowledge and practice behaviors in engaging diversity and differences in social work practice. As an introduction to the social work profession, the course will discuss being a professional social worker and how to act accordingly, based on a fundamental understanding of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

Empowerment Social Work in Health Care

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the provision of health care services in the United States and addresses how social workers function within the health care system at the micro, meso, and macro levels of practice. Course goals include the following: to increase student understanding of the politics, policies, and services of the United States' patchwork health care system, to increase student understanding of integrated behavioral health and the role of the social worker in various health settings, to increase student ability to provide direct services to a variety of populations with an emphasis on vulnerable populations, to critically address and analyze health disparities and social determinants of health from an ethical practice perspective, and to develop participant interventions that reflect empowerment social work in a health care setting.

General Practice I: Individuals

This course prepares students to work with people one-on-one from engagement and assessment to intervention and evaluation. Emphasis is on professional methods and skills, including self-awareness, critical thinking, interpersonal communication, problem solving, and boundary setting, all within the context of cultural humility, understanding oppression, and the empowerment perspective. Admission to the BSW program.

General Practice II: Families

Working with families and groups is an integral part of social work practice. In this course students will learn about family dynamics and group processes with an emphasis on empowerment theories containing the ideas of diversity and social justice. Specific skills and methods include group facilitation, family assessment, collaborative problem solving, and observing group processes.

Field Seminar

Professional Service

2019, Childrens Book Council, Panelist, ComicCon, San Diego
2018, American Library Association Annual Conference. "Diversity and inclusivity from the perspective of libraries/publishing/authors in the industry." June 24.
2016, Western Illinois University, Communications Student Society, Panelist. Frontline: Effects of Online Marketing on Teens.
2015, Central States Communication Association, co-presented Exploring the Relationship Between Online Health Information-Seeking Motivations and Patient Narratives for Orthopedic Practice Web Sites.
2014, National Communication Association, Presented Rhetorical Analysis. "Camp Gyno as Carnivalesque."
2014, Western Illinois University. Quad Cities Research and Scholarship Symposium (QCRSS). "Camp Gyno as Carnivalesque."
2010, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA. Panelist. Careers in Public Relations. November 15.

Professional Memberships

Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Parish Council, and Marketing Committee, 2016 to present. Assist in parish public relations, digital parishioner communications, and social media strategy for parish.
Women's Connection. Marketing Committee member 1998-2015. Assist executive director with program and national speaker identification.
Public Relations Society of America. President, Quad Cities Chapter, 2000; various board positions since 1995.
"Catholic Mirror," Newspaper of the Diocese of Des Moines, IA, 1992, Editorial Board.

Honors and Awards

Phi Alpha Honor Society