Learn, Guide, Transform
This is a survey course that will assist students in developing the ability to help people and communities improve their quality of life through the field of Social Work. Students will gain an understanding of the social work profession, focusing on its mission to promote social and economic justice and enhance human well-being. Get excited to learn about social work careers in various settings. In this course students will engage in:
- Dialogue
- Journal Reflection
- Role-Playing
- Skill-Building Exercises
- Community Service Projects
- Local Resource Mapping
Sessions Offered
Session 2
June 27, 2027 - July 3, 2027
Course Fees
Format
Residential
Non-Credit
This class is meant to be immersive.
Course outcomes include:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the core values and ethical principles that guide the social work practice
- Recognize various fields of social work and the populations social workers serve
- Build core skills necessary in the field of social work
- Connect with professionals and community partners that support the work of social workers
Meet the Professor
Regina Lester-Harriat, LMSW
Assistant Professor in-Residence, UConn School of Social Work
Regina Lester-Harriat, LMSW, is an Assistant Professor in-Residence at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and a proud alumna of both UConn and Howard University. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in K–12 education and social work, her teaching and professional interests focus on school social work, school mental health, trauma-informed practice, behavioral health, and the ways relationships, regulation, and context shape human behavior and well-being.
Before joining the UConn faculty, Professor Lester-Harriat worked in independent, charter, and public schools, including many years as a school social worker with Bloomfield Public Schools, where she also led the district’s Student and Family Assistance Centers. Her practice experience included supporting students and families, collaborating with multidisciplinary school teams, supervising social work interns, and developing approaches to improve school climate and support students with disabilities.
At UConn, Professor Lester-Harriat teaches graduate courses in micro practice and school social work and contributes extensively to curriculum development, student advising, and faculty governance. She serves as Co-Chair of the Individuals, Groups, and Families Practice (IGFP) sequence and Chair of the Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan Focused Area of Study (FAS). She is also a Co-Investigator on the federally funded Mental Health Service Professionals grant, which supports the preparation of school social workers to serve high-need communities across Connecticut. Her emerging scholarly and professional work explores how adults understand and respond to student behavior, with particular attention to regulation, relationships, attachment, and meaning-making.
Professor Lester-Harriat is committed to preparing social workers who approach children, families, and communities with curiosity, compassion, cultural responsiveness, and an understanding of the systems and environments that shape their experiences. Her teaching bridges theory and practice and draws heavily from her years working alongside students, families, educators, and school communities.
