Mark Horwitz

Background

Mark Horwitz, PhD, MSW, JD, is Professor in the Department of Social Work at Westfield State University, where he teaches strengths-based developmental psychopathology and clinical intervention across a range of social work practice modalities. He received the John F. Nevins Award for outstanding teaching in the Westfield State graduate school in 2016. Professor Horwitz has presented over 275 workshops on psychological trauma and resilience, family engagement, kinship network building, and self-care at national conferences and to child welfare organizations across the United States. He worked for 25 years as a trainer and clinical consultant with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, and he supported the Connecticut Department of Children and Families as a program consultant, coach and evaluator of family conferencing and wraparound initiatives for 20 years. Professor Horwitz has also worked as a forensic evaluator, psychotherapist, court officer and residential counselor. Prior to his position at Westfield State he served on the faculties of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the social work schools at Smith College and Salem State University.

Selected Publicaitons and Reports 

• Horwitz, M.(2020). Experiencing Traumatic Events. (unpublished manuscript) 

• Horwitz, M. and Propp, J. (2020). Full-on fidelity – NWI standards, process outcomes and relationally-based, trauma-informed Wraparound practice. (unpublished manuscript) 
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• Schreier, A., Horwitz, M., Marshall, T., Cummins, M., Bracey, J. & Kaufman, J. (2020). Trauma symptoms and relationship with CFT characteristics and outcomes in a statewide system of care. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, December.

• Schreier, A., Horwitz, M., Marshall, T., Cummins, M., Bracey, J. & Kaufman, J. (2019). Child and Family Team Meeting characteristics and outcomes in a statewide system of care. American Journal of Community Psychology, 0:1-12.  
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• ​Horwitz, M. & Marshall, T. (2015) Family engagement in child protection social work. Journal of Family Social Work, 18(4), 288-301.

• Padykula, N.L. & Horwitz, M. (2012). Using psychodynamic concepts to measure interpersonal competencies during social work training. International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies 9(1), 48-61.

• Horwitz, M. (2008). DCF Family Conferencing. Prepared for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Hartford, CT.

• Horwitz, M. (2007). Work-related trauma effects in child protection social workers. Journal of Social Services Research, 32(3), 1-18.

• Horwitz, M. (2003). Building permanency with family group decision-making.  Prepared for the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.

• Horwitz, M., Roche, O., Lovelace-Graham, V., and Prostak, N. (2001). Making kinship happen: Factors influencing the development of a kinship orientation and family group decision-making in child protection.  Prepared for the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.

• Horwitz, M. (1998). Social worker trauma: Building resilience in child protection social workers. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 68(3), 363-377.

• Bulkley, J. & Horwitz, M. (1994).  Adults sexually abused as children: Legal actions and issues. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 12, 65-87.

• Horwitz, M. & Bulkley, J. (1994). Legal remedies for adults sexually abused as children. The Advisor: Journal of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, 7(2), 1-8.

• Horwitz, M. (1992). Prior acts evidence in child sexual abuse proceedings, American Bar Association Juvenile and Child Welfare Law Reporter, 11:10, 259-260.

Selected Presentations 

• Full-on fidelity: Using multiple methods to support best practices in a statewide child behavioral health wraparound system (virtual conference), January, 2021. (accepted).  

• Strengths-Based Developmental Psychopathology in the HBSE Curriculum, Council on Social Work Education (virtual conference), November, 2020 (accepted).

• Coaching to the Data in WRAP-CT. 31st Annual Children’s Mental Health Research and Policy Conference, Tampa, FL, March, 2018.

• Measuring and Improving Wraparound Practice: A Success Story from Connecticut. 27th Annual Children’s Mental Health Research and Policy Conference, Tampa, FL, March, 2014.

• Effective Family Engagement in Child Protection Practice, International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect European Regional Conference, Dublin, Ireland, September, 2013.

• When Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are Exposed to Domestic Violence, International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect European Regional Conference, Dublin, Ireland, September, 2013.

• Work-Related Trauma Effects in Child Welfare Staff. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA, October, 2011.

• Family Engagement in the Intensive Case Practice Model. Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, October-December, 2010.

• Building Resilience in Child Protection Social Workers. Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, June, 2009.

• Engagement, Empowerment and Family Conferencing in Child Protection Social Work. Connecticut Department of Children and Families, September, 2004-June, 2008.

• Family Conferencing as Core Child Protection Practice. American Humane Association Family Group Decision-Making Conference, Long Beach, CA, 2005.

• Evaluation of Family Group Decision-Making as a Permanency Planning Tool. American Humane Association Family Group Decision-Making Conference, Minneapolis, MN, June, 2003.

• Building Resilience in Child Protection Social Work Staff. Fourteenth National Conference, National Centers for Child Abuse and Neglect, Washington, D.C., April, 2003.

• Confidentiality, Privilege and Expert Testimony for Child Welfare Professionals. Child Welfare League of America National Conference, Miami, FL, October, 1999.

• Building Resilience in Child Protection Professionals. Fourteenth National Symposium on Child Sexual Abuse, Huntsville, AL, March, 1998.

• Parental Competency and Expert Testimony in Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings. Eleventh National Conference, National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect, Washington, D.C., September, 1996.

• Adults Sexually Abused as Children: Legal Actions and Issues. American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children National Conference, Boston, MA, May, 1994.

• Repressed Memories of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Legal Dilemmas and Responses. American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law National Conference, Washington, D.C., April, 1994.