School of Social Work

Education

• Ph.D., Social Work, Michigan State University
• Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood, Inter-disciplinary Graduate Studies, Michigan State University
• MSW, Clinical Concentration, Michigan State University
• BBA in Business Administration, Western Michigan University
• BS in Criminal Justice, Western Michigan University

Biography

Jennifer Farley, PhD, RPT-S, ECMH-E is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Eastern Michigan University. Jennifer's research is focused on the training needs of early childhood clinicians specific to the use of play in supporting relationships.  Jennifer is also currently a co-investigator for the EMU research team working with MDHHS on GROW, a Statewide pre-service relationship-based training for foster, adoptive and kinship parents. Prior to academia, Dr. Farley was a clinician serving children and families in Western-Wayne County for eleven years.  Jennifer is endorsed as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and working towards the Mentor-Research/Faculty endorsement and certified as a registered play therapist.

Publications

• Farley, J. (2022).  Remaining Focused on Connection in the COVID-19 Pandemic (January 2022). Michigan Association for Play Therapy Newsletter.
• Farley, J. (2021).  Using Play to Support Attachment Relationships.  Virtual Training for Early Childhood Education Providers, Michigan Association of Infant Mental Health.
• Farley, J. Navigating the New Normal:  Self-care & Coping Strategies for Play Therapists (October 2021).  Michigan Association for Play Therapy Newsletter.
• Shea, S., Farley, J., Kellman-Fritz, J., & Root, A. (2021).  GROW Pilot Evaluation: Final Report. Submitted to Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, pp. 1-36.
• Shea, S., Farley, J., Kellman-Fritz, J., Root, A. & Graham. K. (2021).  GROW Licensed Foster, Adoptive & Kinship Parent Pilot: Focus group summary report. Submitted to Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, pp. 1-10.
• Shea, S., Farley, J., & Kellman-Fritz, J. (June, 2021).  Preparing Out-of-Home Caregivers and Adoptive Parents for Relationship-Based Virtual Poster Presentation, World Association for Infant Mental Health Brisbane, Australia. 
• Farley, J., Whipple, E., Riebschleger, J. (2020). Integrating play therapy into early childhood mental health treatment services: Clinician and parent perspectives. Social Work in Mental Health, 1-18.  DOI: 10.1080/15332985.2020.1742851.

Courses

• SWRK 317/318 Interpersonal Foundations of Social Work Practice
• SWRK 408 Individual and Family Social Work Practice
• SWRK 450 Social Work Practice with Women and Girls
• SWRK 488/489 Field Experience I and II
• SW 591:  Relationship-Based Play Therapy w/Young Children & their Families
• SW 643:  The Family and the Social Environment 
• SW 645:  Assessment with Children (birth to 17 years) and their Families
• SW 646:  Practice with Young Children (birth to 10 years) and their Families

Professional

Professional Certifications

• Licensed Masters Social Worker, Department of Community Health, State of Michigan, License #6801083471, 2003-Present
• Endorsed: Early Childhood Mental Health (Level II), Michigan Association of Infant Mental Health, January 2020 to Present
• Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, Association for Play Therapy, June 2009 to Present

Professional Memberships 

• Council on Social Work Education
• National Association of Social Workers
• Michigan Association for Play Therapy, previous board member, 2010–2012
• International Association for Play Therapy
• Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health World
• World Alliance for Infant Mental Health