SAFE Team

M.K. Arundel, BSW (Hons.), MSW, RSW

SAFE Creator and Research Collaborator

M.K. is the creator and director of the SAFE program and the Manager, Professional Practicum Education, in the School of Social Work at King’s University College at Western University.  As a social worker with over 15 years’ experience in the London region, her areas of focus have included clinical assessment, consultation, family mediation and conflict resolution, counselling support, youth mental health, and overall leadership all within the context of the justice system. In her role as an educator of professional social work practice, she has been honoured to have influence in the next generation of social workers and to be able to develop the SAFE program as a rich learning opportunity for students while contributing to her passion of creating opportunities for healthier families and communities.

Jane E. Sanders, PhD, MSW, BSW, RSW

Lead Researcher

Dr. Jane Sanders is the lead researcher for the KCSC Workforce Development Phase and SAFE, the Graduate Program Coordinator, and an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at King’s University College at Western Canada. She has over 30 years of clinical experience with children, youth, and families across multiple settings including community and hospital-based child, adolescent and family mental health, child welfare, domestic and interpersonal violence, and school social work. She is certified in trauma assessment and treatment. Through KCSC, Jane is leading a mixed methods study of the experiences and resource needs of service providers and organizational leaders at the frontlines of the health and homelessness crisis. In addition to her research with KCSC her research focuses on mental health service delivery to families and youth, the disproportionate impact of trauma and expanded forms of adversity (including systemic racism, inequity and community violence) on academics, and critical reflection on practice. Her research generally falls within two broad areas of focus: 1) social work practice and education, and 2) child and family mental health with subspecialties in early adversity and school success.

Publications

Google Scholar

Rick Csiernik

Co-investigator

Dr. Rick Csiernik (he/him/his) BSc, BSW, MSW, PhD, CCAC, RSW, Professor, School of Social Work, King's University College is a White settler currently living on Dish With One Spoon Treaty Territory. He has written 10 books, edited nine, contributed to over 200 peer-reviewed publications, made over 250 public presentations and been part of research teams receiving $4.6 million in funding during his career.  Rick, who has been a social worker for nearly four decades, has received both the King's University College and McMaster University Continuing Education Teacher of the Year awards as well as the Hugh Mellon Excellence in Research Award, Ontario Volunteer Award, and Jeff Wilbee Award for leadership in the field of addiction.