Sports Social Work
Overview

Post-Master's Certificate Program (in person and online)
Sport is one of the oldest social work interventions for vulnerable populations. Lawson (2003) skillfully highlighted the congruence between sport and social work when arguing that sports programs help to enhance human well-being, reduce the harms of poverty and contribute to human capital development. In a recent NASW News article, social work skills were declared to be a good fit for sports. Dean and Rowan (2014) affirmed that athletes at all levels are a population group with unique vulnerabilities whose social work-related needs are often unmet. This Post-Master’s Certificate course will provide an advanced foundation for social workers interested in social work practice in sporting environments and begin to prepare social workers to assist athletes, at all levels that they encounter in various social work settings. This course will introduce students to the intersection between social work and mental health disorders in college and professional athletics.
Sport social work is a rapidly emerging area of social work practice. Social workers work in high school, college, and professional sports and there is even a national organization for sports social workers – the Certified Sports Social Workers Institute. However, very little formal continuing education exists to train social workers to work with athletes and in sports organizations. This Post-Master’s Certificate course provides such an opportunity.
Course Objectives
- Introduce and socialize students to sports social work
- Familiarize students with a framework for understanding college and pro sports
- Provide an advanced foundation for understanding college athlete vulnerabilities
- Merge generalist, advanced clinical skills and understanding with sports social work framework
- Address the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion in sports, with a specialized focus on anti-oppressive practices and social justice in sports social work
- Complete practice exercises that will begin to provide students with a foundation for a career in sports social work
Program Requirements
This course is targeted at social workers and other human services professionals with a minimum of 2-5 years of post-Master’s experience.
The certificate program consists of 10 sessions over the Spring 2024 semester. Assignments include weekly readings and a final learning assessment in the form of a paper or project.
Program Schedule
The program meets at NYU’s Washington Square Campus in Greenwich Village, NYC, with some classes being offered online via Zoom. Program dates for Spring 2024 are forthcoming, please check back.
About the Director
Dr. Lena Green, DSW, LCSW
Dr. Lena L. Green is a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and fatherhood practitioner. She currently serves as the executive director of the HOPE Center, a community-based mental health clinic in NYC. She is also a clinical professor at both NYU and Columbia University schools of social work. In her more than 20 years of direct practice and management experience as a clinician, professor, and administrator, Dr. Green has had a tremendous impact on countless New Yorkers. Her work encompasses effective clinical interventions with various populations across the lifespan, and interdisciplinary methods ranging from new and expectant parents, and teens to older adults and their families inclusive of complex medical care and psychosocial needs. She is skilled in mental health, program planning, development, clinical supervision, and building strategic partnerships. Her research focus includes mental health in communities of color and trauma-informed clinical practices.
Dr. Green received the National Association of Social Workers, New York City Chapter’s (NASW-NYC) Social Work I.M.P.A.C.T. Award in 2019. The award, which is the chapter’s highest honor, is presented to a social worker who “exemplifies the commitment to social justice, equity, empowerment, and civil rights, through their work, research, advocacy, practice, the embodiment of the social work profession, and their dedication to the communities and individuals they serve.” In 2015, she also received the chapter’s Mid-Career Leadership Award and was recently inducted into the Pi Pi Chapter of the Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society.
Dr. Green holds both a doctorate and master’s degree in social work from NYU; a BA in psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and post-master’s certificates in Advance Clinical Practice from Hunter College, and the Treatment of Alcohol and Drug Addicted Clients from NYU. Dr. Green serves on several boards and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Continuing Education Contact Hours
20 NYSED and ASWB/ACE Continuing Education Contact Hours will be awarded for this program.
New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers {#SW-0012}.
NYU Silver School of Social Work, 1415 is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. NYU Silver School of Social Work maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Approval Period: 11/19/22 - 11/11/25. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits.
New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors {#MHC-0083}.
For Mental Health Practitioners: Please check with your state, if you are not licensed in New York, to determine if these credits will be accepted for licensing renewal.
55 jurisdictions accept ACE-approved provider CE contact hours. ACE is not an approved Continuing Education provider in the states of New York (though NYU Silver is NYSED CE approved in NYS) and West Virginia, unless the event is outside of West VA. ACE only approves individual courses in New Jersey, though NYU Silver is CSWE-accredited and therefore accepted for licensed NJ professionals. Here is a full list of statutes related to social work CE.
Application
Applications for the Spring 2024 program are forthcoming, please check back.
Fees & Refund Policy
Application Fee: $50
The cost of this certificate program is $1,200, which includes tuition and the cost of an online compendium of readings.
Available discounts include:
- 25% discount for NYU Silver School of Social Work MSW/PhD alumni
- 25% discount for practicum instructors currently working with NYU Silver School of Social Work graduate students.
- 15% discount for applicants who have already completed one NYU Silver certificate program.
- 50% discount for veterans.
Please note: discounts may not be combined.
Payment Policy: Upon acceptance into the program, a $250 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. This deposit is applied to the total cost of tuition. The total cost of the program is due before the start of classes.
The $250.00 program deposit is non-refundable. Students that withdraw before the first class will be refunded 100% of their fees (minus the deposit). Students that withdraw after up to and including two (2) sessions will be refunded 70% of their fees (minus the deposit). Students who withdraw after up to and including four (4) sessions will be refunded 55% of their fees (minus the deposit). Students who withdraw after four (4) sessions will receive no refund.
Withdrawal Session |
Refund Rate |
Before the first session |
100% (minus deposit) |
Up to/including two sessions |
70% (minus deposit) |
Up to/including four sessions |
55% (minus deposit) |
After four sessions |
0% |