This e-book provides practical guidance for building community partnerships, transformative learning, and social justice advocacy that serves vulnerable populations coping with mental health challenges. We are most grateful for the twenty authors who shared their expertise and knowledge in this interactive e-book. Whether in a classroom or community meeting, we are hopeful the content encourages advocacy efforts and community collaboration, in addressing mental health while also advocating for timely identification and intervention. The e-book also addresses how to foster critical thinking skills through reflection and discussions built into each chapter, and provides ways to explore alternative perspectives that will lead to informed actions.
Tenured Assistant Professor
Professor Department of Criminal Justice
College of Education and Social Services
Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, Florida
Education
Associate of Arts, Saint Leo University
Bachelor of Arts, Saint Leo University
Masters in Criminal Justice, Saint Leo University
Doctor of Business Administration, Specialization in Criminal Justice, Northcentral University, Phoenix, Arizona
Experience
Dr. Mims has been a Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and College of Education and Social Services at Saint Leo University since 2010. She earned her doctoral degree from Northcentral University researching Forensic Investigators’ Perceptions of Animal Assisted Intervention during Investigations of Child Sexual Abuse. Dr. Mims is a retired Tampa Police Officer where she was fortunate enough to be able to obtain extensive knowledge and expertise by exceling in a myriad of positions within the Tampa Police Department throughout her tenure.
Dr. Mims was a mounted patrol officer and served in the Community Relations Bureau. Additionally, Dr. Mims worked in undercover operations, was a Field Training Officer (FTO), and a child abuse, elderly abuse and domestic violence investigator. Dr. Mims was certified with International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA), and is a Certified Firearms and BLS/CPR instructor. She currently holds Security Officer Training and Private Investigator licenses and is the Therapy Dog Liaison for the Tampa Bay Regions 5 Critical Incident Stress Management Team and the Dade City Courthouse Therapy Dog program. In addition to her work as a Professor, Dr. Mims has presented at numerous local, national and international conferences; written over two dozen journal articles and has authored and co-authored several books.
Dr. Rhondda Waddell is an Associate Dean and Professor in Social Work at Saint Leo University College of Education and Social Services. She has been a member of the Saint Leo University (SLU) Community since August 2010. She received the bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Sociology, the Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Social Work from Florida State University. She previously worked as a medical social worker and taught an interdisciplinary family health course with Shands Hospital and the University of Florida in Gainesville for a combined 19 years of service. Her research interests include interdisciplinary collaborations on social justice topics to include community health, humane education, and human-animal bond topics of study. She enjoys her family which includes two daughters, Sarah and Maggie, two grandsons, Richard and Easton, four dogs, and two pot belly pigs.
Nancy Wood, PhD, MBA, MHRM, is an Associate Professor in Human Services and the Director of the Master of Science Human Services Administration program in the College of Education and Social Services at Saint Leo University. Having over 30 years in administration experience, Dr. Wood has published numerous journal articles, an e-book, book chapters, and presented on topics ranging from online pedagogies, interdisciplinary learning, leadership, mental health, advocacy, grant writing, and social entrepreneurship.
CHAPTER 1: Advocacy and Social Justice
CHAPTER 2: Cultural Competency
CHAPTER 3: Mental Health and Mental Illness
CHAPTER 4: Populations and Mental Health
CHAPTER 5: Institutions and Mental Health
CHAPTER 6: De-Escalation