April Dirks

April Dirks is a Professor of Social Work at Mount Mercy University, where she has been since 2008. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Iowa. Her expertise spans clinical social work, narrative therapy, crisis intervention, and addressing emotional issues such as depression and child abuse. She has served as a school social worker and bilingual family therapist, working with at-risk youth, immigrant families, and family trauma.

• Education:
• PhD in Social Work, University of Iowa
• MSW, University of Iowa
• BA, University of Iowa

Her research focuses on strain theory and suicidal ideation among maltreated adolescents, as well as child welfare and immigration challenges faced by Latino families. Key areas of interest include cultural competency, trauma-informed practice, and human sexuality. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with extensive private practice experience in mental health.

No notable scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed, but her work emphasizes community engagement and marginalized populations. She currently teaches at Mount Mercy University’s Department of Social Work, contributing to both academic and practical social work education.