معرفی
Ingrid Weiss Slikkers serves as Associate Professor of Social Work and Executive Director of the International Center For Trauma Education & Care at Andrews University's School of Social Work. With over 30 years of professional experience since the early 1990s, Dr. Slikkers brings extensive clinical expertise to her academic role, having previously worked in diverse settings including homeless shelters, juvenile detention centers, and psychiatric hospitals for children.
Dr. Slikkers' educational background includes a BA from Andrews University (1993) and an MSW from Western Michigan University (1998). Her professional journey transitioned from direct clinical practice to program management with Southwest Michigan Bethany Christian Services before joining Andrews University in 2016.
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
- Certified Family Trauma Professional (CFTP)
- Trust Based Relational Intervention Practitioner (TBRI)
Dr. Slikkers specializes in trauma treatment, particularly for refugee and immigrant populations. Her research and practice focus on developing culturally appropriate therapy approaches that can be adapted across language barriers. She is developing the International Center for Trauma Education and Care and facilitating the School of Social Work to function as a Trauma-Informed organization as proposed by SAMHSA.
Her most significant contribution is the development of the Sensory Trauma Education Programs (StepS), which provides trauma education and healing tools at multiple levels: for helpers working with refugees, for refugees themselves, and specifically for children. These sensory-based interventions are designed to cross cultural and language barriers, making trauma healing accessible to populations with limited access to professional mental health services.
- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
- Certified Family Trauma Professional (CFTP)
- Trust Based Relational Intervention Practitioner (TBRI)
Dr. Slikkers continues to supervise and consult for Southwest Michigan Bethany Christian Services Refugee and Immigrant Services, working with unaccompanied refugee and immigrant children. She partners with Advocates for Southeast Asians and the Persecuted (ASAP Ministries) in developing trauma awareness programs for domestic and international implementation. Her work has extended internationally, with presentations in refugee camps in Thailand and collaborations that span multiple countries.
As an educator, Dr. Slikkers integrates trauma awareness into social work education and provides opportunities for students to engage in field work with refugee and immigrant populations. She emphasizes the intersection of faith and science in healing, stating she is 'daily in awe of the intersection of faith and science and the hope and healing this brings.'
