Jennifer Farley

Jennifer Farley serves as an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Eastern Michigan University, specializing in early childhood mental health interventions through play therapy. She holds dual endorsements as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (Level II) and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, with over a decade of clinical experience serving children and families in Western-Wayne County prior to her academic career.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Social Work, Michigan State University
• Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood, Inter-disciplinary Graduate Studies, Michigan State University
• MSW with Clinical Concentration, Michigan State University
• BBA in Business Administration, Western Michigan University
• BS in Criminal Justice, Western Michigan University

Research Focus: Dr. Farley's work centers on play therapy applications for attachment relationships in early childhood, particularly through her role as co-investigator for the statewide GROW project with Michigan Department of Health & Human Services. Her research addresses critical gaps in training for clinicians working with foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers, emphasizing relationship-based approaches during crisis situations like the pandemic.

Publication Trends: Her 2020-2022 publications reveal three dominant trajectories: (1) pandemic-responsive adaptations of play therapy, (2) evaluation frameworks for caregiver training programs, and (3) integration models for play therapy in early childhood mental health systems. These works consistently bridge clinical practice with systemic implementation challenges.

Professional Engagement: As a Licensed Master Social Worker and active member of the Council on Social Work Education, National Association of Social Workers, and World Association for Infant Mental Health, Dr. Farley teaches specialized courses including Relationship-Based Play Therapy and Assessment with Children. Her current GROW project represents a significant practice-research partnership addressing Michigan's child welfare system needs.