Initiative Category: Social Work

An education from Trinity Christian College doesn’t just change lives—our graduates go on to change the world. And the life-changing value of a Trinity education has once again been recognized by U.S. New and World Report, which named Trinity to several of its “best” lists for 2022, including among the Top 20 Regional Colleges Midwest and #15 for social mobility. And in U.S. News’ inaugural ranking, Trinity’s nursing program has been ranked among the top 300 of all undergraduate nursing programs in the United States. 

U.S. News uses multiple criteria for its highly regarded rankings. To be named among the “Best Colleges,” Trinity was rated for its graduation and retention rates; social mobility; academic reputation; student selectivity; financial resources; alumni giving; and graduate debt, among other factors. 

“I am confident that, under the tutelage of a talented and dedicated faculty, Trinity students work hard and learn well as they prepare for a lifetime of opportunity and service,” said President Kurt D. Dykstra. “While no one set of data can measure that kind of transformative experience in full, it is gratifying to, once again, be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top college in the Midwest.” 

Trinity’s performance on social mobility deserved its own category, according to U.S. News, which looked at Trinity’s ability to enroll and graduate students from less-advantaged backgrounds. U.S. News also recognized Trinity’s undergraduate nursing program. (see “U.S. News Recognizes BSN Program among Best in Country”) 

“We are honored and excited to be recognized as an institution that excels at making a college education possible for students from all backgrounds,” said Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D. “This recognition is the result of the significant dedication of an excellent faculty and staff – but, most truly, it is a recognition of the hard work, dedication, and amazing gifts of Trinity’s students. It is such a privilege to serve the students who come to Trinity to learn, to be challenged, to be transformed, and to discover the joy of their vocation.”  

Along with the U.S. News rankings, Trinity is frequently recognized by many organizations for preparing students for a world that needs them. The College’s honors include being named a “College of Distinction;” routinely ranked the best BSN programs in the state of Illinois; part of the “National Strength and Conditioning Association Education Recognition Program;” and a “best value” among special education programs. 

The world needs social workers, and Trinity is pleased to announce the Spring 2022 launch of a Bachelor of Social Work degree geared towards adult students and taking place entirely online. This new degree program, specifically designed for adults with some college credit who are aged 23 or older, offers greater accessibility to a BSW degree for individuals who may otherwise not be able to engage with social work education due to various barriers such as work and family responsibilities.

This new program, along with the College’s traditional undergraduate BSW program, answers the call for the growing need for social workers with a focus on liberal arts education that prepares Trinity’s graduates for a world that needs them. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 13% employment growth rate for all social workers from 2019-29. Students who earn their BSW degree at Trinity Christian College are eligible to earn their MSW degree in 1-year through the advanced standing placement enrollment option at other higher education institutions with a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program.

Said Associate Professor of Social Work; Director of Social Work Program; and Department Chair Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein, DSW, “This new degree completion program offers adult learners’ access to an exciting opportunity beyond the traditional face-to-face undergraduate program. More specifically, this new online program provides greater access to an accredited Bachelor of Social Work program in which the integration of faith and practice is central to its mission and identity.”

This new online option for adult learners amplifies Trinity’s current BSW program, according to Bretzlaff-Holstein. “Assisting students in the development and discernment of their vocational call to be Christ-like change agents through the social work profession is at the heart of Trinity’s social work program.”

The program will continue the history of excellence demonstrated by those who have earned their BSW degrees from Trinity, according to Amy Tiemersma, MSW, LCSW, clinical social worker at Trinity agency partner Bethshan Association. “Trinity offers an excellent on-campus Bachelor of Social Work program, and I am excited about the increased accessibility the online program will offer, with flexible timing and location for adults who may be working full time or who may not able to access Trinity’s campus due to geography,” said Tiemersma, who has served on the advisory committee for the Trinity social work department, taught social work classes as an adjunct faculty member, and supervised many Trinity BSW interns during their field placements.

Tiemersma said she is confident that the online program will maintain the excellence that allows Trinity’s social work program to stand apart from others. “I can attest first hand to the excellence of instruction overseen by the social work professors, the provision of valuable social work learning experiences for students, and the incorporation of a Christian world view for informing social work practice, and I really encourage adults considering a BSW to look into this new option at Trinity.”

Applications are currently being accepted for the Spring 2022 semester. To learn more about Trinity’s new Adult BSW program, visit our website.

The world needs social workers, and Trinity is pleased to announce the Spring 2022 launch of a Bachelor of Social Work degree geared towards adult students and taking place entirely online. This new degree program, specifically designed for adults with some college credit who are aged 23 or older, offers greater accessibility to a BSW degree for individuals who may otherwise not be able to engage with social work education due to various barriers such as work and family responsibilities.

This new program, along with the College’s traditional undergraduate BSW program, answers the call for the growing need for social workers with a focus on liberal arts education that prepares Trinity’s graduates for a world that needs them. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 13% employment growth rate for all social workers from 2019-29. Students who earn their BSW degree at Trinity Christian College are eligible to earn their MSW degree in 1-year through the advanced standing placement enrollment option at other higher education institutions with a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program.

Said Associate Professor of Social Work; Director of Social Work Program; and Department Chair Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein, DSW, “This new degree completion program offers adult learners’ access to an exciting opportunity beyond the traditional face-to-face undergraduate program. More specifically, this new online program provides greater access to an accredited Bachelor of Social Work program in which the integration of faith and practice is central to its mission and identity.”

This new online option for adult learners amplifies Trinity’s current BSW program, according to Bretzlaff-Holstein. “Assisting students in the development and discernment of their vocational call to be Christ-like change agents through the social work profession is at the heart of Trinity’s social work program.”

The program will continue the history of excellence demonstrated by those who have earned their BSW degrees from Trinity, according to Amy Tiemersma, MSW, LCSW, clinical social worker at Trinity agency partner Bethshan Association. “Trinity offers an excellent on-campus Bachelor of Social Work program, and I am excited about the increased accessibility the online program will offer, with flexible timing and location for adults who may be working full time or who may not able to access Trinity’s campus due to geography,” said Tiemersma, who has served on the advisory committee for the Trinity social work department, taught social work classes as an adjunct faculty member, and supervised many Trinity BSW interns during their field placements.

Tiemersma said she is confident that the online program will maintain the excellence that allows Trinity’s social work program to stand apart from others. “I can attest first hand to the excellence of instruction overseen by the social work professors, the provision of valuable social work learning experiences for students, and the incorporation of a Christian world view for informing social work practice, and I really encourage adults considering a BSW to look into this new option at Trinity.”

Applications are currently being accepted for the Spring 2022 semester. To learn more about Trinity’s new Adult BSW program, visit our website.

When Lucky Collins ’17 first enrolled at Trinity, she brought a unique perspective as a working adult, wife, and mother of two small children. She went on to graduate with her bachelor of social work degree and then a master’s degree. Now, her career has brought her back to the Trinity community, as Administrative Coordinator of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work, which is headquartered on  campus.  

Collins considered several degree options at Trinity before finding her calling to become a social worker. “I realized that helping people was really what I wanted to do. I just wasn’t clear how,” she said. “After speaking with my advisor, he suggested I take a social work class. He thought it would be a great fit and I never looked back.” 

Collins credit her Trinity’s professors and staff members for helping her succeed. “The social work department professors as well as a few other staff were really impactful during my time at Trinity. I wasn’t a traditional student. I had a husband and two small children. I was also a full-time student and working,” she said. “Everyone was very understanding and accommodating to me, as they knew I was trying my best to do my best.” 

That was particularly true during her final years finishing her degree, as she confronted health issues and the loss of several family members. “Having professors who talked with me, sent me cards, and having counseling services afforded to me changed my life,” she said. “I will forever be grateful to them.” 

After graduating from Trinity in 2017, Collins earned a master’s of social work with a specialization in advanced clinical social work from Aurora University in May 2019 and passed her licensure exam. She is currently the administrative coordinator for The North American Association for Christians in Social Work (NACSW), which is headquartered in Groot Hall. “I am part of the executive leadership team that embarks on supervisory, administrative, human resources, financial, systems support tasks, etc.,” she said. “My main job function is being the key liaison and communication for the association. Our association equips social workers to integrate faith in social work. And I take making sure our association runs smoothly very seriously.” 

Her time at Trinity has prepared her for her career, from the skills she learned and the networking she was able to do. “Being able to integrate my faith in the workplace has always been a goal of mine. I’m so grateful for the opportunity I have now,” she said.  

Collins also tries to pay those experiences back to others. “Trinity will always have a special place in my heart. I grew so much there,” she said. “I had my family all while being a student there, from my husband and kids attending events, visiting me when I worked on campus, and even attending class with me in emergency situations. I will always remember the amount of grace shown to me. I now extend that to others in my day-to-day life as well as my professional life being in managerial positions.” 

Earlier this month, Trinity’s Social Work Department welcomed the newest members of the College’s Phi Xi Chapter of Phi Alpha Honor Society.

Congratulations to the social work majors who were inducted!

• Inshirah Aljuneidi

• Amanda Carberry

• Rebecca Carlson

• Gabrielle Espinos

• Brianna Figueroa

• Lily Ruckman

• Olivia Schuringa

• Grace Thelo

The purpose of Phi Alpha Honor Society is to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideas. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.

Continuing a years – long tradition of excellence and recognition, Trinity Christian College has been named among the “Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report for 2021.  Trinity was ranked 21st among  Midwestern regional colleges in this year’s survey. Trinity was also named a “Best Value” college and a “Top Performer on Social Mobility.”

“At Trinity Christian College, our community is focused on providing a rigorous, life-changing education, and our graduates go on to find success in their careers and vocations,” said Trinity’s President Kurt D. Dykstra. “We are pleased that U.S. News & World Report has once again recognized how Trinity prepares our students to change the world.”

Said Provost Aaron J. Kuecker, Ph.D., “We are proud of the excellent academic programs that are supported by Trinity’s world class faculty. Rankings like these are a recognition of the top quality, whole-person vision of education that we pursue at Trinity.”

Trinity is frequently recognized for its high academic standards. The College’s honors include being named a “College of Distinction,” a “Best BSN Program in Illinois,” and a “National Strength and Conditioning Association Education Recognition Program,” among others. Trinity, which is a university partner with 1871, the world’s top university-affiliated startup incubator located in downtown Chicago, also has a world-class business department that recently led the State of Illinois with both the highest pass rates and average scores on the most recent certified public accounting (CPA) exam. The Trinity Athletics Department was also recently listed among the Champions of Character Five-Star institutions by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

The U.S. News rankings are based on qualitative and quantitative information in several categories, including peer assessments, graduation rates, social mobility, and faculty information. The “Best Value” ranking is determined by a school’s academic quality and the net cost of attendance for a student who received the average level of need-based financial aid. The “Social Mobility” ranking is based on how successful a college is at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.

Trinity Christian College and the North American Christians in Social Work (NACSW) are pleased to announce a new memorandum of understanding to mark the co-location of NACSW’s corporate headquarters on Trinity’s campus, effective June 1, 2020.

NACSW and Trinity’s Social Work Department have a long history of collaboration and support for one another, with Trinity’s social work faculty serving as frequent presenters at the annual NACSW convention.  Beginning in January, Dr. Allison Tan, Assistant Professor of Social Work at Trinity, accepted a position as Director of Programs for NACSW.  In this role, Tan has the opportunity to serve as a key point of contact for the oversight of NACSW’s day-to-day activities from Trinity’s campus.  This co-location offers Trinity students opportunities for employment, internships, and experiential learning and provides NACSW with institutional support, space, and other invaluable resources.

The leaders of both NACSW and Trinity see the value of this co-location.  Trinity’s President Kurt D. Dykstra said, “We are thrilled to welcome NACSW to its new home on Trinity’s campus.  Our students and faculty will benefit immeasurably from the close physical proximity to this wonderful organization.  I trust, too, that NACSW and its employees will find Trinity a very hospitable and collegial home and enjoy, as we do already, the great benefits of living and working within one of the world’s great metropolitan areas.”

Rick Chamiec-Case, NACSW’s Executive Director said, “Besides providing much-needed additional space for NACSW’s growing office and storage needs, NACSW’s move to Trinity’s campus will create a valuable partnership that will richly contribute to both NACSW’s and Trinity’s missions at several levels. Whether it’s creating opportunities for NACSW to work with and give experience to student workers and interns from Trinity’s Social Work Department and other majors, or sharing resources and providing consultation to support each other’s programs, this partnership will serve both NACSW and Trinity well in the years ahead.”

NACSW began in 1950 in Wheaton, IL and was incorporated in 1954.  NACSW’s mission and vision is to “be a vital presence in social work” by “equipping its members to integrate Christian faith and social work practice.”   With a membership of nearly 1,200 social work students, practitioners, and educators, NACSW’s work includes publication of the journal Social Work & Christianity as well as a number of textbooks aimed at equipping Christian social work and social work programs with resources to integrate faith and practice.  NACSW also hosts an annual convention, supports the mentorship of emerging leaders in social work, and provides a range of continuing education opportunities.

–By Christy Wolff ‘10

Sarah Irvine ‘13 grew up on the soccer field. She joined her first team when she was five years old; by the time she was seven, she was part of a travel team. God began forming Sarah through her passion for soccer from a young age and continues to this day.

Unsure of what career God was calling her to, Sarah attended community college for two years and took a variety of classes. Her soccer coach at the time encouraged Sarah to research Trinity for her next steps – which is exactly what she did.

“Transferring was difficult because I had to start over. But the soccer team at Trinity provided community when I needed it most,” Sarah shares.

Through the guidance of her sister, Sarah knew she wanted to help others in her work. So, she declared a social work major. During her classes, Sarah worked with then-Professor Rose Malinowski to create a January interim course focused on homelessness. She researched and connected with different services and support groups to create a curriculum. Prof. Malinowski also advocated for Sarah to do an internship in Ecuador during her senior year. “It was the best experience of my life,” Sarah recalls. Working at an English-speaking international school, Sarah led social skills groups, did research for the social work department, and helped with individual cases.

Sarah also took a sign language course at Trinity, which turned out to be her favorite class. One of the class assignments was to translate a children’s book into sign language. Instead of taking an already-published book, Sarah took on the brave task of writing her own. This evolved into illustrating and adding sign language to her children’s book.

Following graduation, Sarah went on to receive her MSW (Master of Social Work). Today, Sarah works in private practice in Austin, Texas. Her specialties include working with children and their families, as well as young adults. She meets with individuals who struggle with ADHD, life transitions, behavioral issues, and relationship conflicts – to name a few.

Sarah regularly uses the book she authored, Zoe the Zebra: Be Kind, as a tool to teach kindness and have constructive conversations with her clients. In 2019, her book that she wrote at Trinity was published and is currently being sold on many different platforms, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Becoming an impactful social worker and talented children’s book author are just two ways that Sarah grew during her time at Trinity. More importantly, her relationship with God deepened through worship opportunities on campus and her soccer team.

“Trinity provided me a perfect place to grow in my faith,” Sarah says.

To learn more about Sarah’s book, visit her website at sarahirvinelcsw.com

The Ferrater Mora Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, based in Oxford, England, is committed to putting ethical concerns for animals on the intellectual agenda. And as a fellow of the Centre, Associate Professor of Social Work, BSW Program Director, and Department Chair Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein, DSW, LSW, will have new opportunities to continue her research and interest in integrating animals into social work practice and education.

“Animals have value and worth, they are part of our world, and they need to be given ethical and moral consideration,” said Bretzlaff-Holstein. “The Centre for Animal Ethics is the first of its kind, and the work they are doing is innovative and ground breaking.”

The think tank brings together academics from a range of fields, including philosophy, theology, science, ecology, and other areas. its fellowship is an international academy dedicated to the enhancement of the ethical status of animals through research, teaching, and publications.

Along with publishing the “Journal of Animal Ethics” and a book series on animal ethics, the Centre offers a “summer school” every year. A lifelong animal lover, Bretzlaff-Holstein first attended the summer school in 2018 and was a scheduled speaker in 2019, until the birth of her daughter caused her to rearrange her plans.

Along with her work at Trinity and as a fellow of the Centre, she also serves as member of the advisory council for the Humane Education Coalition (HEC), as well as an editorial advisor for the organization’s peer-reviewed journal, “The International Journal of Humane Education.” She also serves on the HEC accreditation committee.

Named in honor of Catalan philosopher José Ferrater Mora, the Ferrater Mora Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics was founded in 2006. It is an independent think tank dedicated to advancing progressive thought about animals and to put animals on the intellectual agenda.