Institute for Families in Society
IFS Affiliate and Associate Faculty
Melissa Swartz, PhD
(PhD, Counselor Education & Supervision, University of South Carolina and MS Clinical
Psychology, Francis Marion University)
Melissa Swartz, PhD, is the co-founder and Executive Director of Firm
Foundations Counseling & Wellness, a private mental health practice that specializes
in treating children, adolescents, and their families. As executive director, Dr.
Swartz’s role involves quality assurance for clinical services, staff training and
supervision, as well as research and development. Dr. Swartz received her Bachelor’s
in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina, a Master’s Degree
in Clinical Psychology from Francis Marion, and a Doctorate in Counselor Education
and Supervision (PhD) from the University of South Carolina. She is licensed by the
State of South Carolina as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Supervisor
(LPC/S).
Dr. Swartz’s clinical specialty areas include child and adolescent behavioral and emotional disorders, spiritual integration, family issues, as well as trauma. Dr. Swartz holds national certifications in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Triple P Positive Parenting Program, Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP), as well as Trauma Focused CBT.
Dr. Swartz is a published author on the topics of counselor advocacy and parental alliance. Her current research projects focus on the use of Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) with children, youth, and their families as well as the impact empirically based intervention training has on mental health provider self-efficacy.
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Sarah J. Ball, Pharm.D
(Medical University of South Carolina)
Sarah Ball, PharmD is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of
General Internal Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), with a
focus on patient-centered care, patient safety, and educational outreach. She has
had direct involvement with academic detailing for over twelve years, beginning with
the development and implementation of the SCORxE Academic Service under the SC
College of Pharmacy in 2007.
Current efforts include the integration of research and programmatic opportunities to identify interventions that change prescriber behavior to reduce the risk of opioid overuse, misuse, abuse, and overdose. Dr. Ball is currently leading the MUSC team partnering with the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for the provision of drug utilization review (DUR) services, which includes educational outreach to primary care providers and surgeons.
Dr. Ball has twenty plus years with a career focus on improving patient care through the application of technology and effective communication of clinical knowledge, information, and data-derived findings.
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Tasha M. Childs, PhD, MSW, LMSW
(PhD, University of South Carolina)
Tasha M. Childs, PhD, MSW, LMSW is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Missouri and a licensed social worker (OH, SC, AK-pending) formally trained as a school social worker with practice experience as a crisis counselor and group facilitator. She completed her doctoral education at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work
Her research focuses on eliminating racial inequities in schools by examining contributions of teacher racial bias, leveraging school social workers in schools and youth-serving organizations, and creating equitable access to mental health services and supports. She has collaborated with schools across the past six years across the U.S. to improve students’ access to mental health services and implement expanded school improvement models. She is also trained in motivational interviewing and has supported the development of two school-based interventions targeting youth at-risk of high school dropout and building school readiness to implement social and emotional learning. She also serves the profession as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Child and Family Studies.
Together, she uses her experience in these roles working closely with faculty and staff to prepare and teach social work students and engage practicing social workers in ongoing continuing education and advocacy for social work practice with children and families.
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