School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago

Family and School Partnerships program

Faculty

Ruth Fuerst, MA, LCSW FSPP Director
Ruth Fuerst founded the program at the Chicago Center for Family Health in 1996 and has been FSPP director since that time. Ms. Fuerst received her Master of Arts from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration (SSA), in 1970. From 1985 to 1990 she developed a school-based counseling program at the William H. Ray School, under the auspices of The Depot, in Hyde Park. From 1992 to 2001 she taught the Integrative Seminar in School Social Work at the University of Chicago, SSA. Contact Ms. Fuerst at rfuerst@luc.edu or 312/915-7021.

Ruth Fuerst, MA, LCSW
FSPP Director

Ruth Fuerst founded the program at the Chicago Center for Family Health in 1996 and has been FSPP director since that time. Ms. Fuerst received her Master of Arts from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration (SSA), in 1970. From 1985 to 1990 she developed a school-based counseling program at the William H. Ray School, under the auspices of The Depot, in Hyde Park. From 1992 to 2001 she taught the Integrative Seminar in School Social Work at the University of Chicago, SSA.

Contact Ms. Fuerst at rfuerst@luc.edu or 312/915-7021.

Amy Greenberg, LCSW, MA
Amy has worked with the Chicago Public Schools for 15 years both as a school-based clinician, as well as in administrative capacities. She is passionate about students’ achieving academically to their maximum potential and linking their families and communities to help make that happen! She is dedicated to supporting and advocating for social workers in the school setting so that they can continue to guide their students to becoming successful and contributing members of society.

Amy Greenberg, LCSW, MA

Amy has worked with the Chicago Public Schools for 15 years both as a school-based clinician, as well as in administrative capacities. She is passionate about students’ achieving academically to their maximum potential and linking their families and communities to help make that happen! She is dedicated to supporting and advocating for social workers in the school setting so that they can continue to guide their students to becoming successful and contributing members of society.

Marion Fletcher, MSW, LCSW
Marion received her MA from the University of Chicago, SSA; She has been a Chicago Public Schools’ Social Worker for 20 years and a high school social worker for 10 years. She facilitated therapeutic day and residential placements for Chicago Public Schools. Child Welfare work for 10 years - implemented permanency planning for children through collaboration with state, and local government agencies as well as juvenile courts.

Marion Fletcher, MSW, LCSW

Marion received her MA from the University of Chicago, SSA; She has been a Chicago Public Schools’ Social Worker for 20 years and a high school social worker for 10 years. She facilitated therapeutic day and residential placements for Chicago Public Schools. Child Welfare work for 10 years - implemented permanency planning for children through collaboration with state, and local government agencies as well as juvenile courts.

Robin Bluestone-Miller, MSW, LCSW
Robin has over 25 years experience working with all grade levels in public schools, special education cooperatives and in private practice. For the past 10 years she has lead consultation groups for the FSPP. During the last 5 years, she has been training school social workers on the classroom management program called "Working on What Works". The Director of Solution Focused Brief Practice for the FSPP, she has written our online course on Solution Focused Practice.

Robin Bluestone-Miller, MSW, LCSW

Robin has over 25 years experience working with all grade levels in public schools, special education cooperatives and in private practice. For the past 10 years she has lead consultation groups for the FSPP. During the last 5 years, she has been training school social workers on the classroom management program called "Working on What Works". The Director of Solution Focused Brief Practice for the FSPP, she has written our online course on Solution Focused Practice.

Michael Kelly, LCSW, PhD
Dr. Kelly is Director of Research at the FSPP, and has been a school social worker for 15 years. He has taught School Social Work at Dominican University and the University of Illinois, SSA, and is newly an Assistant Professor at the Loyola School of Social Work. Dr. Kelly presents and writes widely on school social work issues and wrote his dissertation on “The Current and Changing Roles of School Social Workers in Illinois.”

Michael Kelly, LCSW, PhD

Dr. Kelly is Director of Research at the FSPP, and has been a school social worker for 15 years. He has taught School Social Work at Dominican University and the University of Illinois, SSA, and is newly an Assistant Professor at the Loyola School of Social Work. Dr. Kelly presents and writes widely on school social work issues and wrote his dissertation on “The Current and Changing Roles of School Social Workers in Illinois.”

Bonie Mervis, LCSW, PhD
Dr. Mervis is Director of Training and Curriculum at the FSPP. She received her Master of Arts from the University of Chicago, SSA, and her doctorate from the Institute of Clinical Social Work, Chicago. She has worked in elementary schools for 28 years, and has written and presented on strength-based work with children and families in school settings. She has been with the FSPP for 14 years as a consultation group leader.

Bonie Mervis, LCSW, PhD

Dr. Mervis is Director of Training and Curriculum at the FSPP. She received her Master of Arts from the University of Chicago, SSA, and her doctorate from the Institute of Clinical Social Work, Chicago. She has worked in elementary schools for 28 years, and has written and presented on strength-based work with children and families in school settings. She has been with the FSPP for 14 years as a consultation group leader.

Helene Ellis, LCSW, PhD
Adjunct Professor, Loyola, School of Social Work ; After a nearly 30 year career in school social work and being honored in 1997 as Illinois School Social Worker of the Year, Helene has been teaching social work classes at Loyola, leading integrative seminars, serving as field liaison. and leading consultation groups for FSPP. Her special areas of interest are the research for her dissertation "The Experience of Being a Kid", done at the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago, and her consultations with parents, teachers, and administrators seeking best ways to support a healthy educational experience for children in school, family, and community.

Helene Ellis, LCSW, PhD

Adjunct Professor, Loyola, School of Social Work ; After a nearly 30 year career in school social work and being honored in 1997 as Illinois School Social Worker of the Year, Helene has been teaching social work classes at Loyola, leading integrative seminars, serving as field liaison. and leading consultation groups for FSPP. Her special areas of interest are the research for her dissertation "The Experience of Being a Kid", done at the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago, and her consultations with parents, teachers, and administrators seeking best ways to support a healthy educational experience for children in school, family, and community.

Julie Fisher, MSW
Julie is a graduate of Wayne State University, School of Social Work. She is retiring from CPS after providing service to students, families and communities for 20 years in many diverse capacities. Her interests remain in advocacy, the African American male, the gifted population, and in any student who needs assistance to become an independent,contributing, and successful school and community citizen.

Julie Fisher, MSW

Julie is a graduate of Wayne State University, School of Social Work. She is retiring from CPS after providing service to students, families and communities for 20 years in many diverse capacities. Her interests remain in advocacy, the African American male, the gifted population, and in any student who needs assistance to become an independent,contributing, and successful school and community citizen.

Barbara Schneider, MA, LCSW
Barbara is a retired school social worker who was employed by District 202, Lisle, IL, for seventeen years. Prior to doing school social work, Barbara worked with foster care and adoptions for the State of Wisconsin and as a marriage and family counselor for Family Services of Racine, WI. Barbara received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Since retiring from Lisle, Barbara has lead a consultation group for the FSPP and has helped Robin Bluestone-Miller to teach and implement the solution-focused WOWW program (Working on What Works) in the Chicago Public Schools and beyond.

Barbara Schneider, MA, LCSW

Barbara is a retired school social worker who was employed by District 202, Lisle, IL, for seventeen years. Prior to doing school social work, Barbara worked with foster care and adoptions for the State of Wisconsin and as a marriage and family counselor for Family Services of Racine, WI. Barbara received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Since retiring from Lisle, Barbara has lead a consultation group for the FSPP and has helped Robin Bluestone-Miller to teach and implement the solution-focused WOWW program (Working on What Works) in the Chicago Public Schools and beyond.

FSPP Faculty	Integrative Seminar Group
Michelle Adler-Morrison, MSW, LCSW Chief Executiev Officer Youth Guidance
Pamela Brand, LCSW Core Faculty Chicago Center for Family Health
Shirley Burnside, LCSW Former School Social Work Fenton High School, District 100	West Suburban-Lombard Alternate Mondays 4:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.
Suanne Lawrence, MA, LCSW Project Manager Youth Guidance
Erin McMains, MSW, LCSW School Social Worker Arlington Heights District #25
Karin McNicholas, LCSW Former School Social Worker Wheaton, IL	West Suburban-Lombard Alternate Mondays 4:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.
Evelyn Roman-Santos, MSW School Social Worker Chicago Public Schools	Northwest Side Every Third Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Bessie Sultan-Akuamoah, MA, LCSW Director Models for Change	West Side Alternate Tuesdays 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Miguel Vazquez, MA Former School Social Worker Currently Assistant Principal at Lowell School Chicago Public Schools	Loyola - Water Tower Campus Alternate Wednesdays 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

FSPP Home
School of Social Work Home

APPLY NOW

School of Social Work|Loyola University Chicago

School of Social Work

Family and School Partnerships program

Faculty

Chief Executiev OfficerYouth Guidance

FSPP

Chief Executiev Officer
Youth Guidance