School of Social Work Wins Caron Award

In 2012 Audrey Freshman, Ph.D., LCSW, CASAC, joined the School of Social Work as director of continuing education and professional development. With an expertise in helping people overcome substance use, Dr. Freshman was determined to have the program offer postgraduate training to keep therapists up-to-date on the treatment of drug and alcohol addictions.

Her efforts and the School’s contribution to addictions treatment were recognized by Caron Treatment Centers, the No. 1 rehabilitation facility in the country. In the fall of 2013, Caron announced that the School has been awarded the Caron Educational Excellence Award in recognition of an institution that has proactively supported and embraced programs that promote awareness and educate students, families and communities about the negative consequences of alcohol and drug use.

The award will be presented at Caron’s Inaugural Greater Long Island Community Service Awards Breakfast, which will be held on Wednesday, November 6, 2013, 8:00 a.m., at Adelphi University’s Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom in the Ruth S. Harley University Center.

Todd Whitmer, Caron New York’s regional vice president, said, “Adelphi’s School of Social Work has developed academic excellence in the training of professionals who will be treating individuals and families affected by addiction. As the stigma of addiction continues to dissolve, more and more people will be seeking help. Adelphi’s program is evidence-based and utilizes currently practicing professionals who present real-life case studies and therapeutic strategies.”

Dr. Freshman said she considers this award from the highly regarded Caron to be “extremely meaningful…and humbling. One of my goals has been to bring top-quality workshops and a CASAC program to Adelphi to help professionals understand and treat what has become an epidemic on Long Island. For Caron to honor us as an educational institution is really something to be proud of.”

Caron has also chosen Anthony Rizzuto, CASAC, who is currently enrolled in Adelphi’s M.S.W. program, as the recipient of its Community Leadership Award. Mr. Rizzuto has worked for more than 10 years in the fields of substance use and/or domestic violence outreach and prevention and is the founder of Families in Support of Treatment (FIST).

“Anthony Rizzuto is one of the most committed professionals I’ve ever met,” said Karen M. Curtin, alumni and family coordinator-Long Island, for Caron New York. “He works tirelessly on behalf of the many individuals and families who need resources. He has brought these resources to local events where families can get educated and be heard. He is a force to be reckoned with in this field.”