Stacy Kratz

Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work | USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES

Dr Kratz focuses on the best and smartest ways to change everything, especially using the sport platform for social justice and peace.

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Biography

Dr. Stacy Kratz, PhD, joined USC in 2011. Specializing in policy practice, advocacy, and activism, she is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), a certified addiction professional (CAP), a researcher, a community advocate and organizer, and an international leader in the sport social work subspecialty focusing on the sport for social justice and peace movement. Dr. Kratz serves as lead faculty for the School of Social Work's Sport Social Work Task Force, as well as Executive Board Member of the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports (ASWIS.ORG).

She started in social work as clinical therapist at MacDill Air Force Base, and has worked on multiple community-based program development projects. She currently serves as founding chair of the Tampa Bay, Florida, Refugee Task Force Mental Health Team. Recent projects include leading an interdisciplinary team to expand evidence-based mental health treatment options, especially for survivors of torture, developing refugee mental health evaluation strategies, and amplifying the sport platform in refugee wellness.

Kratz also investigates health promotion and disease prevention communication. Specifically, she utilizes a constructivist grounded theory approach in understanding how mother/daughter dyads communicate what constitutes health and sexual health to better understand the process, action and interaction of communication, focused on the relatation to disease prevention and HIV/AIDS.

Kratz was awarded the USC Jane Addams Faculty Award in 2016. As an educator, she focuses on the student experience and how to best support faculty in engaging and challenging students to provoke impassioned responses to the Grand Challenges for Social Work and Society. She has published and presented papers and conducted trainings at numerous interdisciplinary conferences both in the United States and internationally, regarding current and emerging web-based technology to support teaching and learning.

Additonal community-impact awards include Tampa Bay Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers; Community Partner of the Year by the University of South Florida College of Public Health; Nonprofit of the Year by the Tampa Bay Business Journal; Social Work Scholar by the Conn Family Foundation; Empowerment Award by Project Prosper, Inc.; and the annual Human Rights Award of the Tampa Bay Human Rights Council.

Kratz can be found on LinkedIN, Instagram and Twitter @SocialWorkPulse

Education (4)

University of South Florida: Ph.D., Social Work

University of South Florida: M.S.W.

University of South Florida: B.S.W.

Southern Illinois University: B.A.

Areas of Expertise (17)

Faculty Development

Sport Social Work

Sport for Social Justice and Peace

Social Development/Policy

Sport for Social Development

United Nations Sustainabale Development Goals

Grand Challenges for Social Work and Society

Community of Practice

Design Thinking

Qualitative Research Design

Substance Abuse

Hiv/Aids

Behavioral Health

Addiction Professional

Constructivist Grounded Theory

Social Welfare Policy and Advocacy

Refugee Mental Health and Resilience

Industry Expertise (9)

Health and Wellness

Non-Profit/Charitable

Sport - Amateur

Education/Learning

Research

Writing and Editing

Social Services

Sport - Professional

Health Care - Services

Accomplishments (7)

Lilly Foundation Education Scholar Grant Winner (professional)

2017-05-01

International Teaching Learning Cooperative Network, Lilly Conferences on Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning,

Jane Addams Faculty Award - School of Social Work (professional)

2016-05-15

Annual Award recognizing excellence in academic, administrative and moral support of students.

Lilly Foundation Educational Scholar Grant Winner (professional)

2016-05-01

International Teaching Learning Cooperative Network, Lilly Conferences on Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning,

Exceptional Community Partner Award (professional)

University of South Florida College of Public Health (2015)

Empowerment Award recognizing Tampa Bay Refugee Task Force (professional)

Project Prosper (2015)

Human Rights Award (professional)

Tampa Bay Human Rights Council (2014)

Nonprofit of the Year (professional)

Tampa Bay Business Journal (2012)

Affiliations (5)

University of Southern California
Alliance of Social Workers in Sports (ASWIS.ORG)
National Association of Social Workers (NASW National and NASW Florida)
International Federation of Social Workers
Network for Social Work Management

Links (3)

Languages (2)

French
English

Testimonials (4)

Deirdre Norville, MSW, ACSW, Adjunct Clinical Professor | USC

Genuinely kind and awesomely efficient is what comes to mind when I think about Stacy! I’ve had the pleasure of knowing her during my 8 years as a Professor at USC because we started around the same time and one of the semesters she was the Lead for one of my Policy courses. I was impressed with Stacy’s ability to be efficient, resourceful, and detailed oriented. And, undoubtedly, Stacy’s extreme kindness shined through making meetings and challenges with students much easier to handle. When you would hear her heart-felt laughter and personality fill the space, it really made the team know we could rely on Stacy for what we needed for our Policy course, it really was a pleasure to work with her!

Stephanie Rosado, MSW, PhD student | University of South Florida

Dr. Kratz is an amazing individual capable of reaching a plethora of individuals through her enthusiastic teaching style. She is the type of leader that will leave a lasting imprint on mind and heart. Not only does she teach impactfully, Dr. Kratz also impacts movements by being a continued advocate for important current events and causes that she feels passionate about. Thoughtful, inspiring, and dedicated– Dr. Kratz enhances the lives of so many.

Christopher Heckert, MSW, LICSW, DSW Student (St Thomas), Faculty (University of Denver) | University of St Thomas

Professor Kratz is a true inspiration to the field of social work. During my MSW studies at USC, I had the privilege of being a student in her policy courses. Professor Kratz was enthusiastic, encouraging, and knowledgeable. Her ability to motivate and engage learners has certainly proven critical in the development and success of the Virtual Academic Center at USC. More than four years after graduating, Professor Kratz continues to offer mentorship and support in my professional development as a social worker. When I think of influential social work educators and leaders, Professor Kratz will always be on my list!

Beverly Worthy, MSW, Founder, BeWorthy, LLC, Parent and Relationship Life Coach | BeWorthy, LLC

An extraordinary, passionate, and innovative professor in every sense, Dr. Kratz inspired me and my classmates to push beyond obstacles and to battle for positive social justice. Semester by semester, student by student, policy by policy, Dr. Kratz empowers the next generation of social workers to fight fearlessly for change and betterment of society. The virtual classroom environment she creates is charged with energy, enthusiasm, and creativity, leading to a free-flowing and critical thinking-inspired exchange of ideas. Thanks to Dr. Kratz, my idea of policy practice is rich, robust and infused with specificity and purpose. It boils down to instruction and research, following evidence-based practices, and getting out in the community to advocate for change. Having given us these skills, Dr. Kratz nudges baby social workers out of the nest, and we are ready and willing to fly!