
LATINX IN SOCIAL WORK:
Stories that heal, inspire, and connect communities.
This collection of personal narratives amplifies and highlights the voices of Latinx social workers healing leading and inspiring while sharing their challenges and successes of navigating their careers.
Watch our Virtual Book Launch from Oct 5, 2021
ABOUT THE BOOK
Latinx in Social Work is a book is about space. The space we take up, the spaces we create and nurture, and the spaces that have yet to exist, but are so crucial to the growth and development of Latinx social workers, mental health practitioners, executives, and professionals in all industries in this country, and beyond. This book is a revolutionary step in creating a movement that is committed to owning our own narratives, naming common but unspoken struggles and challenges, and driving our own healing from the past while highlighting our successes and creating a space for hope for the future.
Erica Priscilla Sandoval, LCSW-SIFI
Founder / Creator
Erica P. Sandoval is the creator of Latinx in Social Work and is dedicated to amplifying voices and business of incredible Latinx social workers who are healing and inspiring communities.
Erica P. Sandoval, LCSW-SIFI is Founder of Sandoval CoLab, a psychotherapy and consulting group. As a passionate, licensed clinical therapist and consultant, she is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She is committed to amplifying the voices and businesses of incredible Latinx social work leaders and social justice-focused changemakers, who are healing and inspiring communities.
She partners with organizations, universities, nonprofits, health care facilities, medical, and corporate professionals to provide access to resources to advance teams and help employees and students thrive. Most recently, she co-founded Employee Network Allyance, a space for allyship for today and tomorrow’s employee network leaders who help each other succeed.
Erica holds a post master’s degree in clinical adolescent psychology and a master’s in social work from New York University, Silver School of Social Work. She currently serves as a volunteer leader as president of the board of directors for National Association of Social Workers NYC, the largest organization for professional social workers worldwide.
Her work focuses on the intersectionality of behavioral health, social disparities, trauma, and human development. She serves as advisor for Latino Social Work Coalition and Prospanica NY. Her successful career earned her numerous awards. She is regularly invited to be a guest speaker, moderator, and panelist by well-known organizations. Her greatest pride is raising her twenty-one-year-old daughter, Isabella, as a single mother, who she considers her biggest teacher. As a proud immigrant from Ecuador, her passion is fueled by supporting the community she is a part of.
This is unrelated to her position with NASW-NYC; she is not acting in her capacity as an officer of NASW-NYC.

Now Available in Spanish!
Latinx en el Área de Trabajo Social es un libro que trata sobre espacios: los- espacios que ocupamos, los espacios que creamos y cultivamos, y los espacios que aún no existen pero que son cruciales para el crecimiento y desarrollo de los trabajadores sociales Latinx, profesionales de la salud mental, ejecutivos y profesionales de todas las industrias de este país y más allá. Este libro es un paso revolucionario en la creación de un movimiento que se compromete a ser dueño de sus propias narrativas, enumerando luchas y desafíos en común que nunca habían sido expresados, e impulsar nuestra propia sanación del pasado destacando nuestros éxitos y creando un espacio para la esperanza en el futuro.
OUR MISSION
Share stories of Latinx Social Workers that: Provide inspiration to Latinx in social work. Give advice and let our messages have an impact on reader lives. Showcase the social work profession and highlight its different areas.
Why does this Matter?
Latinx in Social Work calls awareness to racism, bias, and discrimination felt by social workers. By telling our stories we create an opportunity to undo these injustices and guide others to know where they exist. As a community we create a space to reflect on our shared experiences offering personal and professional guidance to the next generation of Latinx social workers.
SHORTAGE – Latinxs are the largest ethnic minority in the US yet only 14% of social workers are Latinx.
WIDESPREAD PROBLEM – Latinax are particularly subject to hiring bias, underpaid, and face disproportionate job losses due to COVID-19.
SOCIAL WORK RACISM – Executive positions in social work are often occupied by white people and Latinx commonly experienced racial bias
MADRINAS / AUTHORS
Madrinas "godmothers" of Social Work take an active interest and acts as a mentor, sponsor, or supporter of emerging social workers.

Rosa MBramble Caballero, LCSW-R

Rosa M. Gil, DSW

Maria Elena Girone, MSW

Linda Lausell Bryant, MSW, Ph.D.

Maria Lizardo, LMSW

Laura Quiros, Ph.D., LMSW
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

Cindy Bautista-Thomas, Ph.D., LCSW, RYT

Laudy Burgos, LCSW-R

Edith Chaparro, Ph.D., LCSW-R

Karen Ciego, LCSW

Jasmin Collazo, DSW, LCSW

Andres Gomez, MSW

Jessica Hardial, LCSW, MA

Yurilka A. Hernandez, LCSW

Luisa Lopez, MSW

Madeline Maldonado, LCSW-R

Ingrid McFarlane, LCSW-R

Paula McMillan-Perez, LCSW

Amelia Ortega, LCSW

Maria E. Ortiz, M.A., LMSW

Tania Vargas, LCSW


