Professor of Social Work

Year Joined RCNJ: 2012

Contact Information

• Phone: (201) 684-7818
• Email: ssarabia@ramapo.edu
• Office: G-207

Education:

• Ph.D., New York University
• M.S.W., New York University
• B.A., New Jersey City University

Convening Group:

• Social Work
• Convener of Minor in Substance Use Disorders

Courses Offered:

• Introduction to Substance Use Disorders
• Counseling Substance Use Disorders I
• Counseling Substance Use Disorders II
• Case Management and the Recovery Ecosystem
• Social Work Theory and Practice I (BSW & MSW)
• Social Work Theory and Practice II (BSW & MSW)
• Advanced Seminar Addressing Substance Use Disorders
• Portugal Study Abroad: Addressing Substance Use Disorders

Teaching Interest:

• Social Work Practice and Addictions from a Social Justice Perspective
• International experiential learning

Research Interest:

• Substance use from a Social Justice Perspective

Scholarship:

Peer Reviewed Publications:

Sarabia, S.E. (Accepted, in press). Connection: Understanding Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions

Sarabia, S.E. (under review). It’s Complicated: Contextualizing Substance Use in Social Work Education. Journal of Teaching in Social Work

Sarabia, S.E. (2022). Opportunities for Social Workers to Mitigate Unjust Substance Use Policy.  Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 22(4),  

Rusk, C., & Sarabia, S.E. (2022). A capabilities approach: Re-envision addressing substance misuse. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 22(1), 1-18.

Sarabia, S.E. (2021). Policy transfer model: Can the U.S. borrow from Portugal’s successful drug policy? Urban Social Work, 5(3), 227-242.

Sarabia, S.E., & McTighe, J.P. (2020). Narrative perspectives on substance use, power, and injustice: Policy and practice implications. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 21(1), 3-17.

Sarabia, S.E., & Ceia, M. (2019). Human dignity, systems, and profit: Themes from a Portuguese-American drug policy exchange. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 1-11.

Sarabia, S. E., & McGovern, J. (2018). Improving social work student competence in practice with older adults affected by substance misuse: Spotlight on the Bronx. Urban Social Work, 2(1), 1-14.

Sarabia, S. E., & Martin, J. I. (2016). Are Baby Boomer women unique?  The moderating effect of birth cohort on age in substance use patterns during midlife. Journal of Women & Aging, 28(2)

Sarabia, S. E. (2016). Teaching students to critique their substance abuse biases and embrace scientific learning. Addiction Educator

Sarabia, S. E. (2015). Social workers and brief interventions: A research-informed approach to changing views on marijuana. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 15(3), 337-340.

Klein, E., & Sarabia, S. E. (2014). Co-Occurring Disorders: Clinical, program, and policy considerations. Addiction, Recovery & Aftercare, 1, 35-53.

Sarabia, S. E., & Martin, J. I. (2013). Aging effects on substance use among midlife women: The moderating influence of race and substance. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 13(4), 417-435.

Invited Publications:

McGovern, J., & Sarabia, S. E. (2018). Substance abuse among older adults: Context, assessment, treatment. In T. McMillan & A. Sisselman (Eds.). Treatment, Education, and Outreach for Mental Health and Addiction – New Directions. New York: Springer.

Sarabia, S. E. (2017). Approaching co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders from a social justice perspective. In J. Rosenberg & S. Rosenberg (Eds.), Community Mental Health (3^rd edition). New York: Routledge.

Shibusawa, T. & Sarabia, S. E. (2015). Social work practice with older adults with substance/alcohol abuse problems. In D. B. Kaplan & B. Berkman (Eds.), The Handbook of Social Work in Health and Aging (2^nd Edition (pp. 397-406) New York: Oxford University Press.

Sarabia, S. E. (2014). Drug and alcohol screening. In Encyclopedia of Human Services and Diversity. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc.

Pape, P. A., & Sarabia, S. E. (2013). Assessment and treatment of women with substance use disorders. In S.L.S. Straussner (Ed.), Clinical Practice with Substance Abusing Clients (3^rd edition) (pp. 442-465). New York: Guilford Press.

Sarabia, S. E. (2013). Cultural considerations of Huntington’s disease. In Cultural Sociology of Mental Illness.  Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc.

Peer Reviewed Presentations:

Sarabia, S.E. (November, 2022). Complicating and Contextualizing Substance Use in Social Work Education. Poster Presentation at the 46th Annual Conference for AMERSA: Interdisciplinary Leaders in Substance Use Education, Research, Care & Policy.

Rusk, C., & Sarabia, S.E. (November, 2022). Using a Capabilities Approach to Reimagine Substance Use

Programming. Poster Presentation at the 46th Annual Conference for AMERSA: Interdisciplinary Leaders in Substance Use Education, Research, Care & Policy.

Bailey, C., LaBar, K., & Sarabia, S.E. (October, 2022). Another tool in the CPRS toolbox: Addressing public and structural stigma through advocacy. Presentation at the 4^th Annual Recovery Ecosystems Conference: Impact through Education, Innovation, & Collaboration.

Sarabia, S.E. (October, 2020). Policy Transfer Model: Can the U.S. successfully borrow from Portugal’s national drug policy? Poster Presentation at the 44th Annual Conference for AMERSA: Interdisciplinary Leaders in Substance Use Education, Research, Care & Policy.

Sarabia, S.E. (April, 2020). Adopting drug policy from Portugal’s successful national plan: Transfer policy analysis. Virtual paper session at Global Well-Being and Social Change Conference at Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania.

Sarabia, S.E., & Ray, K. (November, 2019). International experiential learning: Embracing a social justice approach to substance use. Paper session at the APM of the Council on Social Work Education, Denver, Colorado.

McTighe, J.P., & Sarabia, S.E. (July, 2019). Adopting a Narrative perspective on substance use, stigma, and social justice: Considerations from policy to practice.  The 9^th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health in York, England.

Sarabia, S.E., & Ray, K. (April, 2019). Socially just drug policy: Takeaways from Portugal and opportunities for advocacy. Global Well-Being and Social Change Conference at Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania.

McTighe, J.P., & Sarabia, S.E. (November, 2018). Narrative perspectives on substance use, stigma, and justice: Policy and practice implications. Paper session at the APM of the Council on Social Work Education, Orlando, Florida.

Ray, K., & Sarabia, S. E. (June, 2018). Lessons learned from Portugal’s policy of decriminalization: Barriers and benefits for the United States. Paper session presented at The 50^th Annual Addiction Institute for the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, New York, New York

Hyppolite, M., & Sarabia, S. E. (October, 2017). Engaging High Risk Athletes in Effective Social Norms Media AOD Prevention Project. Paper session at the APM of the Council on Social Work Education, Dallas, Texas.

Hyppolite, M., & Sarabia, S. E. (November, 2016). Applying Multiple Risk Models and SBIRT to Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders. Paper session at the APM of the Council on Social Work Education, Atlanta, Georgia

Sarabia, S. E., & Hyppolite, M. (June, 2016). Applying Multiple Risk Models and SBIRT to Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders.  Paper session presented at The 48^th Annual Addiction Institute for the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, New York, New York

Sarabia, S. E., & Hyppolite, M. (October, 2015). Evolving Parent Perceptions of Marijuana Use from Resignation and Indifference to Disapproval. Paper session at the APM of the Council on Social Work Education, Denver, Colorado

Sarabia, S. E. (October, 2015). Creating Meaningful Learning Experience in Substance Abuse Courses. Paper session at the NAADAC: The Association for Addiction Professionals National Conference, Washington, D.C.

Sarabia, S. E., & Hyppolite, M. (June, 2015). Everybody is Not doing it: Evolving Parent Perceptions of Marijuana Use from Acceptance and Indifference to Disapproval.  Paper session presented at The 47^th Annual Addiction Institute for the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, New York, New York

Sarabia, S. E. (October, 2014). Creating Meaningful Learning Experience in Social Work Electives. Paper session at the APM of the Council on Social Work Education, Tampa, Florida

Sarabia, S. E. (June, 2014). Start where the learner is at: A social work approach to helping addiction professionals in recovery embrace evidence-based practice. Paper session presented at The 46^th Annual Addiction Institute for the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, New York, New York

Sarabia, S. E., & Martin, J. I. (November, 2013). Aging Out among Substance-Using Midlife Women: Racial/Ethnic and Substance Differences. Paper session at the APM of the Council on Social Work Education, Dallas, Texas

Sarabia, S. E. (October, 2013) Creating challenging learners: Helping students evaluate their substance abuse biases/myths and becoming open to scientific learning. Paper session at the NAADAC: The Association for Addiction Professionals National Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.

Klein, E., & Sarabia, S. E. (June, 2013). The Social Work Role in the Provision of Integrated Treatment for Dually Diagnosed Clients Identified through Evidenced Based Practice and Policy Advocacy. Paper session presented at The 45^th Annual Addiction Institute for the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, New York, New York

Sarabia, S. E., & Klein, E. (June, 2013). Substance Abuse Prevention from a Community Perspective: An Evidenced Based Approach. Paper session presented at The 45^th Annual Addiction Institute for the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, New York, New York

Klein, E., & Sarabia, S. E. (May, 2013). How to Provide Effective Care to Individuals Dually Diagnosed with a Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorder. Paper session presented at the 24^th Annual Institute for the Network for Social Work Management, Newark, New Jersey

Sarabia, S. E. (November, 2008). Older Women and Substance Abuse. Paper session presented at the APM of Council on Social Work Education, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Invited Presentations:

Sarabia, S. E., & Ray, K. (September, 2018). Portugal’s experiment and experience: The decriminalization of illicit drug use. Drugs and Society Seminar at Columbia University. New York, New York

Sarabia, S. E. (March, 2018). Current approaches to drugs in the United States: Policy and Practice. Universidade Nova De Liboa, Lisbon, Portugual.

Sarabia, S. E., De George, T., & McGuire, J. (April, 2013). Coming Together: An Evidence-Based Substance Abuse Prevention Project. Ramapo College of New Jersey, School of Social Science and Human Services, Mahwah, New Jersey

Work in Progress:

Sarabia, S. E., & Ray, K. (under review). Social Justice Lessons from Portugal’s Policy of Decriminalization of Drugs: A Roadmap for Advocacy. Advances in Social Work, Promoting Social Change:  Policy Advocacy, Research and Innovation in Social Work.