Hope Haslam Straughan

Clinical Associate Professor, Coordinator of Social Work & Theology Dual Degree

Hope Haslam Straughan is the coordinator for the dual-degree Master of Social Work/Master of Theology Studies at Boston University. “I completed my MSW studies at a seminary in which I also received a certificate in Theology,” she explains. “In this way, my understanding of the underlying philosophies of social work were coupled with a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of people and the call to care for one another—especially the vulnerable among us.” 

Prior to joining the BUSSW faculty in June 2018, Haslam Straughan served as dean for the School of Social Work, Leadership, and Youth Advocacy at Wheelock College. Her research interests include spirituality within social work practice, justice-based social work, child welfare, and foster care and adoption, with a particular focus on transracial adoption. Haslam Straughan is the author of Parenting in Transracial Adoption: Real Questions and Real Answers (Praeger, 2016) and “Spiritual Development Across the Lifespan” in Christianity and Social Work (5th ed.) (NACSW, 2016).

Haslam Straughan is also a volunteer foster care case reviewer for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, serves on the board of FAMILY, Inc., and Key, Inc., and reviews manuscripts for the NACSW Journal, Christianity and Social Work, as well as Simmons University’s journal, Field Education. 

Specialties

• Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption
• Transracial Adoption
• Spirituality in Social Work
• Human Rights & Justice-Based Social Work Practice

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Education

  • BA

    Samford University

  • MSW

    The Carver School of Church Social Work, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

  • PhD (Social Work)

    Barry University

Courses

SSW ET753 Ethics in Social Work Practice

Publications

Hoyt-Oliver, J., Haslam Straughan, H., & Schooler, J.E. (2016). Parenting in transracial adoption: Real questions and real answers. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.
Scales, T.L., Haslam Straughan, H., & Scales, A.T. (2013). Making peace in a world of violence: Families and congregations participate in healing hurt kids. In Stassen, G.H., Peterson, R.L., & Norton, T.A. Formation for life: Just peacemaking and twenty-first-century discipleship. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications.
Schooler, J.E., Smalley, B.F., & Callahan, T. (2010). Wounded children, Healing homes: How traumatized children impact adoptive and foster homes. ~ consultant & contributor
Hugen, B., & Scales, T.L. (Eds.). (2013). Christianity and Social Work: Readings in the Integration of Christian Faith and Social Work Practice (5th ed). Botsford, CT: NACSW Press. ~ chapter author, entitled: "Spiritual Development"

Presentations

“Incorporating Mandalas in Social Work Practice: A Solution-Focused Tool” – presenter (2018), SSW Professional Education Program.
"3 Million Hours of Caring - Founder Day" - invited co-speaker (2016) with Dr. T. Laine Scales, Palm Beach Atlantic University's Founder's Day events, celebrating their cornerstone, Workship's, 3,000,000 hours of serving the community
"Children & Trauma - implications for Foster Families" - presented at YOU, Inc., March 2012
Invited pre-convention, all-day intensive at the North American Association of Christians in Social Work in Atlanta, GA, October 2011: "A river that never runs dry: Spiritual integration in social work practice"
"Lifebooks" - presented along with MSW '10 alum, Andrea LaJoie at the Cambridge Family & Children's Services, April 2010

Professional Activities and Certifications

Volunteer Foster Care Case Reviewer, Department of Children and Families
Board Member, KEY, Inc.
Board Member, FAMILY, Inc.

Awards and Honors

Social Justice Warrior Award, Wheelock College School of Social Work, Leadership and Youth Advocacy, March, 2018

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