| Title | Assistant Professor |
|---|---|
| Department | School of Social Work |
| Office | Lafayette Annex 213 |
| Phone | 978.542.3234 |
| christopher.collins@salemstate.edu |
| SWK 222 | Forensic Social Work |
|---|---|
| SWK 270 | Understanding Privilege, Oppression, and Cultural Competence in Social Work |
| SWK 335 | Social Policy: Theory and Analysis |
| SWK 381 | Social Work Research Methods I |
| SWK 382 | Social Work Research Methods II |
| SWK 717 | Forensic Social Work Advocacy & Case Management |
Dr. Chris Collins is an Assistant Professor and MSW Program Coordinator in the School of Social Work and a Research Affiliate for Maura's Voice Research Fund. Having earned his Ph.D in 2023 from Florida State University, Dr. Collins brings nearly 10 years of teaching and mentorship experience to his role.
Dr. Collins teaches across the curriculum and in both the BSW and MSW programs. He primarily teaches courses in research methods, social policy, privilege and oppression, and criminal legal social work practice. Prior to joining the faculty of Salem State University in 2023, Dr. Collins worked as a social worker in settings such as child welfare, victim advocacy, crisis intervention, and acute behavioral health. His professional social work experiences spans more than 10 years. Importantly, Dr. Collins brings all of this experience to the classroom.
Dr. Collins maintains a clinical social work license in Florida, as well as in Massachusetts. When he lived in Florida, Dr. Collins also provided supervision to social workers pursuing their clinical licensure. Dr. Collins has been a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the second largest professional lobbying organization in the world, since 2011. In that time, he has served in various leadership roles. Most recently, Dr. Collins was elected to serve a three-year term on the NASW Massachusetts Chapter as Member-At-Large.
Dr. Collins' research focuses broadly on firearm violence prevention and Incel-perpetrated violence against women. Currently, Dr. Collins is leading a research team that is examining the characteristics and experiences of LGBTQ firearm owners in the United States.
Interventions that reduce and prevent firearm-related suicide; policies and related evaluations of effectiveness related to safe and responsible firearm storage practices; lethal means safety counseling related to firearm storage practices; suicide prevention; intervention research; implementation science; provider training; motivational interviewing; evidence-informed practice
Collins, C. (In Press). Engaging in lethal means safety (ELMS): An evaluation of a suicide prevention means safety training program for mental health first responders. Health & Social Work
Radey, M., Boel-Studt, S., & Collins, C. (2023). “Taking it day by day”: Maternity group homes in the lives of mothers aging out of foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 107293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107293
Collins, C. (2023). Policy & change: An analysis of veteran perpetrated mass shootings & social work’s call to action. Journal of forensic social work. doi: 10.15763/issn.1936-9298.2023.7.1.111-123
Boel-Studt, S., Huang, H., & Collins, C. (2023). “I hope my voice is heard.”: A mixed-methods study of youths’ perceptions of residential care. Children and Youth Services Review, 107034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107034
Copeland, P., Collins, C., Pederson, S. D., Tripodi, S., Epperson, M, W. (2022). To what extent is criminal justice content specifically addressed in MSW programs? A 10-year review and update. Journal of Social Work Education.
Collins, C., & Clark, J. (2021). Using the TRAP-18 to identify an incel lone-actor terrorist. Journal of Threat Assessment and Management. doi: 10.1037/tam0000167
Kattari, S.K., Atteberry-Ash, B., Collins, C., Kattari, L., & Harner, V. (2021). Increased prevalence, predictors, and in-group differences of forced sex and physical dating violence among trans/gender diverse youth. Social Sciences. doi: 10.3390/socsci10060236
Pederson, S. D., Curley, E. J., & Collins, C. (2021). Does motivational interviewing decrease substance abuse for justice-involved adults? A systematic review. Substance Use and Misuse. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1887247.
Collins, C. (presented 2024, June). Risk factors & pathways toward incel-perpetrated violence. Presentation at NOFSW Annual Conference, National Organization of Forensic Social Work Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana. (National)
Collins, C. (presented 2024, April). Me & means safety: Evaluating a novel firearm suicide prevention training program. Presentation at SRS, Suicide Research Symposium, Virtual. (National)
Collins, C. (presented 2024, April). Preventing suicide through community engaged research: Evaluating a novel lethal means safety training program. Presentation at SAVIR, Society for Advancement of Violence & Injury Research, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (National)
Collins, C. (presented 2024, March). What about the second amendment? Firearm safety in divisive times. Presentation for the Friends of the School of Social Work, Salem, Massachusetts. (Local)
Collins, C. (presented 2023, November). Reducing firearm death and injury through improved policy: Engaging in lethal means safety (ELMS): An evaluation of a suicide prevention means safety training for mental health first responders. Presentation at APPAM Fall Research Conference, Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management, Atlanta, Georgia. (National)
Collins, C. (presented 2023, November). Engaging in lethal means safety (ELMS): An evaluation of a suicide prevention means safety training for mental health first responders. Presentation at National Research Conference for the Prevention of firearm-Related Harms, Research Society for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms, Chicago, Illonois. (National)
Boel-Studt, S., Dowdy-Hazlett, T., & Collins, C. (presented 2023, January). Exploring the impacts and responses to covid-19 in youth residential care programs: A qualitative content analysis. Presentation at SSWR Annual Conference, Society for Social Work Research, Phoenix, Arizona. (National)
Collins, C. (presented 2022, November). Impact of age, leakage, military service, and number of weapons on mass shooting causalities. Presentation at CSWE Annual Program Meeting, Council on Social Work Education, Anaheim, California. (National)
Collins, C. & Pederson, S.D. (presented 2022, November). Is criminal justice content addressed in MSW programs? Presentation at CSWE Annual Program Meeting, Council on Social Work Education, Anaheim, California. (National)
Collins, C. (presented 2022, June). Using the TRAP-18 to identify an incel lone-actor terrorist. Presentation at NOFSW Annual Conference, National Organization of Forensic Social Work Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana. (National)
Collins, C. (presented 2022, February). Engaging in lethal means safety. Presentation at FSPC Annual Conference, Florida Suicide Prevention Conference, Lutz, Florida. (State)
Kattari, S.K., Atteberry-Ash, B., Collins, C., Kattari, L., & Harner, V. (presented 2022, January). Differential experiences of dating and sexual violence among transgender youth. Presentation at SSWR Annual Conference, Society for Social Work Research, Washington, D.C. (National)
Dr. Collins enjoys fitness. He exercises at OrangeTheory Fitness and enjoys yoga, and running. Dr. Collins has completed numerous 5k races and 2 half-marathons. Dr. Collins is currently preparing (mentally and physically) for his next half marathon in October 2024.