Shelly Baer, a licensed clinical social worker, has worked in the Miami community for more than 16 years. For the last seven, she has worked at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine with children infected with HIV, serving as clinical therapist, group leader and staff supervisor. Most recently, Ms. Baer accepted a position back at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in the Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity.
Ms. Baer grew up in Miami and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami, majoring in psychology and special education. She received a master’s degree at Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work. In 1992, Ms. Baer was awarded a certificate in addiction studies from the University of Miami, and in 2000, she received a certificate in family therapy from their Center for Family Studies. Her career in social work has always focused on helping low-income populations. As a family preservation services supervisor at the Family Resource Center, she began a successful Department of Children and Families’ court-approved 14-week parenting skills class.
In 2001, Ms. Baer was one of 18 young men and women who were awarded a two-year fellowship to Dade Community Foundation’s prestigious leadership program, Miami Fellows Initiative. Through the program, she received a stipend to create a resource guide, Access Miami, for the physically disabled community. Recently, she received a grant from the Allegheny Foundation to print an updated second edition.
Ms. Baer was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age three, but it has never slowed her down. Her numerous volunteer activities have included: crisis phone counselor at Switchboard of Miami; founder of a support group for young adults with arthritis called the Joint Connection; and a “Big” for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She also served on the board of arts organization, Tigertail, and was a grant reviewer for Dade Community Foundation’s HIV/AIDS programs.
Ms. Baer currently serves as secretary of the board of Center for Independent Living. In 2006, through her involvement in CIL, Ms. Baer was the co-creator/producer of the acclaimed photography exhibit about disabled women, Uncensored Life: Raw Beauty. This exhibit was the second fundraising activity for the Center and received much press and publicity. As it gained momentum, the core group voted to create a non-profit called VisAble Women, whose mission is dedicated to building public awareness through the media arts of the strength, equality and beauty of women with physical challenges.
In her spare time, Ms. Baer writes poetry and takes writing classes at Miami-Dade College. She won an award for a poem about South Africa and had two of her poems published in their literary magazine. |
