Regina Varin-mignano

Contributing Faculty
College of Social and Behavioral Health
Barbara Solomon School of Social Work
Master of Social Work (MSW)

Dr. Varin-Mignano has over 27 years of experience in the social work field, specifically clinical, research and administrative experience with eleven years specifically dedicated to overseeing and direct practice in counseling, disability, teaching and mental health populations. Dr. Varin-Mignano is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with R Psychotherapy Privilege in the state of New York. She has been with LaGuardia for the last nine years. I began with the Office of Student with Disabilities, but for the last 5 years I am Manager of Health and Wellness Education and Grant Development at the Wellness Center at LaGuardia Community College. My primary responsibilities include Grant Acquisition, administration and management for the Health and Wellness Center programs; the development and subsequent instruction of curriculum on Healthy Life Choices and other Health and Wellness Center Umbrella initiatives. I also include working collaboratively with colleagues within key departments to foster the growth and presentation of the Healthy Life Choices Curriculum, development and instruction of Healthy Life Choices curriculum to college students and faculty/staff and the college community, and coordinate and present outreach initiatives and workshops to the college community.
I am also responsible as the principal investigator and coordinator for the LaGuardia ASSIST program – a CUNY Project REACH Mini Grant initiative geared for support for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. I also provide a level of direct service support to students, perform clinical assessments for students who present in need and provide crisis management for students who exhibit suicidal/homicidal ideations. In addition , I am also a certified field instructor for first and second year graduate social work students (The first year as a task instructor) and the former coordinator for the Graduate Social Work Internship Program here at LaGuardia Community College.
Clinically, I am a skilled clinical social worker with extensive experience in working with physically and mentally disabled children and adults in both a hospital and a university setting. She has extensive experience in advocating for my consumers in obtaining entitlement benefits, placements, and short and long term counseling and psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and their and families. She has extensive experience developing comprehensive treatment plans, coordinating intakes, evaluations, screenings and psychosocial assessments. I am currently the Principal investigator for The LaGuardia ASSIST Program – a program that services students on the Autism Spectrum, and have extensive cultural competency training in working with returning veteran students. I am knowledgeable of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997 and 2004, American with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In addition, I am the author and Principal Investigator of the SAMHSA Campus Suicide Prevention Grant, which was Awarded in September 2015 for a three year grant period, and the NYC Community Schools Grant – ESL Strategies for Success Grant program which was awarded in July 2017.

Education

BA, Long Island University - Brooklyn

MSW, Adelphi University

PhD, Adelphi University

Awards / Honors

Honored for Social Work Services for Queens County, Queens Borough President, 2003

Publications

Varin-mignano, R. (2013). The experiences and perceptions of social support by single mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Varin-mignano, R. (2010). Autism and It's History in Education-An Outline of Past and Current Effective Educational Options.

Varin-mignano, R. (2008). Autism: A Holistic View.

Varin-mignano, R. (2008). Orientalism and American immigration-A social work view.

Varin-mignano, R. (2009). A bio‑psycho‑social examination of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families.; You do not have access to modify this field.A bio‑psycho‑social examination of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families.

Presentations

Varin-mignano, R. (2017). Enhancing the Engagement and Academic Success for College Students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder Using Universal Design. Workshop Presentation at LaGuardia Community College Opening Sessions – September 2017. LaGuardia Community College