Stacey (Brickner) Cusick

Nationwide Children’s Hospital honors alumna Stacey (Brickner) Cusick, BSSW ’01, MSW ‘02. Stacy received the “Service from the Heart” Award for her school social work practice in Central Ohio and continuously exceeding expectations as a school-based clinician.

Stacey dedicates her time and passion to clients and advocates for her clients in the school, court, and hospital systems. For example, Stacey had a client who was failing, skipping school, and constantly being suspended. After six months with Stacey, this client is now on the honor roll, attending every day, and has even received the reward of “Most Improved.”

Stacey worked for Communities in Schools as a student advocate at Indianola Middle School for five years. One of those years, she was the Team Leader of the Student Advocates within Project GRAD.  As a Student Advocate, Stacey removed academic barriers in children's learning on a micro level by connecting their families with basic needs, individual counseling, and making sure that they were properly identified to receive the best academic care. She also implemented school wide attendance incentives, peer mediation programs, and the Time Dollar Store in conjunction with The Ohio State University.  During this time, she provided support to the Field Placement Department at Ohio State by becoming a field instructor to many university students.

After working for Project GRAD, Stacey became a clinician on the School Based Team at Nationwide Children's Hospital in 2007, providing individual behavioral interventions to emotionally disturbed students in Columbus City Schools. She collaborates with school staff, families, and outside agencies to remove all possible barriers to a child's academic success.