Arelis Tapia-Vargas

Dr. Arelis Tapia-Vargas (Dr. Tapia) is Director of the Promoting Child and Adolescent Well-Being Certificate Program (ChAP) at Rutgers University School of Social Work. Her areas of interest include child and adolescent well-being, equity-centered field education, culturally responsive and intersectional social-emotional learning (SEL), trauma-informed practice in K-12 systems, and preparing social workers to lead across educational and community-based settings.

Prior to joining Rutgers, Dr. Tapia held progressive roles in school and community-based social work in New Jersey and New York. She most recently led a district-wide elementary social work internship program, supervising graduate-level interns across multiple schools while strengthening university-district partnerships. In this leadership role, she oversaw training and evaluation processes, facilitated structured supervision grounded in professional competencies and ethical standards, and developed adult learning curricula focused on SEL, crisis response, and culturally responsive practice.

Earlier in her career, she served as a school social worker supporting children and families in both general and special education settings. Her responsibilities included providing individual and group counseling, participating in IEP and 504 processes, conducting risk and threat assessments, leading anti-bullying investigations, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to strengthen school climate and student wellness. Her work consistently emphasized inclusive practice, family engagement, and systems-level collaboration.

Dr. Tapia also brings experience in legal and immigration advocacy, as well as intimate partner violence services. In these roles, she supported children and families navigating complex systems, collaborated with legal and community partners, and conducted assessments to promote safety and stability.

She earned a Doctor of Social Work from Simmons University School of Social Work, a Master of Social Work from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Bloomfield College. A bilingual (Spanish-English) school social worker, her leadership and scholarship reflect a sustained commitment to equity-informed practice, workforce development, and advancing child and adolescent well-being.