Professional Background and Experience
Nancy Bruski, LCSW
Upon earning my M.A. in social work at University of Chicago, I proceeded to launch a 30-plus year career specializing in work with children and families.
My initial training was at the Virginia Frank Child Development Center in Chicago, which specializes in providing therapy as well as a therapeutic preschool/kindergarten program for emotionally disturbed preschoolers and their families. I have since delivered services to staff, parents and children in several agency settings. I began my private clinical social work therapy, consultation and professional speaking practice in 1980, continuing to the present. In addition to a specialization with children, I also have special expertise in work with separated and divorced families, and child and adolescent depression.
Professional Experience (in chronological order):
Orchard Mental Health Center prevention program, providing a range of supportive services to young parents and their children ages 0-4 years old, such as drop-in mornings, discussion groups, etc.
Evanston Day Nursery, nationally accredited full day preschool program in Evanston providing consultation to staff and director, parent education and coaching re school advocacy, brief family therapy, teacher supervision
Consultant to director and teachers, Harper College Child Development Center, and (currently) the Gertrude B. Nielsen Center, a Full-Day NAEYC accredited program in suburban Chicago, as well as local park district and private preschool-early elementary school programs re successful interventions with children and parents
Keshet Day School at Solomon Schechter in Northbrook, a private, parent-run school program originally developed for Jewish families with children with disabilities. There, over a five year period, I received excellent training in work with children and families with significant disabilities, including physical/neurological/developmental/learning problems
Adjunct Faculty, Kendall College Human Services Program, coordinated and supervised the fieldwork experiences for undergraduates and taught a weekly seminar and other courses, also taught in Early Childhood Degree Completion Program, “The Exceptional Child”
Childcare Network of Evanston grant project, providing consultation and therapy services to children/ families/staff in early childhood programs in Evanston, regular workshop presenter
Professional Development Provider, Erikson Institute of Chicago (graduate program in early childhood and child development) and Chicago Public Schools, Preschool for All Programs
(at present) mental health consultant to Total Child Center, Evanston, Il, and Highland Park Community Preschool, HIghland Park, IL
Additional Professional Activities:
Teacher trainer and parent education public speaker, providing workshops and lectures throughout the Chicago area, as well as nationally (NACCP Conference in Boston, 2007; NAEYC Conference, NY, 02, 06; Chicago Metro AEYC yearly; local college and AEYC Conferences; Headstart and preschool programs; elementary and high schools, PTAs, parent groups); Founding member of the Evanston Community EC Collaboration; Developer of Early Learning Standards for Dist 65; provider of Il Early Learning Standards Training to EC professionals; member, Learning On Track committee, Evanston Cradle to Career Collective Impact Project (2016 to present)