Bio

Bio

Deric J. Boston, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker in both North Carolina and Virginia with more than 25 years of experience supporting children, families, and communities through clinical practice, leadership, training, and advocacy. His professional work bridges mental health, early childhood systems, higher education, and community-based services, with a strong commitment to culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and relationship-centered practice.

Deric has extensive expertise in early childhood development, early childhood systems, and social/emotional wellbeing across educational, clinical, and community settings. His work emphasizes strengthening the social-emotional health of children, supporting families and caregivers, and promoting wellness among educators and helping professionals.

He specializes in working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families experiencing challenges related to trauma, anxiety, attachment disruptions, foster care and adoption, relationship stress, life transitions, and social-emotional development. His clinical approach integrates evidence-based and strengths-focused modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), family systems approaches, trauma-focused interventions, play therapy, reflective practice, and person-centered care.

He currently serves as a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at North Carolina State University and has held leadership positions within Head Start and Early Head Start programs, nonprofit organizations, and educational settings focused on child and family wellbeing.

Teaching & Research Interests

Deric’s teaching focuses on clinical social work practice, family systems, community and organizational practice, leadership development, and professional identity formation in social work education. He is passionate about preparing future social workers to navigate complex systems with empathy, critical thinking, and ethical leadership.

His research and scholarly interests center on:

• Early childhood educator wellness and retention
• Early childhood mental health and social/emotional wellbeing
• Organizational learning and leadership
• Trauma-informed and reflective supervision practices
• Family engagement and parent leadership
• Fatherhood and male caregiver engagement
• Equity and culturally responsive practice in early childhood systems
• Workforce development in social work and human services
• Community-based mental health and prevention services

Deric also serves as the faculty mentor for the Men in Social Work at NC State student organization, supporting leadership development, mentorship, gender equity, and community building among social work students.

Extension & Community Engagement

Deric is an experienced trainer, facilitator, and community partner who develops interactive workshops and professional development experiences for social workers, educators, clinicians, nonprofit professionals, fathers and male caregivers, and community leaders throughout the Southeastern United States.

His extension and engagement work focuses on strengthening families, supporting workforce wellness, promoting social/emotional wellbeing, and building collaborative community systems. Training and consultation areas include:

• Early childhood development and early childhood mental health
• Trauma-informed care and resilience
• Family engagement and partnership practices
• Reflective supervision and staff wellness
• Mental health awareness and emotional wellbeing
• Leadership development and organizational culture
• Child welfare and foster care advocacy
• Cultural responsiveness and racial equity
• Social-emotional development and relationship-based practice

Deric has contributed to numerous community initiatives and advisory groups focused on improving outcomes for children and families, including early childhood mental health, family engagement, educator wellness, and systems-level collaboration. His work is grounded in the belief that sustainable change happens through authentic relationships, shared leadership, and community-centered practice.