Bio

Michelle Guarino earned a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Masters of Social Work from New York University. Michelle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked with gang affiliated / high-risk youth and families since 1996. Michelle began her career as the Youth Intervention Counselor for the New Hanover County / Wilmington City Gang Task Force; a first of its kind position employing a civilian within a law enforcement entity to intervene with gangs, gang members and families. Michelle has received Gang Counseling Techniques training from the National Gang Crime Research, as well as, Primary Gang Specialist Certification. Michelle has trained local and national agencies such as ROCIC Gang Conference, NC Governor’s Crime Commission, National Gang Crime Research Center Gang Conference, Project Safe Neighborhoods, NC Parks and Recreation, NC Association of Substance Abuse Counselors, Youth Development Centers, The North Carolina University system, Department of Juvenile Justice and various state and federal law enforcement agencies. Michelle’s area of specialization is forensic profiling, trauma, crisis intervention, criminality and attachment.

Michelle has worked as an outpatient therapist specializing in children and youth with a focus on adjudicated youth and gang affiliated youth. Michelle serves as the Director of Program Development for The North Carolina Gang Investigators Association and assisted the association in implementing Gang Free NC. Michelle has served on the NC Governor’s Gang Task Force as the Chair for the Gang Intervention Sub-Committee. Past recognitions include; Recipient of The Carolyn and Richter Moore Citizen Award 2012, New Hanover County Human Relations Woman of the Year 2000, for Program Development and Service provided to at-risk and gang affiliated youth, Recipient of the Walter Lawson NOBLE award and The Governor’s Crime Commission “Excellence in Juvenile Crime Prevention” award, as well as, recipient of the “Cape Fear Peace Prize” for contributions made to at-risk and gang affiliated youth. Michelle was previously employed as a civilian Division Commander with Chapel Hill Police Department. She supervised the Crisis Unit, School Resource Officers, Community Services Unit, Youth Services and served as the Crisis Negotiation Team Supervisor.  Michelle was a long time Adjunct Professor for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington School of Social Work , serving in that role for 12 years. Michelle presently serves as a School Safety Social Work Consultant for the NC Center for Safer Schools under the State Bureau of Investigation and continues to put the children of North Carolina at the forefront of her work. Michelle currently serves as a Professor with the School of Social Work at North Carolina State University.

Teaching and Research Interests

Teaching Philosophy

I believe strongly in learning from experienced social workers, open dialogue and visual example. My classroom consists of a myriad of teaching techniques such as lecture, PowerPoint presentation, videos, role-play and discussion.  I believe in providing a realistic view into the world of social work to ensure true preparedness and confidence to expect situations and intervene effectively and appropriately.

Research Interests

Gangs – Awareness, Mentality, Effective Prevention, Intervention, Diversion and Re-entry

Forensic Social Work

Early childhood attachment and adolescent delinquency

Criminality

Systems and environmental effects on mental health and decision making

Psychopathology as it relates homicidal and suicidal tendencies

Extension and Community Engagement

Director of Program Development and Executive Board Member – Gang Free NC

Governor’s Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force

Governor’s Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force – Intervention Work Group Chair

North Carolina Center for Safer Schools – Behavioral Health Manger

Crisis Intervention Training for Youth – Project Director / Committee Chair

Crisis Intervention Trainer – De-escalation, Active Listening, Safety tactics

Eastern Gang Conference Planning Committee Member

Publications

Contributor Treatment Planning, Writing, and Documentation in Creative and Expressive Arts Therapies: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals.

2026-05-07 | Book chapter | Part of ISBN: ISBN 9781032801445

Co-authored the Behavioral Threat Assessment Management Guidance mandated by NC HB 605 for North Carolina PSUs for DPI, Center for Safer Schools.

Authored the Peer to Peer Program Guidance mandated by HB 605 for North Carolina PSUs for DPI, Center for Safer Schools.

Peer reviewer for; How Emotional Intelligence Influences Students Life Satisfaction During School Lockdown: The Chain Mediating Effect of Interpersonal Competence and Anxiety by Yuyang Zhao, Sang Biao and Cody Ding

Peer reviewer for; Youth Gang Involvement and Long Term Offending: An Examination into the Role of Psychopathic Traits by Justin Joseph

Authored  a chapter in a Creative Modalities Book, not yet published, around Gangs and creative interventions and assessments.

Expert Reviewer and Contributor: Best Practices for Youth with Behavioral Health Needs involved with the Juvenile Justice System. Relias Academy 2019

Co-author of A Second’s Chance Gang Violence Task Force Prevention Program. The American Surgeon Volume 78, Number 1, January 2012

Co-author of LCFGTF: Helping Build New Lives New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Lower Cape Fear Gang Task Force JCPC Assessment Report 2006-2008

Co-author of BEST PRACTICES MANUAL: THE WILMINGTON YOUTH VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM