Sandra Kopels
Professor
Office location: 2050
Phone number: 217-244-5230
Email: kopels@illinois.edu
Educational Background
Sandra Kopels received her JD and MSW degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a licensed attorney. She is currently a professor at the University of Illinois.
Prior to joining the U of I faculty, she was Director of the Legal Advocacy Service of the State of Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission. Her research and teaching focuses on legal and ethical issues as they affect social work clients and practitioners. She has lectured extensively on subjects related to the confidentiality and disclosure of client information. Presently, Professor Kopels serves as the Managing Editor of the School of Social Work Journal and a reviewer for numerous social work journals. Professor Kopels serves as a board member of the State of Illinois Child Welfare Employee Licensure Board and has been appointed as a Trustee for the National Association of Social Workers Legal Defense Fund. She has received repeated recognition from the University of Illinois for her excellent teaching.
Research and Practice Interests
Legal issues for social workers, confidentiality, duty to warn, ethics, special education, substitute decision-making
Current Research
Dr. Kopels is currently co-authoring the third edition of Social Work Records with Jill Doner Kagle. She is beginning work on a project to examine outcomes for older youth in the Department of Children and Family Services.
Recent Publications
Books
Kagle, J.D and Kopels, S. (2008). Social Work Records. (3rd Edition). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.
Chapters in Books
Kopels, S. (2008). Ethical and Legal Complexities for School Social Workers with Confidentiality in Schools. In Massat, C. R., Constable, R., McDonald, S., & Flynn, J. P. (Eds). School Social Work: Practice, Policy and Research. (7th Ed). Chicago: Lyceum Books. 95-113.
Published Comments
Kopels, S. (2008). Since you asked: FOID and the Duty to Warn. NASW Illinois Networker. XLVI(5). September, pp. 12-14.