Alirio Guerrero

Alirio H. Guerrero, LMSW, is a former Deputy Director of Child Welfare and Family Services for the Children’s Aid of New York. Over his 22-year tenure at the Children’s Aid, he oversaw the child abuse prevention and domestic violence programs. During that time, as Director of Preventive Services, he developed a comprehensive trauma-based clinical model that addresses relational family dysfunctional behaviors and their interference with strength-based and positive parenting. This model successfully reduced child abuse and neglect and consistently prevented out-of-home placement.
Professor Guerrero earned his Master’s in Social Work from Rutgers University Graduate School of Social Work. Before earning his MSW, he served as a child abuse investigator and adolescent case specialist for the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services. After relocating to New York City, he served as Program and Site Director for the Lower East Side Family Union, a community-based organization, where he provided counseling, advocacy, and other services for primarily BIPOC families facing child abuse issues.

Professor Guerrero completed his post-graduate studies at the prestigious Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York City. He maintains a private practice in Manhattan and specializes in family therapy with bi-racial, bi-cultural families. He has written and presented extensively on the issues of child abuse and neglect, the immigrant experience, and systemic family therapy. He also sits on the Board of St. Nick’s Alliance, a non-profit social service agency serving children and families in Brooklyn.

Professor Guerrero is completing his twelfth year as an Adjunct Professor and Senior Lecturer at the Columbia University School of Social Work. He is the proud father of two adult daughters and currently resides in Brooklyn with his wife and their adopted dog, Luna.