As a Doctoral Candidate in the Administration and Organization of Social Policy and Services,her energies along with her students' is presently focused on the development of a ContemporaryTheory, Therapy and Model as a Sustainable Development Intervention Plan for Transformation Jamaica, which is the social work and trade union response for "Jamaica/Caribbean 50 : 50 Celebration" in 2012. Unless proven otherwise, Mrs. Higgins presently is the 1st Social Worker and Trade Union Advocate to design and develop theoretical and therapeutic models for Behaviour Change and Self Transformation in a an integrated and socio-economic environment for the sustainable development of Jamaica and the region.
This Behaviour Change Theory which is near completion addresses emotional and relationalissues relating to the "concepts of self" throughout the life span, which will result in behavioural change. The design and development of a "Self-Knowledge Integrating Theory and Therapy" (SKITT) and the "Tripple 'C' Therapeutic Model - Control, Choice and Change" since 2008, is being tested in schools, communities, workplaces and organizations. Also, to be designed andsubmitted as a draft proposal is a "National Family Preservation Policy/Law" as a follow up toher students' at NCU and UWI evaluation and analysis of the National Youth Policy. This falls under MYCHS Strategic Plan 2010-2015: Family and Community Transformation and Preservation Programme.
Mrs. Higgins has been working at the UWI Violence Prevention Clinic with Dr. Claudette Crawford-Brown for over 12 years as a part time Clinician and Consultant. She is a Social Work and Trade Union Educator and was recently appointed Social Work Instructor Level 3 (Asst. Professor ranking) at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in the Behavioural Sciences Department where she teaches several courses but focuses on Social Work Policy and Law and Macro Social Work Practice 1 and 11. Recently she was asked to assist in the designing of anEconomics for Social Workers Course and a training module on Corruption - a Social Worker's Perspective. She is also a past Course Coordinator and now part time Lecturer at UWI - SWTC Open Campus for Introduction to Caribbean Social Policy and Social Welfare Services, and Social Work Practice Group and Community Work. She is also a Guest Lecturer and Presenter at UWI Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Institute, and other Education and Training Institutions.
In addition to her numerous awards, on International Women's Day 2010 she was awarded and recognized by Jamaica's Bureau of Women's Affairs in the area of Education and Training for her work with women and gender issues in the Public Sector and the Trade Union Movement which has influenced social policy, including the long awaited "Sexual Harassment Policy/Law" presently being discussed in Parliament, and the ILO/UNDP Decent Work Agenda: "Work and Family Initiative" in the Caribbean.
Recently (April, 2012) she was featured (cover story) in the Observer's All Woman Magazineentitled "From Hardship to Success" as motivation to others. She has also grown to become a radio and TV personality on social issues.
She is a widow, and mother of one son (37) and two daughters (29 and 25).
