Annie Faragher Bennett, LCSW, LISW-S, received a BA in Art History, an MSW degree from the University of KY in 1991, and completed a two year post graduate course in Conjoint Marital and Family Therapy Training in 1994. Prior to her career in social work, Annie worked as a product manager and art director for an international bath products company.

As the result of a needs assessment for a research project while working on her MSW, Annie founded a long-term residential substance abuse treatment program in Cincinnati, First Step Home, where she served as Executive Director for ten years. The program serves low income and homeless women and their dependent children, providing intensive inpatient and outpatient treatment, as well as transitional housing, case management, and job training. Annie left First Step Home in 2001 to start a for-profit cause-related organic food company. The products were distributed nationally in stores like Whole Foods Market and Fred Meyer and internationally.

Prior to selling the company in 2007, Annie partnered with Prevent Child Abuse America to raise awareness on child abuse issues through product sales, sponsorships, and in-store trainings.

Annie has received numerous awards for her work in the community (i.e. Outstanding Woman of Northern KY, Best Practice Award from HUD, June 27th Proclaimed by Mayor Luken as “Annie Faragher Bennett Day” in Cincinnati) and was one of forty entrepreneurs featured in a book published by Northern Kentucky University titled Lessons in Entrepreneurship (2008).

Annie now teaches courses on field education and family violence in the graduate program.