UAlbany School of Social Welfare faculty members, Dr. Mary McCarthy and Dr. Catherine Lawrence, discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the child welfare workforce and the child welfare system itself, with a particular focus on tribal communities. Both Mary and Kate are involved with the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute, a collaborative organization that promotes organizational interventions focused on developing and retaining a diverse and effective workforce.
UAlbany School of Social Welfare faculty members, Dr. Mary McCarthy and Dr. Catherine Lawrence, discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the child welfare workforce and the child welfare system itself, with a particular focus on tribal communities. Both Mary and Kate are involved with the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute, a collaborative organization that promotes organizational interventions focused on developing and retaining a diverse and effective workforce.
Bios:
Mary L. McCarthy, Ph.D., LMSW is a faculty member at the University at Albany School of Social Welfare. She is the Co-PI for the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute, Funded by the Children’s Bureau and Director of the Social Work Education Consortium, a partnership between the NYS Association of Deans of Schools of Social Work, NYS Office of Children and Family Services, and Commissioners of local Departments of Social Services in NYS. Dr. McCarthy worked in the child welfare field for 11 years both before and after receiving her MSW from the University at Albany in 1982. She was invited to work at Padjadjaran University in Bandung Indonesia in the fall of 2019 through the Fulbright Specialist Program.
Catherine K. Lawrence is an Associate Professor at the University of Albany School of Social Welfare. Her scholarship focuses on public human services, particularly in the areas of child welfare and income support. Her most recent research targets two key issues in child welfare organizations that prevent effective, just, services for children and families: workforce capacity and racial disparity. Dr. Lawrence is working with the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute to advance this research agenda. She also teaches introductory and advanced policy courses at the School of Social Welfare.