Anita P. Barbee, Ph.D., MSSW

Anita P. Barbee, Ph.D., MSSW is an independent consultant as well as a Professor and Distinguished University Scholar at the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science at the University of Louisville. My areas of expertise are child welfare workforce development including employee recruitment and selection, job analysis and redesign, onboarding and training, supportive supervision, coaching, organizational culture and climate, race, equity, diversity and inclusion, the California Core Practice Model, leadership development, and creating a trauma informed organization.  I have been working in the field of child welfare for 31 years. After receiving a PhD in Social Psychology with a specialization in Child and Family Development, I ran a Social Psychology laboratory in a Department of Psychology with a focus on the study of close relationship formation, maintenance and social support. But I took a position as an evaluator and researcher at the Kent School in 1992 to evaluate child welfare training. After 5 years of evaluating training I knew I wanted to be a social worker and remain in this field for the rest of my career. So, I began the MSSW program in 1997 and my practicum placements were in the Jefferson County child welfare office working on the comprehensive Medically Fragile Team. I watch great TV shows and movies both streaming and on the big screen to decompress. I love to travel as well.