College of Education and Human Development

School of Social Work

Traci LaLiberte

  • Executive Director, Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare

  • Office Hours

    8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. M-F

Traci LaLiberte

Areas of interest

Child welfare, disabilities, juvenile justice, families and children, administrative data

Degrees

PhD, University of Minnesota 
MSW, University of Connecticut 
BS, Minnesota State University-Mankato

Biography

Traci LaLiberte, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare in the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota. Her work is focused on child welfare practice and policy with special interest in comprehensive family assessment, system change, permanency for children in out of home care, and work with children and parents who have disabilities. She has served as principal investigator on studies of comprehensive assessment, evidence-based practice in treatment foster care settings, child welfare leadership, and the intersection of child welfare and disability.

Dr. LaLiberte serves as Principle Investigator (PI) or co-Investigator on 12-15 research projects annually. Recently, she worked with Ramsey County, Minnesota, to evaluate the implementation of the Children’s Bureau Comprehensive Family Assessment Guidelines, a $2,000,000 federally funded, five-year project. She is the PI of the Title IV-E MSW and BSW consortium training grants for the University of Minnesota, as well as several County and private provider (child welfare) related grants. Dr. LaLiberte provides oversight to the Center's Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate Program (PACC), as well as all professional education, outreach and publication activities within the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare. She has provided supervision and oversight to the Minn-LInK data project since 2007, growing the project to its current status. Dr. LaLiberte is the Executive Editor of the International publication CW360. She is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Public Child Welfare and is a peer reviewer for several professional journals. On occasion, Dr. LaLiberte serves as a guest editor for publications within the field of disabilities. In addition to her consultation and presentations at national conferences, Dr. LaLiberte has publications in the fields of child welfare, education and disabilities. Dr. LaLiberte received her M.S.W. from the University of Connecticut and her doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. LaLiberte is an active member of the child welfare community, both locally and nationally. She participates in a variety of service activities, including the School of Social Work's MSW, HDA and F&C curriculum committees, the CornerHouse Diversity taskforce and outside evaluation advisory boards. Dr. LaLiberte provides mentoring and supervision to approximately 15 staff/students at the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, while also serving on numerous doctoral committees.

Publications

Lightfoot, E., Hill, K. & LaLiberte, T. (2011). Prevalence of children with disabilities in the child welfare system. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(11) 2069-2075. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.02.019.

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T. (2011). Parental supports for parents with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 49(5), 388-391. DOI: 10.1352/1934-9556-49.5.388

Hall-Lande, J., Hewitt, A., Bogenschutz, M., LaLiberte, T. (2011). County level administrator perspectives on the implementation of consumer directed supports. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. DOI: 1044207311416595

LaLiberte, T., Johnston, N., Larson, A. (2011). Child welfare and media: Teaching students to be advocates. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 5 (2), 200-2012. DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2011.566757

LaLiberte, T., Bennett, J., Oh, H.J., Piescher, K. (2011). be@school Geographic Information System (GIS) Report; Addendum to the Preliminary Outcome Report. Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.

Oh, H.J., Piescher, K., LaLiberte, T. (2011). be@school Preliminary Outcomes Report. Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.

Wilson, J.R., LaLiberte, T., Stump, T., Piescher, K. Lewis, C. (2011).  be@school Parent Survey Report; Addendum to the Implementation Report. Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.

LaLiberte, T., Bills, J., Shin, N., & Edleson, J. (2010). Child Welfare Professionals' Responses to Domestic Violence Exposure among Children. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(12), 1640-1647. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2010.06.025

Lightfoot, E., LaLiberte, T., Hill, K. (2010). Disability in the termination of parental rights and child custody statutes. Child Abuse & Neglect, 34(12), 927-934. DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2010.07.001

Bogenschutz, M., Hewitt, A., Hall-Lande, J., LaLiberte, T. (2010) Status and trends in the direct support workforce under consumer directed supports. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 48(5), 345-360. DOI: 10.1352/1934-9556-48.5.345

LaLiberte T., & Ford, M. (2010). Evaluating CDS Learning Objectives and Competencies Across Disability and Child Welfare Fields; Creating a Crosswalk. College of Direct Support Evaluation Brief, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.

Semanchin-Jones, A., LaLiberte, T. (2010). Adoption Disruptions and Disolutions. Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.

Semanchin-Jones, A., LaLiberte, T. (2010). Re-entry into foster care report. Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.

Piescher, K., Armendariz, K., LaLiberte, T. (2008). Involving foster parents in permanency planning for adolescents in treatment foster care: Evidence-based practices. Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.

Piescher, K.,& LaLiberte, T. (2008). Evidence-based practice in foster parent training and support: Implications for treatment foster care providers.  Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.

Lightfoot, E., LaLiberte, T., & Hill, K. (2007). Guide for creating legislative change: Disability status in termination of parental rights and other child custody statutes. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota

LaLiberte, T.,Hewitt, A., Lande, J.H., & Larson, S.A. (2007).  Higher ground: The dedication of direct support professionals during and after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living.

LaLiberte, T., Hewitt, A., Lande, J.H., & Larson, S.A. (2007).  You know that it’s got to be dedication that I am still here:  The experiences of direct support professionals during hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the aftermath.  Minneapolis:  University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living.

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T. (2006).   Approaches to child protection case management for cases involving people with disabilities. Child Abuse & Neglect, 30(4), 381-391.

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T.  (2006).  The inclusion of disability provisions in state statutes on termination of parental rights.  Developmental Disabilities Policy Research Brief, 17(2), Minneapolis: Institute on Community Integration, Research and Training Center on Community Living.

Presentations

Lightfoot, E., LaLiberte, T. (2012). An exploratory study of the parental supports needed and received by parents with disabilities. Presentation at the 17th Annual Meeting of the Society for Social Work Research, January 12-15. Washington, DC.

Lightfoot, E., LaLiberte, T. & Kalomo, N. (2011). Incorporating Service Learning into Short-Term International Study. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting, October 27-30. Atlanta, GA.

LaLiberte, T. & Snyder, E. (2011). Intensive IV-E Field Experience; a Unit Model. Professionalizing Child Welfare: Title IV E National Roundtable, May 25-27, 2011. Galveston, Texas.

LaLiberte, T., Piescher, K., & Johnston-Goodstar, K.  (2011). Experiential Learning in Native American Communities. Professionalizing Child Welfare: Title IV E National Roundtable, May 25-27, 2011. Galveston, Texas.

Crudo, T. & LaLiberte, T.  (2011). Developing Online Learning Modules for Child Welfare. Professionalizing Child Welfare: Title IV E National Roundtable, May 25-27, 2011. Galveston, Texas.

Johnston-Goodstar, K. & LaLiberte, T. (2011, October). Experiential and Critical Pedagogy; Foundations for child welfare student’s learning about the Indian Child Welfare Act.  Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA. Invited by the American Indian Alaska Native Social Work Educators Association Meeting

Lightfoot, E., Hill, K. & LaLiberte, T. (2010). The prevalence of children with disabilities in the child welfare system: an analysis of state administrative data.  Presented at the 15th Annual Meeting of the Society for Social Work Research, January 12-16, 2010. San Francisco, CA.

LaLiberte, T., & Shin, N. (2009). Educating Child Welfare Professionals On Assessment of Child Exposure to Domestic Violence. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting, November 6-9, 2009. San Antonio, Texas.

Lightfoot, E., LaLiberte, T., & Hill, K. (2009). A Legislative Change Project Addressing State Laws That Impact Parents with Disabilities. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting, November 6-9, 2009. San Antonio, Texas.

LaLiberte, T.& Lightfoot, E. (2008).   Child Welfare Worker Competency in Working with Parents with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. International Association for the Scientific Study if Intellectual Disabilities, August 25-30, 2008. Capetown, South Africa.

Lightfoot, L. & LaLiberte, T. (2008). Disability as grounds for Termination of Parental Rights in State Laws. International Association for the Scientific Study if Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID), August 25-30, 2008. Capetown, South Africa.

LaLiberte, T., Irwin, B., Harris-Thorton, Q., Harris, Y. (2007).  Paradigm Shift; Working with Parents with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Children’s Bureau Conference for Agencies and Courts-Fresh Perspectives on Child Welfare Partnerships. December 11-3, 2007. Arlington, VA.

LaLiberte, T.(2007). Higher Ground; Direct Support Professionals’ Dedication During and After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Annual Meeting, May 21-24, 2007. Atlanta, GA.

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T. (2007). Intentional or Unintentional Discrimination;  the Inclusion of Disability Status in Termination of Parental Rights Statutes. Society for Social Work Research’s Eleventh Annual Conference; Bridging Disciplinary Boundaries, January 11-14, 2007. Sanfrancisco, CA.

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T. (2007). Fair Treatment: Child Protection Case Management Approaches in Cases Involving People with Disabilities. Society for Social Work Research’s Eleventh Annual Conference; Bridging Disciplinary Boundaries, January 11-14, 2007. Sanfrancisco, CA.

LaLiberte, T.(2005). Training Competencies for Working with People with Disabilities. Fifteenth National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect; Supporting Promising Practices and Positive Outcomes: A Shared Responsibility, April 23, 2005. Boston, MA.

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T. (2005). Identifying and incorporating different case management approaches in cases involving individuals with disabilities.  Paper presented at the 15th Annual National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCAAN), April 18-23, Boston, MA.

LaLiberte, T. & Lightfoot, E. (2004).  Increasing disability competency in child welfare professionals.  Paper presented at the 50th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting, February 27-March 1, Anaheim, CA.