Faculty Leaders


Centre Directors

FacultyResearch Interests
Sarah Dow-FleisnerDr. Sarah Dow-Fleisner is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, BC and Director of the CSSCF.

Her work focuses on the pathways to positive adaptation for children and families experiencing adversity, in particular for those involved with the child welfare system. In particular, her work is aimed identifying protective factors that promote resilience among vulnerable populations, including factors related to individual differences, supportive family relationships (e.g. siblings), and the services provided.

Dr. Dow-Fleisner earned a PhD in social work from Boston College, a MA in child development with a clinical developmental psychology focus from Tufts University, and an honors BA in psychology and a BSc in Child Development from Colby-Sawyer College.
Barbara LeeDr. Barbara Lee is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Director of the CSSCF, and a Knowledge Exchange and Mobilization Scholar.

She was the 2016 recipient of the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) Transforming Child Welfare Dissertation Award for her research entitled “Examining child welfare outcomes for Asian-Canadian children and families: A mixed methods study”. Her research interests include racial disparities and racial disproportionality in child welfare and social services, cross-cultural social work, evidence-informed policies and practices, and the use of simulation in social work education and training in working with children, youth, and families.

Dr. Lee earned a PhD and MSW from the University of Toronto, a BSW from the University of Victoria and a BA in psychology from Queen's University.

 

Founding Centre Director

Faculty EmeritaResearch Interests
Susan J. WellsDr. Susan J. Wells is a Professor Emerita in Psychology and Social Work at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, BC and the Founding Director of the CSSCF.

She focuses on evidence-based practice and cultural competence in child welfare practice and policy with special interests in risk assessment and screening, decision-making, service coordination, and promoting research-based practice. Dr. Wells’ current project is a study of child protective services organizational environment, practice, and outcomes which is looking to determine the relationship among organization environment, approach to practice, and case outcomes in delegated Indigenous child welfare agencies in British Columbia.

Dr. Wells earned a PhD from the University of Southern California, was an NIMH post-doctoral fellow in Psychiatric Epidemiology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, received an MSW from the University at Albany, and a BA from Pennsylvania State University,

 

(Last Update: May 7, 2024)