Mary Elizabeth Collins

Professor
Social Welfare Policy
Phone: 617-353-3748
mcollins@bu.edu

Education

B.A. (criminal justice), University of Illinois – Chicago
M.A. (social work), University of Chicago
Ph.D. (social work), University of Chicago
Post-doctoral (social work), University of Michigan

Courses Taught

WP700   Social Welfare Policy I
WP701   Social Welfare Policy II
WP707   Social Welfare Policy and Programs in Children
WP900   Social Program Analysis and Evaluation

Scholarly and Practice Interests

Child welfare policy, transition to adulthood for vulnerable youth; mental health services; social services evaluation.

Selected Publications

Collins, M.E., Spencer, R., and Ward, R. (2010).  Supporting youth in the transition from foster care:  Formal and informal connections.  Child Welfare, 89, 1, 125-143.

Collins, M.E. and Clay, C.M.  (2009).  Influencing policy for youth transitioning from care:  Defining problems, crafting solutions, and assessing politics.  Children and Youth Services Review, 31 (7), 743-751.

Collins, M.E., Hyun Kim, S., Clay, C., and Perlstein, J.  (2009).  Addressing issues of globalization in the training of public child welfare workers:  Lessons from a training program in the United States.  International Social Work, 52 (1), 72-83.

Collins, M.E., Amodeo, M. and Clay, C.  (2008).  Planning and evaluating child welfare training projects:  Working toward a comprehensive conceptual model.  Child Welfare, 87 (5), 69-86.

Collins, M.E. and Pinkerton, J.  (2008).  The policy context of leaving care services:  A case study of Northern Ireland.  Children and Youth Services Review, 30, 1279-1288.

Collins, M.E., Paris, R., and Ward, R.  (2008).  The permanence of family ties:  Implications for youth transitioning from foster care.  American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 78 (1), 54-62.

Collins, M.E., Amodeo, M., and Clay, C.M.  (2007). Training as a factor in policy implementation:  Lessons from a national evaluation of child welfare training.  Children and Youth Services Review, 29, 1487-1502.

Collins, M.E. and Mowbray, C.T.  (2005). Higher education and psychiatric disabilities: National survey of campus disability services.  American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75 (2), 304-315.

Collins, M.E.  (2004).  Enhancing services to youths leaving foster care:  Analysis of recent legislation and its potential impact.  Children and Youth Services Review, 26, 1051-1065.

Collins, M.E.  (2001).  Transition to adulthood for vulnerable youth: A review of research and implications for policy.  Social Service Review, 75 (2), 271-291.

Selected Presentations

Collins, M.E. and Cooney, K.  (2010). Finding a lost virtue:  Observing compassion in social policy and programs.  Invited presentation at University of Chicago:  A New Science of Virtues Symposium.

Collins, M.E., and Duffy, J.  (2008). Contextual impacts on caseworker decision-making in child welfare: A cross-national comparison.  34th Biennial Congress International Association of Schools of Social Work.  Durban, South Africa.

Collins, M.E., Clay, C.M., and Ward, R.  (2008).  Developing State Policy Regarding Foster Youth Transition to Independence:  Problem Definition, Policy Solutions, Political Strategies.  Society for Social Work and Research 12th Annual Conference.  Washington, D.C.

Collins, M.E., Amodeo, M., and Clay, C.M.  (2006).  Child welfare training as policy solution:  Findings from the National Evaluation of Child Welfare Training Grants.  Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Conference.  Madison, WI.

Collins, M.E., Hyun Kim, S., Clay, C., and Perlstein, J. (2006).  Addressing issues of globalization in the training of public child welfare workers in the U.S. 33rd World Congress of Schools of Social Work.  Santiago, Chile.

Collins, M.E.  (2006).  Shared challenges and contextual differences:  A U.S. perspective on child care legislation in Northern Ireland. Child Care in Practice Conference.  Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Collins, M.E.  (2006).  National evaluation of child welfare training grants, independent living projects:  Preliminary findings. Invited presentation at U.S. Children’s Bureau Discretionary Grants, Training for Independent Living Supervisors Cluster Meeting.  Washington, DC.

Selected Grant Activity

Leaving Care in Massachusetts:  Policy and Supports to Facilitate Transition. Funding by the Massachusetts Youth Transition Task Force, 2006-2007.

National Evaluation of Child Welfare Training Grants, 2003-2006. Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children and Families.

Supporting Higher Education Pursuits for Students with Psychiatric Disabilities: A State and School Level Policy and Practice Analysis, 2001-2002. Funded by the Spencer Foundation.

Training of Child Welfare Practitioners to Work Effectively with Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care through the Federal Independent Living Program, 2000-2003. Funded by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

Consulting and Professional Activities

National Cadre of Mentoring Researchers, The Center for Advancement of Mentoring, Education Development Center, funded by Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2009 – present)

Steering Committee Member, Group for Advancement of Doctoral Education (GADE) (2006 – 2010)

Governor Appointed Member, Massachusetts Adolescent Health Council (2003 – 2009)

Advisory Board Member, Massachusetts Department of Social Services, Training of Child Welfare Supervisors in the Effective Delivery and Management of Federal Independent Living Service for Youth in Foster Care (2006 – 2009)

Member, Research Advisory Board, Holy Cross Children’s Services, Center for Practice and Policy Development (2002 – 2007)

Chair, Program Planning Sub-Committee, 15th National Conference on Child Abuse/Neglect (2004-2005)

Awards and Honors

Dissertation Award, Eighth National Symposium on Doctoral Student Research: 1995, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.