Kate Warren Barnes Audette
  • education BS (Urban Studies), Worcester State University
    MSW, Salem State University
    MBA, University of Massachusetts Boston

Kate is a social worker and a relentless champion for social justice who has worked to build a more equitable world using policy advocacy to dismantle systemic oppression.

For over a decade, Kate has utilized roles in government affairs combined with an inclusive leadership style, to promote movement building in community with children and families to improve health and wellbeing. Examples of this include Kate’s service in policy and government affairs roles at Jumpstart for Young Children, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, the National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter, and Harbor Health Services.

In service to the social work profession, Kate has worked as a professor who partners with students on their academic journey while mentoring the next generation of social work leaders. Kate’s andragogy focuses on Afrocentric social work practice, critical consciousness, and a healing-centered praxis. In service to her community, Kate serves as a licensed foster provider and volunteers on several nonprofit boards, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts and Project Bread, a nonprofit working to end hunger.

As a curious lifelong learner and believer that education is a form of liberation, Kate is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the Sacred Heart University School of Social Work.

Kate strives to balance work, academics and community service by finding joy in soul care that includes exploring different health and wellness practices, traveling, vegan baking and cheering on the New England Patriots.

Courses

WP 700 Social Welfare Policy I
WP 701 Social Welfare Policy II
WP 705 Mental Health Policy
WP 713 State Legislative Processes and Welfare Policy

Publications

Sun, N. O., & Warren Barnes, K. (2023). Book Review: America, Goddam: Violence, Black women, and the struggle for justice by Lindsey, T. B. Affilia, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/08861099231176528

Waddell, A., Audette, K.*, DeLong, A., & Brostoff, M. (2016). A hospital-based interdisciplinary model for increasing nurses' engagement in legislative advocacy. Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice, 17(1), 15–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527154416630638

Lucas, J. and Audette, K. (2009). “A community organizer in the White House”, Focus, Feb. 2009. NASW.

* Last name changed from Audette to Warren Barnes – 2023

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