Astraea Augsberger

Astraea Augsberger has dedicated her social work career to promoting the rights of children, youth, and families to have a voice in organizational and institutional practices, programs, and policies that directly or indirectly impact their lives. Her research program examines multi-level factors that inhibit or facilitate a person’s ability to participate in decision making within child welfare, municipal government, education, and health care. She is the director of BU’s Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI).

Prior to pursuing her PhD, she was a forensic social worker and supervisor at the Juvenile Rights Practice of the Legal Aid Society in New York City Family Court and directed mental health programs at International House, New York.

Augsberger’s research has been published in Health Affairs, Children and Youth Services Review, American Journal of Community Psychology, and Journal of Adolescent Research, among others. Augsberger has served as an expert advisor on youth engagement strategies and best practices to multiple federal, state, and local advisory boards, such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Youth MOVE National, and the Boston Mayor’s Office.