Amy Sui Jun He
Associate Professor
What I do
Dr. He’s current research focuses on the addressing large system challenges facing child welfare systems, including organizational and capacity building (e.g. interagency collaboration, workforce development and burnout) and prevention and intervention services related to parental substance use disorder. Helping families is important but helping workers and agencies who serve these families is also vital!Specialization(s)
child welfare, disparities, evidenced-based practice/implementation science, families and family systems, leadership and organizations, marginalized populations, mental and behavioral health
Professional Biography
Dr. Amy He is an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver. She has over 15 years of clinical experience and has worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Dr. He’s research incorporates quantitative and mixed methodology, secondary national survey data, program evaluation, and the collection of primary data at the county, state, and national level. She has effectively led and completed federal (Children’s Bureau), community-based, and university-based grants, including serving as the Co-PI of a federal grant that investigated how characteristics of local community environments influenced rates of child maltreatment in diverse areas of Los Angeles and San Diego County. She currently serves as the Evaluation PI for the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI 3) and as a member of Colorado’s Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Implementation Team. Dr. He’s current research focuses on the addressing large system challenges facing child welfare. This includes organizational and capacity building (e.g. interagency collaboration, workforce development and burnout), education and professional development of child welfare workers, and prevention and intervention services related to parental substance use disorder. She teaches MSW and PhD level courses in social work research and child welfare practices and policy through a social justice lens.
Degree(s)
- Ph.D., Social Work, University of Southern California, 2016
- MSW, Social Work , California State University , 2006
- BS, Sociology and Russian Stdies, University of California , 1998
Licensure / Accreditations
- Motivational Interviewing
- Problem Solving Therapy
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Professional Affiliations
- Society for Social Work Research (SSWR)
Research
Child welfare workforce and organizational capacity development; Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) policy implementation and implication; parental substance use disorder
Key Projects
- NCWWI 3
- Tennyson Center for Children Program Evaluation Project
Featured Publications
Presentations
(2019). Parental opioid use and child welfare. Society for Social Work Research . San Francisco: SSWR.
. (2019). Building a Healthy Workforce: Implementing a Holistic Workforce Development Framework in Child Welfare. Global Implementation Conference. Glasgow, Scotland.
. (2019). Promoting Child Welfare Education: Promising and Effective Strategies for Innovative Partnerships. Counsil Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting (APM). Denver: Counsil Social Work Education (CSWE).
. (2016). Service Receipt for Mental Health Disorders in Child Welfare: Results of Interagency Collaboration Between Child Welfare and Mental Health Systems in Los Angeles. 20th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work Research. Washington DC.
. (2017). Social Contextual Difference in Neighborhood Areas with Atypically Low Rates of Child Maltreatment Referrals. 21st Annual Conference of Socail Work and Research. New Orleans.
.