Faculty Biography | Gary Widrick

I am currently the Chair of the Department of Social Work. I have a Masters degree in both social work and psychology and my Ph.D. is from the UVM Department of Psychology in Experimental Psychology and Developmental Disorders.I teach research courses at both the undergraduate and grad levels.I also teach a course with the Abenaki community entitled Social Work with Indigenous Communites. My current research is on workforce development in human services and social work.I also direct the Title IV E Child Welfare grant that prepares MSW students to work in public child welfare.I also have an interest in rural social work and issues related to human helping in a post welfare state political economy as well as how culture and community affects social work practice. I also serve on the statewide advisory committee of the UVM Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in the College of Medicine.

• Expertise
• Scholarship
• Courses
• Education

Areas of Expertise:

Child and Family Welfare; Disability and Inclusion; Native American Populations; Research Methods; Rural Studies

• Disability and Inclusion: Research on deinstituionalization of persons with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges from public instituions in the U.S. and Canada. Recent review of the literature on deinstitutionalization (Lemay, 2009) cited my 1997 study on psychopathology before and after deinstitionalization.
• Workforce Design for Human Services: Research into workforce factors that lead to effective social work practices in human services organizations. Presently looking at retention of MSW graduates in state public child welfare programs.

Scholarship

Selected Publications

• Widrick,G., Lax, L. & Cilwik,P. (2010). MSW Title IV E Retention Study (Preliminary Report). Burlington, VT, University of Vermont, Department of Social Work.  [abstract]
  Abstract: A qualitative study that looked at the variables related to whether IV E MSW trainees continue service as public child welfare social workers following their required post degree employment commitment.A small (n=12) sample of former trainees particpated in focus groups that were facilitated by the researchers. Twelve main themes emerged from an an analysis of the results based upon a grounded theory approach.

Selected Presentations

• Widrick, G.C. (2008, Nov.). Reflections on Social Work Education. Invited presentation at the National Association of Social Workers-Vermont chapter annual meeting. Sheraton, South Burlington, VT.

Courses Taught in the Last 5 Years

Introduction to Social Work Research; Social Work with Indigenous Communities

Education

• Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from University of Vermont Department of Psychology