Professional Interests

• Foster care
• Child and Family Services
• Permanency Planning

Current Research

• Mental health services for children and adolescents in foster care
• Following foster youth into adulthood

Teaching

• Human behavior and the social environment
• Generalist practice with individuals, families, organizations and communities
• Mental health issues of children and adolescents

Practice Experience

Ten year's experience working with children and adolescents in foster care or transitioning out of the foster care system, including direct practice, research and evaluation.

Selected Recent Publications

Leathers, S.J. (2002). Foster children's behavioral disturbance and detachment from caregivers and community institutions. Children and Youth Services Review, 24(4), 239-268.

Leathers, S.J. (2002). Parental visiting, conflicting allegiances, and emotional and behavioral problems among foster children. Family Relations: Journal of Applied Family & Child Studies, 52(1), 53-63.

Leathers, S.J. (2002). Parental visiting and family reunification: Could inclusive practice make a difference? Child Welfare, 91(4), 595-616.

Leathers, S.J. and Kelley, M.A. (2000). Unintended pregnancy and depressive symptoms among first-time mothers and fathers.  American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70, 523-531.

Affiliations, Associations & Consultations 

• National Association of Social Workers
• Council on Social Work Education