Antonio Garcia, Ph.D., MSW

Associate Professor, Faculty Associate

Antonio Garcia, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, and Faculty Associate of the Center on Trauma and Children in the College of Medicine. His research is informed by his experience as a former Child Protective Services Worker and Supervisor in Washington State. Having broad inter-disciplinary training in Psychology, Social Work, and Services Research, he is committed to effectively engaging community stakeholders to shrink research to practice gap. His long-term career goal is to increase service providers, teachers, and social workers, and agency/organizational capacity to implement evidence-based, trauma-informed care for youth and caregivers. Along those lines, his research agenda focuses on implementing culturally specific strategies to address the needs of the racially/ethnically diverse pool of youth and families involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. His mixed methods research studies and publications to date illuminate promising strategies to achieve these goals for youth across the developmental spectrum. Dr. Garcia capitalizes on his research and practice experience to educate the next generation of social workers dedicated to promoting child safety, permanency, and well-being.