Biography

Dr. Barter is a Professor with the School of Social Work, Memorial University of Newfoundland. He has a BA degree from Memorial University, a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Calgary, Alberta, and a PhD degree in Social Work from Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario. His PhD is in the field of public child welfare and administration. Ken worked for 30 years in public child welfare systems in Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, and Prince Edward Island before entering academia in 1995. During these years he held positions at the front line, supervision, management, and social policy.

Ken entered academia with many critical questions about child protection services and the organizations mandated to deliver them. Through research and critical inquiry he has developed a conceptual framework that is responsive, comprehensive, and innovative in proposing a different approach to child protection at the child and family, professional, organizational, and community levels.

Ken has published extensively in the form of book chapters, journal articles, research reports, and conference proceedings. He has presented to audiences at provincial, national and international conferences. His publications, presentations, teaching, and research are in the field of child protection and social work.

Ken is a Board member with the Child Welfare League of Canada, a Board member with the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, and was an Advisory Board member for the Child Welfare Centre of Excellence, University of Toronto. He also serves on several community boards. From September 1998 until the end of funding in April 2003, Ken held the research position of Chair in Child Protection at the School of Social Work.

Prior to going to Memorial University Ken taught at the Department of Social Work, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Ken teaches in undergraduate, graduate and PhD programs. He has supervised students who have successfully completed MSW thesis and PhD dissertations. Two of the PhD students he supervised graduated with distinction.