Serena Cataldo
Serena Cataldo is a social worker, educator and leader. For the past twelve years she has taught for different academic institutions in both the social work and criminal justice programs. She also has experience working in both federal and provincial community corrections in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario as both a Parole Officer and a Probation Officer. She views herself as nomadic and someone who constantly thirsts for innovative knowledge and inspiring stories. She has worked within provincial child welfare and not-for-profit agencies as well. Cataldo has had different leadership roles throughout her career and is the current Chair of her department within her academic institution.
Cataldo is committed to contributing to public policy and best practice for the overall wellbeing of children and youth involved in systems. She is an individual on a quest of action-oriented and proactive practices. Cataldo’s proposed research focus on dually-involved youth with a focus on those with permanent guardianship order status to explore gaps and challenges experienced by this specific group. She is also interested in measurement-based care within child welfare and criminal justice systems.
Cataldo is the program developer of Know Your Roots, which aims to encourage participants to develop a sense of identity, confidence, self-esteem, cultural worth and pride. She is the first author of a published article within the book entitled Child Welfare in Rural Remote Areas with Canada’s First-Nations Peoples: Selected Readings. She holds her Masters of Social Work from Lakehead University located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She also holds two undergraduate degrees a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Regina and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Correctional Studies from Lethbridge College. Cataldo is a Registered Social Worker. Awards include the Doctor of Social Science Support Initiative and the Doctoral Entrance Award.
