Margarita Villagrana

Dr. Villagrana graduated with a PhD from the School of Social Work at the University of Southern California. While at USC, she received a three year pre-doctoral research fellowship through the Council on Social Work Education funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. After graduating from USC, she completed a two year post doctoral research fellowship in health disparities at Arizona State University. Dr. Villagrana also worked as Chief Research Analyst for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and most recently as Chief of Research for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. She also worked for 12 years as a Children’s Social Worker for the same department. Dr. Villagrana’s research focus is mental health services for children and youth in the child welfare system, specifically with racial/ethnic minority children. Her work has been presented at national conferences and her research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Courses Taught

SOCW 6101 - Essential Skills for SWP

SOCW 6000 - Changing Lives

SOCW 6301 - SW Practice Res I

Education

PhD, University of Southern California

MSW, California State University, Long Beach

Publications

Villagrana, M., Palinkas, L. (2012). Caregivers' endorsement of barriers to mental health services for children and youth in child welfare. Journal of Family Social Work

Schneiderman, J., Villagrana, M. (2010). Meeting children's mental and physical health needs in child welfare: The importance of caregivers. Social Work in Health Care

Villagrana, M. (2010). Mental health services for children and youth in the child welfare system: A focus on caregivers as gatekeepers. Children and Youth Services Review

Villagrana, M. (2010). Pathways to mental health services for children and youth in the child welfare system: A focus on social workers' referral. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal