Dr. Williams completed her doctoral studies in Applied Social Sciences at Lancaster University, United Kingdom. She also holds a Master’s degree in Social Work Management and Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology and Human Resource Management and postgraduate qualifications in University Teaching and Learning from UWI, St. Augustine. Her research interests include: children in care, children in conflict with the law, children in need of supervision, care leavers, relational issues in child and youth welfare as it relates to decision making opportunities and their outcomes, indigenising child rights practice, practising in low resource settings, social policy development and analysis. As much as she is focused on safeguarding children and young people, child welfare, youth development and ethical practices with children and young people (CYP), through scholarship and practice, she focuses on the development of adults who work or intend to work with them.
Dr. Williams has worked for over 23 years with CYP in schools, CYP affected by crime and violence in high risk communities, CYP infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, CYP in residential care, CYP affected by natural disasters, pregnant mothers and teenage fathers and young offenders. She is currently engaged in an intervention in Jamaica which targets CYP living in rural settings. She has been actively engaged in the development of professional social work in her home country and by extension the Caribbean region, through lecturing at top tertiary institutions, through her work as an executive member on the Association of Caribbean Social Work Educators (ACSWE) and in her activism as a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Social Workers (TTASW) where she held leadership roles for several years.
On a much broader policy level, Dr. Williams served as a social work specialist on the board of management of the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago for three years, where she was instrumental in contributing to the development of the first formal child protection system in the country.
Bridging scholarship and practice while promoting innovative practices is an ultimate goal for Dr. Williams, who places high value on quality training and continuous professional development, reflexivity, inter-professional collaboration and upholding development ethics practices.
Country experiences related to scholarship and practice: Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, St. Lucia, The United Kingdom, South Africa, Guyana, Curacao, Sweden.
Other engagements
Registered Social Worker: Health Care Professionals Council/Social Work England
Reviewer: The British Association of Social Work
Director: Village Initiatives Foundation Jamaica
Director: Akoma Development Organisation, Trinidad
