Monica Faulkner

Dr. Monica Faulkner is a Research Associate and the Associate Director of the Child and Family Research Institute (CFRI) at the School of Social Work. She oversees multiple projects relating to foster care, child care and teen pregnancy prevention funded by state agencies, private foundations and the federal government. Her primary research interest is teen pregnancy prevention for foster youth and the welfare of teen parents in foster care. Dr. Faulkner is an Adjunct Professor at The University of Texas at Austin where she teaches policy, human behavior in the social environment and child welfare related electives. In terms of professional experience, she has worked in both direct practice and clinical settings. She has worked as an advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at the Houston Area Women’s Center and as a case manager for children in foster care at the Austin Children’s Shelter. Dr. Faulkner also worked as a Legislative Aide for State Representative Garnet Coleman and served as Chief of Staff for State Representative Jessica Farrar. Dr. Faulkner has served on several boards including Latinas on the Rise in Houston and Adoption Knowledge Affiliates in Austin. She is currently the Chair of the Healthy Youth Partnership in Austin. Dr. Faulkner received her Doctorate in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin in 2010. She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Houston. She received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Government with a minor in Spanish and a Bachelor in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin.