College of Education and Human Development

School of Social Work

Elizabeth Lightfoot

  • Distinguished Global Professor Emeritus

Elizabeth Lightfoot

Areas of interest

Disability Policy and Services, Aging, Child Welfare, Caregiving, Fraud, Social Welfare Policy, Community Practice, International Social Work, Doctoral Education

Degrees

PhD, Joint PhD in Public Policy, Department of Political Science and School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington

MSW, Social Work, University of Minnesota 

BS, Santa Clara University

Biography

Elizabeth Lightfoot is Distinguished Global Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work. She was on faculty at the University of Minnesota from 1999 to 2021, and was the doctoral program director from 2006 to 2021. She is now the Director of the Arizona State University School of Social Work where she is a Foundation Professor. Her main research interests are in the area of disability policy and services, and the intersections of disability with child welfare, aging, abuse, and health. She currently has several research projects underway exploring family careging during COVID-19, fraud and older adults/people with disabilities, parental supports for parents with disabilities, doctoral education in social work, and social work, disability and aging in Romania and Namibia. She regularly teaches doctoral seminars in social policy and research, has supervised 24 doctoral dissertations, and has been on the committees of many other doctoral students. The MSW courses she teaches include social work with people with disabilities and community practice. She is an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW) and a Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research. She has served as President of the Group for the Advanced for Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) and the Secretary of the Society for Social Work and Research.  She has spent sabbatical years as a Fulbright Scholar at the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work at the University of Bucharest in Romania (2018-2019) and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Namibia (2008). She has been awarded the University of Minnesota's Award for Global Engagement: Distinguished Global Professor, GADE's Award for Educational Leadership in Doctoral Education,and the College of Education and Human Development's Educational Leadership Award.

https://news.cehd.umn.edu/lightfoot-receives-highest-honor-in-academic-social-work/

https://global.umn.edu/awards/age/elizabeth-lightfoot 

Publications

Lightfoot, E., Moone, R., Suleiman, K., Otis, J., Yun, H., Kutzler, C. & Turck, K. (2021). Caregiving during COVID-19: The concerns of caregivers and the surprising silver linings. Journal of Gerontological Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2021.1898512

Lightfoot, E. & Moone, R. (2020): Caregiving in times of uncertainty: Helping adult children of aging parents find support during the COVID-19 outbreak: Journal of Gerontological Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2020.1769793

Lazar, F., Lightfoot, E., Iovu, M. & Dégi, L. (2020). Back from the ashes of communism: The rebirth of the social work profession in Romania. British Journal of Social Work.

Lightfoot, E., Zheng, M. & DeZelar, S. (2020). Substantiation of child maltreatment among parents with disabilities in the United States. Journal of Public Child Welfare. DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2020.1773369

Lightfoot, E. & Zheng, M. (2020). A Snapshot of the Tightening Academic Job Market for Social Work Doctoral Students. Journal of Social Work Education.

Lightfoot, E., & DeZelar, S. (2020). Parent Centered Planning: A new model for working with parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105047

Lightfoot, E., Franklin, C., & Beltran, R. (2019). Preparing for the Academic Job Market: A Guide for Social Work Doctoral Students and Their Mentors. Journal of Social Work Education, 1-12.

Helton, J. J., Lightfoot, E., Fu, Q. J., & Bruhn, C. M. (2019). Prevalence and severity of child impairment in a US sample of child maltreatment investigations. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 40(4), 285-292.

Lightfoot, E. (2019). Consumer Activism for Social Change. Social Work, 64(4), 301-309.

DeZelar, S., & Lightfoot, E. (2019). Parents With Disabilities: A Case Study Exploration of Support Needs and the Potential of a Supportive Intervention. Families in Society, 1044389419841172.

Lightfoot, E., & DeZelar, S. (2019). Social Work with Parents with Disabilities: Historical Interactions and Contemporary Innovations. Social Work Review (2), 1-10.

Kiesel, L., DeZelar, S. & Lightfoot, E.  (2019). Challenges, barriers and opportunities: Social workers with disabilities and experiences in field education.  Journal of Social Work Education. 54(4), 696-708.

Kalomo, E. N., Lightfoot, E., Lee, K. H., & Freeman, R. (2019). Gender-based violence: Risk and protective factors for depressive symptoms among couples in the Kavango region, Northern Namibia. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 1-15.

Franklin, C., Lightfoot, E. & Zimmerman, S. (2018). Practices and policies for doctoral education and leadership. Journal of Social Work Education, 54(4), 724-726.

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T.  & Cho, M. (2018). Parental supports for parents with disabilities: The role of informal supports. Child Welfare, 96(4), 89-110,

Lightfoot, E. & Beltran, R. (2018). The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE). In Franklin, C. (Ed). Encyclopedia of Social Work. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1281

Hill, K. & Lightfoot, E. (2018). In Trejos-Castillo, E & Trevino-Schafer, N. (Eds.) Handbook of Foster Youth. New York: Routledge, pp. 319-334.

Lien, L., Uehara, E., Lightfoot, E., Lawlor, E., & Williams, J.H. (2017). Smart collaboration for social work research and education that support success in addressing injustices. Social Work Research, 41(2), 67-71, DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svx008

Slayter, E., Lightfoot, E. & Leisey, M. (2017). Intimate partner violence among transitional-aged women with disabilities.  Journal of Agreession, Maltreatment & Trauma, 1-16.

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T.  & Cho, M. (2017). A case record review of termination of parental rights cases involving parents with a disability. Children and Youth Services Review, 79, 399-407.

Lightfoot, E., Gal, J. & Weiss-Gal, I. (2017). Social policy in social work PhD programs in the United States. Research on Social Work Practice. DOI: 10.1177/1049731517710328

Lightfoot, E. & Beltran, R. (2016). The GADE Guide: A program guide to doctoral study in social work. St. Paul, MN: The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work.

Lightfoot, E., Nienow, M., Moua, K. & Colburn, G., Petri, A. (2016). Insights on professional identification and licensure from community practice social workers. Journal of Community Practice, 24(2), 123-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10705422.2016.1165328

Lightfoot, E. & DeZelar, S. (2016). The experiences and outcomes of children in foster care who were removed because of a parental disability. Children and Youth Services Review, 62, 22–28.

Lightfoot, E., Blevins, J., Lum, T. & Dube, A. (2016).  Cultural health assets of Somali and Oromo immigrants in the United States: Findings from a community-based participatory research project. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 27(1), 252-260. 

Maree, M., Lightfoot, E. & Ananias, J. (2016).  A comprehensive alcohol and drug testing policy in the workplace as an intervention in the mining sector. Journal of Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences. 5(1): 120-126.

Lightfoot, E. & Lee, H. (2015).  Professional international service learning as an international service learning opportunity appropriate for graduate or professional students. The International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives, 14(1), 32-41.

Lightfoot, E. & Slayter, E. (2015). Disentangling over-representation of parents with disabilities in the child welfare system: Exploring child maltreatment risk factors of parents with disabilities. Accepted in Children and Youth Services Review.

Lightfoot, E. (2015). Social work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  In Corcoran, K. & Roberts, A. (Ed.). Social workers’ desk reference. (3rd Edition). New York: Oxford University Press.

Lightfoot, E. & McCallion, P. (2015). Older Adults with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities.  In Berkman, B. & Kaplan, D. (Eds.). Oxford Handbook of Social Work in Health and Aging (2nd Edition).  New York: Oxford University Press.

Lightfoot, E. (2015).  Disablism. In Smelser, N. & Baltes, P. (Eds). International Encyclopedia of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Second Edition. Pergamon.

Lightfoot, E., Simmelink, J. & Lum, T. (2014). Asset mapping as a tool for community based participatory research in social work.  Social Work Research.

Lee, H. & Lightfoot, E. (2014). The culture-embedded social problem of elder mistreatment: A review of international literature on Asian elders. Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma.

LaLiberte, T. & Lightfoot, E. (2013).  Breaking down the silos: Examining the intersection between child welfare and disability.  Journal of Public Child Welfare, 7(5),  471-479.

Ananias, J. & Lightfoot, E. (2012). Promoting Social Development: Building a Professional Social Work Association in Namibia.  Accepted in the  Journal of Community Practice.

Lightfoot, E & LaLiberte, T. (2011) Parental Supports for Parents With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 49(5), 388-391.doi: 10.1352/1934-9556-49.5.388

Hill, K., Lightfoot, E., & Kimball, E. (2011).  Independent living services for youth with disabilities as they transition from foster care. Child Welfare, 89(6), 62-81.

Lightfoot, E., Hill, K. & LaLiberte, T.(2011).Prevalence of children with disabilities in the child welfare system.  Children and Youth Services Review, 33, 2069-2075, DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.02.019.

Lightfoot, E., LaLiberte, T. & Hill, K. (2010). Disability in the termination of parental rights and other child custody statutes. Child Abuse and Neglect, 34, 927-934.

Lightfoot, E. & Kalomo, E. (2010).  The interplay of population aging and HIV/AIDS on social development in southern Africa: The case of Namibia. Social Development Issues, 32(1): 1-15.

Haihambo, C. & Lightfoot, E. (2010). Cultural beliefs about disability in Namibia: Implications for inclusion of people with disabilities.  International Journal of Special Education, 25(3), 76-87.

Hewitt, A., Lightfoot, E., Bogenschutz, M., McCormack, K., Sedlezky, L., & Doljanic, R. (2010).  Parental Caregivers’ Desires for Lifetime Assistance Planning for Future Supports for Their Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Journal of Family Social Work, 13(5).

Lee, H., Park, E. & Lightfoot, E. (2009). When does a battered woman seek help from the police? The role of battered women’s functionality. Journal of Family Violence. DOI: 10.1007/s10896-009-9283-y. 

Lightfoot, E., Maree, M. & Ananias, J. (2009). Exploring the relationship between HIV and alcohol use in a remote Namibian mining community. African Journal of AIDS Research, 8(3): 321-327.

Moone, R. & Lightfoot, E. (2009). Social marketing strategies for reaching older people with disabilities: Findings from a survey of Centers for Independent Living Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 8 (2), 65-81.

Lightfoot, E. & Williams, O. (2009).  The intersection of disability, domestic violence and diversity: Results of national focus groups. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 17(2), 133-152.

Lightfoot, E. & Williams, O.  (2009).  Critical issues in researching domestic violence and people with disabilities. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 17(2), 200-219.

Lightfoot, E. (2008).  Disability policy.  In  Midgley, J., Martin, T. & Livermore, M. (Eds.). Handbook of Social Policy. Thousand Hills, CA: Sage Publications, pp. 445-462.

Lightfoot, E.(2008). Social work and case coordination with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  In Roberts, A.  (Eds.). Social Workers’ Desk Reference. New York: Oxford University Press.

Lightfoot, E. & Lee, H. (2011, June). Community Based Participatory Research: A methodological workshop for social work. APISWEA International Conference 2011. Shanghai, China.

Lightfoot, E., LaLiberte, T., & Hill, K. (2007). Guide to Legislative Change: Disability status in termination of parental rights and other child custody statutes. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota.

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T. (2006). Approaches to child protection case management for cases involving people with disabilities. Child Abuse & Neglect, 30 (4), 381-391.

Lightfoot, E. (2007). Disability. In Blackburn, J. & Dulums, C. (Eds.) Handbook of Gerontology: Evidence based approaches to theory, practice and policy. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Lightfoot, E. & Lum, Y. (2006). Work behavior of older people with disabilities in the era of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Journal of Social Services Research, 32 (4), 171-191.

Lightfoot, E. (2006). Social Work Practice with Older Adults with Developmental Disabilities. In Berkman, B. & D'Ambruoso, S. (Eds.). Oxford Handbook of Social Work in Aging. Oxford University Press.

Lightfoot, E. & Gibson, P. (2005). Universal Instructional Design: An innovative framework for accommodating social work students. Journal of Social Work Education, 41 (2): 269-277.

Lightfoot, E. (2005). International social welfare treaties: Implications for the United States. In Hokenstad, M. & Midgley, J. (Eds.) Lessons from abroad: Adapting International Social Welfare Innovations. Washington, DC: NASW Press.

Lum, Y. & Lightfoot, E. (2005). Effects of volunteering on the physical and mental health of older people. Research on Aging, 27 (1): 31-55.

Umbreit, M., Vos, B., Coates, R. & Lightfoot, E. (2005). Restorative justice in the twenty-first century : A social movement full of opportunities and pitfalls. Marquette Law Review, 89 (2), 251-304.

Lightfoot, E. (2004). Community Based Rehabilitation: A rapidly growing method of supporting people with disabilities. International Social Work, 47 (4): 455-468.

Presentations

Lightfoot, E (2020). Publishing in peer reviewed journals with Impact Factors: An overview for aspiring Central Asian Researchers. Wasington: Central Asia University Partnerships Program (UniCEN).

Lightfoot, E. (2020). Sifting Through News, Fake News, and Scams Online. Keynote Presentation. University of Alumni Association Minne-College. Phoenix, AZ.

Lightfoot, E. (2020). Sifting through news, fake news and scams online. Faculty Speaker. University of Minnesota Alumni Association New Mexico Alumni Networking Event, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Lightfoot, E. (2019). Refocusing doctoral education toward social impact. Keynote presentation. Presented at Social Impact and the Social Sciences: Theory and Practice in the Era of Propaganda, Fake News and Media Manipulation Plenary Presentation. Bucharest, Romania.

Lightfoot, E. (2019). Creating an inclusive society: Lessons from Research for Romania and the United States. Plenary Lecture. University of the North, Baia Mare, Romania.

Lightfoot, E. (2019). America Nowadays: Smart Skepticm and Graduate Education in the United States. Invited International Lecture. Universitea de Vest, Arad, Romania. 

Franklin, C., Cunningham-William, R., Lightfoot, E., Nurius, P., Mramaldi, P. and Todic, J. (2018).  RCDC Research Roots & Wings Roundtable 1: Using the GADE Quality Guidelines to improve doctoral education.  Invited Roundtable. Society for Social Work and Research’s 22nd Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

Kiesel, L, Dezelar, S. & Lightfoot, E. (2018).  Equity in social work employment: Opportunities and challenge for social workers with disabilities.  Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research’s 22nd Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

Lightfoot, E., DeZelar, S. & Zheng, M. (2018). Parents with disabilities in the child welfare system: Equity and justice implications.  Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research’s 22nd Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

Lightfoot, E. (2017). Consumer Activism for Social and Economic Justice in the Trump Era. Presented at the 63nd Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Dallas, TX.

Lightfoot, E., Franklin, C., Lee, M. & Maramaldi, P. (2017). A doctoral student’s guide to academic career planning.  Presented at the 63nd Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Dallas, TX

Lightfoot, E. (2017). Studying for a PhD in Social Work and Social Welfare in North America with an Emphasis on Social Development. Presented at the International Consortium for Social Development’s 20th International Symposium, Zagreb, Croatia. 

Lightfoot, E.  (2017). Community based participatory research: Exploring its relevance for the Namibian context. Public Lecture. University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia.

Lightfoot, E. (2017). The chilling effect of neoliberalism in higher education on social work doctoral education. Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education Annual Meeting, St. Paul, MN.

Lightfoot, E. (2017). Community based participatory research as an approach to engage undergraduates in research. The Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Lightfoot, E., Ademak, M., Bay-Cheng, L., Black, B, Franklin, C., Hans, S., & Maramaldi, P. (2017). RCDC Research Roots & Wings Roundtable 2: Spreading Wings through Alternative Dissertations.  Invited Roundtable. Society for Social Work and Research’s 21st Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Bogenschutz, M. et al. Lightfoot, E. (2017). Using Administrative and Secondary Datasets to Advance Policy and Practice: Lessons from Disability Research. Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research’s 21st Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Blevins, J., Dube, A. & Lightfoot, E. (2016). University and East African Immigrant Collaboration: Lessons Learned Through Community-Based Participatory Research. Presented at the 62nd Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA

Kiesel, L, DeZelar, S. & Lightfoot, E. (2016). Professional Social Workers With Disabilities: Employment Opportunities and Challenges. Presented at the 62nd Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA

Lightfoot, E. (2016, June). A PhD in social work: Exploring the possibilities.  Presented at the Joint World Conference in Social Work, Education and Social Development. Seoul, South Korea. 

Lightfoot, E. (2016). The 2016 Presidential Elections from a Social Work Lens. CEUs on a Stick. University of Minnesota School of Social Work, St. Paul, MN.

Lightfoot, E. (2016, March).  GADE Historical Timeline: Events and Issues that Defined & Shaped Us. Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education Annual Meeting, Chapel Hill, NC.

Luben, J., Gehlert, S., Palinkas, L., Hall, K., Lightfoot, E., Uehara, E., Goldbach, J., & Lanesskog, D.  (2016, January).  Training our next generation scientific work force to tackle Grand Challenges.  Invited Symposium.  Society for Social Work and Research’s 20th Annual Conference, Washington, DC. 

Lightfoot, E., Bellin, M., Bricout, J., Hock, R., & Porterfield, S. (2016, January). How disability related research fits within the Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative? Society for Social Work and Research’s 20th Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

Lightfoot, E. & DeZelar, S. (2016, January). Children’s experiences in foster care when their removal reason relates to a parent’s disability.  Society for Social Work and Research’s 20th Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

Lightfoot, E. & De Zelar, S. (2015, November). The effects on foster children of using parental disability as a removal reason. Presented at the 37th Annual Fall Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Miami, Fl.

Lightfoot, E. & Nienow, M. (2015, October). Community Practice Social Workers Views towards Professional Identity and Social Work Licensing. Presented at the 61st Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO.

Lightfoot, E., Berrick, J., Franklin, C. & Harrington, D. (2015, October). Preparing Doctoral Students for the Academic Job Market.  Presented at the 61st Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO.

Dube, A. & Lightfoot, E. (2015. October). Building on Cultural Health Assets to Promote Health among Somali and Oromo Refugees. Presented at the Minnesota Department of Health’s 2015 Community Health Conference. Public Health: Everyone, Every Day, Everywhere. Brainerd, MN

Lightfoot, E. (2015, July). A cultural health assets approach to health promotion. International Consortium for Social Development’s 19th International Symposium, Singapore.    

Lightfoot, E., LaLiberte, T., & Cho, M. (2015, January). A case record review of termination of parental rights cases involving parents with a disability. Presentation at the 19th Annual Meeting of the Society for Social Work Research, New Orleans, LA.

Lightfoot, E. (March 2014). Views of community practice social workers on professional identity and licensing 120th Minnesota Social Service Association Annual Training Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Lightfoot, E. & Ananias, J. (2013, July). Professional Associations as a New Frontier in Promoting Social Development. International Consortium for Social Development’s 18th International Symposium, Kampala, Uganda.  

Powell, R., Kaplan, K., LaLiberte, T. & Lightfoot, E. (2013, April). Ensuring the rights of families affected by parental disability: A call to action. Invited presentation,  Child Welfare League of America’s National Conference, Washington, DC.

Bricout, J., Lightfoot, E., Blakey, J. & Ateek, S. (2012, November).  Designing university community partnerships as platforms for sustainable social work innovation. Presented at the 58th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Washington, DC.

Lightfoot, E. (2012, May).  Community based participatory research: A natural fit for social work research.  Invited workshop, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Lightfoot, E.  (2012, February).  Community based participatory research: Explorations for research in the Thai context. Special lecture, the Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD), Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Lightfoot, E., Lum, T., Dube, A. & Blevins, J. (2012, January). Cultural health asset mapping to reduce health disparities: A community based participatory research project in the East African refugee community. Presentation at the 17th Annual Meeting of the Society for Social Work Research, Washington, DC.

Putnum, M., Lightfoot, E. & Lum, T. (2012, January). Mixed measures: Distinguishing disability from aging in social science research on successful aging. Presented at the 17th  Annual Meeting of the Society for Social Work Research, Washington, DC.

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T. (2011, October). Parental supports for parents with disabilities. Presented at the 57th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.

Bogenchutz, M. & Lightfoot, E. (2011, October). Twin Cities-Zambia Disability Connection: Creating community for inclusion of people With disabilities. Presented at the 57th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.

Lightfoot, E. & Lee, H. (2011, June). Community Based Participatory Research: A methodological workshop for social work. APISWEA International Conference 2011. Shanghai, China.

Hollister, D. & Lightfoot, E. (2011, March). Advantages and limitations of short-term overseas study tours for MSW students.  Presented at the 4th Conference on International Social Work, Los Angeles, CA.

Lightfoot, E., Bricout, J., Cramer, L., Slayter, E., Parish, S., & Putnam, M. (2011, January). Methodological, logistical and ethical issues in social work research related to people with disabilities. Presentation at the 16th  Annual Meeting of the Society for Social Work Research, Tampa, FL.

Lightfoot, E., Lum, T. & Blevins, J. (2010, November) Community-Based Participatory Research: A sustainable approach to social work research. Presented at the 56th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Portland, OR.