Richard P. Barth

RBarth
Richard P. Barth
Professor and Former Dean, School of Social Work,
University of Maryland

Richard P. Barth is a professor and former dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. A leading expert in social work education, adoption, foster care, and child welfare, he has authored 12 books and over 200 scholarly articles. Barth previously served as the Frank A. Daniels Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and as the Hutto Patterson Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a past president of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare and has been recognized for his significant contributions to social work research, practice, and policy, including the protection and safety of children in public institutions. Barth earned his MSW and PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. 

updated 2025

Contributing topics
Access, quality & alignment in early childhood education
Educational governance & policy
Supporting students’ social-emotional, mental & physical health
Understanding, measuring & improving student outcomes
Richard P. Barth in the Media
: Kids Out of Control: When Teen-Agers Run Wild, Questions Arise on Parental, Societal Roles in Family Life
Publications by Richard P. Barth
Conditions of Children in California
Conditions of Children in California
Chapter Highlights
This report provides social indicators to evaluate the quality of life for children in California, covering physical and mental health, safety, sexual behavior, academic achievement, and the settings and systems that serve children. Despite most…