Heather Bergen (she/her) is a Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellow at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. Her research focuses on understanding how mandated reporters practice the duty to report child maltreatment, and how to improve practice at the front door of the child welfare system. She is particularly interested in work being done to move towards a duty to support families. Heather has a PhD in Social Work from York University and focused on how mandated reporters across Canada understand, and practice, the duty to report.
Heather’s teaching and research are informed by a decade of frontline community work. She brings extensive experience in shelter systems, drop-in centres, and refugee support agencies. She has worked directly with newcomers and families navigating housing instability, and precarious immigration status. Heather worked with young mothers for many years which taught her about the systemic, interlocking violences faced by parents and motivates her advocacy for a world that supports the flourishing of all children and families.