Annette Semanchin Jones

Annette Semanchin Jones is an Associate Professor and PhD Program Director at the University at Buffalo's School of Social Work. Her work focuses on strengthening child well-being and permanency in child welfare systems, with an emphasis on racial equity, youth connections to supportive adults, and organizational implementation of evidence-based practices. She holds a PhD in Social Work from the University of Minnesota (2013), an MSW from the same institution (2001), and a BA in English and Psychology from the University of Notre Dame (1993).

Her research integrates practice, policy, and implementation science, collaborating with agencies like Hillside Family of Agencies to develop tools such as the Youth Connections Scale (YCS). Recent work addresses inclusive leadership in child welfare retention, trauma-informed care, and barriers faced by cross-systems youth transitioning to adulthood. Key contributions include racial equity analyses of differential response models and frameworks for measuring relational permanence in foster care.

• Education:
  • PhD in Social Work, University of Minnesota (2013)
  • MSW, University of Minnesota (2001)
  • BA in English and Psychology, University of Notre Dame (1993)

Dr. Semanchin Jones' articles (2017–2025) consistently emphasize intersectional approaches to child welfare challenges, including implementation science, workforce development, and policy reforms addressing systemic inequities. Her work bridges academic research with practical interventions in foster care, adoption, and trauma-informed service delivery.