Erika Ono

Erika Ono is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Social Work (Faculty of Arts) and a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry (Faculty of Medicine) at the University of British Columbia. She holds a PhD from UBC’s School of Social Work, an MSW from UBC, and a BA from the University of Victoria, combining child and youth care with gender studies. Her work bridges clinical practice, research, and teaching, emphasizing decolonial, intersectional, and feminist frameworks.

Research focuses on child protection systems, gender-based violence, trauma therapy, and neurodiverse youth mental health. She specializes in institutional ethnography and participatory action research, examining how legal principles like “best interests of the child” shape social work interventions. Current projects include reimagining healthcare for medically complex children and addressing gaps in neurodevelopmental disorder care.

Teaching includes courses like SOWK 315/316. She has led/co-investigated grants such as the 2024 Research Excellence Cluster on medical complexity, a 2021 project on embodied health dialogue, and a 2018 partnership improving outcomes for families of self-injurious behavior-affected youth.

Her pedagogy integrates critical disability, race, and decolonial theories, reflecting her commitment to equity and systemic change. No scientific awards listed.