LEXINGTON, KY (September 30, 2024) — Dr. Antonio Garcia, Associate Professor and Buckhorn Professor of Social Work at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW), will be honored with the Minority Fellowship Program’s (MFP) 50th Anniversary Social Work Excellence Award.
This honor, presented by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), recognizes Garcia’s contributions to advancing mental health, substance use, and behavioral health services for underserved communities.
Garcia will receive the award at the MFP Award Gala during CSWE’s Annual Program Meeting (APM) on Saturday, October 27th at 7 PM in Kansas City.
Garcia’s research has focused on trauma-informed care, fatherhood engagement, and interventions for youth involved in child welfare and juvenile justice systems. His work has earned natoinal recognition and has led to innovative approaches now being adopted in education and social services nationwide.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Minority Fellowship Program’s 50th Anniversary Social Work Excellence Award,” Garcia said. “This recognition from CSWE reflects not just my work, but the collective effort to advance mental health and behavioral services for underserved communities. I must credit my achievements to the mentorship I received during my MFP fellowship. This will not be forgotten as I continue to honor the mission of MFP. I am also incredibly grateful to the University of Kentucky for its unwavering support, which has empowered me to pursue meaningful research and collaboration. Together, we are making a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.”
In addition to his role as Buckhorn Professor, Dr. Garcia is a former Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Fellow, a Faculty Associate at the UK Center on Trauma and Children, and Editor-in-Chief of Child and Family Social Work. Garcia shares that his aim is to “foster a holistic approach where students and social workers are equipped to address the psychological impacts of trauma using the latest evidence-based, culturally relevant approaches.”
