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Kayla R. Whitworth

Lecturer

University of North Texas

Department of Social Work

(940) 369-6609

Email: Kayla.Whitworth@unt.edu

Education

  • MSW, Texas State University, 2006
    Major: Social Work-Direct Practice
  • BA, Texas A&M University, 2004
    Major: Sociology
  • Certificate, Texas A&M University, 2004
    Major: Gender Studies

Professional Positions

    Academic - Post-Secondary

  • Lecturer, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2023 - Present).
  • Title IV-E Senior Program Coordinator, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2020 - 2023).

    • Government

  • Caseworker, Child Protective Services. Child Protective Services. (2006 - 2010).

    • Professional

  • Lead Behavioral Therapist, Health Services of North Texas. Health Services of North Texas. (2014 - 2020).
  • Consultant, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2018 - 2019).
  • Social Worker, Denton Regional Medical Center. Denton Regional Medical Center. (2010 - 2014).

Licensures and Certifications

  • Certificate of Excellence for Teaching Online, UNT. (2024 - Present).
  • LCSW-S, Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. (2016 - Present).
  • Gender Studies, Texas A&M University. (2004 - Present).

Professional Memberships

  • National Association of Social Workers. (January 1, 2021 - Present).
  • Phi Alpha. (May 2006 - Present).

Development Activities

  • Conference Attendance, Title IV-E National Roundtable Conference, Colorado Child Welfare Scholars Consortium. Denver,Colorado,United States of America. (May 2026).
  • Conference Attendance, Title IV-E National Roundtable Conference, University of Alabama. Tuscaloosa,Alabama,United States of America. (May 2025).
  • Conference Attendance, Title IV-E National Roundtable Conference, Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership. Burlington,Vermont ,United States of America. (May 2024).
  • Continuing Education Program, Certification of Excellence in Teaching Online, University of North Texas. United States of America. (August 2024 - December 2024).
  • Continuing Education Program, Trauma and the Nervous System, Genesis Women's Shelter. United States of America. (August 2024 - August 2024).
  • Continuing Education Program, How and When Does Domestic Violence Overlap with Human Trafficking?, Genesis Women's Shelter. United States of America. (June 2024 - June 2024).
  • Continuing Education Program, Digital Technology and Domestic Violence, NetCE. United States of America. (March 2024 - March 2024).
  • Continuing Education Program, Community Based Care and Engagement, Texas Women's University. United States of America. (February 2024 - February 2024).
  • Continuing Education Program, SOAR to Health and Wellness, US Department of Health and Human Services. United States of America. (February 2024 - February 2024).
  • Continuing Education Program, Supervision Refresh, National Association of Social Workers. United States of America. (February 2024 - February 2024).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • SOWK 3525 - Violence in Families, 1 course.
  • SOWK 4325 - The Intersection of Trauma and Substance Use, 3 courses.
  • SOWK 4700 - Child Welfare Practice and Services, 26 courses.
  • SOWK 4725 - Theory and Practice in Mental Health, 2 courses.
  • SOWK 4870 - Social Work Integrative Seminar, 9 courses.
  • SOWK 4875 - Social Work Field Practicum, 9 courses.
  • SOWK 5540 - Child Maltreatment: Assessment and Intervention, 1 course.
  • SOWK 5880 - Advanced Field Seminar, 1 course.
  • SOWK 5885 - Advanced Field Practicum, 1 course.

Non-Credit Instruction

  • Certification, 6 participants. (April 2022 - November 2024).

Directed Student Learning

  • Other (Undergraduate Honors College Contract- Faculty Supervisor), Social Work. (August 2024 - December 2024).
  • Other (Undergraduate Honors College Contract- Faculty Supervisor), Social Work. (August 2023 - December 2023).

Awards and Honors

  • Thank a Teacher Letter, Office of the Provost. (June 2025).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book

  • Conduff, M., Whitworth, K.R. (2019). Pancake the Mini-Horse Meets Dr. Donkey- A Talk About It Book.

Presentations Given

    Lecture

  • Whitworth, K.R. (Author & Presenter), Encourage, Empower, and Equip Training, The Intersection of Domestic Violence and Child Welfare, Safe Families for Children DFW, Virtual, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).

Service

University Service

  • Member, BSW Re-accreditation Committee. (January 2026 - Present).
  • Committee Chair, Clinical Assistant Professor Search Committee. (January 2026 - Present).
  • Member, Scholarship and Awards Committee. (September 2025 - Present).
  • Member, Personnel Affairs Committee. (January 2025 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Bachelors of Social Work Admissions. (January 2021 - Present).
  • Member, BSW Field Presentation Panel. (November 2025 - November 2025).
  • Committee Member, Scholarship, Honors and Fundraising Committee. (August 2024 - September 2025).
  • Member, Clinical Assistant Professor Search Committee. (January 2025 - May 2025).
  • Member, BSW Field Presentation Panel. (April 2025 - April 2025).
  • Committee Member, Social Work Bylaws Committee- Ad Hoc. (April 2024 - January 2025).
  • Member, BSW Field Presentation Panel. (November 1, 2024 - November 30, 2024).
  • Committee Member, Search Committee. (June 2024 - August 2024).
  • Committee Member, Search Committee. (August 27, 2023 - January 15, 2024).
  • Member, BSW Field Presentation Panel. (November 2023 - November 2023).
  • Member, BSW Field Presentation Panel. (April 2023 - April 2023).
  • Member, BSW Field Presentation Panel. (November 2022 - November 2022).
  • Other (Participant), New Supervisor Orientation. (September 22, 2021 - November 12, 2021).
  • Committee Member, Search Committee. (January 1, 2021 - March 31, 2021).

Public Service

  • Member, C7 Human Trafficking Coalition. Denton, Texas. (November 1, 2024 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Child Protective Services Regional Child Death Review Committee. Denton, Texas. (March 5, 2021 - Present).
  • Member, Denton County National Adoption Day. (September 2025 - November 2025).
  • Committee Member, Friends of the family- Battering Intervention & Prevention Program Conference. (August 2025 - November 2025).
  • Member, Denton County Kinship Fair. (June 2025 - September 2025).
  • Other (Organizer), Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month Campaign. (January 2025 - April 2025).
  • Member, Denton County National Adoption Day. Denton, Texas. (September 2024 - November 2024).
  • Committee Member, Friends of the Family- Battering Intervention & Prevention Program Conference. Denton, Texas. (August 2024 - November 2024).
  • Member, Denton County Kinship Fair. Denton, Texas. (June 2024 - September 2024).
  • Member, Denton County National Adoption Day. Denton, Texas. (September 2023 - November 2023).
  • Committee Member, Friends of the Family- Battering Intervention & Prevention Program Conference. Denton, Texas. (August 2023 - November 2023).
  • Member, UNT- Division of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference. Denton, Texas. (December 2022 - March 2023).
  • Member, Denton County National Adoption Day. Denton, Texas. (September 2022 - November 2022).
  • Committee Member, Friends of the Family- Battering Intervention & Prevention Program Conference. Denton, Texas. (August 2022 - November 2022).
  • Member, Denton County National Adoption Day. Denton, Texas. (September 2021 - November 2021).
  • Committee Member, Friends of the Family- Battering Intervention & Prevention Program Conference. Denton, Texas. (July 2021 - October 2021).
  • Other (Small group facilitator), Child Protective Services Teen Conference. Denton, Texas. (June 15, 2021 - June 15, 2021).