Social Work Expert Witnesses

Social Work, Child Abuse - Child Protective Services, Department of Children and Family Services, Investigations, Standard of Care, Removal, Exigency, Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Neglect, Child Death, Child Fatality, Child Welfare

Child Abuse/Child Welfare Expert national practice. Completed over 1000 child abuse investigations and interviews, 100’s of removals, 100’s of foster care and adoptive placements. 11 years of field experience working in child protective services as a child abuse investigator, interviewer, trainer, foster care/adoption social worker (2003-2015). Licensed clinical social worker in California since 2009. Trained over 1000 social workers in child abuse investigation and current standards and duties. National trainer on mandated reporting. Focus Areas Include; Child Welfare Expert Child Abuse Investigations Clinical Social Worker Expert Witness Child Fatality Investigations CPS /DCFS Expertise Consultation Psychotherapy Crisis Counseling Forensic Interviewer Case Management Community Outreach Group Therapy Record/Case Review Structured Decision-Making Tools Testimony

Mental Health, Substance Abuse - eating disorder, trauma, PTSD, anorexia, bulimia, obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, substance abuse, substance use, overdose, treatment, social work, cognitive behavioral therapy, family based treatment, addiction, anxiety, depression, suicide, EMDR, psychology

With over a decade of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist & Supervisor, Sarah Burney is a leading expert in her field. She specializes in treating all types of eating disorders, acute & complex trauma, substance abuse, obsessive compulsive disorder, and depressive / anxiety disorders. Her experience includes providing intensive therapy at inpatient & outpatient treatment centers for eating disorders, mental health, and substance abuse. She is also a former director of one of the nation's largest and leading adult eating disorder treatment center, giving her extensive experience with acute cases and working with a multi-disciplinary team. Sarah has also presented at international conferences and universities, and trained a variety of mental health professionals. Sarah utilizes humanistic and psychoanalytic therapeutic approach, and implements various evidence based therapeutic interventions, including, but not limited to: Cogniti...

Geriatrics, Guardianship/Conservatorship - Elder abuse, disability, senior, healthcare power of attorney, healthcare advocate, social work, care management, case management, long-term care, assisted living, memory care, guardian, nursing home, assessments, cognitive impairment, dementia, conservator, exploitation, elder fraud

I opened up a care management company in Charlotte, NC in 2005 following the completion of my Master of Arts degree in Gerontology. I lead a team of nurses, social workers, gerontologists, and counselors to advocate for older adults and their family caregivers. For the past 15 years, I have served as a private guardian for older individuals who have been adjudicated in our court system. I serve as a Board Member of the North Carolina Guardianship Association and am a member of the National Guardianship Association. I became certified as a guardian in 2017 and am currently one of only 52 National Master Guardians in the country. This is the highest professional designation that can be attained by guardians and it requires extensive demonstration of competencies in a variety of areas, a comprehensive exam, and at least 15 years of experience in the field of guardianship. In our routine work as both care managers and guardians, we conduct clinical assessments of older adults and person...