Barbara Kitko
-
Clinical Assistant Professor, Social Work
- BSSW Program Director
Contact Info
- Email: barbara.kitko@UND.edu
- Office: 701.777.3765
- Alt Phone: 701.777.3765
- Dept: 701.777.2669
Office Address
Gillette Hall Room 301A
225 Centennial Drive Stop 7135
Grand Forks, ND 58202-7135
Curriculum Vitae
Biography
Barbara Kitko earned both her Master of Social Work (MSW) and Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) degrees from the University of North Dakota. She currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) Program. Professor Kitko brings more than 28 years of professional social work practice experience to her academic role and has been a faculty member at UND since Fall 2014.
Professor Kitko began her career with the Region IV Children’s Services Coordination Committee (Families First), where she held a variety of leadership and direct service roles, including case manager, direct services supervisor, and agency director. Her professional experience also includes hospital social work, intensive in-home services, regional and statewide advocacy, and 18 years of service as a school social worker with Grand Forks Public Schools.
At UND, Professor Kitko teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate social work programs. She serves as the lead instructor for SWK 424: Generalist Practice with Individuals and Families and SWK 454: Generalist Practice with Communities and Organizations. She is currently developing a new core course, SWK 364: Diversity, Social Justice, and Culturally Competent Social Work Practice, scheduled for Spring 2026. In addition, she contributed to the development of two elective courses: Clinical Assessment and Trauma-Informed Care. Throughout her career, she has mentored numerous BSSW and MSW students in her role as a field instructor.
Professor Kitko’s professional interests include child welfare, children’s mental health, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), trauma-informed practice, resilience, ethical practice, and the development of professional identity in social work.
Outside of academia, Professor Kitko enjoys spending time with family and friends. She and her husband have three married daughters and five grandchildren. Her personal interests include painting, gardening, biking, and traveling.
SWK 316: Interprofessional Health Care
SWK 318: Mental Health
SWK 323: Trauma-Informed Care
SWK 364: Diversity, Social Justice, and Culturally Competent Practice
SWK 397: Cooperative Education
SWK 424: Generalist Practice with Individuals & Families
SWK 434: Generalist Practice with Task and Treatment Groups
SWK 454: Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities
SWK 482: Generalist Field Education Seminar I
SWK 484: Generalist Field Education Seminar II
SWK 493: Clinical Assessments
SWK 503: Generalist Practice with Individuals
SWK 504: Generalist Practice with Task and Treatment Groups
SWK 505: Generalist Practice with Individuals
SWK 533: Advanced Generalist Practice with Families
SWK 536: Advanced Generalist Practice with Organization
SWK 560: Children’s Mental Health
SWK 560: School Social Work
SWK 560: Diversity, Oppression & Change
SWK 581: Advanced Generalist Field Education Seminar I
SWK 583: Advanced Generalist Field Education Seminar II
SWK 997: Independent Study,
School Social Work
Children and Family Mental Health
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Trauma and Resilience
Ethics in Social Work Practice
Professional Identity Formation
Holistic Social Work
Johnson, E., Janssen, S, Manocha, G., Meduna, A., Nordmark, J., Mastrud, M., Van Eck, R., Relling, D., Wilson, A., Westereng, S., Carr, K., Solberg, B., Villano, D., Kitko, B.A., Foley, J., Saarinen, H., Strom, T., Maguire, C., Montgomery, M., & Jurivich, D. (2025, May 29). A Comprehensive Profile of Interprofessional Education in Health Science Programs in Eastern North Dakota: Case Report. Abstract and Poster Presentation by Dakota Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program for Collaborating Across Borders IX Conference. Omaha. Nebraska. USA. Peer-reviewed.
2021 Presenter Interagency Forum – Ethical Responsibilities, Values, Principles and Standards in Practice:
With Nicole Fontaine-Vonesh, MSW, LMSW
2018 - Presenter National Child Welfare Workforce Institute Annual Meeting
2017 - Presenter UND Children & Family Services Conference - Ethics Training - Ethics In Social Work: It's all Gray
With Stephanie Homstad, MSW, LMSW
2017 - Presenter – Teaching with Technology - Using Technology to Enhance Student Engagement
2016 - Presenter Wellness Summit for the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation - Qualities of Healthy Families
2016 - Presenter – Tribal Health Care Workers - Case Management Training, Community Health Representative”
With Dr. Melanie Sage, PhD, LCSW
North Dakota Licensed Master Social Worker
UND Distinguished Alumni Award, Fall 2024
Nominated for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, September 2023
Recognized for ‘The GRADitude Project’ initiative, Vice President for Student Affairs, UND, Grand Forks, USA, Fall 2022
A Framework for Understanding Poverty; Train the Trainer certification; aha! Process, Inc.
Wrap Around Case Management Certification; Children & Family Services Training Center
Play Therapy training; UND Department of Social Work (Summer 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Family Therapy Training; The Village Family Service Center
Child Welfare Certification; Children & Family Services Training Center & DHS
Reality Therapy Training - Basic week; Lutheran Social Services of ND
Trainer: Case Management an Interagency Model; Council Lodge Institute
1988 - Bachelor's of Science in Social Work - University of North Dakota
2002 - Master's of Social Work - University of North Dakota
Professional Experience
August 2018 – Present: Undergraduate Director, Department of Social Work, University of North Dakota
August 2015 – Present: Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, University of North Dakota
August 2014 – December 2014: Adjunct Professor, Department of Social Work, University of North Dakota
1992 - Present: Field Instructor, BSSW & MSW students, University of North Dakota
August 2015 - September 2015: School Social Worker, Grand Forks Public Schools; Grand Forks, N.D.
August 1996 - December 1997: Regional Director, Region IV Children’s Services Coordinating Committee (CSCC)/Families First; Grand Forks, N.D.
March 1995 – November 1995: Acting Director, Region IV CSCC/Families First; Grand Forks, N.D.
August 1992 – August 1996: Direct Services Supervisor, Region IV CSCC/Families First; Grand Forks, N.D.
August 1990 – January 1996: Case Manager, Region IV CSCC/Families First; Grand Forks, N.D.
September 1988 – December 1989: Psychiatric Social Worker, The United Hospital; Grand Forks, N.D.