Dr Maria Lotty is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor in the School of Applied Social Studies in University College Cork (UCC), a research associate with the Institute for Social Sciences in the 21st Century (ISS21) and a member of UCC Futures: Children as well a CORU registered Social Worker. Maria has over 20 years professional practice experience (youth work, probation, social work) that reflects a comprehensive experience of working with children and families in assessment, therapeutic and project management roles. Maria is the Project Lead for the Barnahus Ireland – Trauma-informed Care Professional Education Project, (national training design and development for professionals) under the capacity building strategy for the Council of Europe as part of the Support the implementation of the Barnahus Model in Ireland. Maria is the Principal Investigator for the TARA Project , that aims to integrate trauma-informed practices in child welfare and protection services in Ireland. Maria is both a graduate of UCC (B. Soc. Sc.; PhD) and Goldsmith's College, University of London (MA/DIPSW).  Maria's doctoral research designed, developed and evaluated the internationally recognized Trauma-informed Foster Care Programme: Fostering Connections. 

• Child participation,
• Child protection and welfare,
• Foster care,
• Child and family psychosocial intervention,
• Professional education development for health, social care and education professionals,
• Integration of trauma-informed practices in child serving systems,
• Programme development and evaluation,
• Practice-based research.

Maria welcomes the opportunity to collaborate on research with academics, researchers, community organisations and students (including post-graduate and doctoral research supervision).

Current Modules

Undergraduate

• SS2004/SS3111 Personal Lives and Family Policy (B.Soc.Sc/BYCW)
• SS3208 Life Courses and Reflective Learning (BSW)
• SS2032 Practice Preparation and Placement (BEYCS)
• SS3052 Qualitative Research Methods with Children (BEYCS)
• SS4002 Working with Children and Families (BEYCS)
• SS4003 Group Dynamics and Teamwork (BEYCS)
• SS4004 Early Years Research Report (BEYCS)

Post-Graduate

• SS6112 Practice Skills and Fieldwork Placement 1(MSW)
• SS6202 Social Work Settings (Adoption and Fostering) (MSW)
• SS6817 Childhood,Youth and Society (MSocPolicy)
• SS6806 Understanding Trauma-informed Care: Principles and Theory (CCPDTC)
• SS6807 Application of Trauma-informed Care: Intervention and Practice (CCPDTC)
• ED6079 Trauma-informed Practice in Education: An Introduction (CCPDTP)
• ED6201 Special Educational Needs - School Organisation and Practice (HDipSEN)