Lea Tufford
Associate Professor
School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions
Biography
Lea Tufford is Associate Professor in the School of Social Work. She received her PhD from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work in 2012. She obtained her Master’s in Counselling Psychology from Liberty University. Lea has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor, a Master of Arts in French literature from McMaster University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and French literature also from McMaster University.
Lea was the 2011 recipient of the Society of Social Work Research (SSWR) Doctoral Fellows Award. Her dissertation research focused on the mandatory reporting of child maltreatment within social work and is featured in her book, Child Abuse and Neglect in Canada: A Guide for Mandatory Reporters (2019) published by Oxford University Press. Lea has direct practice experience as a psychotherapist with individuals, couples, families, and groups in community mental health, Employee Assistance Programs, and private practice.
Lea has taught social work at the undergraduate and graduate level in the areas of interviewing skills, ethics, assessment, substance use, neuroscience, child abuse and neglect, theoretical foundations of practice, and clinical work with individuals, couples, families, and groups.
Education
Research
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Social Work Education (Simulation-based Teaching, Critical Social Work, Social Justice, Trauma-informed, Field Education, Embodied Practice)
Child Abuse and Neglect (Decision-making, Critical Race, Intersectionality, Mandatory Reporting, Legislation, Public Perceptions)
Eco-social Work (Critical and Social Justice Explorations, Approach to Clinical Practice)
Contemplative Practices (Mindfulness, Reflection, Compassion)
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
Survey Research (Likert-scale, Panel, Qualitative)
Qualitative Research (Individual Interview, Focus Group, Thematic Analysis, Content Analysis)
Mixed-Methods Research
Simulation-based Research (Standardized Clients, Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Holistic Competence)
Awards
RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED – PEER REVIEWED EXTERNAL AGENCIES
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Grant (2022)
Tufford, L. (PI)
Jenney, A., & Dylan, A. (Co-Investigators)
Preparing for Social Work Practice: Developing a Model of Holistic Competence for Field Instruction
$150,372 CDN
RBC Graduate Fellowship in Applied Social Work Research (2018)
Katz, E. (PI)
Tufford, L. (Co-Investigator)
Developing a Model for Teaching the Competency of Reflection
$10,000 CND
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Grant (2018)
Tufford, L. (PI)
Lee, B., Wenghofer, E., & Bogo, M. (Co-Investigators)
Evaluating decision-making and relationship competence when reporting suspected child abuse and neglect $120,824 CND
Human Resources Research Institute (2015)
Tufford, L. (PI)
Dylan, A. (Co-PI)
Smallboy, B. (Collaborator)
The HR Needs of Aboriginal People in Northern Ontario – Barriers and Solutions
$33,800 CND
RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED – PEER REVIEWED UNIVERSITY ADMINISTERED
Laurentian University Research Fund (2017)
Tufford, L. (PI)
Katz, E. (Co-I)
Exploring tools to strengthen the professional development of students studying social work: A mixed methods study incorporating mindfulness training into course work
$4,997.64 CND
Laurentian University Research Fund (2015)
Lightfoot, N. (PI)
Tufford and others (Co-I)
Who cares - the impact of mining-related lung cancer on caregivers in Sudbury?
$4,985.84 CND
Laurentian University Research Fund (2015)
Tufford, L. (PI)
Yorke, J., Bogo, M., and Katz, E. (Co-I)
Evaluating Bachelor of Social Work Students Using the Objective Structured Clinical Examination
$4,806.25 CND
Teaching
MSW
SWRK 5076 - Reading Seminar I
SWRK 5077 - Reading Seminar II
If you are interested in doing an independent reading seminar please send me an email.
SWRK 6004 - Thesis
SWRK 6024 - Advanced Practicum
If you are interested in having me as your first or second reader for your thesis or advanced practicum please send me an email.
SWRK 5086 - Selected Methods of Direct Intervention
SWRK 5016 - Advanced Social Work Practice I
BSW
SWRK 2315 - Basic Intervention Skills in Social Work Practice
SWRK 3727 - Social Work Practice with Groups
SWRK 4436 - Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
SWRK 4915 - Integration Seminars for Social Work Practice
SWLF 3806 - Child Abuse and Neglect
SWLF 3736 - Critical Perspectives on Disability
Field Instructor (3rd and 4th year research placements)
Faculty Consultant (3rd and 4th year placements)
Publications
BOOKS
Tufford, L., & Dylan, A. (Eds.). (forthcoming). Trauma-informed Care in social work education: Implications for students, educators, field, and pedagogy. Routledge.
Tufford, L. (2020). Child abuse and neglect in Canada: A guide for mandatory reporters. Oxford University Press.
BOOK CHAPTERS
Dylan, A., Cammaert, J., & Tufford, L. (accepted). Nutritional social work: An avenue for teaching about sustainability in social work education. In S. Hillock & M. Morgenshtern (Eds.). Greening Social Work Education: Caring Sustainability. University of Toronto Press.
PUBLICATIONS - PEER REVIEWED CAMPBELL AND COCHRANE COLLABORATIONS
Shlonsky, A., Dennis, J. A., Devine, B., Tufford, L., Barlow, J., & Bjorndal, A. (2016). Mindfulness based parenting programs for improving psychosocial outcomes in children from birth to age 18 and their parents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11, Art. No.: CD012445.
PUBLICATIONS - PEER REVIEWED (Student contributions are underscored) (from 2009 - present)
Katz, E., Kirvan, A., Tufford, L., & Bogo, M. (online). Evaluating an embodied mindfulness approach to teach reflective practice to MSW students: A mixed methods case study. Social Work Education: The International Journal.
Tufford, L., Gauthier, L., & Katz, E. (accepted). The social work case scenario: Perspectives from BSW students. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work.
Tufford, L., Lee, B., Thieu, V., & Zhao, R. (2022). Field instructors’ perspectives on educating social work students in the mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect. Field Educator.
Plante, W., Tufford, L., & Shute, T. (2022). Interventions with survivors of interpersonal violence: Addressing the role of shame. Clinical Social Work Journal, 50, 183-193.
Tufford, L., Thieu, V., & Zhao, R. (2022). How graduating BSW students manage uncertainty in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 42(4), 354-370.
Tufford, L., Gauthier, L., Katz, E., & Jenney, A. (2022). Towards understanding the client and observer in the peer-to-peer role-play. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 41(6), 1387-1404.
Tufford, L., Katz, E., Boyer, L., & Etherington, C. (2021). The impact of adding mindfulness practices to a BSW direct practice course. Contemporary Educational Research Journal, 11(2), 29-42.
Tufford, L., Katz, E., Etherington, C., & Gauthier, L. (2021). Simulation as vicarious learning in the BSW classroom. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 41(3), 257-274.
Tufford, L., Lee, B., Bogo, M., Wenghofer, E., Etherington, C., Thieu, V., & Zhao, R. (2021). An Objective Structured Clinical Examination of decision-making and relationship competence when reporting suspected child abuse and neglect. Clinical Social Work Journal, 49, 256–270.
Tufford, L., & Lee, B. (2020). Relationship repair strategies when reporting child abuse and neglect. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 37, 235–249.
Tufford, L., Katz, E., & Etherington, C. (2019). BSW student perspectives on the utility of brief, classroom-based mindfulness practices. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 89(3-4), 220-237.
Tufford, L., Evans, C., & Katz, E. (2019). BSW Students and Interviewing: Physiological, Psychological, and Pedagogical Perspectives from Canada. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 38(8), 1010–1024.
Lightfoot, N., MacEwan, L., Tufford, L., Holness, D. L., Mayer, C., Kramer, D. M. (2019). Who Cares? The Impact of Suspected Mining-Related Lung Cancer on Caregivers. Current Oncology, 26(4), e494-e502.
Tufford, L., Bogo, M., Katz, E., Lee, B., & Ramjattan, R. (2019). Reporting suspected child abuse and neglect: Educating
social work students in decision-making and maintaining the relationship. Journal of Social Work Education, 55(3), 579-595.
Tufford, L., & Lee, B. (2019). Decision-making factors in the mandatory reporting of child maltreatment. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 2, 233–244.
Tufford, L., & Morton, T. (2018). Social work perspectives of the Children’s Aid Society. Critical Social Work, 19(1), 86-102.
Tufford, L., Asakura, K., & Bogo, M. (2018). Simulation versus role-play: Perspectives of BSW Students. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 23, 249-267.
Tufford, L., Bogo, M., & Katz, E. (2017). Examining metacompetence in graduating BSW students. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 22(1), 93-110.
Tufford, L. (2016). Reporting suspected child maltreatment: Managing the emotional and relational aftermath. Journal of Family Social Work, 19(2), 100-112.
Tufford, L., Bogo, M., & Asakura, K. (2015). How do social workers respond to potential child neglect? Social Work Education, 34(2), 229-243.
Katz, E., Tufford, L., Bogo, M., & Regehr, C. (2014). Illuminating students’ pre-practicum conceptual and emotional states: Implications for field education. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 34, 96-108.
Tufford, L. (2014). Repairing alliance ruptures in the mandatory reporting of child maltreatment: Perspectives from social work. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 95(2), 115–121.
Mishna, F., Tufford, L., Cook, C., & Bogo, M. (2013). Examination of cyber counseling competencies within a Master of Social Work (MSW) curriculum. Journal of Social Work Education, 49, 515-524.
Bogo, M., Katz, E., Regehr, C., Logie, C., Mylopoulos, M., & Tufford, L. (2013). Towards understanding meta-competence: An analysis of students’ reflection on their simulated interviews. Social Work Education, 32(2), 259-273.
Shera, W., Muskat, B., Delay, D., Quinn, A., & Tufford, L. (2013). Using the AASWG Group Work Practice Standards to assess the outcomes of a ‘Social Work Practice with Groups’ course. Social Work with Groups, 36(2-3), 174-190.
Bogo, M., Regehr, C., Katz, E., Logie, C., Tufford, L., & Litvack, A. (2012). Evaluating an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) adapted for social work. Research on Social Work Practice, 22(4), 428-436.
Williams, C. & Tufford, L. (2012). Professional competencies for promoting recovery. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 75(2), 189-200.
Tufford, L., & Newman, P. (2012). Bracketing in qualitative research. Qualitative Social Work, 11(1), 80-96.
Bogo, M., Paterson, J., Tufford, L., & King, R. (2011). Supporting front-line practitioners' professional development and job satisfaction in mental health and addiction. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 25, 209-214.
Bogo, M., Paterson, J., Tufford, L., & King, R (2011). Interprofessional clinical supervision in mental health and addiction: Toward identifying common elements. The Clinical Supervisor, 30(1), 124-140.
Tufford, L. (2011). Helping couples through the crisis of infertility. Psychologica, 33(1), 24-30.
Tufford, L., Mishna, F., & Black, T. (2010). Mandatory reporting and child exposure to domestic violence: Issues regarding the therapeutic alliance with couples. Clinical Social Work Journal, 38(4), 426-434.
Tufford, L. (2009). Healing the pain of infertility through poetry. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 22(1), 1-9.