American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare

Heather Nicole Taussig, PhD

Active | Inducted in 2025

Bio

Dr. Heather Taussig is a professor with joint appointments at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work and the University of Colorado’s Kempe Center. Her research focuses on designing and testing prevention programming for young people with child welfare involvement. Dr. Taussig developed and directs the Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF) program, a mentoring and skills training program that was tested through three rigorous randomized controlled trials and is now listed on several evidence-based registries. Dr. Taussig’s prevention and policy-relevant research has received over $10 million in federal, state, and foundation funding. Dr. Taussig’s honors include receiving the Outstanding Young Professional in the Field of Child Abuse and Neglect award from the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; an appointment to Colorado’s Task Force on Foster Care by Governor Ritter; and a 2021 Fulbright Scholar Award.