Penthea Burns

Senior Policy Associate
Penthea Burns
207-740-3676

337 Wishcamper Center, Portland campus

Education

  • Master of Arts, Social Work, University of Southern Maine
  • Bachelor of Arts, Social Work, University of Southern Maine

Research Interests

  • Child welfare
  • Youth engagement
  • Family engagement
  • Truth and reconciliation

Penthea Burns, Senior Associate, has been at the University of Southern Maine’s Catherine Cutler Institute since 1999. She has worked in the field of child welfare delivering direct service, advocacy, training, technical assistance, and policy guidance.

She is co-founder and board co-chair of Wabanaki REACH, a collaboration between Native and non-Native people, which created the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission. REACH promotes truth, healing, and change using strategies of decolonization and restorative practices. Penthea also co-founded the Youth Leadership Advisory Team, comprised of youth leaders in foster care, and Camp To Belong Maine, a summer camp program that reunites siblings separated by foster care and adoption.

Penthea is a student of non-violent communication and decolonization. She is a long-time writer who utilizes contemplative practices for creative expression and deepening spiritual learning.

Expertise

  • Facilitation
  • Youth engagement
  • Community engagement
  • Truth-seeking processes
  • Project implementation

Selected Publications

Please review Penthea Burns's publications onĀ Digital Commons.

Penthea Burns
207-740-3676

337 Wishcamper Center, Portland campus

Education

  • Master of Arts, Social Work, University of Southern Maine
  • Bachelor of Arts, Social Work, University of Southern Maine

Research Interests

  • Child welfare
  • Youth engagement
  • Family engagement
  • Truth and reconciliation