Buetta Warkentin

Buetta Warkentin she/her

Associate Professor of Social Work & Field Education Coordinator; Affiliate Faculty of Practicum

Social Work

bwarkentin:@:cmu.ca

204.487.3300 x633

F332

Buetta Warkentin is a seasoned social work educator and Registered Social Worker, with almost 20 years of experience preparing students for professional social work practice. Prior to entering academics, Buetta was engaged as a social worker in various capacities with children, youth, and their families. She has taught a wide variety of social work practice and theory courses over the years and has been involved in coordinating and delivering field education.  Currently, in addition to teaching, Buetta is the Field Education Coordinator for CMU's Social Work program, building relationships with community agencies and matching students with field placements that will allow them to develop the professional skills, knowledge and values to become practicing social workers. Buetta is on the board of the Canadian Society for Spirituality and Social Work, and the Continuing Competence committee with the Manitoba College for Registered Social Workers. 

Buetta is a graduate of Canadian Mennonite Bible College and values this foundational education as the impetus for completing Masters degrees in both Social Work and Theological Studies. The ethical integration of spirituality/religion/faith and social work practice continues to be a focus of research. In her free time, Buetta enjoys knitting and reading good books. 

Areas of Teaching

Social Work Skills and Theory, Spirituality and Social Work, Field Education

Education

MSW, Wilfrid Laurier University (1998); MTS, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary (1998); BA, University of Manitoba (1994), BTh Canadian Mennonite Bible College (1991)

Work in Detail

Teaching

SWRK-1000 Exploring Social Work Practice

SWRK-2420 Listening To and Supporting Others

SWRK-3200 Decolonizing Human Behaviour in the Social Environment II

At previous institutions I have taught courses including: 

  • Introduction to Social Work Practice
  • Introduction to Clinical Skills
  • Social Work with Groups
  • Social Work with Individuals
  • Social Work with Families
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Trauma Informed Practice
  • Human Behaviour in the Social Environment
  • Spirituality and Social Work
  • Field Placement and Integrative Seminar

Research

Warkentin, B., Sottie, C., & Sawatsky, S. (2023) "It's not about imposing what I believe or what I value": Social workers' personal reflections on religion and spirituality and their influence on practice. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 42(4), 393-410. 

Warkentin, B., & Sawatsky, A. (2018).  Points of discourse: Reconciling Christianity and social work through critical theory.  Social Work and Christianity 45(2), 57-67.   

Warkentin, B. (2018).  Spiritual but not religious: The fine line between the sacred and the secular on the Camino de Santiago.  Social Work and Christianity 45(1), 109-121.   

Warkentin, B. (2017).  Teaching social work with groups: Integrating didactic, experiential and reflective learning.  Social Work with Groups 40(3), 233-243.

Steiner, S., Warkentin, B., Smith, M. (2011).  Community forums: A unique approach to Community service learning.  Canadian Journal of Education 34(1). 

Schwartz, K.D., Warkentin, B., Wilkinson, W.  (2008).  Faith-based social services in North America: A comparison of American and Canadian religious history and initiative.  Social Work and Christianity 35(2) 123-147.