Barnett has a particular interest in helping to better the lives of children and families involved with the child welfare system and has worked closely with the New Hampshire Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) on several grants and projects, including a national learning collaborative on creating a more trauma-informed child welfare system. Barnett is part of a state committee tasked to provide oversight of psychotropic medications to the children they serve. Through this work, she has developed a passion for involving children and families in decisions related to their mental health care, particularly psychotropic medications.