As an experienced occupational therapist, Dr. Barnekow has served families of children enrolled in services through Milwaukee County's Birth to 3 Program. Dr. Barnekow's clinical experience provided her with an understanding of the importance of family empowerment and navigation through systems of care. For that reason her research has focused on health promotion and disease prevention strategies for parents and children who have special health care needs. She is part of an interdisciplinary team that has investigated the readability of early intervention program literature and the health literacy skills of parents who have children enrolled in early intervention programs.