In 2015, Professor Courtney received the Distinguished Career Achievement Award from the Society for Social Work and Research. He was named a Fellow to the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare in 2012 and received the 2010 Peter W. Forsythe Award for leadership in public child welfare from the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators. He was also named Social Worker of the Year in 2000 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Before moving into academia, Professor Courtney worked for several years in various capacities providing group home care to abused and neglected adolescents. Professor Courtney has served as a consultant to the federal government, state departments of social services, local public and private child welfare agencies, and the philanthropic community.