Dr. Zoë Breen Wood is an Associate Professor and member of the faculty and at the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University with over 40 years’ experience as a practitioner, researcher, educator, and consultant in the fields of social work practice, policy and education.
She received her BA from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, her MSW from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA and her PhD from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. Her research focuses on factors that contribute to positive adoption outcomes for children placed through the child welfare system.
In addition to her extensive child welfare background, Dr. Wood has worked for much of her career on the implementation and evaluation of competency based education, and provided consultation and training in leadership development.
Why I Chose This Profession
Growing up, I always wanted to “make a difference” and initially thought about going into politics or international relations. One of my first jobs was supposed to be “only temporary”. As a child protective service worker in a rural area of the south I soon realized that working in the field of social work provided me with lots of opportunities to make a difference to individuals and families as well as to communities and organizations. I never left the field and each year become more certain that I made the right choice.
Teaching Information
Teaching Schedule
- Seminar in Social Work Education
- Adoption Practice and Policy
- Trauma Informed Social Work Practice with Families and Children
- Social Work Practice Methods with Individuals and Families
- Social Work Practice Methods with Groups
- Communities and Policy Practice
- International Travel and Study to Guatemala and to Nicaragua
Research Information
Research Interests
- Child welfare especially in the areas of child neglect and special needs adoption
- Policy practice
- Outcome based education/ Learning centered education
Research Projects
Adoption Student Projects
2012 Student Presentations:
- Safe Haven Laws Arnold
- Adoption by Same-Sex Couples Torres
- Openness in Adoption Vasilko
- Safe Haven Laws Waller
- Adopting Sibling Groups Curey
- Preparing Children for Adoption Dufore
- Birth Parent Resources Flick
- Adoptive Parent Resources Heslop
- Intercountry Adoption Moore
- Grief and Loss Support Kelly
- Adopting Children with Special Needs Kinzler
- Open Adoptions and Birth Parents Supports Stevens Cutner
- Adopting Older Children Peterka
- Post Adoption Resources for Cuyahoga County Pavlich
- Adoption Presentation Kirven
2011 Student Presentations:
Recent Funding
Grant and Contract Activity: Externally Funded
- 2012-2015. Post Master’s Certificate Program to Promote Successful Domestic Adoptions in Romania. Funded by Center for International Affairs CWRU and private donations, ($10,000). Role: Co-Investigator with Victor Groza.
- 2011. Mental Health Adoption Training funded by Bellefaire Jewish Children’s Bureau, ($9142). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 2010-2011. Mental Health Adoption Training funded by Berea Children’s Home and Family Services, ($15,000). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 2005- 2009. Geriatric Social Work Partnership Program funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation through the NY Academy of Medicine. ($75,000). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 2007- 2008. Post Graduate Certificate Program in Adoption for Mental Health Practitioners funded by the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners, ($22,000). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 2003-2004. Adoption Home Study Assistance Project: A Service and Training Endeavor, funded by the Cleveland Foundation. ($72,220). Role: Co-Investigator with Victor Groza.
- 2000-2001. Adoption Home Study Assistance Project: A Service and Training Endeavor, funded by the Cleveland Foundation. ($59,900). Role: Co-Investigator with Victor Groza.
- 1999-2000. Adoption Home Study Assistance Project: A Service and Training Endeavor, funded by the Cleveland Foundation. ($51,777). Role: Co-Investigator with Victor Groza.
- 2004-2005. Butler County Graduate Education Professional Development Grant, funded by Title IVE and State funds, July ($26,954). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 2004-2005. Erie County PA Graduate Social Work Education Grant, funded by Title IVE and State funds, July ($172,223). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 2004-2005. Summit County Ohio Graduate Social Work Education Grant, funded by Title IVE and State funds ($7,623). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 2004-2005. Trumbull County Graduate Education Professional Development Grant, funded by Title IVE and State funds, July ($48,725). Role: Principal Investigator
- 2003-2004. Erie County PA Graduate Social Work Education Grant, funded by Title IVE and State funds, July ($157,446.91). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 2003-2004. Summit County Ohio Graduate Social Work Education Grant, funded by Title IVE and State funds ($10,712). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 2002-2003. Erie County PA Graduate Social Work Education Grant, funded by Title IVE and State funds, July ($182,729.00). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 2002-2003. Summit County Ohio Graduate Social Work Education Grant, funded by Title IVE and State funds,($65,000). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 2001-2002. Erie County PA Graduate Social Work Education Grant, funded by Title IVE and State funds, July ($170,826). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 1999-2001. Cuyahoga County Department of Children & Family Services Training Enhancement Project, funded by the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners. Role: Principal Investigator.
- 1998-1999. Evaluation of the Adult Emergency Assistance Program, funded by Ohio United Way. Role: Principal Investigator.
- 1998-1999. Leadership Development Program funded by Cleveland Municipal School District. Role: Principal Investigator.
- 1997-1999. Integration of Community Based Family Development Practice and Asset Based Community Building in Foundation Curriculum (Cleveland Family Development Collaborative/Kellogg Foundation). Role: Principal Investigator.
- 1997-1998. Ohio Competency Based Child Welfare Graduate Education Program funded by the Administration of Children Youth and Families. Role: Principal Investigator.
Grant and Contract Activity: Internally Funded
- 2016-2017. Proposal for the development and implementation of sustainable faculty-designed summer study abroad programs in Nicaragua. ($5,000). Faculty seed grant funded by the Center for International Affairs, CWRU. Role: Co-Investigator with Victor Groza.
- 2015-2018. Effects of Instructional Strategies on Social Work Student Learning Outcomes. Funded by CWRU., ($15,000). Role: Co-Investigator with Megan Holmes.
Grant Activity: Unfunded
- 2014. National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative. Children’s Bureau. ($500,000). Role Co-Investigator with Victor Groza.
- 2012. Proposal to Review and Collaboratively Map Out a Social Welfare Workforce Development Plan that Includes: Level of Competencies, Training Curriculum for Different Cadres of Social Workforce in Ethiopia. Collaborative Proposal with Oxford Policy Management Group. UNICEF. ($102,735). Role Co-Investigator with Victor Groza.
- 2012. Proposal to develop Social Work Clinical Internships & International Travel & Study Program in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Center for International Affairs, CWRU. ($7,200). Role Co-Investigator with Victor Groza.
Publications
Recent Publications
Wood, Z.B. (2017). Findings of a Study on Adoption of Children from the US Public Child Welfare System: Implications for Romania. Today’s Parents Tomorrow’s Children, 44: March, 40-57.
Groza. V, Wood, Z.B., Muntean, A., Rosenberg, K., Nedelcu, C. (2017). Post Master Certificate Program to Promote Successful Domestic Adoptions. Today’s Parents Tomorrow’s Children, 44: March, 80-85.
Blank Wilson, A., Brown, S., Wood, Z.B., Farkas, K. (2013). Teaching direct practice skills using Web-based simulations: Home visiting in the virtual world. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 33:4-5, 421-437.
Presentations
Recent Presentations
Wood, Z.B. (2016) "Building the culture of assessment: Triangulating the process." Presented at the Annual Program Meeting, Council on Social Work Education, Atlanta, GA, November 6.
Wood, Z.B. (2016). "Adoption of children from the US public child welfare system: The impact of key factors on varying definitions of success." Presented at Young Romanians Adopted Around the World (ALIVE) International Conference, Timisoara, Romania. June 2.
Wood, Z.B. (2015). "Clinical issues in adoption." West University of Timisoara. Timisoara, Romania. November 4.
Tracy, E. M., Wood, Z.B. & Farkas, K. (2015). "Making the transition from classroom to online education… and back again." Faculty Development Institute. Presented at the Annual Program Meeting, Council on Social Work Education, Denver, CO. October 15.
Wood, Z.B. & Riley-Behringer (2015). "Be left for a newer model? HBSE needs a little work done." Discussion group, Presented at the Annual Program Meeting, Council on Social Work Education, Denver, CO. October 17.
Wood, Z.B. (2014). "Strategies for Building Attachment." West University of Timisoara. Timisoara, Romania (Delivered virtually). February 28.
Wood, Z.B. (2014). "Impact of trauma on attachment and bonding." West University of Timisoara. Timisoara, Romania (Delivered virtually). February 7.
Wood, Z.B. (2013). "Clinical issues in adoption." West University of Timisoara. Timisoara, Romania (Delivered virtually). November 22.
Wood, Z.B. (2013). "What is permanency?" Keynote presentation. Building Bridges Permanency Symposium. Partners for Forever Families. Cleveland, OH. September 19.
Wood, Z.B. (2013) "Sibling ties: Myth vs. reality." Workshop Presentation. Building Bridges Permanency Symposium. Partners for Forever Families. Cleveland, OH. September 19.
Wood, Z.B. (2013) "What makes for success in adoption?" Workshop presentation, American Adoption Congress, Cleveland, OH. April 11.
Brown, S., Wood, Z.B. & Wilson, A. (2012) "Using virtual reality to enhance practice skills in Social work education." Curriculum Workshop, Annual Program Meeting, Council on Social Work Education, Washington, D.C. November 11.
Wood, Z.B. (2011). "Developing adoption competence: A critical need in social work education." Presented at the Annual Program Meeting Council on Social Work Education, Atlanta, GA, October 30.
Wood, Z.B., & Wilkes, S.A. (2011). "Assessing field education: Moving the signature pedagogy from words to action." Presented at the Annual Program Meeting Council on Social Work Education, Atlanta, GA, October 28.
Wood, Z.B. (2011). "What does permanency really mean?" Presented at the Partners for Forever Families: Permanency Solutions conference, Independence, OH, September 23.
Wood, Z.B. (2011) "Child abuse and neglect: Intake, Assessment, Planning, & Intervention." Two days of training presented for Holt International, Zacapa, Guatemala, March.
Wood, Z.B., Groza, V., Wilkes, S. & Brindo, M. (2010). "Developing a continuum of care in child welfare." Five days of training presented for Family Health International, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. May.
Wood, Z.B. (2009) "Openness in adoption: What about public sector children?" Presented at American Adoption Congress 30th Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH. April.
Wood, Z.B. & Rosenberg, K. (2009). "Treating clinical issues in adoption: Building therapist capacity." Presented at American Adoption Congress 30th Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH. April.
Wood, Z.B. (2009). "Child and family assessment: Risks and strengths perspectives." One-day training session presented for Holt International, Antigua, Guatemala. March.
Wood, Z.B. (2009) "Ethical Issues in Child Welfare." One day of training for Holt International, Antigua Guatemala.
Education
Additional Information
Concentration
- Children, Youth and Families
- Community Practice for Social Change
- Mental Health
- Masters of Nonprofit Organizations
Affiliations
- National Association of Social Workers
- Child Welfare League of America
- Council on Social Work Education
International Activities
- (2016) Erasmus Plus Fellow – Romania: Participated in faculty exchange providing presentations on trauma to graduate and undergraduate social work students and consultation to social work faculty on development of trauma informed curriculum. Supported Romanian faculty during US visit.
- (2016–Present) Faculty – Nicaragua: Develop new student travel, study and service learning course to be offered to MSASS students, other CWRU graduate and undergraduate students each summer.
- (2013–14) Co-Program Developer—Romania: Developed a collaborative project with the West University of Timisoara to provide web-based training to post masters level clinicians and public child welfare staff on best practices in adoption and adoption mental health services.
- (2014) Consultant – Belize: Conducted feasibility study for student learning and community development projects. Anglican Diocese of Belize.
- (2013) Consultant – Catholics Care for Children Research Study in Zambia: Catholic Relief Services. Conducted feasibility study for research on children served in Catholic sponsored orphanages.
- (2010) Consultant – Ethiopia: Provided training and technical assistance to NGOs and government officials on family based alternatives to institutional care through Family Health International & UNICEF.
- (2008–Present) Faculty – Guatemala: Co-lead graduate and undergraduate student travel and study trips each Spring.