Nancy Rolock (she | her) is the Henry L. Zucker Professor of Social Work Practice at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University (USA). She has conducted child welfare and adoption-specific research since 1996. Dr. Rolock is committed to using anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice, intervention research and implementation science to support children and families impacted by the child welfare system. In her research, Nancy seeks to uplift the wellbeing of children, youth, parents and guardians.
Her research interests include:
- Adoption and guardianship, child well-being, kinship and foster care outcomes
- Intervention research, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, administrative data analysis
- Translational research, child welfare policy, social and economic justice
Dr. Rolock is the Associate Editor for Adoption Quarterly. She serves on the Board of Kinnect, a non-profit agency working to find permanent families for all children who experience foster care and on the Academic Advisory Board for the Rudd Adoption Research Program at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
Biosketch | Curriculum Vitae | Google Scholar
Why I Teach
One of the courses I teach is a foundational research class at the MSW level. One of the most satisfying aspects of teaching this class is when students start the semester saying they don’t like research and end the semester saying that they can now see the value of research in their work and lives. I teach to help break down barriers to understanding and using research to improve the lives of those we seek to serve as social workers. I also teach so that I can continue to learn and grow through my interactions with our dedicated and inspiring group of students.
Why I Chose This Profession
As social workers, we are embedded in complex systems and address wicked problems that don’t have easy answers. These challenges, while sometimes daunting, inspire me. I am also inspired by radical advocacy that is part of our social work history and am motivated to work with communities to create a shared sense of belonging and advance equity and social justice.