Victor Groza, PhD, MSW, LISW-S

Grace F. Brody Professor of Parent-Child Studies
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Chair, Doctoral Program
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Victor Groza is the Grace F. Brody Professor of Parent-Child Studies at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. He is a licensed social worker and has a doctorate in Sociology. His research in child welfare focuses on three areas: (1) an examination of the trauma from institutional care of children, ways to improve the care of children who must reside in institutions, and the short- and long-term impacts on child and family development from early trauma; (2) family, children and service system issues in domestic, older-child adoption and international adoption, all who bring to their family a trauma history; and (3) child welfare workforce issues including managing secondary trauma.

Since 1991 he has been involved in various child welfare technical assistance, research and training projects in Romania, India, Ukraine, Guatemala & Ethiopia. His research, training and technical assistance has been use to change public policy, develop social services and improve the quality of the workforce globally. Dr. Groza holds an honorary doctorate from the West University of Timisoara, Romania.

Biosketch
Curriculum Vitae
Google Scholar
Twitter: @VictorKGroza

Research Information

Research Interests

  • Child welfare
  • Institutional care
  • Adoption
  • Child well-being

Publications

Books

Bosco-Ruggiero, Stephanie; Wassell, Gloria Russo; Groza, Victor. Adopting Older Children: a Practical Guide to Adopting and Parenting Children over Age Four. New Horizon Press, 2014.

Groza, Victor K.; Rosenberg, Karen F.. Clinical and Practice Issues in Adoption--Revised and Updated: Bridging the Gap Between Adoptees Placed as Infants and as Older Children. Praeger, 2001.

Groza, Victor K.; Irwin, Ivor; Ileana, Daniela. A Peacock or a Crow? Stories, Interviews and Commentaries on Romanian AdoptionsLakeshore Communications, 1999.

Groza, Victor K. Successful Adoptive Families: A Longitudinal Study of Special Needs AdoptionPraeger, 1996.

Groza, Victor K., Rosenthal, James. Special-Needs Adoption: A Study of Intact Families. Praeger, 1992.

Reports

Romania

India

Belize

  • Belize (2000)

Dissertations Chaired

Presentations

Select Presentations

Post-Master’s Certificate Program in Adoption Mental Health with the West University of Timisoara, Romania (2013–14)

Foster care to adoption in Romanian and English
Intervention with adoptees and their family Part 1
Adoption Search & Reunion by Bellini
Clinical Issues in adoption for mental health professionals by Zoe Wood
Interventions with adoptees & their families Part 2
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum by Fago
Child Centered Recruitment -Romanian & English
Probleme medicale si psihologice ale copilului adoptat
Changing Shoes- in Romanian and English

Presentations in Spanish (2011)

Abuso Fisico, Sexual y Negligencia
Directrices para el perfil de la Evaluacion infantil
El Mapa de la Red Social
Ensenando Patrones de Crianza
Fortalecimiento Familiar y Empoderamiento
Genograma
La Sociologica de la Adolescencia y Juventud en los anos 90
Preparacion del Nino para su ubicacion y reunificacion
Principios Claves de Proteccion Enfantil

Presentations in Ethiopia (2010)

An Institution is No Place to Go Home For Ethiopia Training for MOWA by Victor Groza
Effects of Trauma on Children
Improving Institutional Care by Victor Groza
Steps Towards Deinstitutionalization
An Alternative to Institutional Care by Scott Wilkes
Ethics by Scott Wilkes
Models and Levels of Care by Scott Wilkes
The Foster Care Process by Scott Wilkes
Meeting the Needs of Children and Families by Scott Wilkes
Child Protection Model by Zoe Wood
The Child Protection System by Zoe Wood

Presentations in Kazakhstan (2009)

Overview of International Adoption for Kazakhstan (In Kazak)
Overview of International Adoption for Kazakhstan (In Russian)

Presentations in Ukrainian (2006–08)

Abandonment, Separation and Loss
Adopting Children with Special Needs
Assessment of Competencies for Fostering
Attachment and Attachment Disorders
Building a Strong Domestic Adoption Program
Child Assessment for Adoption or Placement
Child Specific Recruitment
Effects of Trauma on Children
International Adoption Professional Standards
Matching Parents and Children for Adoption
Overview of Adoption
Overview of Permanency Planning
Overview of Program Evaluation
Permanency Planning Teams
Preparing Children for Adoption or Placement
Recruiting, Training and Retaining Resource Families
Towards Deinstitutionalization

Education

Doctor of Philosophy
University of Oklahoma
Master of Social Work
University of Oklahoma
Bachelor of Arts
University of Tulsa

Additional Information

Concentration

  • Children, Youth and Families