Dr. Nancy Rolock joins Kinnect Board of Directors

Executive Director Shannon Deinhart announced that Dr. Nancy Rolock, Henry L. Zucker Professor in Social Work Practice at the Jack, Joseph & Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, joined the Kinnect Board of Directors.

“Dr. Rolock brings a wealth of knowledge and research experience that will positively impact Kinnect. She is a skilled collaborator, and we are grateful she has joined the Board of Directors,” said Deinhart.

Dr. Rolock has conducted child welfare-related research since 1996 with a focus on the long-term outcomes for children and youth who have exited foster care through adoption or guardianship. She was the principal investigator for a multi-year federally funded study, Understanding Post Adoption and Guardianship Instability for Children and Youth Who Exit Foster Care.

Dr. Rolock also directed research for the National Quality Improvement Center for Adoption and Guardianship Support and Preservation to implement and evaluate interventions aimed at families who adopted or assumed guardianship of children from foster care. Understanding the risks and protective factors associated with the long-term stability of children, youth, parents and guardians is of utmost importance to child and family well-being.

“At Kinnect, I hope to bring the perspective of thinking about long-term child wellbeing,” said Rolock. “One of the things I love is the primacy of listening to families and honoring what they want in their lives.”

Dr. Rolock was recently elected as a fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), which honors and recognizes current members for their individual accomplishments, leadership, and contribution to SSWR as a scientific society. She received her doctorate from the University of Illinois-Chicago and served on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee prior to her appointment at Case Western Reserve.

Kinnect welcomes Dr. Rolock and looks forward to engaging with her further.