Affiliated faculty

Joseph P. Ryan

Professor of Social Work, School of Social Work and Faculty Associate, Population Studies Center, ISR

Joe Ryan's research and teaching build upon his direct practice experiences with child welfare and juvenile justice populations. Dr. Ryan is the Co-Director of the Child and Adolescent Data Lab an applied research center focused on using data to drive policy and practice decisions in the field. He is currently involved with several studies including a randomized clinical trial of recovery coaches for substance abusing parents in Illinois (AODA Demonstration) , a foster care placement prevention study for young children in Michigan (MI Family Demonstration), a Pay for Success (social impact bonds) study focused on high risk adolescents involved with the Illinois child welfare and juvenile justice system and a study of the educational experiences of youth in foster care (Kellogg Foundation Education and Equity).

He is currently serving on the editorial board of four journals (Child Maltreatment, Social Work Research, Residential Treatment for Children and Youth and Child Welfare).

Ryan is committed to building strong University and public agency partnerships that utilize empirical evidence to advance knowledge and address critical questions in the fields of child welfare and juvenile justice.

Educational background

  • 2002     PhD     Social Work     University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
  • 1996     MSW    Social Work     University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • 1992    BA         Psychology      University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA