My social work path began in London, Ontario where I completed my BSW at King’s University College at Western University (2000). Next, I journeyed to the U.S. Midwest where I completed my MSW at the University of Minnesota (2002). Finally, I landed in the Toronto area where I received my PhD in Social Work from the University of Toronto (2014). During my doctoral studies, I completed a graduate certificate in Qualitative Health Research from the Centre for Critical Qualitative Health Research at the University of Toronto.

I focus on exploring issues of gender-based violence including intimate partner violence, child exposure to woman abuse, and other forms of trauma perpetrated against women and girls. I use critical, feminist and intersectional frameworks to position and explore violence in the lives of women, their family and their chosen communities. I currently focus on conceptualizations of safety among women who experience intimate partner violence. Additionally, I am interested in exploring methodological innovations with respect to interpretivist qualitative research, especially in terms of violence-related research with survivors.

I value and welcome opportunities to engage both undergraduate and graduate students interested in learning more about research, and researcher-practitioner approaches, to social work. Students interested in exploring social work research are encouraged to connect with me.

I am excited to supervise graduate students who have interests in gender, IPV/VAW/GBV, resistance, and critical and feminist social work. 

• Mishna, F., Bogo, M., Root, J., & Fantus, S. (2014). "Here to stay: Cyber communication as a complement in social work practice." Families in Society.
• Mishna, F., Bogo, M., Root, J., Sawyer, J., & Khoury-Kassabri, M. (2012). "‘It just crept in’: The digital age and implications for social work practice." Clinical Social Work Journal.
• Root, J. (2012). "Violent fathers and the risks to children: The need for change (Book Review)." Child and Youth Services Review.
• Root, J. (2010). "Goal consensus is more than just agreement: Improving therapeutic relationships with women who experience intimate partner violence." Perspectives on Social Work.