Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York
About
Dr. Annahita Ball is an assistant professor within the School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. Her research focuses on advancing educational justice for vulnerable children and youth through meaningful family engagement in schools and effective school-based social service delivery. Her recent projects include exploring various aspects of family engagement and empowerment in schools, including parent organizing for educational reform and the development of a framework for family engagement practice. Dr. Ball also has research and practice experience related to strengthening mental health services in schools and creating inclusive school climates to support marginalized students. She has collaborated with schools and districts to implement student-driven programs and teacher professional development focused on school climate, positive student behavior, and student mental health. Her publications have been featured in scholarly journals, such as Children & Youth Services Review, Teaching & Teacher Education, and Youth & Society. She is on the editorial review board for Children & Schools and Research on Social Work Practice. Dr. Ball teaches courses on Diversity and Oppression, Social Work in the Public Schools, and Intergroup Dialogue.
Current Work:
Dr. Ball's research focuses on advancing educational justice for vulnerable children and youth through meaningful family engagement in schools and effective social service delivery in schools. Her current projects investigate the ways in which marginalized parents and other caregivers leverage community organizing to build power and change educational systems. She is also developing a model of family engagement practice that school-based service providers can use to enhance the services they provide to families. Dr. Ball's upcoming projects focus on building inclusive school climates to support student learning and development, including the application of intergroup dialogue pedagogy in high schools and evaluations of restorative practices in schools.
Research Area Keyword(s):
Educational justice; family engagement in schools; school-community partnerships; school mental health; positive youth development
