An AI-generated portrait of a red-haired woman in a blue blazer and white mock-neck blouse in front of a book shelf or library

Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP

  • Associate Professor
  • Managing Faculty Director, The Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice & Research
  • Director, Child Well-Being & Child Welfare Specialization (CW2)
  • Associate Professor, Graduate School of Education (Secondary Appointment)
  • Research Interests

    The transition to adulthood among youth who age out of foster care

    Natural mentoring and other supportive adult relationships for youth who age out of foster care

    Child traumatic stress

    Applied community-based intervention research and translation of research to practice

    Resiliency, risk, and protective factors

    Neurobiological mechanisms of resiliency-focused interventions

    Life course theory

    Domestic minor sex trafficking

    Dr. Johanna K. P. Greeson is a leading scholar and advocate dedicated to transforming the child welfare system. Driven by both evidence and empathy, her research focuses on improving outcomes for youth transitioning out of foster care by cultivating resilience through enduring, supportive relationships with caring adults. She is best known for developing the Caring Adults ‘R’ Everywhere (C.A.R.E.) program, a pioneering mentoring intervention designed to help young people thrive as they age out of care. Through applied, community-based studies and international partnerships, she works to translate evidence into practice and policy, creating pathways that expand opportunities for vulnerable youth.
    Recognized internationally as one of the foremost scholars in child welfare, Dr. Greeson’s work has been cited more than 4,000 times in peer-reviewed publications. Her ability to secure funding from federal agencies, philanthropic foundations, private donors, and global NGOs reflects the significance of her scholarship and its broad policy relevance. While her earlier research explored child trauma and domestic minor sex trafficking, her current emphasis is on relationship-based and resilience-focused interventions, with future aspirations to examine how supportive connections may shape neurobiological development.
    At the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Greeson serves as Managing Faculty Director of the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice, & Research, the University’s only interdisciplinary hub dedicated to child and family well-being. She also directs the Child Wellbeing & Child Welfare specialization for advanced MSW students, mentoring the next generation of social work leaders and scholars.

    This is an AI-generated podcast. The content is provided for informational purposes only.

    Contact

    Phone

    office: 215.898.7540

    fax: 215.573.2099

    Email

    Address

    3701 Locust Walk, Caster Building
    Philadelphia, PA 19104-6214

    About

    Department(s)

    Standing Faculty | Faculty | Research Centers & Special Projects | The Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice & Research

    Program(s)

    MSW | PhD

    Research Areas(s)

    Children, Women, Family Well-Being

    Related Links

    http://www.johannagreeson.com

    Curriculum Vitae >

    YouTube player

    TEDx Talk

    How to heal the aging out crisis

    Her TEDx talk is about healing the aging out crisis affecting youth in foster care. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx