Professor Dr. Jill Berrick

Biography

Jill Duerr Berrick is a distinguished professor and Zellerbach Family Foundation Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in the School of Social Welfare. She holds a joint appointment as Professor II at the University of Bergen in Norway. Her research has significantly focused on the child welfare system, particularly its efforts to improve the experiences of children and families involved with foster care. Berrick's work examines the intersection of poverty, child development, and parenting, alongside the services designed to address family well-being. Over the years, she has published extensively, with her contributions including over 121 books and numerous articles on family poverty and child welfare. One of her notable works is 'The Impossible Imperative: Navigating Contested Principles in Child Protection', which explores the challenges faced by child welfare professionals as they navigate often conflicting principles. Additionally, Berrick has been actively involved in legislative work aimed at changing child support enforcement policies, particularly those requiring birth parents to financially contribute to their children's foster care. Her commitment to education includes course instruction at various levels, where she incorporates her extensive research into practice. Berrick has also played a pivotal role in campus life, co-founding the Berkeley Hope Scholars program for students with foster care experiences.

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Experience

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