My research activities and publications as well as my teaching topics embrace social work with migrants and ethnic minorities, child welfare social work, gender and social work and social work ethics.

My methodological emphasis is on qualitative research.

My current activities contain the specialization education of child, youth and family social work.

I supervise master´s and doctoral students.

My doctoral dissertation defended in 2008, was titled Social Work and Immigrants - Interaction and Interpretations of Child Protection Professionals and Clients.

I am also a licentiate social worker. 

My recent and current research projects are:

- Sosial work and religion, SOWREL research project, 2024-2026

- Child protection expertise in social work with migrant children and families, LAMPE research project, 2021-2023: https://www.chydenius.fi/fi/sosiaalitieteet/tutkimus/lastensuojelun-asiantuntijuus-maahanmuuttajalasten-ja-perheiden-sosiaalityossa-lampe 

- Youth in child protection and adolescent psychiatry services, LANUPS research project, 2021-2022 https://sites.utu.fi/sote/yhteistyo/hankkeet/lanups/ 

- Adolescents with neuropsychiatric symptoms in the turmoil of the service system: The NEPSOS interdisciplinary study of social work, adolescent psychiatry and special,  education, 2022-2024 https://sites.utu.fi/sote/yhteistyo-ja-hankkeet/hankkeet/nepsos-neuropsykiatrisesti-oireilevat-nuoret-palvelujen-pyorteissa/

Cultural diversity, immigration and minority issues in social work, social work and gender

Qualitative research methods

Child, youth and family social work specialization education

Guidance of master´s thesis and post graduate studies