Kerrie Ocasio

Dr. Kerrie Ocasio is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at West Chester University's College of Education and Social Work. She holds offices in Anderson Hall and the PASSHE Center City campus in Philadelphia. Her work focuses on fostering student success while advancing evidence-based social work practices.

Education:

• PhD in Social Work, Rutgers University
• MSW, Fordham University
• BASW, Rutgers University

Research Interests: Dr. Ocasio's work addresses critical issues in child welfare, including racial disparities, foster care outcomes, and implementation science. Her research examines help-seeking behaviors, foster parent retention, and post-adoption support systems. She emphasizes practical, service-oriented evaluations to improve social service delivery.

Key Contributions: Her 2018 award-winning study on foster care reentry after adoption highlighted state-level differences in permanency outcomes. She has collaborated with agencies like the Child Welfare League of America to evaluate practice models and strengthen service delivery systems.

Awards and Recognition:

• Outstanding Poster Presentation Award (2018 Rudd Adoption Research Conference)

Advising and Partnerships: While not explicitly listed, her research collaborations reflect a commitment to training future social work leaders. She actively engages with state child welfare agencies to translate research into actionable policies.