معرفی
Merja Laitinen is a Professor at the Department of Welfare, Work and Citizenship within the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lapland. Her research focuses on post-separation violence, parental stalking, child welfare, and family law. She has led over 30 projects since 2012, including initiatives like CAPUCS (Coercive Control and Transforming Practices of Power) and LATVE (Child-Centered Assessment in High-Conflict Separations). Her work emphasizes children’s rights and interdisciplinary approaches to addressing family violence. Laitinen has published 176 research outputs, with significant contributions to understanding stalking’s impact on children and improving professional responses. She has received awards including the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title and has supervised numerous doctoral candidates. Her grants total over €X million (specific figures not stated), and she actively participates in academic activities such as editorial boards, dissertation evaluations, and international conferences.
Education background: While not explicitly detailed in the text, her academic career spanning two decades suggests terminal degrees in Social Work or related fields. Research collaborations include international partnerships on child protection and gender-based violence. Key labs/teams: Involved with the University of Lapland’s social work research groups and national/international networks addressing family conflict and child welfare. Future work focuses on expanding child-centered interventions and policy reforms.
