School of Social Work

Faculty of Health

Nancy Ross

Associate Professor

Ross_profile
School of Social Work

Email: nancy.ross@dal.ca
Phone: 902-494-4049
Fax: 902-494-6709
Mailing Address: 
School of Social Work
Dalhousie University
Suite 3204, Mona Campbell Building,
1459 LeMarchant Street
PO Box 15000 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2
 
Research Topics:
  • Peacebuilding and prevention of interpersonal violence
  • Gender-based violence
  • Childhood adversity and resilience
  • Trauma and violence informed and family centered systems (Canadian Criminal Justice System, Mental Health and Addiction System, Child Protection Services)
  • Mindfulness
  • Culturally responsive care and calls to decolonize

Education

  • PhD, Peace Studies and International Development, University of Bradford, UK
  • Peace and Conflict Studies Diploma, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
  • MSW, Dalhousie University
  • BSW, Dalhousie University
  • BA (Hons) Dalhousie University

Courses Taught

SLWK 6660 Social Work and Restorative Approaches: Theory and Skills for Dialogue, Peacebuilding, and Healing

SLWK 2334

 Beginning Social Work Practice
SLWK 3135 Social Work and Mental Health
SLWK 3270 Social Work in Addiction
HLTH 5130 Concurrent Disorders and Complex Case Work: Working with Persons, Families and Communities (Distance)
SLWK 3030 Theoretical Foundations of Social Work Practice
SLWK 6540 Critical Approaches to Mental Health & Addiction in Social Work Practice (Distance)
SLWK 3130 Women and Violence
SLWK 2444 Life Processes: Concepts and Practices for Critical Social Work (Distance)
SLWK 4010 Advanced Social Work Practice
SLWK 6370 Advanced Practice Skills
   
Additional Teaching Duties Supervision of Independent Studies, Graduate and PhD Thesis Committees

 

Awarded Research Funding

2022 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) & Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). PIs: Ross, N. & Lewis, T. (Co-I): Awogiya, F. Partner Organizations: Association of Black Social Workers, Be the Peace Institute, Leave out Violence Nova Scotia and Generation 1 Leadership. Moving Forward Together: Unsettling Racism, Silence and Violence in Health and Social Services. Funds Awarded: $450,000.
2022 Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). PI: Brown, C., Co-Is: Ross, N., Johnstone, M. & Augusta Scott, T. Family violence online programming in rural and remote areas of Atlantic Canada (PEI, Newfoundland/Labrador, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia). Funds Awarded: $635,000.
2022 Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Ross, N. Bridge Funds for continuation of research program. Funds Awarded: $5,000.
2022 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.  PI Torres, T.  Co -Is: Hamilton-Hinch, B. & Ross, N. Collaborators:  Moriah, J., Metallic, N., Gausdal, W., Grant, W. Knowledge Mobilization Focusing on Protective Factors for Children’s Welfare:  The case of Urban Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, and Immigrant and Refugee communities. Value: $33,456.
2021 Justice Canada. Ross. N. Family-Centred and Trauma-Informed Responses to Gender-Based Violence-Implications for Transforming Justice and Community Systems Community Partners: Law Reform Commission of Nova Scotia & Be the Peace Institute. Funds Awarded: $252,000
2020 Nova Scotia Covid-19 Health Research Coalition. Ross, N., Thomas-Bernard, & Bookchin, S. Culturally Responsive Healthcare to Reduce Gender Based  Violence. Funds Awarded: $75000 + Mitac Training Awards x 2 = $6,000 
2019-2021 Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Ross, N. Bridge Funds Awarded: $11,103      
2019 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).  Ross, N. & Ryan, C. Improving Lives of Families or Punishing Women?  Understanding the experiences of criminalized women in Nova Scotia’s domestic violence court programs. Funds Awarded: $25,000
2019 Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW).  Brown, C., Johnson, M. & Ross, N. Repositioning Social Work Practice in Mental Health and Health  Equity in Nova Scotia. Funds Awarded: $19,846.
2018 SSHRF Explore Grant.  Ross, N., Torres S., Gilbert, R., Munroe, A., Hamilton-Hinch, B. & Haslam, K. Project Title: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health Profession Students:  Measuring Prevalence and Identifying Preventative Approaches.  Funds Awarded:  $ 6,595. 
2018-2020 Justice Canada. Ross, N. Are Pro-Arrest, Pro-Charge and Pro-Prosecution Policies the most effective response to domestic violence in NS? Community Partners: Halifax Police & Be the Peace Institute. Funds Awarded: $150,000.
2018-2021 Social Sciences Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Torres, S., Parada, H., Yohani, S., Ross, N., Andrew, C., Chiu, Y. & Campbell, K. Exploring the role of cultural brokers as intermediaries between immigrant and refugee families and child welfare workers. Funds Awarded: $187,107.
2017-2018 Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation.  Ross, N., Torres, S., Savage, S., Gilbert, R., Ungar, M. & McDonald, S. Measuring Adverse Childhood Experiences, Current Health Challenges and Factors that Promote Resilience Among Patients of the Lunenburg Family Health Clinic. Funds Awarded:  $15,000.
2017-2018 Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation. Torres, S., Waldron, I., Moriah, J., Downey, N., Metallic, N., Karabanow, J. & Ungar, M. Examining protective factors for children’s welfare: the case of Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, and Immigrant and Refugee Children in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Funds awarded: $14,988.00.
2017-2018 School of Social Work.  ROSS, N. Adverse Childhood Experiences Study: Exploring Resilience Factors Among Adults. Funds Awarded:  $1,200.

 

Publications
 

  • Ross, N., Raluca, B. & Zubriski, S. (November 21, 2022). University and school strikes across Canada are about workers’ rights — and protecting education as a public good. The Conversation.

  • Ross, N.; Brown, C. & Johnstone, M. (2022) (in Press). Beyond Medicalised Approaches to Violence and Trauma: Empowering Social Work Practice. Journal of Social Work.

  • Haslam, K.; Hamilton-Hinch, B; Torres, S.; Munroe, A.; Grant, T.; Gilbert, R.; & Ross, N.
    (Submitted December 2022). Adverse Childhood Experiences, Maladaptive Coping Behaviours and Protective Factors in Undergraduate Students: A Descriptive Correlational Study. Social Sciences & Humanities Open.

  • Doll, K., Brown, C., Johnstone, M. & Ross, N. (2022). "Neoliberalism, Control of Trans and Gender Diverse Bodies and Social Work". Resubmission in process.
     
  • Haslam, K., Ross, N., Torres, S., Hamilton-Hinch, B. & Gilbert, R. (Submitted, November 29, 2021). "An Exploration of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Oral Health Students A Cross-Sectional Study". Journal of Dental Education.

  • Ross, N.; Brown, C. & Johnstone, M. (2022). Dismantling Addiction Services: Neoliberal, Biomedical and Degendered Constraints on Social Work Practice. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction Service, 1-14. DOI: 10.1007/s11469-022-00779-0.

  • Johnstone, M.; Brown, C. & Ross, N. (2022). The McDonaldization of Social Work: a critical analysis of Mental health care services using the Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA) in Canada. Journal of Progressive Human Services,33(3) 223-243.

  • Ryan, C., Silvio, D., Borden, T. & Ross, N., Senior Author (2022). A review of pro-arrest, pro-charge and pro-prosecution policies as a response to domestic violence in Canada.  Journal of Social Work, 22(1): 211-238.

  • Ross, N. & Zubriski, S. (September 8, 2021) Federal election 2021: Gender-based violence is an issue we should all prioritize” for publication.  The Conversation.

  • Ross, N. (2021) Adverse Childhood Experiences:   Implications for Social Work Practice Connection Magazine (3), 3:20-21.

  • Ross, N. (2021) Pandemic Disruptions: The Subversion of Neoliberalism.  Journal of Qualitative Social Work, 20(1-2):350-356.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325020973344

    Ryan, C., Silvio, D., Borden, T. & Ross, N., Senior Author (2021) A review of pro-arrest, pro-charge and pro-prosecution policies as a response to domestic violence in Canada.  Journal of Social Work, 0(0) 1-28. DOI: 10.1177/1468017320979956.

  • Ross, N. (2021) Pandemic Disruptions: The Subversion of Neoliberalism. Journal of Qualitative Social Work, 20(1-2):350-356.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325020973344

  • Ryan, C., Silvio, D., Borden, T. & Ross, N., Senior Author (2021) A review of pro-arrest, pro-charge and pro-prosecution policies as a response to domestic violence in Canada.  Journal of Social Work, 0(0) 1-28. DOI: 10.1177/1468017320979956. 

  • Ross, N. & Morrison, J. (2020) Safety, Belonging and Voice:  Critical Clinical Practice with Girls and Women Struggling with Substance Misuse. In C. Brown, & J. MacDonald, J. (Eds.)  Critical Clinical Social Work Practice, pp.171-194. Canadian Scholars Press.

  • Ross, N., Bookchin, S. (2020) Perils of Conversation:  #MeToo and Opportunities for Peacebuilding.  Gender and Management, 35(4): 391-404.  https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-12-2019-0237 

  • Ross, N., Gilbert, R., Torres, S., Dugas, K., Jefferies, P., McDonald, S., Savage, S. & Ungar, M. (2020) Adverse Childhood Experiences: Assessing the Impact on Physical and Psychosocial Health in Adulthood and the Mitigating Role of Resilience. Child Abuse and Neglect Journal, 103(2020) 104440.

  • Ross, N., Hall, C. & MacDonald, J. (2019) Myths, Misperceptions and Misunderstandings: the making of a social work documentary. Canadian Social Work, 20(2):135-151. 

  • Ross, N.  (2019) Applying a Peacebuilding Framework to Gendered Partner Violence in Rural Canada. Peace Research: The Canadian Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 51(2):7-42. 

  • Ross, N. (2019) Imagining a Non-Violent World: ‘The Be the Peace, Make a Change Project’: A Rural Community Peacebuilding Initiative to End Gender-Based Violence. Peace & Conflict Studies, 26(1):1-23.

  • Ross, N., Morrison, J. (2019) The Spiritual is Political: Owning our Interconnectedness in the Pursuit of Social Healing. In N. J. Profitt & C. Baskin (Eds.) Spirit in the Political Quest for an Equitable World:  Spirituality, Social Justice and Social Work, pp. 221-242. Canadian Scholars/Women’s Press.

  • Profitt, N.J. & Ross, N. (2017) A critical Analysis of the Report Student Safety in Nova Scotia:  Co-creating a Vision and Language for Safer and Socially Just Campus Communities. In E. Quinlan, A. Quinlan, C. Fogel & G. Taylor (Eds.) Sexual Violence at Canadian Universities: Activism, Institutional Responses and Strategies for Change, pp. 193-220. Wilfred Laurier Press. 

  • Ross, N., Morrison, J., Cukier, S., & Smith, T. (2015) Consuming Carcinogens:  Women and Alcohol. In D. Scott (Ed.) Our Chemical Selves: Gender, Toxics, and Environmental Health. pp. 29-104. UBC Press. 

  • Ross, N., Morrison, J., Cukier, S., & Smith, T. (2015) (Peer reviewed) Consuming Carcinogens:  Women and Alcohol. In D. Scott (Ed.) Our Chemical Selves:  Gender, Toxics, and Environmental Health. Vancouver: UBC Press. 

  • Aston, S., Comeau, J. & Ross, N.  (2007) Mapping Responses to Women with Substance Use Problems in Rural Canada In N. Poole & L. Greaves (Eds.) Highs and Lows. Canadian Canadian Perspectives on Women and Substance Use, pp. 305-311. Vancouver: BC Center for Excellence for Women’s Health. Center for Addiction and Mental Health. 

  • Aston, S., Ross, N.  & Comeau, J. (2007) Mapping Uncharted Terrain:  Women and Substance Use Problems in Rural Canada.  In: N. Poole & L. Greaves (Eds.) Highs and Lows. Canadian Perspectives on Women and Substance Use, pp. 111-122. Vancouver: BC Center for Excellence for Women’s Health.  Center for Addiction and Mental Health. 

  • Ross, N. (ed.) (2004-2011) Coming Home: Stories of Women in Recovery. The Lighthouse Log. Bridgewater:  Lighthouse Publishing Ltd. (The aim of this column was to provide encouragement and reduce the stigma that exists for women coping with addiction).

Reports

Other Publications

  • Ross, N. & Zubriski, S. (September 8, 2021) “Federal election 2021: Gender-based violence is an issue we should all prioritize” for publication.The Conversation.
    https://theconversation.com/federal-election-2021-gender-based-violence-is-an-issue-we-should-all-prioritize-167028
  • Ross, N. (2021) Adverse Childhood Experiences: Implications for Social Work Practice Connection Magazine (3), 3:20-21.
  • Ross, N. (2018) Integrating the ‘Social” in Primary Health Care. Measuring Adverse Childhood Experiences, Current Health Challenges and Factors that Promote Resilience Among Patients of the Lunenburg Family Health Clinic. Connection Magazine (1) 4: 21-23.

Book Review

Films

  • Ross, N. & Bagg, L. (2022) (Producers) They Didn’t Listen to My Story: Experiences of Women in the Domestic Violence Court.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSg3m2FRJ0Q

  • ‘I Work for Change’ [running time 54 min]. (2017) Hall, C. & Ross, N. (Co-Producers) This social work documentary that discusses the complexity of social work while celebrating the profession. Available online at:  Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/channels/1273179/226305683
     
  • ‘Women of Substance’ [running time 8 min] (2012) Ross N. (Producer) Dealing with substance use can be challenging, but there is hope. In Women of Substance, you'll hear the stories of women who understand the challenges and the rewards individuals experience on the road to recovery.  Available online at: https://www.facebook.com/WomenofSubstanceNovaScotia/videos/644519342271322/.

Media Interviews