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Jinyung Kim

Jinyung Kim

Assistant Professor

Jinyung Kim

Campus: Norman
Email:  jinyung.kim@ou.edu

Education:

PhD in Social Work, Ewha Womans University

MSW, Ewha Womans University

BA in International Studies and Social Work, Ewha Woman University

Jinyung Kim is an Assistant Professor at the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma. Her research focuses on two interconnected areas: (1) child well-being in the context of maltreatment, foster care, and the intergenerational cycle of trauma, and (2) the impacts of substance use, addictive behaviors, and multiple forms of violence on children and families. Through this work, she is committed to advancing trauma-informed approaches that foster resilience and promote the well-being of children.

Prior to joining the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Kim completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, where she conducted applied research evaluating Maryland’s child welfare system, including quality assurance initiatives, child and family services, and evidence-based, family-centered practice models. This work allowed her to translate real-world practice challenges into research, contributing to studies on foster care permanency outcomes, the intersection of parental substance use and child maltreatment, and the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Her research integrates mixed methods and cross-national perspectives to generate actionable, evidence-based policies and practices in child welfare research.

Research Interests

  • Child well-being
  • Child maltreatment
  • Foster care
  • Substance use
  • Addictive behaviors
  • Violence 
  • Trauma-informed approach
  • Intergenerational cycle of trauma