Jordan Marie Goodwin

Jordan Goodwin is a PhD candidate in the School of Social Work at Rutgers University. Jordan completed her BS in Psychology at the University of Florida, Master of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary, and Master of Social Work at Rutgers. She is also an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She has practice experience providing individual and group pastoral counseling in primary care and psychiatric hospital settings, substance use counseling in an outpatient community behavioral health setting, and case management to individuals and families in temporary and affordable housing.

Jordan currently works as a Project Coordinator on the Youth and Family Interview Team through Rutgers Center for Prevention Science, studying the perspectives of families with child welfare involvement. Jordan has taught policy and practice courses in Rutgers’ MSW program and was a research supervisor on a project studying thriving religious communities using digital ethnography. Jordan is on the mentoring subcommittee of the Society for Social Work Research’s Doctoral Student Committee.

Jordan’s research focuses on social determinants of health, solutions to homelessness, mental health and substance use interventions, LGBTQ+ issues, religion and spirituality, positive youth development, and trauma-informed social work practice. Her dissertation integrates these research areas by examining the social networks and service experiences of LGBTQ+ young adults experiencing homelessness. Through this research, which has been supported by the Society for Research in Child Development and the American Psychological Association, Jordan aims to develop and advocate for approaches that address needs for LGBTQ+ affirming and trauma-informed homeless services.