The University of St. Thomas

Jessica Toft, MSW, PhD., LISW

Jessica Toft, Ph.D., LISW

Assistant Professor of Social Work


"jetoft@stthomas.edu Phone: (651) 962-5803

SCB 201
2115 Summit Ave,
St. Paul, MN 55105

Office Location: 306 Summit Classroom Building - UST

Current role:

            • Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of St. Thomas

Committees and Positions:

            • University of St Thomas Institutional Review Board Committee, 2006 - present
            • School of Social Work: 
              •  Research Committee, 2005-present (Chair, 2006- present)
              • Policy Committee, 2005-present
              • MSW Program Committee, 2005 – present
              • Advanced Clinical Field Seminar Committee, 2005-2006
              • Admissions Committee, 2005-present
              • Faculty Search Committee, 2006
              • Design and Implementation Team, present
            • Research Instructor for the Licensing Exam Review Course, 2006 – present
            • Guest Lecturer for University of Minnesota, School of Social Work policy course on Low-Income Mothers’ Citizenship, 2007
            • Guest Discussant, University of Minnesota, School of Social Work, Doctoral Research Seminar, Course2006

Courses taught:

            • History and Philosophy of Social Work
            • Methods of Social Work Research
            • Applied Research Seminar
            • Social Policy and Program Development
            • Social Work Practice Research
            • Social Work Research: Designs and Statistical Applications (Undergraduate)

Current research interests:

 

Academic experience:

            • Ph.D. University of Minnesota 2005
            • M.S.W. School of Social Work, University of Iowa 1994
            • B.A.  Grinnell College 1989

 

Practice experience:

            • 2000-2004  Co-Investigator and Research Assistant. A Study of the Effects of the Minnesota Family Investment Program on Parents and Children in   Hennepin County, University of Minnesota, School of Social Work.
            • 2003-2004  Research Assistant. Hartford Foundation Study: Exploratory Study on Serving Older Persons with Disabilities through Independent Living Centers, University of Minnesota, School of Social Work.
            • 2004  Research Assistant.  Evaluation of the Battered Women’s Justice Project, University of Minnesota, School of Social Work.
            • 1994-1996  Public Policy Advocate. Child Abuse Prevention issues, Family & Children’s Service, Minneapolis, MN.
            • 1994 Research Assistant. National Resource Center on Family Based Practice, Iowa City, IA.
            • 1991-1994  Crisis Counselor and Trainer. Crisis Center, Iowa City, IA.
            • 1991-1992 Youth Counselor. Youth Homes, Iowa City, IA.
            • 1990-1991 Program Manager.  Group home for autistic adults, Alternatives for People with Autism, Brooklyn Park, MN.
            • 1989-1990 Living Skills Instructor.  Alternatives for People with Autism, Brooklyn Park, Mn

 Publications:

            • Toft, J., Hollister, C.D., & Martin, M. [Accepted]. The influence of paid work, racial-ethnicity, and immigrant status on health care coverage after welfare reform in Hennepin County. Submitted to Journal of Health and Social Policy.
            • Toft, J. & Hollister, D., & Martin, M. [Accepted]. Welfare reform impacts on Hmong families in Minnesota. AAPI Nexus: American Asian and Pacific Islanders. 
            • Hollister, C.D., Martin, M., Toft, J., &Yeo, J. (2005). Obstacles to welfare-to-work transitions for Somali, Hmong, and Latino immigrants in the United States. Social Development Issues, 27(2), 57-69.
            • Toft, J. & Abrams, L. (2004). Progressive maternalists and the construction of low-income single mothers. Social Service Review, 78(3), 447-465.

 

Association Memberships and Affiliations:

            • Council on Social Work Education, 1997 – present 
            • Licensed Independent Social Worker,  1996 - present
            • Society for Social Work Research,  2002 - present
            •  National Association of Social Workers, 1994 – present