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Pia Eriksson is an Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Helsinki. Her research focus is on child welfare, particularly alternative care. Her current research projects explore the quality and effectiveness of residential care, the use of restrictive measures in child protection, and the wellbeing of children in care. Additionally, Pia Eriksson shares scientific leadership of the HPRC with Maija Jäppinen.

Maija Jäppinen (D.Soc.Sc., licensed social worker) works as assistant professor of social work practice research at the University of Helsinki. Her research focuses on social work practices and work environments especially in child and family services, gender violence, migration and multilinguality, and human rights in social work. Maija is a scientific co-leader of the HPRC.

Matilda Wrede-Jäntti works as a university lecturer in social work at the University of Helsinki. Matilda's research focuses on youth, the school environment, mental health issues, rainbow youth, and everyday life. She primarily conducts qualitative research and, when possible, longitudinal studies, but she is also involved in conducting the Swedish-language Youth Barometer, which has been published every other year since 2018.

Katri Viitasalo serves as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Helsinki. She holds a Doctorate in Social Sciences and is a licensed social worker. In her research, Katri has explored topics such as methodologies and approaches in financial social work, particularly within adult social work and in the context of social work with families with children. 

Frida Westerback is a licensed social worker, PhD candidate and university teacher in Social Work at the University of Helsinki. Her research primarily focuses on young adults, with particular emphasis on their wellbeing, the transitions they undergo into adulthood, and the challenges faced by those marginalized from education and employment. 

Kaisa works as a Development Manager at the Centre of Expertese in Social work field in the Uusimaa region. Her responsibilities include Socca’s higher education cooperation, aimed at developing practical education in the social sector, particularly in social work, maintaining connections to practice, and bringing research knowledge closer to practical applications through educational events. Kaisa coordinates a network that plans activities, involving representatives from Uusimaa’s welfare regions, Helsinki, HUS, the University of Helsinki, as well as Metropolia and Laurea Universities of Applied Sciences. 

Ilse Julkunen is a professor emerita in social work at the University of Helsinki. Her research focuses on youth, vulnerability and practice research. She leads a Practice Research Collaborative together with Professor Lynette Joubert on Practice Research Impact, Translation and Influence. She is currently involved as a Helsinki University partner in the Arctic Youth Center for Children and Youth at Risk at the Arctic University of Norway.