Dr. Ram Cnaan is a professor, associate dean for research, and chair of the Doctoral Program in Social Welfare at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice. He received his doctorate from the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, and his B.S.W. and M.S.W. from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. Dr. Cnaan has published numerous articles in scientific journals on a variety of social issues. He is the author of: The Newer Deal: Social Work and Religion in Partnership (Columbia University Press, 1999) and: The Invisible Caring Hand: American Congregations and the Provision of Welfare (New York University Press, 2002). The former book discussed the need to link social work with religious social services providers. The latter book discusses how American congregations became the hidden safety net of the American welfare system. Dr. Cnaan's 2006 book deals with congregations in one large city, titled: The Other Philadelphia Story: How Local Congregations Support Quality of Life in Urban America (University of Pennsylvania Press). Along with Professor Carl Milofsky from Bucknell University, professor Cnaan edited the Handbook of Community Movements and Local Organizations (2006; Springer's series of Handbooks of Sociology). This volume aims to capture the field of community practice from a theoretical and conceptual levels using knowledge from a multidisciplinary approaches. Finally, along with Professor Stephanie C. Boddie from Washington University, Professor Cnaan edited Faith-Based Social Services: Measures, Assessments, and Effectiveness (forthcoming, Haworth Press). This volume provides the first systematic review of the effectiveness of faith-based organizations. Dr. Cnaan is the director of the Program for Religion and Social Policy Research (PRSPR) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice. He carried out the first national study on the role of local religious congregations in the provision of social services and introduced an innovative new course on social work and religion. He is considered a leading expert in studying faith-based social services. He also carried the first ever census of congregations in an American city (Philadelphia). Dr. Cnaan is also known as an international expert on nonprofit organizations and voluntary action with a specialty in the study of volunteerism. He studied the role of volunteers in human services, volunteer management, and volunteerism as a social construct. Previously, Dr. Cnaan researched and published in the areas of information technology in social work practice, mentally-ill homeless persons, and practice evaluation. Dr. Cnaan serves on the editorial board of seven academic journals.
Housing and Community Development
Philadelphia Census of Congregations and Their Involvement in Social Service Delivery (with Stephanie C. Boddie), Penn IUR Publications (2001)
This census of congregational social services is the first attempt to identify all of the...
Race and Social Welfare
Philadelphia Census of Congregations and Their Involvement in Social Service Delivery (with Stephanie C. Boddie), Penn IUR Publications (2001)
This census of congregational social services is the first attempt to identify all of the...
Governance and Politics
Philadelphia Census of Congregations and Their Involvement in Social Service Delivery (with Stephanie C. Boddie), Penn IUR Publications (2001)
This census of congregational social services is the first attempt to identify all of the...
No subject area
The Role of Social Anxiety in Volunteering (with Femida Handy), Departmental Papers (SPP) (2007)
The volunteer management literature suggests that the most effective means of recruitment is personal asking....
Adolescent Risk Behaviors and Religion: Findings from a National Study (with Jill W. Sinha and Richard W. Gelles), Departmental Papers (SPP) (2007)
Too few studies have assessed the relationship between youth risk behaviors and religiosity using measures...
Summer on the Island: Episodic Volunteering (with Femida Handy and Nadine Brodeur), Departmental Papers (SPP) (2006)
In the fields of volunteer research and management, the phenomenon of episodic volunteering is growing...
Does Social Work Education Have an Impact on Social Policy Preferences? A Three-Cohort Study (with Idit Weiss and John Gal), Departmental Papers (SPP) (2005)
This article examines the impact of social work education on the social policy preferences of...
Review of Peter J. Wosh, Covenant House: Journey of a Faith-based Charity, Departmental Papers (SPP) (2005)
In Covenant House: Journey of a Faith-Based Charity, Peter Wosh provides us with a modern...