Nina Helen Aas Røkkum
About
I am an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). I am trained as a sociologist and have professional experience as a team leader in municipal child welfare services, which strongly informs my research interests and my ambition to bridge gaps between theory and practice. My research and teaching primarily address key issues within the field of child welfare, with particular emphasis on children's living conditions and structural frameworks, as well as understandings and practical implementation of children's perspectives.
My doctoral dissertation, "A Critical Discussion of the Child Perspective Across Child Welfare Contexts," critically examines factors that both promote and challenge the safeguarding of children's perspectives in practice.
Voluntary University Governance and Academic Service
2018–2020: Representative of temporary academic staff on the Department Board, Department of Social Work
2018 – 2020: Representative of temporary academic staff on the Research and PhD Committee, Department of Social Work
2018 – 2020: Representative of temporary academic staff on the Programme Council for the PhD in Social Sciences
2018 – 2019: Chair of the Interest Organization for Temporary Academic Staff at NTNU (DION)
2018: Chair of the Working Group for the 2018 Forskningsdagene at Tunga
2017 – 2018: Deputy representative of temporary academic staff on the Department Board, Department of Social Work
2017 – 2018: Representative of temporary academic staff on the NTNU University Board
2017: Member of the Working Group for the 2017 Forskningsdagene at Tunga
Instructor
Training for employees organized by NTNU's Occupational Health Service
Research
Project Collaboration
2025 – : Husby, I.S.D., Juul, R., Straub, J., Sandbæk, M.B. & Røkkum, N.H.A. Training in professional conversations with children for newly appointed employees in child welfare services.
2023 – 2026: Editor of a book project on outreach social work with young people, in collaboration with Anna Stenersen, KoRus Oslo and Fagbokforlaget.
Networks and Collaborative Relations
2025 – : Member of the National Research Network for Child Welfare Leadership
2025 – : Member of SIG – Special Interest Group, Children’s Rights in Practice, European Social Work Research Association (ESWRA)
2023 – : Programme Committee member, Kongs-tanken, Trondheim Municipality
2023 – : Resource Group member, Home-Start Family Support, Trondheim
2022 – 2024: Board member of NORWEL, Norway's first research school in social work and child welfare
Publications
Manuscripts in progress
Fævelen, M. & Røkkum, N.H.A. Detaljstyrt omsorg? Sivilisering av foreldreskap i barnevernet (peer-reviewed journal article)
Moufack, M.F. & Røkkum, N.H.A. Faith on the Frontlines: Can Social Work and Child Welfare Education Bridge the Sacred and the Secular? (book chapter)
Røkkum, N.H.A. Sosioøkonomisk sensitivt barnevern (book chapter)
Røkkum, N.H.A. Tegneseriedialogen som medvirkningsarena for barn i barnevernets undersøkelser (book chapter)
Røkkum, N.H.A. & Hepsøe, L.E. Fra formelle rettigheter til reell medvirkning gjennom tegneseriedialogen i barnevernets praksis (peer-reviewed journal article)
Røkkum, N.H.A. & Moufack, M.F. Når kartet ikke stemmer med terrenget: Oppsøkende sosialt arbeid mellom utdanning og praksis (book chapter)
Røkkum, N.H.A. & Moufack, M.F. På kollisjonskurs? Institusjonelle logikker i oppsøkende ungdomsarbeid og barnevern (peer-reviewed journal article)
Røkkum, N.H.A. & Pedersen, J. Betydningen av kollegial støtte som nyansatt i barnevernet (peer-reviewed journal article)
2025
-
Moufack, Marie Florence;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Percy, Ian D'Armond.
(2025)
Frivillig tvang? Barnevernets hjelpetiltak i møte med familier med minoritetsbakgrunn.
Feature article
2024
-
Skrove, Gaute;
Lonne, Robert Lawrence;
Lichtwarck, Willy;
Morley, Christine;
Moufack, Marie Florence;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas.
(2024)
Norwegian Child Welfare Managers’ perceptions of the impacts of COVID-19 infection control measures upon service functionality: A longitudinal study.
Children and Youth Services Review
Academic article
-
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Serbati, Sara.
(2024)
A ‘Back Door’ Exploration of Social Problems in Comic Strip Dialogues With Marginalized Children.
Child & Family Social Work
Academic article
2022
-
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Parton, Nigel;
Kojan, Bente Heggem.
(2022)
Recognising common developments and trends across Western child welfare systems: A comparison of Italy, Norway and Slovenia.
International Social Work
Academic article
-
Skrove, Gaute;
Moufack, Marie Florence;
Ulfseth, Lena Augusta;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Lichtwarck, Willy;
Kojan, Bente Heggem.
(2022)
Oppdatering av kunnskapsgrunnlaget om konsekvenser av covid-19 for tjenestetilbudet blant utsatte barn og familier.
Skipnes Kommunikasjon
Skipnes Kommunikasjon
Report
2021
-
Aasback, Anne Wullum;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas.
(2021)
Domesticating Technology in Pandemic Social Work.
Journal of Comparative Social Work
Academic article
-
Skrove, Gaute;
Lichtwarck, Willy;
Moufack, Marie Florence;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Ulfseth, Lena Augusta;
Kojan, Bente Heggem.
(2021)
Konsekvenser av covid-19 for tjenestetilbudet blant sårbare barn og unge.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Report
-
Kojan, Bente Heggem;
Skrove, Gaute;
Moufack, Marie Florence;
Lichtwarck, Willy;
Ulfseth, Lena Augusta;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas.
(2021)
Barn og familier i utsatte livssituasjoner fikk det verre i løpet av det første året med koronapandemi.
Feature article
-
Alseth, Ann Kristin;
Fævelen, Malin;
Kojan, Bente Heggem;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Storhaug, Anita S.;
Wilson, Samita.
(2021)
Norway - National report on Family Support Policy & Provision.
Chapter
2020
-
Smeplass, Eli;
Refstie, Hilde;
Nielsen, Brita Fladvad;
Jakobsen, Thomas Sætre;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Henriksen, Ida Marie.
(2020)
Universitetene bør ikke reduseres til kunnskapsfabrikker for næringslivets mektige aktører.
Feature article
2019
-
Andresen, Silje Aurora;
Henriksen, Ida Marie;
Jakobsen, Thomas Sætre;
Jones, Michael;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas.
(2019)
Medvirkning, makt og avmakt i universitetsdemokratiet.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Kojan, Bente Heggem.
(2019)
Exploring normative complexity: (How) does the life history interview work in child welfare research?.
Qualitative Social Work
Academic article
2017
-
Levang, Lisbeth Elvira;
Bye, Tor Anders;
Hirrich, Anne;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Torp, Thomas Ueland;
Tjora, Aksel.
(2017)
Musikkfestivalens kollektive effervesens.
Tidsskrift for samfunnsforskning (TfS)
Academic article
2016
-
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Smeplass, Eli;
Tjora, Aksel.
(2016)
En vurdering av begrepet "science capital" og dets relevans i norsk kontekst.
Sosiologisk Poliklinikk på oppdrag fra Nasjonalt senter for realfagsrekruttering
Sosiologisk Poliklinikk på oppdrag fra Nasjonalt senter for realfagsrekruttering
Report
Journal publications
-
Moufack, Marie Florence;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Percy, Ian D'Armond.
(2025)
Frivillig tvang? Barnevernets hjelpetiltak i møte med familier med minoritetsbakgrunn.
Feature article
-
Skrove, Gaute;
Lonne, Robert Lawrence;
Lichtwarck, Willy;
Morley, Christine;
Moufack, Marie Florence;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas.
(2024)
Norwegian Child Welfare Managers’ perceptions of the impacts of COVID-19 infection control measures upon service functionality: A longitudinal study.
Children and Youth Services Review
Academic article
-
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Serbati, Sara.
(2024)
A ‘Back Door’ Exploration of Social Problems in Comic Strip Dialogues With Marginalized Children.
Child & Family Social Work
Academic article
-
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Parton, Nigel;
Kojan, Bente Heggem.
(2022)
Recognising common developments and trends across Western child welfare systems: A comparison of Italy, Norway and Slovenia.
International Social Work
Academic article
-
Aasback, Anne Wullum;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas.
(2021)
Domesticating Technology in Pandemic Social Work.
Journal of Comparative Social Work
Academic article
-
Kojan, Bente Heggem;
Skrove, Gaute;
Moufack, Marie Florence;
Lichtwarck, Willy;
Ulfseth, Lena Augusta;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas.
(2021)
Barn og familier i utsatte livssituasjoner fikk det verre i løpet av det første året med koronapandemi.
Feature article
-
Smeplass, Eli;
Refstie, Hilde;
Nielsen, Brita Fladvad;
Jakobsen, Thomas Sætre;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Henriksen, Ida Marie.
(2020)
Universitetene bør ikke reduseres til kunnskapsfabrikker for næringslivets mektige aktører.
Feature article
-
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Kojan, Bente Heggem.
(2019)
Exploring normative complexity: (How) does the life history interview work in child welfare research?.
Qualitative Social Work
Academic article
-
Levang, Lisbeth Elvira;
Bye, Tor Anders;
Hirrich, Anne;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Torp, Thomas Ueland;
Tjora, Aksel.
(2017)
Musikkfestivalens kollektive effervesens.
Tidsskrift for samfunnsforskning (TfS)
Academic article
Part of book/report
-
Alseth, Ann Kristin;
Fævelen, Malin;
Kojan, Bente Heggem;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Storhaug, Anita S.;
Wilson, Samita.
(2021)
Norway - National report on Family Support Policy & Provision.
Chapter
-
Andresen, Silje Aurora;
Henriksen, Ida Marie;
Jakobsen, Thomas Sætre;
Jones, Michael;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas.
(2019)
Medvirkning, makt og avmakt i universitetsdemokratiet.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Report
-
Skrove, Gaute;
Moufack, Marie Florence;
Ulfseth, Lena Augusta;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Lichtwarck, Willy;
Kojan, Bente Heggem.
(2022)
Oppdatering av kunnskapsgrunnlaget om konsekvenser av covid-19 for tjenestetilbudet blant utsatte barn og familier.
Skipnes Kommunikasjon
Skipnes Kommunikasjon
Report
-
Skrove, Gaute;
Lichtwarck, Willy;
Moufack, Marie Florence;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Ulfseth, Lena Augusta;
Kojan, Bente Heggem.
(2021)
Konsekvenser av covid-19 for tjenestetilbudet blant sårbare barn og unge.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Report
-
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Smeplass, Eli;
Tjora, Aksel.
(2016)
En vurdering av begrepet "science capital" og dets relevans i norsk kontekst.
Sosiologisk Poliklinikk på oppdrag fra Nasjonalt senter for realfagsrekruttering
Sosiologisk Poliklinikk på oppdrag fra Nasjonalt senter for realfagsrekruttering
Report
Teaching
Teaching 2025
Teaching and skills training, BBV1003 The Child Welfare Professional and the Societal Mandate
Teaching and skills training, BBV2006 Interventions, Change Work, and Developmental Support
Skills training, BSA1001 Social Work as a Discipline and Profession
Internal examiner, BSA2003 Social Work with Individuals and Groups
Internal examiner, Master’s programme in Child Welfare Work
Teaching, pilot project “Trust Builder”, organized by Caritas Norway
Teaching 2026
Course coordinator, ISA2500 Interprofessional Collaboration and Innovation
Previous Teaching
PED1006 Educational Sociology
HMBV4008 Child Welfare and School
HBVE1005 Childhood Conditions and Preventive Social Pedagogical Work with Vulnerable Children and Young People
HBVE303P Child Welfare Practice in Services and Interventions for Vulnerable Children and Young People
BBV1002 Reporting and Investigation in Child Welfare Services
SARB3006 Qualitative Methods
BSA2004 Child Welfare
Supervision
Supervision Autumn 2025
Practice supervision, BBV2500 Supervised Child Welfare Practice
Master's thesis supervision: Child Welfare Professionals' Attitudes Toward Corporal Punishment in Minority Families
Master's thesis supervision: Experiences of Emotional Strain Among Newly Qualified Social Workers
Master's thesis supervision: Skills Training in Child Interviews for Newly Appointed Employees
Previous Supervision
Master's seminars, Department of Social Work
HBVE2006 Cultural Competence, Research Methods, and Project Work
HVUT8030 Psychosocial Work – Practices, Theories, and Ethical Dilemmas
HVUT8027 Competence and Service Development
BSA2900 Bachelor’s Thesis in Social Work