Saralyn Ruff

Professor Ruff received a Master in Education, a Master in Couples and Family Therapy, and a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies. She worked in Solano County at a nonprofit clinic as a Program Supervisor and Lead Clinician, at A Home Within as Program Director, and in private practice -- all focused on the treatment of adolescents and maltreated youth.

Saralyn’s research agenda is largely rooted in her clinical experiences, focused on mental health interventions for maltreated youth. She is the Director of the Foster Care Research Group (FCRG), a lab examining best practices supporting the wellbeing of current and former foster youth. She teaches courses on general psychology, abnormal psychology, child maltreatment, psychology practicum, and advanced research methods.

• Mental health interventions
• Child maltreatment
• Sibling relationship quality

• Director, Foster Care Research Group
• Director of Research, A Home Within
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• Adjunct Faculty Mentor, University of San Francisco Psychology Department

• Purdue University, PhD Human Development, 2012
• University of Oregon, MEd, Couple and Family Therapy, 2006
• University of Oregon, MEd, 2003

• Ruff, S. C., & Linville, D. (2021). Experiences of young adults with a history of foster care during COVID-19. Children and Youth Services Review, 121.
• Ruff, S. C., & Linville, D. (2021). What former foster children went through when the COVID- 19 pandemic closed college campuses. The Conversation.
• Ruff, S. C., & Harrison, K. (2020). “Ask Me What I Want”: Community-based participatory research to explore transition-age foster youth’s use of support services. Children and Youth Services Review, 108,