She has been working with refugee populations in the resettlement context for the past twelve years in Canada, Denmark, and the United States. Her research and teaching areas are focused on refugee resettlement practice and policy, comparative migration policy, and the role of faith-based organizations in resettlement as well as Indigenous social and educational policies and Indigenous social work education. Her research has explored Bosnian refugee resettlement in the United States and Denmark, congregational sponsorship of refugees, and refugee family reunification. Ives has published articles focused on refugee resettlement as it relates to integration and sponsorship and has presented her research on refugee issues both nationally and internationally.