2023 School of Social Work Impact Magazine

Impact

Magazine

October 2023

School of Social Work Research and Innovation Report

Our Vision Leading the country in communityengaged research in health, behavioral health, and social and economic justice solutions for Alabama and the nation.

Table Of

Contents 1

Welcome

3

GoGrander Grand Challenges Key

4

A Story in Numbers

5

A Story in Pictures

6

Faculty Accolades

9

New Editions: Research & Clinical

13

Back from Sabbatical

14

OSWR Happenings

15

Supporting Alabama’s Black Belt

19

Peer Reviewing: Doctoral Program News

21

Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Armon Perry

22

Faculty and Student Achievements

WELCOME

From the Office of Social Work Research I am excited to release the first edition of Impact Magazine, which is a rebranding of our School of Social Work’s Annual Research Report. In it, I hope you enjoy stories of the incredible and innovative projects that our faculty and staff have contributed to over the year.

The 2022-2023 academic year was an exciting time for the Office of Social Work Research (OSWR)! We have fully-staffed the office with the additions of Ms. Angie Stevens as our new Research Program Assistant and Ms. Amber Skinner as our new Grants and Contracts Specialist.

Together, “Team Research” has supported numerous faculty over the year in applying for external funding for their research, managing their grant projects, and gaining visibility for their work. We also launched several programs for faculty and student research development, including Workshop Wednesdays, a monthly training opportunity for research and reviving the Research Rounds Program where researchers within the School present their current work.

As the School’s Associate Dean of Research, I am proud to celebrate the research accomplishments of our faculty and students over the past year. Many of the accomplishments featured in this year’s Annual Report highlight the tremendous impact our School is having on the Grand Challenges for Social Work. Collectively, our School community has responded to this call to action “to harness social work‘s science and knowledge base, collaborate with professionals from related fields and disciplines, and work together to tackle our toughest social problems.“ Look for the Grand Challenges icons throughout the Annual Report to see how our faculty and students are rising to the Grand Challenges.

October 2023

Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, MSW Professor and Associate Dean of Research

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GREETINGS From the Dean

Greetings, Welcome to the University of Alabama’s School of Social Work Annual Research Report!

This report was created to provide the latest news in social work research and scholarship from our faculty, upcoming research events related to social work, and profile some of the accomplishments from our doctoral students who are preparing to launch social work careers.

The report will also highlight the impact of our work with vulnerable communities, particularly as we focus on the Grand Challenges of Social Work.

It is my privilege to introduce the relaunch of the UA School of Social Work Annual Research Report from our Associate Dean of Research, Dr. Nicole Ruggiano, and the Office of Social Work Research. Enjoy!

Dean Schnavia Smith Hatcher

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Build Healthy Relationships to End Violence Harness Technology for Social Good Eliminate racism

Promote Smart Decarceration

Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment Ensuring Healthy Development for Youth Achieve Equal Opportunity and Justice Build Financial Capability and Assets for All Eradicate Social Isolation

Advance Long and Productive Lives Reduce Extreme Economic Inequality End Homelessness

Close the Health Gap

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FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS

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Number of Faculty Receiving

4 New Research Faculty Hired

University & National Awards

5 New Clinical Faculty Hired

DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE and Workshop 100 Conference Presentations

82 Peer-reviewed Articles

6 Book Chapters

RESEARCH FUNDING New & Continuing External Funding For

$44.1M Faculty-Involved Research Projects

$10.3M New Funding

44 Proposals Submitted

SELECT FUNDERS The National Institutes of Health

22 New Awards

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin Heath Resources & Services Administration Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Science Foundation American Cancer Society Robert Wood Johnson Foundation The Alabama Departments of: Mental Health Human Resources Corrections Youth Services Tuscaloosa City Schools

TOP COLLABORATORS Alabama Life Research Institute Capstone College of Nursing Computer Science Criminology & Criminal Justice Institute of Data & Analytics Psychology

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CSWE 2022

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SSW R 2023

Faculty Accolades Dr. Cady Carlson Receives the 2023 UA President’s Faculty Research Award This year Associate Professor Dr. Cady Carlson received the University of Alabama President's Faculty Research Award for Early Career Scholars in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Carlson's work addresses the lack of mental health support for women and children who have survived trafficking in countries that include Uganda and the Philippines. Her most recent work involves testing a yoga-based therapeutic program for school-aged children.

Dr. Carlson has been awarded several grants to fund this work, including a career development award from the National Institutes on Health that totaled $636,572. Dr. Carlson accepted her award at the annual President's Faculty Research Day Ceremony, which took place on April 19th at the Bryant Conference Center.

Dr. Carlson and her family at the annual Faculty Research Day Ceremony.

Dr. Ellen Csikai Receives Fulbright Senior Scholar Award This year School of Social Work Professor Dr. Ellen Csikai received the Fulbright Senior Scholar Award for teaching and research in Spain during the 2023-2024 academic year at the Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Trabajo Social y Servicios Sociales (Department of Social Work and Social Services). She was selected for her work and expertise in palliative and end-of-life care. While at the University of Murcia, her teaching contribution will be in the areas of health and gerontology and specifically in palliative and end-of-life care in courses at all social work program levels, post-masters training, across campus, and in the community.

She and her colleagues from multidisciplinary backgrounds will engage in a cross-cultural study to explore whether planning for end-of-life care can be a source of support for caregivers of seriously ill older adults. Their study will involve mixed-methods research, including qualitative interviews. The results are expected to have implications for social work and gerontological practice as well as in policy advocacy to improve the lives of caregivers of seriously ill older adults in both countries.

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Dr. Karen Johnson recognized as a 2023 Health Innovator to Watch by the Boston Congress of Public Health Assistant Professor Dr. Karen Johnson was recognized this year by the Boston Congress of Public Health as a Health Innovator to Watch in 2023. This competitive award is given to public health professionals who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, commitment, and contributions within their communities and the public health field overall.

Dr. Johnson’s research addresses service gaps and health inequities related to HIV prevention in the Deep South.

According to the CDC, 17% of Alabamians with HIV are unaware of their status. Despite the need for prevention and testing efforts only 16% of those in the state who are at risk of HIV and would benefit from prevention interventions are prescribed them.

Dr. Johnson's current research is funded by the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Center for AIDS Research. As part of this project, she is adapting an evidence-based intervention for HIV prevention, called Women on the Road to Health, for use among Black women who have been involved with community corrections and are at-risk for HIV. This is the first intervention in the nation designed to support this population in HIV prevention.

Dr. Hee Yun Lee selected as the University of Alabama Blackmon-Moody Outstanding Professor Award School of Social Work Professor Dr. Hee Yun Lee was selected as the University of Alabama 2022 Blackmon-Moody Outstanding Professor Award. This award recognizes exceptional and timely work in research and publications, often focusing on a particular accomplishment that is innovative and useful.

Dr. Lee was selected for this award as a result of her work in rural Alabama Black Belt communities to improve health education and Covid-19 vaccination rates. More about this project can be found on page 20. Dr. Lee’s area of research focuses on health and mental health disparities. Since arriving to UA in 2018, she has led a number of studies aimed at reducing health disparities, providing access to innovative health technologies using artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR), and increasing access to health services within rural Alabama.

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Dr. Nicole Ruggiano is Named Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America School of Social Work Professor and Associate Dean Dr. Nicole Ruggiano was awarded fellow status by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Fellow status is the highest class of membership within the society and acknowledges the continued dedication and achievements of GSA members to the field of gerontology. Dr. Ruggiano has been a member of GSA since 2009. Her research focuses on developing and testing technologies that support people living with dementia and their families. Recently, her work has involved developing and testing artificial intelligence (AI) applications for patient and caregiver education in dementia care. She also is a public health educator on topics related to health and aging.

Dr. Ruggiano was previously a John A Hartford Foundation Geriatric Social Work Fellow (2011-2013) and an American Political Science Association Congressional Health and Aging Policy Fellow (2018-2019). Dr. Ruggiano has also been appointed by Governor Kay Ivy to the Alabama Lifespan Respite Coalition.

Drs. Curtis Davis and Lewis Lee Recognized for their Roles in Advancing Social Work Research Each year the School of Social Work recognizes faculty achievements through its Dean’s Faculty Award for Research, Teaching, or Service.

This year, there were two recipients, each of whom have contributed to advancing social work research.

Dr. Curtis Davis received the award for his dedication to doctoral education. Dr. Davis has been teaching in the School’s PhD and DSW Programs since he joined the faculty in 2021. At the time of his nomination, Dr. Davis had served on 32 doctoral project committees and was chair for 27 of them. In addition, Dr. Davis had taught six courses across the two doctoral programs. Many doctoral students he has advised have focused on his area of expertise in addressing racial disparities in health and social services and racism trauma.

Dr. Lewis Lee received his award for his advancements in his research. Dr. Lee’s research focuses on a number of topics related to racial disparities, though he has more recently been recognized for his work with the UA Youth Services Institute to analyze data from the Alabama Department of Youth Services and the Alabama court system about justice-involved youth.

Dr. Lee was awarded the Best Paper Competition Grant Prize from the Nanum Research Center on Philantrhopy in Korea for his paper Crowding-out effect: Relationship between government grants and private giving among Korean, Chinese, and Japanese nonprofit organizations in the U.S.

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NEW EDITIONS WELCOMING OUR

The 2022-2023 academic year proved to be a busy year for

search committees. Overall, the School of Social Work hired nine new Assistant and Associate Professors! Four of the new hires joined the School as tenure track or tenured faculty.

Collectively, they bring new and exciting research agendas to complement the School's research portfolio

Dr. Davis has specific interest in addressing issues related to maternal health among African American women. His plans for the upcoming year include pursuing research on access and knowledge about doula services among African American families in Alabama.

adolescent youth. His findings have the potential to make a significant impact on students' mental health, given that the National Bullying Prevention Center reports that one out of every five students in the United States has been bullied. For his dissertation research, he examined the relationship between adolescent boys' perceptions of masculinity and their perceptions of bullying behavior.

Dr. Davis received his PhD in Social Welfare from Tulane University and his MSW from the

r. Curtis Davis is joining the

University of Alabama.

School as a tenure-track Assistant Professor, though he has

Dr. Hyunjune Lee

been with the faculty in other capacities since 2021. Initially, Dr.

Now that Dr. Lee has joined

Davis joined the faculty as an

the faculty at UA, he would like

Assistant Professor of Clinical

to pursue research related to

Practice, where he had primary

interpersonal violence among

responsibilities teaching and

youth and he has specific

advising in the new DSW Program.

interests to continue his

From July 2022 to August 2023, he

research on bullying. Now that

took on the responsibility of

he has examined

Interim Director of the DSW

relationships between

Program.

This year Dr. Davis will be transitioning to the tenure track, where he will pursue his research interests in racial disparities in social determinants of health.

9

Dr. Curtis Davis

masculinity and bullying, he has interest in conducting

r. Hyunjune Lee recently

research on bullying behavior

graduated from Case

among adolescent girls. He

Western University with his PhD in

also plans to examine how

Social Welfare. Dr. Lee has interest

exposure to violence may

in continuing his research on

lead to bullying behaviors

bullying behaviors among

among youth.

Dr. Lee is eager to follow the

a social work educator, she also

behaviors. In the future, she plans

School of Social Work's long

developed an interest in

to conduct intervention studies that

tradition of community-

researching the scholarship of

explore the effects of trauma and

engaged research. For his first

teaching and learning. In addition to

neuroscience on cognitive, mental

year at the University of

her research on health and health

health, and behavioral change in

Alabama, he plans to build

disparities, Dr. King has also

youth. Dr. Olson has expertise in

partnerships with local middle

conducted research on social work

neuroscience techniques, such as

and high schools to evaluate

education. Her work has been

neuroimaging and neurofeedback.

current antibullying programs.

featured in a number of social work

She wants to use these techniques

journals, including Children and

and examine biomarkers (such as

Youth Services Review and the r. Dione King is joining the School as Associate Professor. Dr. King's research focuses on disparities, social determinants of health, and health promotion behaviors.

She specifically has interest in conducting research on topics that impact adolescents and young adults, including dating violence, substance use,

Journal of Social Work Education.

Alongside her work as a scholar, Dr. King prides herself in her community-based engagement and

appointments at University of West Florida and the University of Alabama at Birmingham before joining the faculty at UA.

Dr. Lindamarie Olson r. Lindamarie Olson

Her research focuses on intervening with at-risk youth to reduce their initial contact with the juvenile justice system and to limit their ongoing involvement in the system. Her dissertation examined the effectiveness of neurofeedback in treating trauma symptomatology among justice-

Dr. King’s research interests are

involved youth residing in

influenced by her prior

residential care. In her study, Dr.

experience as a middle school

Olson found that neurofeedback

educator and her clinical

was more effective than

families impacted by trauma, interpersonal violence and homelessness. Since becoming

adolescent development.

University of Georgia and held

from the University of Houston.

experience working with

treatment) to learn more about

Dr. King received her PhD at the

recently finished her PhD

Dr. Dione King

markers (e.g., adherence to

service.

mental health, and sexual risk behaviors.

stress hormones) and behavioral

treatment-as-usual at treating a wide range of trauma symptomatology as well as internalizing and externalizing

She hopes to develop more knowledge on how neuroscience, adolescent development, trauma, and juvenile offending interconnects.

She would also like to bridge the gap between research and practice to develop more effective and responsive justice system practices for youth. This can lead to more evidence-based, trauma-informed interventions for juvenile justiceinvolved youth that are grounded in neuroscience and adolescent brain development. Through targeted interventions, the rehabilitation of youth may lead to healthier and more productive adults.

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NEW CLINICAL FACULTY r. Amie Brunson

r. Dalila John joined our

recently completed her DSW

faculty as a Clinical Assistant

degree at the University of

Professor and the new MSW

Alabama and is joining our

Program Director. Dr. John

faculty as a new Clinical

recently completed her DSW

Assistant Professor. She will

degree at the University of St.

have primary responsibilities teaching and advising in the School’s DSW Program.

Dr. Brunson’s practice expertise is in medical social work, with a focus on geriatric care. For her doctoral research she completed a systematic review of medical social work practice with people living with diabetes. Her study found that there is a crucial need for interventions that target the social determinants of health for underserved communities of color in diabetes care.

Dr. Brunson plans to continue research on health disparities with an emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease, hospice, and palliative care.

Thomas. Her research focused on Courtney Chapman Thomas

job satisfaction and retention of

ourtney Chapman Thomas

faculty, where she interviewed

has recently joined our faculty

participants about their

African American social work

as Director of Field Education. She

perceptions about factors that

is a native of Eufaula, AL. For the last

contribute to their job satisfaction

ten years, she has served as the

and retention. In the future, she

Senior Director of The Center for

has interest in pursuing research

Service and Leadership at The

that helps develop a better

University of Alabama. Ms.

understanding of how diversity,

Chapman Thomas has extensive

equity, and inclusion programs

experience in macro social work,

within higher education relate to

including program development,

job satisfaction and retention of

community engagement and

African American faculty.

justice-based work. She prides herself in her civic leadership, and is

Before coming to UA, Dr. John was

an active member of the Tuscaloosa

the Director of the BSW Program

community, serving on numerous

at Siena Heights University ,

civic organizations and nonprofits

in Adrian Michigan.

committees and boards.

Ms. Chapman Thomas’s doctoral research is entitled, “Failure is Not an Option”: A Scoping Review to Identify Contributing Factors of Nonprofit Organizational Failure.

Through this work she has identified 16 predictive factors of nonprofit failure. Her findings have significant implications for macro social work practice.

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Dr. Amie Brunson

Dr. Dalila John

r. Uraina Scott has recently

for more than 13 years and

graduated with her DSW

regularly provides social work

degree from Barry University and

training within the community.

joined our faculty as a Clinical Assistant Professor this academic year. Her doctoral research

r. Sherron Wilkes has

focused on the adaptation of

been with the School of

emotionally focused therapy

Social Work since 2018. Dr.

interventions for poly-amorous

Wilkes started her appointment at

partners seeking relationship

UA as an instructor and later

satisfaction.

served as the Interim Director for the MSW Program. She recently

Prior to her appointment at UA, Dr.

completed her DSW degree at

Scott practiced clinical and

the University of Alabama and

school social work in the state of

has transitioned to new roles as

Georgia and was selected as

Clinical Assistant Professor and

NASW-GA Social Worker of the

BSW Program Director.

Year. She has also served in leadership positions in the field as

Dr. Wilkes has extensive

Treasurer of NASW-GA and

experience in community

Parliamentarian for the School

practice. She has played a

Social Workers Association of

leadership role in the School in

Georgia. She has certifications in

coordinating NASW Advocacy

trauma-informed practices, youth

Day for students in Montgomery.

mental health first-aid, Sources of

Her doctoral research examined

Strength (suicide prevention), and

the use of an online platform for

Darkness to Light (sexual abuse

facilitating continuing education

prevention). In addition to her

for social workers during the

direct practice experience, Dr.

COVID-19 Pandemic. This

Scott has been a field supervisor

initiative, called Noontime Knowledge, has grown in popularity since its inception and has reached more than 2,200 participants. Her research found that topics of self-care, resilience,

Dr. Sherron Wilkes Dr. Wilkes plans to continue her leadership of this program, which has become a permanent program for the School. Dr. Wilkes plans to continue her leadership of this program, which has become a permanent program for the School.

Dr. Wilkes attributes much of her research interest in advancing continued education for social workers to her mentor, Dr. Mildred “Mit” Joiner, the late President of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Dr. Joiner served as the first speaker of the Noontime Knowledge series back in August of 2020.

Dr. Wilkes is currenting serving as the Chair for the Board of Directors of NASW Alabama.

and men’s roles in social work were reported were in the greatest need of participants.

Dr. Uraina Scott

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welcome back from sabbatical D

r. Daphne Cain is Professor in the School of Social Work and previously served as the School’s Associate Dean of Administration. Her research focuses on disaster social work and mental health, and child welfare. During her sabbatical, Dr. Cain advanced her research agenda in both areas.

One of the outcomes of her sabbatical is a book chapter she coauthored, entitled, Integrating Mental Health in Disaster Communication Theory and Practice. This article will be published in The Handbook of Crisis, Risk, and Disaster Communication, which is set for release in 2024. The chapter incorporates several theoretical frameworks to examine internal and external factors that impact communication between first responders and those receiving their services during disasters. While the framework highlights emotional and mental health needs of those communicating during disasters, it also examines disaster-related communication through a resiliency lens and the potential for “posttraumatic growth” that may be experienced post-disaster.

Dr. Cain has also taken on the role of PI for the School’s Title IV-E contract that it has with the state and federal government. While this work continues UA’s management of child welfare education resources for students at universities and colleges across the state, this year UA was also awarded

13

$957,000 to establish a new training program that will include a multi-faceted training agenda involving face-to-face, simulated, and virtual training modalities. This funding was in addition to the $6.25M the School received for its ongoing Title IV-E activities. These trainings will be developed and implemented in collaboration of the REAL Academy, and include developing a new training curriculum, developing simulation activities, train-the-trainer activities, and monitoring fidelity of the program.

Dr. Daphne Cain

In addition to her other roles within the School, Dr. Cain also is the editor of the journal Best Practices in Mental Health, which as been housed within the School since 2014. Recently, Dr. Cain has collaborated with the American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW) to make the journal the official publication of ABCSW. This will increase the journal circulation by approximately 3,500 additional subscribers for each edition.

Dr. Daphne Cain served as Editor-in-Chief for the journal Best Practices in Mental Health from summer 2018 until fall 2023.

Under her leadership, the journal became the official publication of the American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW). It publishes peer-reviewed research reflecting the global mental health priorities set by the National Institute of Mental Health and the World Health Organization.

Key focus areas of the journal include: increasing access and equity in mental health services, interdisciplinary approaches to mental health care, and innovation in mental health assessment, treatment, and prevention.

A New Year, A new research office.

The 2022-2023 academic year was one filled with exciting news for the Office of Social Work Research (OSWR). Along with a new Associate Dean of Research, the Office gained two new support staff members. One new addition was Ms. Angie Stevens, who joined as Program Assistant in September 2022. Ms. Amber Skinner also joined the office as the new Grants and Contracts Specialist in November 2022. Both brought years of experience, which helped launch the OSWR quickly.

With a fully-staffed Office, the team has been busy in providing faculty, staff, and students with support for research and scholarship. One new offering is Workshop Wednesdays, a monthly training opportunity for faculty on research and scholarship topics. Research Rounds were also revived, which are a monthly event for faculty and students to share their recent work and brainstorm ideas.

In addition to monthly events, the OSWR provides numerous services for faculty, staff, and students.

This includes: support with grant/ contract submissions and management, proposal and budget development, research purchasing, project problem solving support, research communication support, compliance support, and advocacy for PIs. “Team Research” looks forward to productive years to come!

Ms. Amber Skinner

Ms. Angie Stevens

OSWR Launches New Small Grants Program In February 2023 the Office of Social Work Research accepted applications for its new Small Grants Program, which awards faculty with rigorous research proposals up to $5,000 to generate pilot data that may be used to support a subsequent external grant application. The program will award up to three proposals each year with application due dates in February and November.

For this first round of funding, two awards were made. One was to Drs. Hyunjin Noh and Lewis Lee for their project, titled, Understanding the Views of Deprescribing and Non-pharmacological Pain Management among Community-dwelling Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Health Conditions. This project further advances the research that Drs. Noh and Lee have been conducting with a grant from the Northern California Institute for Research and Education/National Institute on Aging.

The second was awarded to Dr. Luciana Giorgio for her project, titled, Examining the Association of Maternal Stress, Social Support, and Insomnia Symptoms among Latina Mothers Living in Alabama: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Pilot Study. This project further advances her current work that is funded by the University of Alabama Research Grants Committee. Congratulations to this first round of Small Grant Award recipients!

Dr. Luciana Giorgio (left), Dr. Hyunjin Noh (center), and Dr. Lewis Lee (right)

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SUPPORTING ALABAMA'S

BLACK BELT

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Spanning 19 counties across Alabama, the Alabama

Montgomery bus boycott and the march for voting

Black Belt has been identified as a National Heritage

rights from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. The

Area by the U.S. Federal Government for its cultural

Black Belt has also been recognized for its

and historical significance in the Civil Rights

contributions to blues and gospel music. Despite its

Movement. Initially the Black Belt was named for its

cultural, historical, and agricultural significance,

rich soil, which played a large role in the region's

many counties in the Black Belt have experienced

booming agricultural economy of the 19th century

socioeconomic challenges, leaving local

and was largely shaped by the work of enslaved

communities underserved. In January 2023, the

African Americans. After the Civil War, the Jim

region further faced hardship when it was severely

Crow era led to some of the most monumental events

impacted by more than 35 tornados, with left

of the Civil Rights Movement, such as the

significant damage in the city of Selma.

Over the past several years the School of Social Work has made effort to support the Black Belt region through field placements and fundraising. However, several researchers within the School have been engaged in health and social service projects aimed to support residents in Black Belt communities.

Last year, Assistant Professor Dr. Tenesha Littleton received funding from the UA Office for Research & Economic Development Grant Program to conduct child wellbeing research in the area. She has been interviewing single mothers to learn more about protective factors that may help minimize child abuse as a public health issue in the region. She explains, "Areas of the Black Belt have factors that are considered high risk for child abuse and neglect, such as high poverty and sociostructural disparities, but they have low reports of child abuse and neglect and also low rates of substantiated cases." She is also interested in learning more about what mothers' perceptions are about the role of the Department of Human Resources in protecting children from harm.

Early findings from her research demonstrate that there are very rich networks within the communities, often family members and neighbors, who support one another with daily needs, such as babysitting. She explains hat community members are aware of the lack of resources in the area and so they have developed a strong social cohesion, often embedded in

families, to help meet each others' needs.

According to the CDC, 29% of high school students reported having poor mental health in 2021 and 10% reported that they attempted suicide. African American students are also more likely than those from other racial groups to attempt suicide. A recent initiative, called SMART™ Student Health Clinics, had been implemented in rural Alabama schools to provide increased access to medical and behavioral health needs. However, the project experienced challenges in conducting mental health assessments. Under Dr. Hopson’s direction, SMART provided the School of Social Work with funding for social work interns to implement a combination of intervention approaches to prevent, screen, and manage holistic health risks, with the ultimate goal of reducing barriers to academic success. The team is currently analyzing data to determine which types of services provided by the SMART clinic and social work interns are associated with improvements in behavior and grades. However, early success of the project has led to a new HRSA grant that will continue to fund School of Social Work interns in the program and further evaluate project outcomes.

Dr. Tenesha Littleton " There's a lot of pride in the Black Belt, in terms of how they take care of each other and their deep roots." ~ Dr. Tenesha Littleton

In addition to SMART, Dr. Hopson is also part of a team of UA researchers (PIs Jeffrey Parker and Abby Horton) who received funding from the Alabama Life Research Institute to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent and family wellbeing. The team conducted surveys with middle school students and their parents in Pickens and Dallas Counties. Their project is titled, Risk, Resilience, and Context: Analyzing the Social Adjustment and Wellbeing of Adolescents and Families in Rural Alabama during COVID. The team surveyed students from 60 rural Alabama counties, including those in the Black Belt. They found that when students were engaged in virtual school at home during the pandemic, those who did not perceive COVID-19 as a health threat reported higher levels of depression than students who did perceive it as a threat. Their study also found that female students experienced higher rates of depression than male students did during the pandemic.

Dr. Laura Hopson

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According to Alabama Department of Health, during the COVID-19 pandemic Black Belt counties experienced the highest death rates in the state. One attributing factor to this was vaccine hesitancy among community members in the region. To address this, School of Social Work Professor, Dr. Hee Lee, led an interdisciplinary team of UA researchers to increase health literacy and vaccination rates within Black Belt Communities. In April, her team was awarded a $1million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide tailored vaccination education and "Shot on the Spot" vaccination clinics. This project was in collaboration with the Rural Alabama Prevention Center and the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Ultimately, the team organized 80 vaccination clinics in 17 Black Belt counties, increasing the vaccination rate from about 33% to 65%. In fact, the project resulted in Black Belt counties having some of the highest vaccination rates in the state.

In addition to her work on Covid-19 vaccination, Dr. Lee has several other projects aimed at supporting Black Belt communities. These include work on promoting cancer screening and prevention, and establishing opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery programs. More recently, her collaborative team received two grant awards from the National Science Foundation to investigate transportation and its role on healthcare access and an additional HRSA award to initiate substance abuse programs in school systems.

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Dr. Hee Lee and her team in the community at one of the project’s Shot on the Spot clinics.

Transportation has also been the focus on other health-related research projects in the Black Belt.

Drs. Hee Lee and Karen Johnson recently collaborated on a project titled, Bridging the Transportation Gap. The project addresses HIV transmission within Black Belt communities. Even though the South makes up only one-third of the U.S. population, the region accounts for 44% of all people living with HIV, 52% of all new HIV diagnoses, and 47% of deaths attributed to HIV/AIDS. African American men and women are disproportionately impacted by HIV, especially in the Deep South.

Research has shown that high rates of HIV are often associated with community-based challenges, such as transportation, limited access to health care, and poverty. This can be further complicated by individual risks, such as mental health challenges, substance abuse, and interpersonal violence.

Although, there have been numerous initiatives to address HIV transmission among African Americans in the South, prior research has not examined these community-based factors within the local African American community. This study addresses that gap.

Dr. Hee Lee

Dr. Karen Johnson through a community survey.

Early findings suggest that the populations surveyed experienced high rates of transportation inequities.

However, it was found

access to medical or mental health care, and greater likelihood to experience depression. Heterosexual Black women living with HIV reported the greatest likelihood to experience social isolation and

Even though the South makes up only about one-third of the U.S. population, the region accounts for 44% of all people living with HIV. ~ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that there were differences in sub-populations that were surveyed. For example, despite having the highest rates of employment, gay and bisexual Black men reported higher rates of financial instability, substance abuse, and PTSD symptoms.

Black men who have sex with women were least likely to have

intimate partner violence. Key takeaways suggest that transportation and other sociocultural interventions must be tailored to various populations in light of the different experiences that at-risk groups have with access to transportation and other at-risk factors. Their study has numerous implications for policy and service delivery.

Their research compared transportation accessibility and other factors experienced by sexually active African American men and women in Alabama's rural Selma and S ​ umter. Funding for this study was provided by the Alabama Transportation Institute.

The research team collected data

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PEER REVIEWING Doctoral Program News

2nd Annual National DSW Conference on Education and Social Work Practice Building on the success from its inaugural 2022 conference, on March 3rd the School of Social Work hosted the second National DSW Conference on Education and Social Work. This year the virtual conference format was expanded to include 36 individual presentations by DSW students, faculty, and graduates.

Several DSW students played leadership roles in the conference, including Andre Ford, who served as a panelist for the plenary panel session, titled, Advancing Critical Conversations on Race Equity: How Should Social Work Move Forward? JaeHee (Malanie) Chung-Sherman moderated the plenary session. Other panelists included Drs. Laura Ecobar-Ratliff (University of

Kentucky), Tawanda Hubbard (Rutgers University), and Luis Ramírez (Ramírez Psychotherapy).

Several UA DSW students presented their research at the conference and some students took on leadership positions in this year's conference as session moderators.

JaeHee (Melanie)

Chung-Sherman

Attendance this year grew significantly from the inaugural conference. Overall, there were 261 participants, representing 42 colleges and universities across the country.

The UA School of Social Work looks forward to continuing this conference in Spring 2024.

André Ford

Joana Okine Selected as Pre-Dissertation Fellow by AGE-SW aging and plan to pursue dissertation research in gerontology.

The goal of the Fellowship is to prepare promising scholars for a career as a gerontological social work faculty member. The program provides significant opportunities for mentoring, methodological training, and professional development by leading scholars in the field. It also provides support for the awardee to travel to the annual scientific meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, which will be held in Tampa, Florida in November 2023. As part of her Fellowship, Joanna is interested in pursuing research that addresses negative stereotypes about older adults in her home country of Ghana, especially for older adults with chronic Joana Okine conditions. "Aging with its associated "Aging with its associated diseases diseases have not been well understood in the have not been well understood in Ghanaian context," she states. "My concern the Ghanaian context." therefore is how best to provide for these older adults."

PhD student, Joana Okine, was selected this year by the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) as a 2023 Pre-dissertation Fellow. AGESW is the flagship organization for gerontological social work. Its' pre-dissertation Fellowship is awarded to doctoral students who demonstrate a commitment to the field of

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Dr. Tania Alameda-Lawson Steps Into New Role as DSW Program Director Dr. Tania Alameda-Lawson recently made the decision to step into the role as the School of Social Work’s Director for its DSW Program. She has been with the School since 2015 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2016. Dr. Alameda-Lawson prides herself on her community-based research and has published numerous articles on parent engagement and student academic achievement. In 2019 she received an award from the UA Center for Community Based Partnerships for Outstanding Faculty Engagement Effort.“ This award was a reflection of her work on the Alabama TOPS Program, which is a communitybased participatory research project aimed at improving educational and social outcomes

in low-income school communities. This project was funded through the Research Grants Committee at UA.

Dr. Alameda-Lawson says that she was interested in stepping into the role as DSW Program Director, because "I am currently at a stage in my career where I am seeking new challenges.” She also believes that the skills gained through the program will help social workers transition from advanced practitioners to experts in the field. Dr. Alameda-Lawson will be the program’s 3rd Director and is preceded by Drs. Curtis Davis (Interim, 2022-2023) and Nicole Ruggiano (20182022).

“ I believe that the DSW degree is essential for advanced social work practitioners who have reached a point in their careers where they recognize the need to acquire a higher level of skills. These skills are crucial for addressing the complex societal issues we face today.”

Dr. Tania Alameda-Lawson

Natalia Smith recieves American Dissertation fellowship through the American Association of University Women (AAUW) PhD student, Natalia (Natasha) Smith, was selected by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) as a 2023 American Dissertation Scholarship awardee. This competitive fellowship has been providing graduate students with support to conduct their dissertation research since 1888.

Open to doctoral students from all disciplines, this funding aims to support students in their final year of writing their dissertation.

Natasha’s research aims to learn more about providers’ experiences with shared decision making and interactions with children who are victims of sexual trafficking. Currently, most of what we currently know about providers’ experiences is from the mandatory reporting that they do when they come into contact with a victim. However, this information is limited and more information is needed to develop evidence-based programs to support these children. She explains that children and youth

in the child welfare system are at greater risk of being sex trafficked, though the child welfare system isn’t set up to address this issue and oftentimes the children end up back in a high risk situation. Early findings indicate that many providers report the need for fully informing children about their situation and options. Shared decision making with them is very important, because they sometimes have to learn that they are in a bad situation. She hopes that in the future she will be able to use her study findings offer practical recommendations to providers across the country and strategies to create programs that fit the needs of this population. If you suspect that someone is a victim of sex trafficking, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

Natalia Smith "Many children who are sex trafficked are not aware that they are being abused. They might not understand that the person they love is harming them.”

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Dr. Armon Perry

D

espite the persisting myth of the absent Black father, the CDC reports that among fathers who live with their children, African American fathers are more likely to be involved in their children's daily care than White and Latino fathers. reviewed journals, Dr. Perry has published two books on his research. Fatherhood in America: Social Work Perspectives in a Changing Society, is a co-edited volume that serves as a sourcebook for practitioners as it explores the impact of cultural background and family composition on fathering, as well as outlining promising practices in serving fathers and measuring their involvement. He has also published, Black Love Matters, which features the results of his research that captured the attitudes and behaviors of African As a community-engaged researcher, Dr. Perry has published more than three American men in marriage and romantic relationships. dozen peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on his research findings, and Overall, Dr. Perry's research has has successfully obtained over $7 million dollars in federal funding for his highlighted the tools, resources and experiences that shape men’s investigations. In addition to his ability to be involved fathers, the numerous publications in peerrole that mothers play in One social work scholar who has worked to elevate the voices of Black fathers is Dr. Armon Perry. Dr. Perry graduated from the School of Social Work with his PhD in 2008 and is now Professor and BSW Program Director within the University of Louisville’s Kent School of Social Work. His research agenda focuses on the many factors that influence men's involvement in the lives of their children as well as the impact of their involvement on the well-being of the family.

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facilitating or truncating fathers’ involvement and social service providers’ attitudes toward engaging fathers.

Taking the lessons learned from his previous work, Dr. Perry’s most current work is leading the Empower You program. Empower You is a healthy relationship and career exploration intervention serving 1624 year old youth that features group based workshops and individualized success coaching. The aim of the intervention is to support the participants by increasing their knowledge regarding the social, legal and economic implications of parenting and delaying childbearing until they have completed their education and are established in their chosen career path.

SOCIAL INQUIRY SELECT FACULTY AND STUDENT ACHEIVEMENTS FROM 2020-2023

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Daphne S. Cain Professor Editor in Chief of Best Practices in Mental Health

Tania Alameda-Lawson Associate Professor DSW Program Director

PhD, University of Tennessee MSW, East Carolina University BA, North Carolina State University

PhD, Florida International University MSW, Florida International University BA, University of Miami

Publication Alameda-Lawson, T., Lawson. (2019). Ecologies of collective parent engagement in urban education. Urban Education, 54, 1085-1120.

10.1177/0042085916636654 Presentations Wilkes, S. K., Alameda-Lawson, T., & Johnson, K. (2020). Advancing Online Macro Social Work Education: Team-based experiential 360 photo tour. Council on Social Work Education, Virtual.

Green, S.-R. Alameda-Lawson, T., Bennett, M. D., Murray, D. E., & Wilkes, S. K. (2019). Elevate Social Work. 2019 Social Work Month Symposium, Tuscaloosa, AL.

David L. Albright Distinguished Research Professor Hill Crest Foundation Endowed Chair in Mental Health Research VitAL Principal Investigator PhD, Florida State University MSW, Florida State University BA, Centre College

Principal Investigator. VitAL Alabama, a research, implementation, and training and education initiative that includes extramurally funded projects that aim to improve services, polices, and community and social conditions for Alabamians with mental health, substance use disorder, and trauma-related challenges.

Dr. Albright has transitioned to the Department of Political Science starting in August 2023 and his work can be found at Dr. David L. Albright – Political Science (ua.edu).

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Publications

Cain, D. S. (2022). Disasters in times of shelter-inplace: Social work and the COVID – 19 pandemic. In K. Corcoran & A. R. Roberts, Social Workers’ Desk Reference, 4th ed, (pp. 61 - 68). NY: Oxford University Press.

Callihan, M.L., Smith, S., Gibson, K., Bolton, K., Kaylor, S. K., Horton, A. G. Cain, D. S., & Lippe, M. P. (2022).

The use of high-fidelity simulation to promote authentic learning in undergraduate social work students. Best Practices in Mental Health, 18(1), 62 – 70.

Lee, L. H. & Cain, D. S. (2020). Mental Health Policy for Justice-Involved Persons: Exploring History, Perspectives, and Models in the United States. Best Practices in Mental Health, 16(2), 55-68.

Lee, H. Y., Eyer, J. C., Lee, D., Won, C. R., Hudnall, M. C., & Cain, D. S. (2020). The Opioid Crisis in Alabama: Actionable Recommendations for Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery in Rural Communities. Best Practices in Mental Health, 16(1), 1 - 11.

Contracts Cain, D. S. (2022 – 2023). The University of Alabama Title IV-E Program (FY 2022) (PI). The Alabama Department of Human Resources (ADHR) (https://socialwork.ua.edu/childwelfare/). Received $6,259,193.00 Cain, D. S. (2021 – 2022). The University of Alabama Title IV-E Program (FY 2022) (PI). The Alabama Department of Human Resources (ADHR) (https://socialwork.ua.edu/childwelfare/). Received $8,834,450.00 Cain, D. S. (2020 – 2021). The University of Alabama Title IV-E Program (FY 2021 (PI)). The Alabama Department of Human Resources (ADHR) (https://socialwork.ua.edu/childwelfare/).

Received $6,324,103.00

Catherine Carlson Associate Professor PhD, Columbia University MSW, University of Georgia BA, Emory University

Publications Cordisco Tsai, L., Carlson, C., Baylosis, R., Hentschel, E., Nicholson, T., Eleccion, J., ... & Wainberg, M. (2022).

Practitioner experiences responding to suicide risk for survivors of human trafficking in the Philippines.

Qualitative health research, 32(3), 556-570.

Namy, S., Carlson, C., Morgan, K., Nkwanzi, V., & Neese, J. (2022). Healing and Resilience after Trauma (HaRT) Yoga: Programming with survivors of human trafficking in Uganda. Journal of Social Work Practice, 36(1), 87-100.

Lee, L. H., Kim, M., Carlson, C., Ellis, T., Johnson, K., & Pretz, A. (2022). The Association Between Perceptions of Neighborhood Conditions and the Employment of Emerging Adults Formerly Involved in the Juvenile Justice System. Youth & Society, 0044118X221103898.

Berryhill, M., Carlson, C., Hopson, L., Culmer, N. P., & Williams, N. (2022). Adolescent depression and anxiety treatment in rural schools: A critical review. Journal of Rural Mental Health, 46(1), 13-27.

Leah Cheatham Associate Professor

JD, Yeshiva University PhD, Florida State University MSW, Florida State University BS, Florida State University

Publications Cheatham, L. P., Luo, Y.*, Hubbard, S., Jackson, M. S., Hassenbein, W., & Bertram, J.* (2021). Cultivating safe and stable spaces: Reflections on a campus-based support program for foster care alumni and youth experiencing homelessness. Children and Youth Services Review, 130, 106247.

Cheatham, L. P., Randolph, K., & Boltz, L. (2020).

Youth with disabilities transitioning from foster care: Examining prevalence and predicting positive outcomes.

Children and Youth Services Review, 110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104777 Cheatham, L. P., Smith, S., Siler, M., Johnson, K., Turner, C., Wilkes, S., Shah, A., Johnson, L., Swails, P., Lopaczynski, L.* (2020). “Own Your Vote”: A novel approach to teach social workers about voting rights.

Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education, 23(2), 55–60.

Cheatham, L. P. & Randolph, K. (2020). Education and Employment Transitions among Young Adults with Disabilities: Comparisons by Disability Status, Type and Severity. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2020.1722073 Presentation Cheatham, L. P., Hopson, L., Leavell, H., Jordan, C. (2022, January). Reducing Recidivism Among JusticeInvolved Youth in the Deep South: The Role of Courtordered Programs. Paper presented virtually at the annual program meeting for the Society of Social Work and Research in Washington, DC. Grant Doris Duke Charitable Foundation: Research to Action Grant ($79,999). Healthcare Access Among AL Youth Transitioning from Foster Care with Disabilities (PI: Cheatham, L. P.) Selected from 10 Publications and 12 refereed presentations.

Ellen Csikai Professor

PhD, University of Pittsburgh MSW, University of Pittsburgh MPH, University of Pittsburgh BA, University of Pittsburgh

Publications Shaw, S.L. & Csikai, E.L. 2023. No Visitors Allowed! The Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on the

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Psychosocial Well-Being of Nursing Home Residents.

Journal of Long-Term Care, (2023), pp. 54–66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.135 (former student) Roulston, A., Gerson, S.M., Csikai, E.L., & Dobrikova, P. (2023) How did the COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Palliative Care Social Work Services? A Scoping Review, The British Journal of Social Work, 2023; bcad042, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad042(international colleagues) Bruton, A.E., Debosik, L.R., Pitzer, K.A., Csikai, E.L., & Washington, K.T. (2023) Problem-Solving Dimensions among Caregivers of People with Cancer Receiving Outpatient Palliative Care, Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, 19:1, 23-32, DOI: 10.1080/15524256.2022.2139333 (with students) Shaw S., & Csikai, E.L. (2023) The Preservation of Spousal and Partner Relationships Among Nursing Home Residents, Journal of Gerontological Social Work, DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2023.2252877 Presentation Csikai, E.L., Bullock, K., & Maynard, Q.R. “Calling all practitioners: Demystifying the publication process”.

Presented at the Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care General Assembly; held Denver, CO, April, 2023.

Honor/Award Selected as a Fulbright Faculty Senior Scholar by the J. William Fulbright ForeignScholarship Board for a 3month teaching/research position at the University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. In residence Spring 2024.

Curtis Davis Assistant Professor

BSW, University of Mississippi MSW, University of Alabama PhD, Tulane University

Publications François, S., Blakey, J., Davis, C., Stevenson, R., Walker, T. (2022). When the Helpers Need Help:

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Navigating COVID-19 and Racism as a Black Student Studying the Helping Professions. The Journal of Community Psychology.

Francois, S., & Davis, C. (2022). Lifting the veil: Considering the conceptualizations of racism-based trauma among social workers. Qualitative Social Work, 21(2), 294-313.

Davis, C., & Francois, S. (2021). “All Skinfolk, Ain’t Kinfolk”: Engaging with Racial Identity and RacismBased Trauma in Social Work Curricula. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 41(3), 209-229.

Davis, C., & Francois, S. (2020). Behind closed doors: Considering a triphasic traumatic incarceration experience. Traumatology, 26(2), 193–204.

François, S., & Davis, C. (2022). What is Safety to You? Determining an Inductive Conceptualization of Neighborhood Safety through Centering the Voices of Community Residents. Urban Social Work, 6(2), DOI: 10.1891/USW-2021-0004 Presentation Wilkes, S., Davis, C. One Click Away: Proposing and Utilizing a Virtual Platform to Amplify Marginalized Voices during Crises. Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting (APM).

Schnavia Hatcher Dean

PhD, University of Kansas MSW, University of Georgia BA, Spelman College

Publication King, D., Orihuela, C., Mrug, S., & Hatcher, S. (2021).

Future aspirations, leisure time, and sexual health risk behaviors among Black youth in one urban city. Urban Social Work, 5(1), 15-27. doi: 10.1891/USW-D-2000007 Contract Co-PI. (2022 – 2023). The University of Alabama Title IV-E Program (FY 2022) (PI). The Alabama Department of Human Resources (ADHR). Received $6,259,193.00

Presentations Voisin, D., Hatcher, S., & Bryant, B. (January, 2023).

Steps Towards Decolonizing Social Work Education and Research, Symposium presented at Annual Conference, Society for Social Work and Research, Phoenix, AZ.

Role Expectation on the Relationship between Family Relationship Quality and Insomnia Severity among Latina women. Poster presentation presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC, Indianapolis, IN.

Hatcher, S. (March, 2021). Supporting the Next Generation of BIPOC Scholars in Social Work and Health Sciences. Panel member at Social Work Summit, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.

Giorgio Cosenzo, L.A., Alcántara, C. (2023, March).

Synergistic effects of social support and social strain on insomnia symptoms among Latinx women and men.

Poster presentation presented at the 80th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society, San Juan, PR.

Kolomer, S., & Hatcher, S. (November, 2021). Leading during challenging times. Leadership Development Institute presented at Annual Program Meeting, Council on Social Work Education, Orlando, FL.

Luciana Giorgio Assistant Professor

BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill MSSW, Columbia University PhD, Columbia University

Grants/Contracts PI: Examining the multi-level barriers and facilitators to optimal sleep health among English- and Spanishspeaking Latina mothers in Alabama, Office of Research and Economic Develop Small Grants Program, 2023– 2024 Selections from 6 publications, 9 presentations, and 3 grants/contracts.

Laura Hopson Associate Professor

Publications Spandola, C.E., Groton, D.B., Giorgio Cosenzo, L., Fantus, S., Hilditch, C.J., Burke, S.L., Littlewood, K., Bertisch, S.B., Zhou, E.Z. (2023). Sleep and sleep knowledge among social work students: Implications for mental health and self-care education. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment.

Alcántara, C., Giorgio Cosenzo, L.A., McCullough, E., Vogt, T., Falzon, A.L., Peréz Ibarra, I. (2021). Cultural adaptation of psychological interventions for prevalent sleep-wake disorders in the United States: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews.

Giorgio Cosenzo, L.A., Diaz, S.V., Morris, M., & Alcántara, C. (2020). Risk and protective factors for insomnia among Asian, Black, and Latinx adult immigrants in the United States: A socioecological analysis. In G. Hall & E. Huang (Eds.), Mental and Behavioral Health of Immigrants in the United States.

Cambridge, MA: Academic Press.

Presentations Giorgio Cosenzo, L.A., Diaz, S.V. (2023, June). The Moderating Effects of Adherence to Female Gender

PhD, University of Texas at Austin M SW, Columbia University B .A, Bowdoin College

Publications Hopson, L. M., Kenney, J.L., Church, W. T., and Beck, J.R. (2022). “Never give up.” Adjudicated girls’ school experiences and implications for academic success.

International Journal of School Social Work.

Hopson, L. M., Lidbe, A., Jackson, M. S., Adanu, E., Li, X., Penmetsa, P., Lee, H., Anderson, A., Obuya, C., & Meerdink, G. (2022). Transportation to school and academic outcomes: A systematic review. Educational Review. DOI: 10.1080/00131911.2022.2034748 Berryhill, B., Carlson, C., Hopson, L., Culmer, N., & Williams, N. (2022). Adolescent depression and anxiety treatment in rural schools: A systematic review.

Journal of Rural Mental Health, 46(1), 13-27, https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000183

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Presentation Hopson, L. M., McGraw, K., Hanenberg, C., & Traylor, A. (January 2022). Evaluation of an Equine-Assisted Intervention for Children Exposed to Trauma. Paper presented as E-Poster at the Society for Social Work and Research Conference, Washington, DC. Grants/Contracts Co-Principal Investigator (with Tongi Mugoya, Hee Lee, Sebrena Jackson, Joy Burnam, Millie Dawson-Hardy, Heather Fye, Emily Lund, Mercy Mumba, & Abby Horton) “Promoting Mental health Services and Equity (PROMISE)” funded by the US Department of Education (5,060,937; 2023-2027).

Co-Investigator (with Jeffrey Parker and Abby Horton).

(2020-2021)“Risk, Resilience, and Context: Analyzing the Social Adjustment and Wellbeing of Adolescents and Families in Rural Alabama during COVID” which examines survey data collected in Pickens County and Dallas County on the impact of COVID on student and family wellbeing and access to care funded by the Alabama Life Research Institute.

M. Sebrena Jackson Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Educational Programs and Student Services PhD, Clark Atlanta University MSW, Clark Atlanta University BSW, Tuskegee University

Publications Jackson, M.S., Nelson-Gardell, D., Williams, J., & Yang, F. (2021). International collaboration for mutual benefit: Southwest China and Southeast U.S. partnership. China Journal of Social Work, 14(3), 288-300.

Schiele, J.H. & Jackson, M.S. (2021). The Atlanta School of Social Work and the professionalization of “race work.” Phylon: The Clark Atlanta University Review of Race and Culture.

Sage, M., & Jackson, M.S. (2021). A systematic narrative review of internet communication technology use by youth in foster care. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-02100738-z

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Jackson, M.S., Colvin, A. & Bullock, A., & Li, Q. (2020).

Teaching practice skills to MSW online students: An examination of a blended skills lab model. Advances in Social Work, 20(1), 172-183. DOI: 10.18060/23614.

Karen Johnson Assistant Professor PhD, Columbia University MSW, Hunter College BA, Syracuse University

Publications Johnson, K. A., Hunt, T., Puglisi, L., Chapman, B., EpaLlop, A., Elumn, J., Braick, P., Bhagat, N., Ko, E., Nguyen, A., Johnson, R., Graham, H. K., Gilbert, L., ElBassel, N., & Morse, D. S. (2023). HIV/STI/HCV Risk Clusters and Hierarchies Experienced by Women Recently Released from Incarceration. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 11(8), 1066. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11081066.

Johnson, K.A., Hunt, T., Goddard-Eckrich, D. Wu, E. Richards, S., Tibbetts, R., Rowe, J.C., Maynard, Q.R., Okine, J., Wainberg, M.L., El-Bassel, N., & Gilbert, L. Health Equity Considerations: HIV Intervention Adaptation for Black Women in Community Corrections. Research on Social Work Practice. doi: 10.1177/10497315221132523.

Johnson, K., Pretz, A., Chu, W., West, C. I., Chang, M. P., Anand, A., Chapman, B. P., Goddard-Eckrich, D., Hunt, T., Wu, E., Gilbert, L., & El-Bassel, N. (2021). The Increased Risk for HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Substance-Using and Depressed Women in the Legal System. Journal of healthcare, science and the humanities, 11(1), 225–250.

Invited Talk February 2022: Georgia State University. Department of Psychology. “Poverty and Risk: Black Women in the Criminal Legal System in the South.”

Conference Presentation American Public Health Association 2022 Conference Annual Meeting. De-facto forced PrEP-less sex among drug-using, cis-gender, Black women in community corrections in the deep South. October 2022. (1st author)

Grant PI, Project E-WORTH South: Targeting Health Equity and the HIV Epidemic among Black women who use substances of abuse in community corrections in the Deep South. Funding Agency: NIHFY2022 Ending the HIV Epidemic. Center for AIDS Research/ARC Supplement ($500,000)

Hee Yun Lee Professor and Endowed Academic Chair on Social Work and Health PhD, Univ of California, Los Angeles MSW, Univ of California, Los Angeles MSG, Univ of Southern California MA, Seoul National University BA, Seoul National University

Publication Lee, H. Y., Eyer, J. C., Luo. Y., Jeong, H., Chapman, S., Hudnall, M. (In press). The role of social determinants of health on opioid literacy in rural Alabamians. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services Presentation Lee, H.Y., Won, C.R., Luo, Y., Jasko, S., Royen, R., & Qualls, C. (2023). Preliminary outcomes of an online mental health awareness training for law enforcement.

2023 American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting.

Poster. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Grants/Contracts Lee, H.Y. (2023-2028). Multi-Principal Investigator.

Promoting Mental health Services and Equity (PROMISE)(Multi-PI: George Tongi, PhD). $5,057,937.00. U.S. Department of Education (Grant Number: S184X230161).

Lee, H.Y. (2020-2024). Multi-Principal Investigator.

Implementation of an Integrated TeleECHO and Health Outpost Model for Opioid Prevention Treatment, and Recovery in Rural Alabama (Multi-PI: Josh Eyer, PhD). $1,000,000. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) (Grant Number: 1 GA1RH39611­01­00) Honorific Awards Blackmon-Moody Outstanding Professor Award.

President’s Faculty Research Award, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, 2022 (Selected from 20 grants, 17 honorific awards, 76 publications and 77 presentations between 20202023)

Lewis Lee Assistant Professor

PhD, University of Pittsburgh MSW., University of Pennsylvania BA, Korea University

Publications Lee, L. H., Kim, M., Carlson, C., Ellis, T., Johnson, K., & Pretz, A. (2022). The association between perceptions of neighborhood conditions and the employment of emerging adults formerly involved in the juvenile justice system. Youth & Society, 54(7).

Lee, L. H., & Kim, M. (2022). The effect of work on antisocial behavior among formerly incarcerated young adults: A panel analysis. Social Work Research, 46(2), 115–126. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svac003 Lee, L. H., Mancus, G., Yuen, H. K., Wolff, P. E., & Jenkins, G. R. (2022). What are the factors associated with neighborhood park visits and health in Alabama? A cross-sectional study using a path model. International journal of environmental health research, 32(7), 1542– 1553.

Presentations Lee, L. H., Fowler, M. R., Beck, J., Lee, H., Allen, A. (January 2023). The moderating effect of residential area on the association between race and recidivism among juvenile justice-involved youth in Alabama.

Society for Social Work Research (SSWR), Phoenix, AZ. Grant/Contract: Co-PI, Alabama Department of Youth Services’ program evaluation and validation project (10/2021 – 9/2024).

Co-PI, Understanding the attitudes toward deprescribing and knowledge and views of non-pharmacological pain management among community-dwelling older adults with multiple chronic health conditions, U.S.

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Deprescribing Research Network Pilot Award Program funded by the National Institute on Aging.

(Selected from 15 publications, 21 conference presentations, and 5 funded projects since August 2018)

Tenesha Littleton

Debra Nelson-Gardell

Assistant Professor

Associate Professor Director of PhD Program Coordinator of International Initiatives

PhD, University of Georgia MS, University of Georgia BA, Tulane University

Publications Font, S., Kennedy, R., & Littleton, T. (2023). Child welfare systems involvement and exclusionary school discipline. Child Development. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13941 LaBrenz, C., Littleton, T., Shipe, S., Bai, R., & Stargel, L. (2023). State policies on child maltreatment and racial disproportionality. Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107048 LaBrenz, C., Kim, Y., Baiden, P., Shipe, S., Littleton, T., Cho, M. J., Bai, R., & Stargel, L. (2022). State child maltreatment policies and disparities in substantiation: A study of state-administered child welfare systems in the U.S. Child Maltreatment. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595221143136 Lee, M., Jennings-McGarity, P., Littleton, T., & Caplan, M. (2022). The teaching of social work history and the inclusion of African American contributors: Implications for social work educators. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2022.2137717 Presentation Littleton, T., Barboza, G., Boyd, R., & Freisthler, B. (2023; January). Historical redlining, neighborhood disadvantage, and reports of child maltreatment in a large urban county [paper presentation]. Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.

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Grant/Contract Principal Investigator. Protecting Children in Alabama’s Black Belt: The Role of Social Support Networks.

University of Alabama, Office of Research and Economic Development.

PhD, Florida State University MSW., Florida State University BA, Clark University

Publications Dziegielewski, S., Nelson-Gardell, D., & Colby, I. (Forthcoming). Introduction to Social Work: The People’s Profession (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Ozturk, B., & Nelson-Gardell, D. (2023). From lived experience: Listening to stories of healing from Middle Eastern immigrant IPV survivors. Violence Against Women. DOI: 10.1177/10778012231155166 Coleman-Reed, F., & Nelson-Gardell, D. (2021).

Grandparent caregivers: Promoting positive life satisfaction. The Journal of Aging and Social Change.

DOI: 10.18848/2156-8960/CGP/v11i01/159-170 Ellis, T., Li, Q., Bertram, J., Meadows, J., Ozturk, B., & Nelson-Gardell, D. (2020). Poetry authored by vulnerable populations as secondary data: methodological approach and considerations. Journal of Poetry Therapy, DOI: 10.1080/08893675.2020.1803614 Sutton, A., Beech, H., & Nelson-Gardell, D. (2020).

Intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion.

Encyclopedia of Social Work, DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1368 Sutton, A., Beech, H., Ozturk, B., & Nelson-Gardell, D. (2020). Preparing mental health professionals to work with survivors of intimate partner violence: A comprehensive systematic review of the literature.

Affilia, DOI: 10.1177/0886109920960827

Hyunjin Noh Associate Professor PhD, University of WisconsinMadison MSSW, University of WisconsinMadison MA, Seoul National University BA, Seoul National University

Publications Jeong, H., & Noh, H. (2023). Resilience as a Protective Factor in Older Adult Suicide: A Rapid Review. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2023.2202729

Conditions (PI: Hyunjin Noh, co-PI: Lewis Lee) funded

by The University of Alabama Office of Social Work Research Small Grants Program ($4,911.26) (Aug 2023 – Aug 2025)

Carroll Phelps Senior Instructor BA, B’Ham Southern College MA, University of Alabama MSW, University of Alabama

Suntai, Z., Noh, H., Lee, L., Bell, J. G., Lippe, M. P., & Lee, H. Y. (2023). Quality of Care at the End of Life: Applying the Intersection of Race and Gender. The Gerontologist. February 14th, 2023 (OnlineFirst) https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnad012

Presentations Phelps, C.C., Mims, T., Gundlach, C., Player, G., & Ruggiano, N. (2022) Social Work is Political. The University of Alabama School of Social Work Social Work Month: “The Time is Right for Social Work.”

March 31, 2022.

Noh, H., Bui, C., & Mack, J. (2022). Factors affecting hospice use among adolescents and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 12(2), 151–158. https://doi.org/10.1089/jayao.2021.0225

Phelps, C. C., Butts, S. C., & Windsor, L., (2021) Creating a Pipeline of Influence through Macro Policy Field Placements. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting. November 5, 2021.

Lee, H. Y., Noh, H.*, Choi, E., & Lee, L. H. (2022). Social determinants of willingness to discuss end-of-life care with family and doctors among Korean American immigrants: Findings from a cross-sectional survey in Alabama. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(6), e6056-e6066. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.14043 (*corresponding author) Presentations Understanding the Attitudes toward Deprescribing and Knowledge and Views of Non-Pharmacological Pain Management among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Health Conditions (PI: Hyunjin Noh, co-PI: Lewis Lee) funded by The U.S. Deprescribing Research Network ($59,991.27) (R24AG064025, National Institute on Aging) (Aug 2022 – July 2023) Understanding the Views of Deprescribing and Non-Pharmacological Pain Management among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Health

Phelps, C. C., & Smith, S. (2021) Addressing social justice through a field instructor training program and Reflection Circles. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting. November 6, 2021.

Research Nelson-Gardell, D., Phelps, C.C., & Ruggiano, N. (9/2015-present) Documenting the Transformative Nature of Learning: Internship Experiences in Washington, D.C. and outside of the United States, The University of Alabama School of Social Work The study aims to learn about the nature of learning that happens as students complete professional social work internships in Washington, D.C. or outside of the U.S. Kay, E.S., Phelps, C.C., Curington, A.M., Gibson, K.B., & Hitchcock, Laurel, I. (8/2017-present) FlyingIn to Washington, D.C.: A Policy Experiential Learning Experience among Social Work Students The primary aim of this qualitative project is to obtain participant feedback from social work students who participate in a two-day policy and advocacy experiential learning experience in Washington, D.C.

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Nicole Ruggiano Professor and Associate Dean of Research PhD, University of Delaware MSW, Temple University BA, University of Delaware

Publications Hristidis, V., Ruggiano, N., Brown, E. L., Ganta, S. R. R., & Stewart, S. (2023). ChatGPT vs Google for queries related to dementia and other cognitive decline: Comparison of results. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e48966. doi: 10.2196/48966 Norton, J., Ip, A., Ruggiano, N., Abidogun, T., Camara, D., Fu, H., Hose, B.Z., Miran, S., Hsiao, C.J., Wang, J., & Bierman, A.S. (2022). Assessing Progress Towards the Vision of a Comprehensive, Shared Electronic Care Plan: Scoping Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(6):e36569. doi: 10.2196/36569. PMID: 35687382 Ruggiano, N., Brown, E. L., Roberts, L., Framil Suarez, C. V., Luo, Y., & Hao, Z., Hristidis, V. (2021). Chatbots to support people with dementia and their caregivers: Available applications, opportunities, and challenges.

Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR), 23(6), e25006. https://www.jmir.org/2022/6/e36569 Brown, E. L., Ruggiano, N., Agronin, M., Clarke, P., Davis, D. L., Framil, C., Geldmacher, D., Hough, M., Muñoz, M., H., Roberts, L., & Yang, X. (2021).

Integration of health information technology and promotion of personhood in family-centered dementia care: Intervention trial. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 14(5), 225-234. https://doi.org/10.3928/19404921-20210825-02 Grants/Contracts Multiple Primary Investigator, Integration of Health Information Technology and Promotion of Personhood in Family-Centered Dementia Care. (Multiple PIs, also PI: Brown), 1R01AG068572-01. National Institute of Aging.

Primary Investigator, Planning Live, Sustainable Community Asset Mapping for a Dementia e-Friendly

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Alabama. Award Number 1951974. National Science Foundation.

(Selected from 10 publications and 16 presentations from 2020-2023.)

Avani Shah Associate Professor PhD, University of Alabama MA, University of Alabama MSW, University of Alabama BA, University of Alabama

Publications Shah, A. (2022). Book Review: Treating Later-Life Depression: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach 2nd Edition, Journal of Gerontological Social Work, DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2022.2122100.

Shah, A., Swain, J., & Lewy, H. (abstract accepted for Gerontological Society of America, 2023). Hospital closures in Alabama: National Policy Considerations.

Costlow Hill, K., Xiaa, M., Cundiff, J.M., Parker, J. G., Shah, A., and Parmelee, P. (abstract accepted Gerontological Society of America 2023). The Impact of Perceived Control on Stressor Reactivity Across Adulthood and Late Life.

Presentations Shah, A., Luo, Y., Roberts, L., & Lee, H. (November, 2022). Correlates of health literacy in the Black Belt: Importance of internet access. Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America Conference Indianapolis, IN. Shah, A., Cheatham, L., Smith, S., & Wilkes, S. (October, 2023). The Ethel Hall Colloquium: An Annual Social Justice Engagement Model. The Engaged Scholarship Consortium Conference, Athens, GA. Roberts, L., Shah, A., Luo, Y., & Lee, H. (April, 2022).

Correlates of health literacy in the Black Belt: Importance of internet access. Poster presented at Undergraduate Research Conference, Tuscaloosa, AL.

Cassandra Simon Associate Professor

PhD, University of Texas at Arlington MSW, Louisiana State University BA, University of New Orleans

Brenda Smith Professor

PhD, University of Chicago AM, University of Chicago BA, St. Olaf College

Publications Simon, C., & Constance-Higgins, M. (2023). Oppression an diversity: Race and social justice (47-64). In Carole Cox and Tina Maschi (Eds.). Integrating Human Rights and Social Justice into Social Work Practice. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group: New York.

Publications Smith, N.L., Smith, A.M., Mott, A., & Smith, B.D. (in press). Enhancing supports for novice workers in child welfare: A study of coaching for child welfare interns.

Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services.

Melton PA, Sims OT, Oh H, Truong DN, Atim K, Simon C. (2021). African American Ethnicity, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Arthritis Independently Predict Co-occurring Depression and Obesity among Community-dwelling Older Adult Alabamians. Soc Work Public Health. 2021 Apr 3;36(3):344-353. doi: 10.1080/19371918.2021.1895019.

Epub 2021 Mar 8. PMID: 33685384.

Wang, K., & Smith, B. D. (2022). A county-level analysis of unemployment and mental health in the Southeastern US: Applying a social determinants of health framework.

Social Work in Mental Health, 20(5), 559-577.

Presentations Simon, C., Amy D. Benton, Nason, E. (2023). Factors That Influence the inclusion of social Justice in social work mission statements. Society for Social Work Research.

Simon, C., & Pryce, J. (2023). Interactive Workshop: Implementation and evaluation of a social justice education framework in social work education. Society for Social Work Research.

Spruill, S. A., Laurenson, A., Warner, L. A., & Smith, B. D. (2021). At the frontlines of policy implementation: Contrasting experiences of Affordable Care Act navigators. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 46(4), 275-292.

Honors and Awards Simon, C. (2022) Phenomenal Woman of West Alabama. Recognized by TownSquare Media as a professional who has made significant contributions to state with community, scholarly and leadership activities.

Simon, C. (2020). Jean B. Rayfield Award for Undergraduate Student Support Award. The University of Alabama School of Social Work Undergraduate Social Work Organization voted by undergraduate students for student support.

Maguire-Jack, K., Smith, B. D., & Spilsbury, J. C. (2022).

Rural and urban child maltreatment considerations in the United States. Pp. 295-305. In Krugman, R.D., & Korbin, J. E. Handbook of Child Maltreatment, 2nd Ed.

Presentations Smith, B.D., Wang, K., & Littleton, T. (2023). Are county-level child welfare risk and protective factors associated with child welfare involvement?: A multi-level investigation of child welfare equity. Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Annual Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, January 12, 2023.

External Funding Mathematica Policy Research and the US HHS/Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Office of Planning Research and Evaluation (OPRE).

(2019-2021). $114,012. Feasibility of Linking Administrative Data to Better Understand Child Maltreatment Incidence and Related Risk (CMI Data Linkages) Project. Smith, B.D., PI for Linking CountyLevel Data to Assess Equity in Child Maltreatment Reporting.

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Amy Traylor

Sherron Wilkes

Associate Professor BSW Program Director

Interim MSW Program Director and MSW Instructor

PhD, University of Georgia MSW., University of Alabama BA, University of Alabama

Publication Hopson, L.M., O’Neal, J., Bailey, R., Dugard, J., McGraw, K., Hanenberg, C., Anderson, D., McKissock, B., Traylor, A., Parker, C., & Samples, C. (in press).

Feasibility study of an equine-assisted learning intervention for children with disabilities. People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice.

Presentations Traylor, A.C., Hopson, L.M, Dobbins, A., & Williams, J.D. (2021, November). Analyzing a Southern School of Social Work’s anti-racist policies: BSW program implications. Presentation made at the 67th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Orlando, FL. Traylor, A.C, Hopson, L.M., Komara, C., Jones, S., O’Neal, J., Davis, E., Hall, E., & Mastradonas, L. (2021, January). Impact of equine assisted activities and therapies on child behavior and family well-being.

Presentation made at the 25th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Conference held virtually due to COVID-19.

Lim, C., Williams, J.D., Trull, V., & Traylor, A.C. (2020, January). Engaging key stakeholders for solutions in applied research on human trafficking. Presentation made at 9th Annual Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences & Education Conference, Waikiki, Hawaii

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BSW, Jackson State University MSW, Jackson State University DSW, University of Alabama

Publications *Johnson, K. A., *Wilkes, S., & Alameda-Lawson, T. (2013). Capacity building. In Encyclopedia of Social Work. *co-first authors Cheatham, L. P., Smith, S., Siler, M., Johnson, K., Turner, C., Wilkes, S., Shah, A., Johnson, L., Swails, P., & Lopaczynski, L. (2020). “Own Your Vote”: A Novel Approach to Teach Social Workers about Voting Rights.

Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education, 23(2), 55–60.

Johnson, K. A., Binion, S., Waller, B., Sutton, A., Wilkes, S., Payne-Foster, P., & Carlson, C. (2022). Left behind in the US’Deep South: Addressing critical gaps in HIV and intimate partner violence prevention efforts targeting Black women. Frontiers in reproductive health, 4.

Presentations Johnson, K., Shah, A., Smith, S., & Wilkes, S. (February 2020). “Own Your Vote” A Mobilizing Intervention to Build Student Competence in Civic Engagement. CSWE APM, Denver, CO. Alameda-Lawson, T., Johnson, K., & Wilkes, S. (February 2020). Advancing Online Macro Practice Through Team-based, Experiential Online Platform & 360-Degree Video. CSWE APM, Denver, CO. Wilkes, Sherron, & Davis, Curtis. (October 2023). One Click Away: Utilizing a Virtual Learning Series to Amplify Marginalized Voices during Crises. CSWE APM, Atlanta, GA.

Doctoral Students Haley Heckman Beech (PhD) Publications Rahill, G. J., Joshi, M., Zlotnick, C., Beech, H.H., Sutton A.R., & Burris, C. (2019). "Give me proof": A covert but coercive form of non-partner sexual violence contributing to teen pregnancy in Haiti and opportunities for mental health intervention. Journal of Aggression Maltreatment, and Trauma.

Sutton, A.R., Beech, H.H., & Nelson-Gardell, D. (2020).

Intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion.

Encyclopedia of Social Work.

Stefanie Binion (PhD) Publications Ellis, T., Register, H., Binion, S., & Alberda, K. Fostering Success in Higher Education: An Evaluation of a Holistic Model to Bridge Gaps for Foster Care Alumni and Displaced Youth. Child Welfare Journal.

Publication Under Review Johnson, K., Binion, S., Waller, B., Sutton, A., Wilkes, S., Payne-Foster, P., & Carlson, C. (2022). (under review) Left behind in the U.S.’ Deep South. Deep South-Specific Risks and the Impact on HIV and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Efforts Targeting Black Women: An Opinion Article. Frontiers in Reproductive Health Journal.

Presentations Binion, S. (2021). If Prison Walls Could Speak: A Narrative Inquiry into the Life of a Death Row Prisoner. 13th Annual Discerning Diverse Voices Research Symposium on Diversity, Tuscaloosa, AL. Ellis, T., Register, H., Binion, S., & Alberda, K. (2022).

Fostering Success in Higher Education for At-Risk Youth: Insights from the Field. 21st Annual Fall Social Work Conference, Birmingham, AL. Submitted to SSWR for 2023 Conference Binion, S. To What Extent Do Levels of Individual Functioning Influence Criminal Involvement: A Secondary Quantitative Analysis of the Research on Pathways to Desistance Data.

Ellis, T., Register, H., Binion, S., & Alberda, K. Fostering

Success in Higher Education: An Evaluation of a Holistic Model to Bridge Gaps for Foster Care Alumni and Displaced Youth.

Kelly Bolton (PhD) Publications Bolton, K., Carlson, C. (InProgress). Implementation science strategies for maltreatment affected youth: A commentary on future research directions.

Nelson-Gardell, D., Bolton, K. (2022). Working on Womanhood Program Evaluation Report. The University of Alabama School of Social Work Youth Services Institute.

Gannon, B., Bolton, K., Robertson, R., Nelson-Gardell, D., Brown, A. (2022). Implementing trauma systems therapy with limited resources for children in foster care, 149(96). [Conference Abstract]. Pediatrics.

Namy, S., Carlson, C., Namakula, S., Nabachwa, A.G. Ollerhead, M., Bolton, K., Nkwanzi, V.,CordiscoTsai, L. (In Press). “All that I was thinking about was shattered”: Women’s experiences transitioning out of post-trafficking shelter care during the COVID19 lockdown in Uganda. Affilia.

Callihan, M.L., Smith, S., Gibson, K., Bolton, K., Kaylor, S.K., Horton, A., Cain, D. S., Lippe, M.P. (In Press). The use of high fidelity simulation to promote authentic learning in undergraduate social work students. Best Practices in Mental Health.

Presentation Bolton, K. (Under Review). Meeting the Needs of Young Child Welfare System-Involved Children: An Examination of the Influences of Job-Provided Trainings on Child Welfare Caseworker Interagency Collaboration. Poster Presentation at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) 27th Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.

Monikee Burrow (DSW)

Presentation Burrow, M. (2022, March). Increasing Healthcare Social Workers’ Self-Efficacy during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Poster presentation given at the annual Southeastern Universities Graduate Research Symposium, Tuscaloosa, AL.

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Elsa Candelario (DSW) Presentations Candelario, E. (2023, June 2). Strategic management webinar [Instructor]. Rutgers School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education, New Brunswick, NJ (virtual).

Candelario, E. (2023, May 19). Achieving culturally responsive services for Latina/os by reducing barriers to social work education: A case study [Conference session].

Latino Social Workers Organization National Latinx Social Work Conference 2023, Portland, Or. Singh, K. & Candelario, E. (2023, April 18). Founding Your Own Nonprofit Organization: Tips for Social Work Management Students and Emerging Leaders [Presentation]. Network for Social Work Management, New Jersey Chapter. Newark, NJ (virtual).

Candelario, E. (2023, March 3). Social work education’s role to increase access to services for Latinx populations [Conference session panel presentation]. University of Alabama School of Social Work 2023 National DSW Conference on Education and Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL (virtual).

Grants PI, Latina/o/x Initiatives for Service Training, and Assessment (LISTA) Certificate Program’s Bilingual Social Worker Scholarship Program Rutgers School of Social Work. Funding Source: Latino Action Network Foundation. Amount Awarded: $200,000

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Chipalo, E. (2021). Is Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Effective in Reducing Trauma Symptoms among Traumatized Refugee Children? A Systematic Review. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-021-00370-0 Suntai, Z., Smith, N.L., Chipalo, E., Kubanga, K., & Won, C. (2021). Effectiveness of support groups for caregivers of traumatic brain injury survivors. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26408066.2021 .1925613

Choi, E. Y., Kim, Y., Chipalo, E., & Lee, H. Y. (2020). Does Ageism Widen the Digital Divide? And Does It Vary by Gender? Innovation in Aging, 4(Suppl 1), 315. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1007 Presentations Chipalo, E. (January 2022). Factors Associated with Justification of Spousal Sexual Violence in Zambia. The 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), Washington, D.C. Chipalo, E. (January 2022). Factors Associated with Receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Among Resettled Refugees in the U.S. The 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), Washington, D.C.

Helen Fischle (DSW)

Presentations Brade, K., Fischle, H., Chavers, C. (November 2021). Afrocentric Transitional Leadership Preparing Domestic Violence Advocates of Color. North American Association of Christians in Social Work, Glendale, CA

PI, Latina/o/x Initiatives for Service Training, and Assessment (LISTA) Certificate Workforce Development Program Rutgers School of Social Work Funding Source: Cigna Foundation Amount Awarded: $64,000

Major, M.,Fischle, H., Purnell, K., Brade, K. (November, 2021).Crabs in a Barrel? Exploring Supportive Sistahood Circles in Academia. Council of Social Work Education, Orlando, FL

Edson Chipalo (PhD)

Trace Fleming-Trice (DSW)

Publications Chipalo, E., (2022). Factors Associated with Receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) Recipients in Refugees Resettled in the United States. Journal of Sociology and Social welfare.

Presentations "Expert Q&A: Understanding The Connections Between Workplace Bullying and Burnout Among Victim Advocates." Office of Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center, March 22, 2023

"Supporting Sexual Assault Advocates: An Honest Conversation About Self-Care." Alabama State University, Sexual Violence Prevention Conference, April 14, 2023

violence for Zimbabwean youth. Accepted for Poster Presentation. Council of Social Work Education 69th Annual Program Meeting.

"Trauma Informed Leadership" Office of Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center, Great Bend, Kansas , June 27-28, 2023

Kirsten Laha-Walsh (PhD)

Haelim Jeong (PhD)

Publications Jeong, H., & Noh, H. (2023). Resilience as a Protective Factor in Older Adult Suicide: A Rapid Review.

Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2023.2202729 Lee, H. Y., Eyer, J. C., Luo, Y., Jeong, H., Chapman, S., & Hudnall, M. (2023). Opioid Literacy Among Individuals Living in Rural Alabama: The Role of Social Determinants of Health. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20230523-03 Suntai, Z., Noh, H., & Jeong, H. (2023). Racial and ethnic differences in retrospective end-of-Life outcomes: A systematic review. Death Studies, 47(9), 1006–1024. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2022.2155888 Presentations Noh, H., & Jeong, H. (2023, November). Rural older adults’ views of deprescribing and nonpharmacological methods in pain treatment. Submitted for Oral Presentation. Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting Jeong, H., Conway, F. N., Samora, J., Clinton, N., & Claborn, K. R. (2023, October). Impact of COVID-19 among people who use drugs: Substance use course development implications.

Accepted for Poster Presentation. Council of Social Work Education 69th Annual Program Meeting.

Jeong, H., & Chipalo, E. (2023, October). The prevalence and association of suicide risk & exposure to

Selected from 7 Publications 12 Presentations

Publications Albright, D. L., Laha-Walsh, K., Thyer, B. A., Godfrey, K., & Waller, R. J. (2020). Combat veterans with polytrauma and traumatic brain injury: Exploring variables affecting access to social work outpatient services. Traumatology.

Miller, K., Laha-Walsh, K., Albright, D., and McDaniel, J. (2021). Changes in Alcohol Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among a Sample of Cannabis Users. Journal of Substance Use. doi: 10.1080/14659891.2021.1875069

Parrott, S., Albright, D. L., Laha-Walsh, K., Eckhart, N. R., & Allen, H. G. (2022). When we Post About# Veterans: The Role of News Media in Guiding Social Media Dialogue about Military Veterans. Journal of Veterans Studies, 8(1).

Research Project Director, Greater Birmingham Area Veteran Needs Assessment, Alabama, 2020-2022 (Selected from 19 accepted publications.)

Rebecca McMahan (DSW)

Presentations May 2023: Conference Presenter at National Transgender Health Summit Topic: GAS Training: Writing Trans & Gender Affirming Letters for Clients October 2023: Vanessa Jones (another DSW student at UA) and myself will be presenting at NASW California Conference Topic: Accommodations in Social Work Practice: Creating an Effective Learning Environment for Clients.

James Meadows (PhD)

Publications Morthland, M., Shah, A., Meadows, J., Scogin, F. (2019).

Development of an audio and computer cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in older adults. Aging and Mental Health.

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Shah, A., Meadows, J.T., Granda Anderson, K., Raveis,V.H., Scogin, F., Templeton, S. Simpson, K.& Ingram, L. (2019). Gerontological social work and cardiac rehabilitation, Social Work in Health Care.

Presentation Ellis, T., Nelson-Gardell, D., Meadows, J.T... (2019).

Poetry authored by vulnerable populations as secondary data: Ethics, methods and lessons. Oral presentation for Council for Social Work Education 2019 Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO.

Tracy Pressely (PhD) Publication Williams, J., Jackson, S. Barnett, T. & Pressley, T. (2019).

"Black Mega Churches and the Provision of Social Services: An Examination of Regional Differences in America”. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work

Angela Smith (PhD) Presentations Smith, N.L., Smith, A.M., Smith, A., & Smith, B.D. (2022). Could a supervisor be more like a coach?: An evaluation of child welfare coaching(poster). Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting (CSWE APM), Anaheim, California, November 2022.

Smith, A.M., Prowell, A.N., & Smith, B.D. (2022). “An hour of being able to breathe”: Coaches for students in child welfare placements (poster). Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., January 2022.

Publication Smith, B.D., Li, Q., Wang, K., & Smith, A.M. (2021). A national study of child maltreatment reporting at the county level: Interactions among race/ethnicity, rurality, and poverty. Children and Youth Services Review, 122.

JaeHee Sherman (DSW) Presentations Chung-Sherman, M. (2022, October). Eating disorders,

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marginalized populations, and adoption: Parts one and two. The Theraplay Institute, Chicago, IL. Chung-Sherman, M. (2022, October). Multidimensional self-advocacy: Deconstructing internalized oppression.

National Association of Asian American Professionals, Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter, Dallas, Texas.

Chung-Sherman, M. (2022, April). Decolonizing mental health and liberating QTBIPOC voices. [Keynote Speaker]. Texas Woman’s University BIPOC Women’s Conference, Dallas, TX.

Natalia L. Smith (PhD) Publications Smith, N. L., Smith, A. M., Mott, A., Powell, A. & Smith, B. D. (2022). University of Alabama Title IV-E Coaching Initiative: Focus Group Report. Tuscaloosa, AL: The University of Alabama School of Social Work Mumba, M. N., Davis, L. L., Smith, N. L., Evans, T. & Castillo, R. (2022). Effects of unemployment on opioid use treatment trajectories: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 33(3), 168171. https://doi.org/10.1097/JAN.0000000000000480 Presentations Smith, N. L., Gannon, B., Cheatham, L. P., Jackson, S., Fleckman, J., Register, H. & Rawls, J. (2022, November).

Healthcare access among Alabama youth transitioning from foster care with disabilities. Poster Presentation at the 13th Annual CCHS Research and Scholarly Activity Day, Tuscaloosa, AL Smith, N. L., Smith, A. M., Mott, A., & Smith, B. D. (2022, November). Could a supervisor be more like a coach?: An evaluation of child welfare coaching. Eposter Presentation at the 2022 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting, Anaheim, CA. Awards American Dissertation Fellowship (Spring 2023) Outstanding Contributions to Scholarship Award (Spring 2023) Selected from 8 publications and 3 conference presentations.

Chris Ward (DSW) Publications Ward, C. J., Secret, M., & Newmark, A. (2020) Converting a face-to-face introductory research methods course to an online format: Pedagogical issues and technological tools. In Kurzman, P. A. Editor & Littlefield, M. B. Editor (Eds.), Online and distance social work education: Current practice and future trends.

Secret, M., Ward, C. J., & Newmark, A. (2019) Converting a face-to-face introductory research methods course to an online format: Pedagogical issues and technological tools. Journal of Teaching in Social Work 39(4-5), 455-476.

Charles, J, K. L., Perkins, N. H., Ward, C. J., Abell, M. L., & Secret, M. (2019) Research knowledge of advanced standing and traditional students: Implications for BSW education. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work 24(1), 27-47 Presentations Ward, C. J., Neff, D., What’s the purpose?: A workshop constructing embedded evaluation questions.

Presentation at the South Carolina Conference on Innovations in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education conference, Conway, SC, July 16, 2021.

Ward, C. J., Neff, D., Did it work?: A pilot embedded evaluation project. Presentation at the Social Work Distance Education conference, San Antonio, TX, April, 2021.

Bloomquist, K. R., & Ward, C. J. Hurry up and wait: Navigating the university third party partnership in Online program development and delivery.

Presentation at the Social Work Distance Education conference, San Antonio, TX, April, 2019.

Retisha Warr (PhD) Publication Albright, D. L., Suntai, Z., Ayres, K., McDaniel, J. T., Winton, R., & Dane. J. (Under review). Adverse health behaviors among sexual minorities: Comparisons between spouses of active-duty service members and civilians.

Presentations Warr, R., Lee, L., & Cheatham, L.P. Isolated & Separated: PTSD During COVID-19 in Women’s Prisons Set in the Deep South. Submitted to Society of Social Work and Research Conference January 1115, 2023, Phoenix, Arizona.

Albright, D. L., Suntai, Z., Ayres, K., McDaniel, J. T., Warr, R., & Dane. J. (Under review). Adverse health behaviors among sexual minorities: Comparisons between spouses of active-duty service members and civilians. Society of Social Work and Research Conference, January 11-15, 2023, Phoenix, Arizona.

Warr, R. & Cheatham, L.P. Exploring IncarcerationBased Trauma During COVID-19. Presented at Southeastern Universities Graduate Research Symposium, March 30, 2022.

Cho Rong Claudia Won (PhD) Presentations Pearl, D., Evans, T., Locke, E., Maxcy-Brown, J., Peterson, J., & Won, C. R. (2023, April). Community engagement in graduate education: Developing the next generation of scholars. Panelist. Gulf-South Summit, Athens, Georgia.

Won, C. R., Nam, Y., & Lee, H. Y. (2023, January). Lived experiences of racism during COVID-19 pandemic in deep South: Voices and resolutions from young Korean American adults. Oral. 2023 Annual Conference of Society for Social Work and Research, Phoenix, AZ. Selected from 31 presentations Grant Awards & Contracts Fellow, MHFA Doctoral Grant ($5000), National Council for Mental Wellbeing Fellow, Public Engagement Learning Community ($1500), University of Alabama Fellow, Emerging Community Engaged Scholars ($3000), University of Alabama Fellow, Minority Fellowship Program ($25,836), Council on Social Work Education

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