Appendix C: Contributions by Institute Affiliates

APPENDIX C: CONTRIBUTIONS BY INSTITUTE AFFILIATES

Below is an accounting of several of our affiliates’ meaningful contributions toward Institute-specific initiatives. In the spring of 2022, we reviewed applications of people interested in becoming an affiliate. After a rigorous review, four new affiliates were accepted and are noted below. Dr. Shamra Boel-Studt, Florida State University, leads the Quality Care Standards for Residential Group Care project, as well as the initial evaluation of the GROW Center Advanced Certifications. She served as co-principal investigator of the Maternity Group Homes for Young Mothers in Florida: A Mixed Methods Examination. Dr. Marianna Colvin, Florida Atlantic University, served as the principal investigator of A Platform for Social Action: Engaging and Supporting the Voice of Youth in Foster Care Receiving Independent Living Services. She is co-investigator on two additional projects: 1) A Mixed Methods Examination of Comfort Call Implementation in South Florida; and 2) A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Authentic Family Engagement and Strengthening Approach.

Dr. Morgan Cooley, Florida Atlantic University, is principal investigator on the Affiliate Award for Translational Research project A Mixed Methods Examination of Comfort Call Implementation in South Florida. She is the co-principal investigator on the Priority Research Award project A Platform for Social Action: Engaging and Supporting the Voice of Youth in Foster Care Receiving Independent Living Services. Dr. Cooley also served as an Institute award review team member.

Sarah Dickinson, University of South Florida, joined the Network in 2022.

Dr. Martie Gillen, University of Florida, served as the mandated University of Florida expert consultant on the Institute’s SB80 independent life skills evaluation (Evaluating Florida’s Approach to Life Skill Development among Youth in Foster Care). She is leading the development of the Institute’s next multi-year study, A Longitudinal Examination of Youth Aging Out of Care.

Chris Groeber, University of South Florida, led FFPSA technical assistance and was a co-investigator of the Institute-funded project COVID-19 Workforce Disruptions: Implementation Drivers to Promote Change, a Follow-up Study on Child Welfare Workforce Retention.

Dr. Hui Huang, Florida International University, developed the initial proposal for the 2022 Priority Research Award study, Empowering Child Welfare Workforce: Supporting Child Welfare Student Interns and Agency Supervisors through Group Supervision, Tuition Sponsorship, and Stipend. Dr. Huang resigned from the Network in summer 2022 after accepting a faculty position at the University of Texas at Arlington but remains a co-investigator on the project. Jim Jolley, Florida Network for Children’s Advocacy, joined the Network in 2022.

Dr. Michael Killian, Florida State University, is the lead evaluator and statistician for the College of Social Work curriculum redesign project. Dr. Erin King, University of West Florida, is leading the development of mental health and well-being measures included in MyALIGN programming and evaluation. Dr. King also served as an Institute award review team member.

Rene’ Ledford, Children’s Home Society of Florida, is a member of the Youth Transitioning Out of Care affiliate workgroup and the GROW Center Advisory Committee. She also supports the CaseAim evaluation in her role at Children’s Home Society.

Khalilah Louis-Caines, St. Leo University, was a recipient of the 2022-2023 Dissertation Fellowship Award for her dissertation, It Takes a Village: An Examination of Educational Enrollment among Transition-Age Youth in Foster Care. She is also a member of the Youth Transitioning Out of Care affiliate workgroup. Dr. Jennifer Marshall, University of South Florida, was a sub-awardee on the ZERO TO THREE-funded evaluation of Florida’s early childhood court, leading the qualitative subcomponent of the evaluation. She and her team have presented their findings to both Florida and national audiences. Dr. Fabio Naranjo, Barry University, is the recipient of the fall 2021 Affiliate Award for Translational Research, for his current project, Translational Research of Fort Lauderdale Independence Training & Education (FLITE) Center in Broward County, Florida.

Karen Oehme, Florida State University, is leading the development of the Strength, Trauma, and Resilience Studies Certification (STARS) and Domestic Violence advanced certification courses. Dr. Melissa Radey, Florida State University, was the principal investigator of Maternity Group Homes for Young Mothers in Florida: A Mixed Methods Examination. She continues as co-investigator of the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families. In the upcoming year, she will lead a study on parent engagement and serve as a consultant on the CaseAIM evaluation. Dr. Radey also served as an Institute award review team member.

Teri Saunders, Heartland for Children, collaborated with affiliate Dr. Riaan van Zyl on his study, COVID-19 Workforce Disruptions: Implementation Drivers to Promote Change, a Follow-up Study on Child Welfare Workforce Retention. In the upcoming year, the Institute will collaborate with Ms. Saunders on two evaluations (Permanency Primer and Sexual Safety).

Dr. Heather Thompson, Florida Atlantic University, is co-investigator on two projects: 1) A Platform for Social Action: Engaging and Supporting the Voice of Youth in Foster Care Receiving Independent Living Services, and 2) A Mixed Methods Examination of Comfort Call Implementation in South Florida. Dr. Thompson also served as an Institute award review team member. Dr. Lisa Schelbe, Florida State University, is a co-investigator on multiple Institute projects: Academic Innovation, Evaluating Florida’s Approach to Life Skill Development among Youth in Foster Care, and

Follow the Love – Strengthening Relational Permanency for Foster Youth in Florida Child Welfare Systems. Stephanie Scott, United Way of Broward County, joined the Network in 2022.

Dr. Riaan Van Zyl, University of South Florida, served as Principal Investigator the Institute-funded project, COVID-19 Workforce Disruptions: Implementation Drivers to Promote Change, a Follow-up Study on Child Welfare Workforce Retention, in collaboration with affiliate Teri Saunders (Heartland for Children).

Dr. Dina Wilke, Florida State University, continued as principal investigator of the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families. She is also a member of the Alliance for Workforce Enhancement team, serving as lead site evaluator for both demonstration sites. In the upcoming year, she will serve as a consultant on the CaseAIM evaluation.

Dr. Courtney Wilson, Florida International University, joined the Network in 2022. He is the principal investigator of the 2022 Priority Research Award study, Empowering Child Welfare Workforce: Supporting Child Welfare Student Interns and Agency Supervisors through Group Supervision, Tuition Sponsorship, and Stipend.