KU School of Social Welfare 2022 Research Highlight

THE DEAN & ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH

This KU School of Social Welfare Research

Highlight provides a glimpse into the innovative, community-based scholarship conducted by the School’s faculty, research staff, and students in 2022. Sharing publications, presentations, and products, the Highlight features work in the areas of child and family well-being, community practice, health and mental health, LGBTQ+ populations, social work education and practice, and racial and social justice. The Highlight also provides an overview of the School’s centers, along with a listing of our faculty, staff, and student researchers with scholarship areas, awards, and current projects.

This work would not be possible without our many sponsors and community partners, and we thank them for engaging in these important endeavors with us.

We hope that our scholarship provides you with new knowledge, resources, or ideas that are applicable for your own work. We would love to hear from you or collaborate with you in the future!

Sincerely,

Amy N. Mendenhall, Ph.D

Michelle Mohr Carney, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Research & Faculty Dean & Professor Development, Professor, Director, Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration

VISION & MISSION

The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, rooted in the Strengths Perspective, aims to transform lives and social contexts and promote social, economic, and environmental justice in Kansas, the nation and the world. We do so by educating students to practice with integrity and competence; advancing the science and knowledge base of social work through scholarship and research; and participating in communityengaged service.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES & VALUES

Relationship Building:

We engage in relationship building that fosters creativity, collaboration, and mutual learning. Relationship building is essential across practice, scholarship, education and service. We take a strengths approach as we serve our local, state, national, and global communities.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We embrace the inherent worth of all people. By taking the position of cultural humility and applying the lens of intersectionality, we seek to develop and promote modes of anti-oppressive social work and dismantle structures of exclusion.

Practice with Integrity:

We demonstrate our integrity and trustworthiness as scholars, educators, practitioners, and community members by promoting social work values, ethical practice, and the process of critical reflection.

Multisystem Competency:

We recognize that social, economic, and environmental injustices are the root causes of inequities and multiple strategies are necessary to address these. Our work integrates micro/macro social work and builds collaboration across systems and disciplines to create multi-level change.

Critical Perspective:

We engage in deliberate and continuing examination of social conditions and solutions. We use critical inquiry to analyze and challenge existing structures and systems in order to advance the field and promote social, economic, and environmental justice.

Empirically Informed Social Work:

We rigorously advance empirical research that impacts the social work knowledge base. By translating and applying evidence, we continually transform practice and policy across multiple systems. VISION

All individuals, families, & communities utilize their power to achieve justice, equity, & well-being

SCHOLARSHIP

HIGHLIGHT: CHILD & FAMILY WELL-BEING

IN THIS SECTION

Featured Publications: 8-9

Featured Center: 8

Featured Presentations: 9-11

Featured Products: 12

Featured Research Story: 13-15

Banda, L., Carlson, J., Diaz, A., Akin, B.A., Davis, L., Rose, J., & Yellowhammer, T. (2022). Barriers to services at the intersection of child maltreatment and domestic violence: A multi-perspective analysis of parents with lived experience and professionals. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s10896-022-00457-8 [Open Access]

Barton, J., & Akin, B.A. (2022). Implementation drivers as practical measures of data-driven decision-making for early childhood programs: An initial validation study. Global Implementation Research and Applications, 2, 141–152 https://doi.org/10.1007/s43477-022-00044-5 [Open Access]

Clark, S.L., Akin, B.A., McCall, S., Paceley, M. S., Byers, K., & Gomez, M. (2022). “Youth are not something to check off your to do list”: Poetic inquiry into the symbols youth, parents, and professionals use to reimagine supports for youth in foster care. Child & Family Social Work, 1-11. https://doi. org/10.1111/cfs.12986

Kepple, N. J., Wolf, J.P., & Freisthler, B. (2022). Substance use disorder & child maltreatment: Providing a framework for understanding the relationship using current evidence. In Krugman, R. & Korbin, J.(Eds.), Handbook of Child Maltreatment (2nd Ed). New York: Springer.

Riquino, M. R., Reese, S. E., Molloy, J. K., Nguyen, V. L., Greenwood, E., LaFountain, O., Cavasos, A., Paceley, M., S., Jen. S., & McGeough, B. (2022). “What do you think needs to be done to address selfharm?”: Centering the perspectives of youth who engage in self-harm through found poetry. Qualitative Inquiry, 0(0).

https://doi.org/10.1177/10778004221124629

FEATURED CENTER

The Center for Research to Transform Systems for Family, Community, & Social Justice (CRTS) works to bring about major change to the child welfare system, envisioning new approaches, focused on family well-being, where systems listen to the needs and aspirations of communities and work collaboratively to create a proactive, responsive, and equitable network of services and supports. CRTS, which launched in fall 2022, engages in projects, initiatives and research, including implementing and evaluating innovative approaches to service children, families, and their communities.

Center for Research to Transform Systems for Family, Community & Social Justice Website

Email: crts@ku.edu

Co-Directors:

Becci Akin, Jared Barton, Kaela Byers

One way CRTS partners with the community and local organizations is through the Kansas Racial Equity Collaborative (REC). REC will host a mini-symposium on May 3 as well as its second Racial Equity Collaborative Symposium this fall, following the success of the inaugural event last year. Check the Racial Equity Collaborative website for more details and updates.

FEATURED PUBLICATIONS (CONT.)

Sattler, P.L., Paceley, M. S., Byers, K., Mulkey, Z., & Mendenhall, A. (2022). Lost in translation: Bilingual parent coaches’ experiences implementing an un-adapted early childhood intervention with non-English speakers in two states. Global Implementation Research and Applications, 2, 12-21. https://doi. org/10.1007/s43477-022-00037-4 [Open Access]

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS

Akin, B. A., Clark, S. L., Byers, K., McCall, S., Gomez, H., & Paceley, M. S. (2022, Jan. 15). “That’s nothing if we never let you say how it feels to be already drenched:” Identifying key themes for supporting youth in foster care through poetic inquiry. 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice, Washington, DC.

Barton, J., Byers, K., & Akin, B.A. (2022, Nov. 12). Conditions for change in child welfare: How collective impact frameworks inform Family First implementations. Council on Social Work Education 68th Annual Program Meeting “Leading Critical Conversations: Human Rights are Global Rights,” Anaheim, CA.

Barton, J., Byers, K., Akin, B. A., & Alford, D. (2022, Jan. 15). Key conditions for change in child welfare: Applying a collective impact framework to inform Family First prevention services implementations. 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice, Washington, DC.

Barton, J., Byers, K., Akin, B. A., Hermesch, E., & Felzke, E. (2022, Oct. 4). “I ran to make a point, and they didn’t listen to me.”: Youth absences from foster care [Virtual]. 2022 Kempe Center International Virtual Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare, Denver, CO.

Brook, J. (2022, March 11). Parental substance abuse and public child welfare: What the research is telling us. National Association of Social Workers, Kansas Chapter, Annual Meeting.

Brook, J., Liming, K. W., Byers, K. & Coles, C. (2022, Jan. 14). Before and after: An examination of the impact of parenting program participation on parental attitudes among substance abuse affected, child welfare involved families. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Brook, J., Liming, K. W., Byers, K. & Coles, C. (2022, Jan. 14). Examining the substance use patterns and treatment experiences of foster care involved, substance use affected families. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Brook, J., Mazzetti, S., & Liming, K. W. (2022, March 11). Utilizing publicly available data to inform prevention planning for adults and children Involved in public child welfare. International Public Health Conference, virtual.

Brown, A., Alford, D., Byers, K., & Akin, B.A. (2022, Jan 14). The adoption tracking tool: Creating structures to improve cross-sector collaboration. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS (CONT.)

Brown, A., Naemi Jimenez, P., Byers, K., & Akin, B.A. (2022, Jan. 14). Parent experiences with the child welfare system: validation of surveys assessing Interactions with caseworkers and the court system [Poster]. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Clark, S.L., Akin, B.A., Byers, K., Wright, K., Dunkerley, S., & McArthur, V. (2022, Jan. 16). Investigating the relationship between child welfare professionals well-being and application of casework skills in practice [Virtual presentation]. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Clark, S.L., McCall, S., Akin, B. A., & Byers, K. (2022, Oct. 5). Putting the art in the heart of child welfare: Reimagining foster care with creative research methods. 2022 Kempe Center International Virtual Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare, Denver, CO.

Diaz, A., Kepple, N. J., Holmes, C., Banda, L., Carlson, J., & Akin, B.A. (2022, Jan. 14). Attitudes held by child welfare and domestic violence stakeholders regarding adult domestic violence survivors and people who use violence. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Diaz, A., Vanchy, P., Cizek, M., Toplikar, J., Akin, B. A., & Byers, K. (2022, Oct. 6). Prevention to permanency: Strengthening the continuum of care via cross-sector community engagement. 2022 Kempe Center International Virtual Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare, Denver, CO.

Dunkerley, S., McArthur, V., Akin, B.A., & Brown, A. (2022, Jan. 14). Engaging parent partners in strengthening a child welfare coaching program for supervisors. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Grube, W. (2022, Jan. 13). Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) waiver: Population descriptions. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Grube, W. (2022, Jan. 14). Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) waiver: An analysis of service use patterns. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Grube, W., Mendenhall, A., Akin, B.A., Kepple, N. J., Ridley, M. & Riquino, M.R. (2022, Nov. 11). Equitable child and family assessments: The role of social work education [Poster]. Council on Social Work Education 68th Annual Program Meeting “Leading Critical Conversations: Human Rights are Global Rights,” Anaheim, CA.

Lewis, M. (Jan. 26, 2022). Advocacy strategies and skills. Webinar for the Family Advisory Council. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Levy, M., Mendenhall, A., & Fairman, M. (2022, May 10). Kansas Serves Native American Families: Final year overview [Online]. Regional Partnership Grants (RPG) Annual Grantee Meeting, 010

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS (CONT.)

Liming, K. W., Brook, J., Byers, K. & Coles, D.C. (2022, Jan. 14). Examining early childhood development among children in foster care after participation in the Strengthening Families Program. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Liming, K., Brook, J., Byers, K., & Coles, D.C. (2022, Jan. 14). Trauma and depressive symptomology of parents involved in a child welfare parenting skills intervention: Did participation help? Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

McArthur, V., Hanna, A., Eibes, M., Dunkerley, S., & Akin, B.A. (2022, Jan. 15). Adapting and installing a coaching program for child welfare supervisors: Lessons learned from initial implementation. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Mendenhall, A. & Hicks, C. (2022, May 10). Kansas Serves Native American Families: Designing & implementing a meaningful cost study [Online]. Regional Partnership Grants (RPG) Annual Grantee Meeting,

Mendenhall, A.N., Grube, W., Sattler, P., Byers, K., & Davis, S. (2022, Jan. 13). Effects of early intervention on child and parent outcomes: An analysis of attachment biobehavioral catch-up [Virtual]. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Mendenhall, A.N., Olaleye, O., Paceley, M. S., Grube, W., & Byers, K. (2022, Nov. 12). Assessing facilitators and challenges to implementation of early intervention from multiple perspectives. Council on Social Work Education 68th Annual Program Meeting “Leading Critical Conversations: Human Rights are Global Rights,” Anaheim, CA.

Nichols, C., Becker, J., & Brook, J. (2022, Jan. 14). Cost analysis of a rural family treatment court. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Paceley, M. S., Akin, B.A., Clark, S., Byers, K., & McCall, S. (2022, Jan. 15). Youth are not something to check off your to do list: Poetic inquiry into the symbols youth and other stakeholders use to reimagine supports for youth in foster care. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Sun, S., Huang, J., Beverly S., Schreiner, M., Clancy, M., & Sherraden, M. (2022, Dec. 31). The long-term impacts of child development accounts on parental educational expectations and college preparation. The new development of financial social work and social finance [Virtual presentation in Chinese]. Second National Forum of the Financial Social Work Commission of the China Association of Social Work Education, Beijing, China.

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Barton, J., Holmes, C., Byers, K., & Nasrazadani, A. (2022). Children’s Trust Fund FY2023 continuous quality improvement report: Child sexual abuse prevention program [Report]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Barton, J., & Lewis, M. (2022) Children’s Trust Fund capacity building initiative: Evaluation report. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Barton, J., Nasrazadani, A., Byers, K., & Naemi Jimenez, P. (2022). Fatherhood FIRE Impact Evaluation: FY2022 Evaluation data overview [Report]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Barton, J., Nasrazadani, A., Byers, K., & Naemi Jimenez, P. (2022). Fatherhood FIRE Impact Evaluation: Year 1 Evaluation data overview [Report]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Brook, J. (2022). Oklahoma Partnership Initiative, phase 3 final program report. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Brown, A., Akin, B.A., Byers, K. (2022). Family Strong universal primary prevention implementation and evaluation plan [Report]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Byers, K., Lewis, M. (2022, Feb.). Grand Challenges for Social Work: Ensure healthy development for youth. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration [Academic product/professional education]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Byers, K. (2022). Using implementation science to plan, implement, and evaluate a statewide initiative for investing in Kansas families. [Research brief]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Byers, K., Barton, J., Grube, W., Wesley, J., & Akin, B.A. (2022). Youth absences from care: Final report of study findings. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Byers, K., Cizek, M., Barton, J., Grube, W., Akin, B.A., Erwin, K.S., & Nasrazadani, A. (2022). Approved Federal Implementation and Evaluation Plans [Report]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

Byers, K., Cizek, M., Barton, J., Grube, W., Akin, B.A., Erwin, K.S., & Nasrazadani, A. (2022). Family Strong universal primary prevention implementation and evaluation plan [Report]. University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare.

Levy, M. (2022). KSNAF brief [Research brief]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. https:// socwel.ku.edu/ksnaf

Levy, M. (2022). KSNAF strengthening families program implementation guide [Research brief]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. https://socwel.ku.edu/ksnaf

CENTER FOR RESEARCH TO TRANSFORM SYSTEMS FOR FAMILY, COMMUNITY

&

SOCIAL JUSTICE LAUNCHES

New center will focus on work that helps families thrive

Imaginethis scene: A young child is the last child left at school pickup every day. Noticing this pattern, their teacher — a mandated reporter — becomes concerned and calls child protective services to report a family for possible neglect, prompting a safety investigation of the family. The children are terrified. The parents are frantic and confused. It’s an encounter no one, from the family to the child welfare system, wanted to happen. Now, rewind this scenario. What if rather than reporting, the teacher took a supporter approach, connecting the family with the community-based resources and supports they needed to thrive, preventing them from unnecessary investigation and involvement with the child welfare system?

A team of KU School of Social Welfare researchers is working to bring about that kind of child welfare system transformation. They envision a new approach, focused on family well-being, where systems listen to the needs and aspirations of communities and work collaboratively to create a proactive, responsive, and equitable network of services and supports. This system will help parents with the everyday challenges of caregiving as well as unforeseen crises that can turn their lives upside down. The entire system and community become driven to keep families intact and children safe.

Together, these visionary co-directors — Drs. Becci Akin, Kaela Byers, and Jared Barton — have created the Center for Research to Transform Systems for Family, Community & Social Justice (CRTS). CRTS, which launched in the fall 2022, engages in projects, initiatives and research, including implementing and evaluating innovative approaches to serving children, families, and their communities.

Currently, nine large multi-partner projects and initiatives are housed under the umbrella of CRTS, all of which are focused on family, community, and social justice (see sidebar). While most of the work is being done in Kansas, a few of the projects are national in scope, currently serving 10 additional states. The faculty associated with the CRTS are also recognized experts in the child welfare field and will present at national and international conferences in 2022, including the Kempe Center International Virtual Conference, the Council for Social Work Education Annual Conference and the Kansas Governor’s Conference for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

“We want to transform the system as it currently exists so it is equitably serving families, so every family has an opportunity for positive outcomes, so that it’s not a punitive system, and when families do experience crises and need additional support, it is easily accessible and delivered without stigma,” explains Kaela Byers, Ph.D., research faculty member and one of the center’s co-founders.

CRTS PROJECTS SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS

Currently, the faculty researchers who make up the CRTS are engaged in a wide array of funded projects focused on system transformation:

• Kansas Strong for Children and Families

• Family First Evaluation

• Fatherhood FIRE Evaluation

• Family Strong

• KinVest

• Absent Youth Project

• Results Oriented Management (ROM Reports)

• Safe Sleep Evaluation

• Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Evaluation

“We strive to do our work in a collaborative, community-engaged and community-driven, and strengthsoriented manner,” elaborates Becci Akin, Ph.D., professor and Ph.D. program director, one of the CRTS co-founders.

“Importantly, we have a multi-system focus. Rather than solely focusing on individual level solutions, our work explores the structural and institutional contributors that establish everyday practice with families and children. This involves working with systems so they can hear and honor communities’ lived expertise. It also involves working across sectors to build more integrated, easily available, responsive, culturally relevant, and equitable systems.”

Jared Barton, Ph.D., research faculty and a co-founder of the CRTS, shares an example of how this multi-system, multisector approach is being used in two of the Center’s projects, Kansas Strong for Children and Families and the Family First Evaluation: “Kansas Strong and Family First partner to support an Interagency and Community Advisory Board at statewide and local levels intended to identify gaps and barriers in the service array and identify solutions to those so families and communities are supported to care for their children ,” he says. “They are comprised of all sectors — healthcare, law enforcement, education, child and family services — as well as individuals in the community with lived experience in child and family service systems including child welfare.”

“These are all our kids, so we all need to be part of the solution, to make sure we are not duplicating efforts, sending families through a maze of resources,” adds Byers. “We want to bring all of the players together — all the professionals, all the interested parties in the community — so we ensure that we are aligning our systems with needs and strengths inherent in the community and among families.”

CRTS is also focused on using anti-racist, anti-oppressive methods in their research and is committed to working toward racial, social and environmental justice. The founding principal investigators have pledged to move beyond acknowledging and studying the historic and structural racism in the United States to working to dismantle the systems of oppression through their work.

For example, through the Wyandotte County Rising project funded through the KU Research Rising Racial Equity awards and an initiative under Kansas Strong, the Center is collaborating with a group of Black community leaders to hear their recommendations for what should be done in child welfare to better support families of color. The recommendations will be presented to the Kansas Department for Children and Families to develop and execute an action plan accountable to the community and their priorities.

Another example is the inclusive approach used by the Kansas Strong project to develop a child welfare workforce coaching program, KanCoach. “One of the things we did in developing this program was to hold focus groups with parent partners who have lived expertise with the system, to share the plan and materials, to hear from them what are their priorities, what is missing, what didn’t we think of,” Akin explains. Byers adds, “That feedback was incredibly rich, and we used it as the basis for revamping and creating new learning collaboratives for the workforce, specifically around anti-racist practices and infusing family voice throughout this work.”

While the faculty researchers are engaged in a wide array of projects aimed at improving the lives of children and families in Kansas and beyond, everything the CRTS does will align with its simple but powerful mission, says Barton:

CRTS’S FOUNDERS SHARE A PASSION FOR IMPROVING THE LIVES OF FAMILIES

The CRTS is a collection of faculty researchers, research staf and student researchers who share a focus. Founding principal investigators from the School of Social Welfare include:

• Becci Akin, Ph.D., Professor and Ph.D. Program Director; CRTS CoDirector

• Kaela Byers, Ph.D., Associate Research Professor; CRTS Co-Director

• Jared Barton, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor; CRTS Co-Director

• Pegah Naemi-Jimenez, Ph.D., Associate Researcher

• Whitney Grube, Ph.D., Associate Researcher

• Amanda Brown, Ph.D., Associate Researcher

Additional faculty will be invited to join CRTS as their research aligns with its work.

“Our vision is equitable ecosystems that support families, communities and social justice.”

SCHOLARSHIP HIGHLIGHT: COMMUNITY PRACTICE

IN THIS SECTION Featured Publications: 17

Featured Center: 17

Featured Products: 18

Featured Research Story: 19-21

Adams, D., Mendenhall, A., Ohmer, M.L., & Carney, M.M. (2022). Gratitude and introductions from the new Journal of Community Practice Editor Team. Journal of Community Practice, 30(1), 1-2. https:// doi.org/10.1080/10705422.2022.2045812 [Open Access]

Carney, M.M., Adams, D., Mendenhall, A., & Ohmer, M.L. (2022). The lens of community. Journal of Community Practice, 30(2), 105-108. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705422.2022.2077598 [Open Access]

Maali, O., Kepple, N. J., & Lines, B. (2022). Strategies to achieve high adoption of organizational change initiatives within the AEC industry. Journal of Management in Engineering, 38(4), 04022021. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0001051

Mendenhall, A.N., Adams, D., Ohmer, M.L., & Carney. M.M. (2022). A convergence of crises: How do we move community practice forward? Journal of Community Practice, 30(3), 225-233. https://doi.or g/10.1080/10705422.2022.2106765 [Open Access]

Ohmer, M.L, Mendenhall, A.N., Carney, M.M., Adams, D. (2022). Community engagement: evolution, challenges, and opportunities for change. Journal of Community Practice, 30(4), 351-358. https://doi. org/10.1080/10705422.2022.2144061 [Open Access]

FEATURED CENTER

Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration

The Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration (CCEC) works in partnership with stakeholders across systems to pursue collaborative projects & invest in organizational capacity, with the aim of promoting social, economic & environmental justice. CCEC partners with the community to transform practice and policy through evaluation, training & technical assistance.

Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration Website

Email: ccec@ku.edu

Director

Amy Mendenhall

Assistant Director, Agency Capacity-Building & Community Evaluation Division

Melinda Lewis

Assistant Director. Professional Education Division

Robin Nelson

Workforce Development Coordinator

Christina Boyd

4,350 CEUs Issued

26 Educational Events Offered

1,960 Event Participants

FEATURED PRODUCTS

White, A.R. (2022, May). Consultant to KY and AR communities affected by Dec 2021 tornadoes, with onsite advisement [Practitioner/community resource].

Holder, M. (2022). MMIW Week: Week-long community event including local organizations and academic departments [Conference/workshop]. University of Kansas and Haskell Libraries.

New Program Equip am Rural Social W

With Much-N Resiliency S

Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration supports workforce development in underserved areas of Kansas

Growing up on a farm in western Kansas, Christina Boyd has a passion for the state’s vast rural areas, even though she teases that the wind blows 50 miles per hour and the nearest Starbucks is an hour away. So it’s probably not surprising that this child of the prairie has dedicated her career as a social worker to providing care for the people who call western Kansas home.

Boyd, LSCSW, LCAC, who holds an MSW from Washburn University, says she has done just about every job imaginable for a social worker in a rural setting, where you have to do it all because there are so few providers and such much unmet need. Today she is an associate professor of practice and the workforce development coordinator with the KU School of Social Welfare Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration (CCEC). She first joined the faculty in 2014 as an adjunct professor in the western Kansas Masters of Social Welfare

As the CCEC’s workforce development coordinator, Boyd helps support the social welfare workforce in the frontier and rural areas of Kansas, providers who are stretched thin trying to address the vast unmet needs in these medically underserved communities. A shortage of health care workers has always been an issue in the rural areas, she says, but the problem has accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic. “It’s beyond crisis: It’s dire,” Boyd exclaims.

According to the Rural Health Information Hub, only four of Kansas’s 105 counties have enough staff to serve the mental health needs in their communities. Several rural Kansas counties don’t have any licensed social workers at all, as reported by the Kansas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. In an August 2020 report, the group stated that of the 1,755 licensed specialist clinical social workers in Kansas, only 83 worked in western Kansas, creating “mental health deserts.”

As a result, residents must drive great distances for care, endure long waits for appointments with mental health providers, rely on area emergency departments, or forgo care.

Participants are not the only ones suffering because of the shortage of social workers, Boyd points out. So are the social workers themselves. Many are working extra shifts to cover for staffing shortages, while they also face the impact the pandemic has had on their own lives.

“This is starting to affect providers on the front line,” she says. “It’s disheartening as a provider if you see people go into crisis because they can’t get in for care.”

Boyd is addressing these challenges through two new programs developed by the CCEC, the Resiliency Based Clinical Supervision course and the Social Work Rural Resilience Network. Boyd leads both programs, giving her the opportunity to wed two of her passions: workforce development and professional training. She is a master trainer for the Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network and also provides continuing education opportunities through CCEC.

Both programs aim to provide rural social workers with the skills and support they need to avoid burnout as they do their life-changing work. “Social workers deserve to be happy and healthy and have what they need to do their jobs. I want them to feel like they can have joy in their lives, which comes from the work they do and the life they live outside of work,” Boyd explains. “If providers have that, and they are supported and engaging in behaviors that build their resilience, that will translate into better outcomes for participants.”

The Resiliency Based Clinical Supervision CEU Certifcate program launched in May 2022 equips supervisors to provide the training and support their staf needs to not only improve patient outcomes, but also thrive in their jobs.

“A lot of people don’t have training to provide clinical supervision,” Boyd points out. “The beneft of this course is that people can feel more prepared to really provide that supervision and support in an efort to improve patient outcomes and retention of employees.”

Designed for all clinical supervisors, not just those serving in rural areas, the course includes three sessions held live via Zoom. Participants earn a certifcate in Clinical Supervision and 24 continuing education units for completing course.

Register on the School of Social Welfare CCEC webpage for more information, contact Robin Nelson at nelsonr@ku.edu.

The Social Work Rural Resilience Network, begun in the summer of 2022, serves to connect, support and educate social workersinruralandfrontierareas,helpingthembuildresiliency so they can bounce back from adversity, as well as thrive in their practice and in their lives.

“One of the driving factors of building the Resilience Network is to provide support and connection for providers. One of the biggest things I see, in research and in talking with people, is that they miss connection,” Boyd says. “I felt like we needed something that helped people be connected, even if they live hundreds of miles away from each other.”

To participate in the network, contact Boyd at christinab@ku.edu.

“The Center for Community Engagement & Outreach advances authentic relationships with key community and university partners to complement the Schoolw of Social Welfare’s community-engaged scholarship and instruction, build on strengths, meet needs in our profession and society, and advance a vision of justice.”

SCHOLARSHIP

HIGHLIGHT: HEALTH & MENTAL HEALTH

IN THIS SECTION

Featured Publications: 23

Featured Presentations: 24

Featured Center: 25

Featured Products: 25

Featured Research Story: 26-27

Byers, K., Monahan,E., McCrae, J.S., Robinson, J., Finno-Velasquez, M. Improving child health and healthcare use outcomes: How risk and resilience intersect in pediatric care.  Prevention Science 23, 1143–1155 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-022-01389-x [Open Access]

Garland, E.L., Hanley, A.W., Nakamura, Y., Barrett, J.W., Baker, A.K., Reese, S.E., Riquino, M.R., Froeliger, B., & Donaldson, G.W. (2022). Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement vs. supportive group therapy for co-occurring opioid misuse and chronic pain in primary care: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 182(4), 407-417. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.0033 [Open Access]

Jen, S., Jeong, M., Lafountain, O., Doll, G., & Cornelison, L. (2022). Sexual expression, policies, and practices in skilled nursing settings serving older adults: An updated assessment in the state of Kansas. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 8, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214221113137 [Open Access]

Jen, S., Jeong, M., & Smith, M. (2022). “Weight of the world” and “I want them to know”: Skilled nursing facility administrators’ perspectives on COVID-19 in research poems. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2022.2098444

Kendrick, S. & Kepple, N. J. (2022). Scripting sex in courtship: Predicting genital contact in date outcomes. Sexuality & Culture 26, 1190=1214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-021-09938-2 [Open Access]

Lu, S., Bruton, A. M., Millington, E., alexander, e, Camden, K., Johnstone, J., Hatsu, I. Arnold, L. E., & Leung, B. (2022). Parents’ priorities and preferences for treatment of their children with ADHD: Qualitative inquiry in the MADDY Study. Child, Health & Development, 48(5), 852-861. https://doi. org/10.1111/cch.12995

Sun, S. & Chen, Y. C. (2022). Is financial capability a determinant of health? Theory and evidence. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 43(4), 744-755. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-022-09869-6 [Open Access]

Wendel, C. L., LaPierre, T. A., Sullivan, D. L., Babitzke, J., Swartzendruber, L., Barta, T., & Olds, D. M.(2022). “Anything that benefits the workers should benefit the client”: Opportunities and constraints in self-directed care during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Journal of Applied Gerontology, 07334648221143604. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648221143604

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS

Babitzke, J., Wendel-Hummell, C., LaPierre, Sullivan, D., Swartzendruber, D., Boyd, C, Olds, D. (2022, April 13-16) “He definitely don’t care about me”: COVID-19 politicization and the marginalization of Americans with Disabilities. Midwest Sociological Society (MSS) Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.

Geary, C., Lessem, R., Holmes, C., Abbott, K., & Roes, M. (2022, March.) Patient engagement in research: Introduction to application [Pre-conference workshop presentation]. Midwest Nursing Research Society, Virtual.

Jen, S. & Jeong, M. (2022, Jan. 14). Sexual expression, policy, and practices in skilled nursing facilities: An updated assessment in the state of Kansas. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Jeong, M. (2022, Jan. 14). Psychological challenges among older adults with early stage dementia: A systematic review. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

LaPierre, T., Wendel-Hummell, C., Olds, D., Babitzke, J., Sullivan, D., Swartzendruber, D. & Barta, T. (2022, June 4-7). Stakeholder engagement strategies and impact on patient centered research in home and community based care. AcademyHealth 2022 Annual Research Meeting, Washington D.C.

Levy, M. (2022). Health Center and Academic Collaboration Forum [Virtual, invited facilitator]. Community Care Network of Kansas.

Levy, M. & Matejkowski, J. (2022, May 10-13). Social work training for rural health workforce development. Annual Rural Health Conference, National Rural Health Association.

Olds, D., Wendel-Hummell, C., LaPierre, T., Sullivan, D., Babitzke, J., Swartzendruber, D. & Mullen, G. (2022, June 13-15). Provision of home-based long-term services and supports to vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Sullivan, D., Wendel-Hummell, C., LaPierre, T., Babitzke, J., Swartzendruber, L., Boyd, C. & Olds, C. (2022, April 13-16) “They don’t get paid even half of what they’re worth to us”: Worker shortages and unmet care needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Midwest Sociological Society (MSS) Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.

Wendel-Hummell, C., LaPierre, T., Olds, D., Babitzke, J., Sullivan, D., Swartzendruber, L. & Barta, T. (2022, June 4-7). Care and safety during the pandemic in home and community based services: Challenges of a fragmented system. AcademyHealth 2022 Annual Research Meeting, Washington D.C.

Wendel-Hummell, C., LaPierre, T., Olds, D., Sullivan, D., Babitzke, J., Swartzendruber, L. & Barta, T. (2022, June 4-7) “They seemed to forget about us little people”: The invisibility and neglect of essential homecare workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. AcademyHealth 2022 Annual Research Meeting, Washington D.C.

Wendel-Hummell, C., LaPierre, T., Sullivan, D., Babitzke, J., Swartzendruber, L, & Olds, D. (2022, Nov. 2-6). Self-directed care in home-based long-term care during the pandemic: Policy and practice implications. Gerontological Society of America (GSA) 2022 Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN.

CRADO’s COVID-HBCS (home and community based services) project has begun sharing findings to organizations such as Academy Health, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Gerontological Society of America, Midwest Sociological Society, and the University of Kansas. Learn more about Care and Safety Practices During COVID-19 in Home Based Care.

CRADO prepares tomorrow’s scholars and practitioners in gerontological social work. We provide strengths-based gerontological resources, training, and unique educational opportunities that help develop faculty and students’ knowledge and skills in working with older adults. Faculty and staff work with state agencies such as the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, and federal agencies as well as with a variety of other public and private service organizations and foundations, to provide research, training and technical support.

Center for Research on Aging & Disability Options website

Email: crado@ku.edu

Director

Carrie Wendell-Hummell

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Kennedy, T. & Levy, M., Lewis, M. (2022, April 26). Grand challenges for social work: Close the health gap [Academic product/professional education]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration.

Wendel-Hummell, C. et al. (2022, April 6). Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) during COVID-19: Challenges, triumphs, and implications [Academic product/professional education]. KU School of Social Welfare Research Impact Talk, Lawrence, Kansas.

Levy, M. (2022, Sept. 21). Integrated Health Scholars Program webinar [practitioner/community resource]. Health Resources and Services Administration, Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Pro Grantees Region 6 & 7.

Jen, S. (2022). Untold Stories Art Exhibition [practitioner/community resource]. https://storiesforall. org/story/untold-stories (live and digital).

Offered through the School’s Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration (CCEC), these events feature interactive panels of faculty members and community partners who discuss the substantive findings of their work and the process through which it was catalyzed, inviting participants into the progress around the Grand Challenge.

The events are free, open to the public and offered virtually to broaden access to more participants, who can receive professional and continuing education credit for attending.

“We know our faculty and scholars and students and staff are doing valuable work that addresses these Grand Challenges every day, so we organized the Grand Challenges series to lift up that work, invite others to partner with it and with us, and to sustain our vision of change along the fronts the Grand Challenges represent,” explains Melinda Lewis, LMSW, associate professor of practice and the CCEC’s associate director of capacity building and community evaluation.

To date, the events have highlighted areas such as anti-racist approaches in child welfare policy and practice, the role of integrated healthcare to help close the health gap, and work being done to build healthy relationships to end violence by advancing adult and child survivor-centered interventions to support child welfare-involved families experiencing domestic violence.

THE GRAND CHALLENGES FOR SOCIAL WORK

The School of Social Welfare has answered the call from the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare to address the 13 Grand Challenges for Social Work:

INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY WELL-BEING

• Ensure healthy development for youth

• Close the health gap

• Build healthy relationships to end violence

• Advance long and productive lives

STRONGER SOCIAL FABRIC

• Eradicate social isolation

• End homelessness

• Create social responses to a changing environment

“The Grand Challenges remind social workers of the long-term impact possible through our collective efforts. Elevating the large and serious issues our society faces—and underscoring our professions’ responsibilities to contribute to solving them—takes us beyond the busy schedules and weighty daily tasks that can otherwise cloud our vision of the horizon,” Lewis says. “They serve to connect us to a shared purpose, inspire and reaffirm our passion for social justice, and sustain us in the long road toward change.”

• Harness technology for social good JUST SOCIETY

• Eliminate racism

• Promote smart decarceration

• Build fnancial capability and assets for all

• Reduce extreme economic inequality

• Achieve equal opportunity and justice

COMING EVENT

CCEC GRAND CHALLENGES FOR SOCIAL WORK: CLOSE THE HEALTH GAP

The next Grand Challenges for Social Work event will focus on the School’s work to help close the health gap. KU research project director Cheryl Holmes, MPA, whose work focuses on health disparities in rural and frontier areas and with engaging community members including migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, will be joined in this panel discussion by Elizabeth Reid of the Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund and Darrel Box of the Lafayette Regional Health Center.

“It is important for the KU School of Social Welfare to be engaged in addressing the Grand Challenges because it is well positioned to help convene multi-system partners who can recognize real world needs and discover practical solutions,” Holmes explains. For example, she says, “Our panel brings together seasoned partners involved with different aspects of rural healthcare. We will share our experiences and lessons learned about outreach, engagement and service delivery in rural communities.”

In partnership with key community partners, Holmes’ work is focused on rural research, policy and practice.

The discussion will include:

• Information from community-level perspectives and the benefits that can occur when multiple sectors come together.

• Insights about working in rural environments during COVID-19, with a particular emphasis on the needs, challenges and successes of working with essential employees, including migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

• Lessons learned from collaborative partnerships and ideas for engaging multiple perspectives to inform policy and research needs, including views from those who are often not at the decision-making table.

SCHOLARSHIP HIGHLIGHT: LGBTQ+ POPULATIONS

IN THIS SECTION

Featured Publications: 29

Featured Presentation: 29

Featured Products: 29

Featured Center: 30

FEATURED PUBLICATIONS

Fredriksen-Goldsen, K., Jen, S., Emlet, C. A., Kim, H. J., & Jung, H. H. (2022). Key determinants of physical and psychological health-related quality of life over time among midlife and older LGBTQ and sexual and gender-diverse caregivers.  The Gerontologist. gnac112, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/ gnac112

Goffnett, J., Paceley, M. S., Saban, P., & Fish, J. N. (2022). Between cornfields and kinfolk: Identity management among transgender youth in Midwestern families and communities. Family Process, 61, 1681-1695. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12759

McGeough, B. L., Greenwood, E., Cohen, N. L., & Wootton, A. R. (2022). Integrating SMART recovery and mental health services to meet the needs and goals of LGBTQ individuals experiencing substance use–related problems. Families in Society, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894221124621

FEATURED PRESENTATION

Kattari, L., Kattari, S., & Paceley, M. S. (2022, Jan. 16). Examining the impact of the Lgbtqia+ policy landscape on the field of social work. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

FEATURED PRODUCTS

McGeough, B. (2022). LGBTQ Needs Assessment [Academic product/professional education].

McGeough, B. & Paceley, M. S. (2022, June). LGBTQ Research Symposium [Conference/workshop]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. https://socwel.ku.edu/research-symposium-2022

Paceley, M. S. (2022, March 31). Anti-trans policies & social work education: A national town hall [Conference/workshop]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. https://socwel.ku.edu/town-hall

Paceley, M. S., Jen, S., & Greenwood, M. (2022, March). “There is an army of love around you”: A love letter to transgender and gender diverse youth [Academic product/professional education]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. https://socwel.ku.edu/tgd-love-letter

The Center for LGBTQ+ Research & Advocacy (CLRA) puts Kansas on the map as a hub for research, advocacy, community engagement, education, and scholarship focused on the experiences of sexually and gender diverse populations. The Center’s scope is broad and connects experts in a wide array of fields to work together in new ways to advance scholarship and research.

Center for LGBTQ+ Research & Advocacy website

Email: lgbtqresearch@ku.edu

Co-Directors

Briana McGeough & Meg S. Paceley

CLRA will host the 2023 LGBTQ Research Symposium at the University of Kansas for the third year in a row this June 1 & 2. The virtual event will build on the important traditions established over the past ten years, providing researchers and advocates opportunities to present their work, discuss challenges and opportunities, and network with others conducting LGBTQ+ research across disciplines. Learn more about the 2023 LGBTQ Research Symposium.

SCHOLARSHIP HIGHLIGHT: RACIAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE

IN THIS SECTION

Featured Publications: 32

Featured Center: 32

Featured Presentations 33-34

Featured Products: 34-35

Featured Research Story: 35-37

alexander, e. (2022). As they see it: Black women’s conceptualizations of professional socialization in education graduate programs. Race Ethnicity and Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.20 22.2106880

alexander, e. (2022). Healing ourselves through Black mothers’ wisdom. In T. M. Kress & R. Lake (Eds.) Radically dreaming: Illuminating Freirean Praxis in Turbulent Times. DIO Press.

alexander, e. (2022). Locating themselves: Black womxn’s geographies of professional socialization.  Research in Education Policy and Management, 4(2) 80-98. https://doi.org/10.46303/ repam.2022.8 [Open Access]

Banda, L. & Carlson, J. (2022). Malawi’s marriage law (2015) and constitutional amendment (2017): Analysis of policy solutions to increase girls’ rights. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 49(4). https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol49/iss4/2

Casey, E. A., Hoxmeier, J. C., Willey-Sthapit, C., & Carlson, J. (2022). Psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The role of men’s gender-related attitudes, employment and housework, and demographic characteristics. International Journal of Mens Social and Community Health, 5(2), e5e17. https://doi.org/10.22374/ijmsch.v5i2.79 [Open Access]

Cheng, S., Wachter, K., Kappas, A., Brown, M.L., Messing, J.T., Bagwell-Gray, M., & Jiwatram- Negron, T. (2022). Patterns of help-seeking strategies in response to intimate partner violence: A latent class analysis. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(9-10), NP6604-NP6632. https://doi. org/10.1177/0886260520966671

Jeong, M., Jen, S., Kang, H., Riquino, M.R., & Goldberg, J. (2022). Representations of older adults in COVID-related newspaper articles: A comparison between the perspectives of older and younger adults. Journal of Aging Studies, 63, 101081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2022.101081

Nguyen, V.L., Riquino, M.R., Reese, S.E., & Molloy, J. (2022). An exploration of racial and ethnic disparities at the point of arrest from the perspectives of Youth of Color. Youth Voice Journal, ISSN (online): 2056-2969.

FEATURED CENTER

Exciting things are happening in the KU School of Social Welfare’s Toni Johnson Center for

Racial and Social Justice. The center’s leaders Center for Racial and Social Justice are collaborating with colleagues throughout the school to re-imagine the catalytic role the center can play in fostering groundbreaking work in Kansas, the nation and the world focused on achieving justice and equity. They’ve brought in energetic new faculty affiliates, each engaged in innovative research in diverse areas of racial and social justice. And they are fueled by social welfare students, eager to make a difference, who are seeking out opportunities to join in research and take part in field practicums focused on racial and social justice.

T ON I J OH NSON

Toni Johnson Center for Racial and Social Justice website 032

Wright, K., Akin, B.A., Byers, K., McCall, S., & Alford, D., Parker, A., Clark, S., Shaw-Woody, N., Kline, M., Brown, N., Hill, E., Davis-Myers, S., Parham, W., Rush, R. (2022). Using institutional analysis to examine the systemic sources of racial disproportionality and disparity: A case example. Child Welfare, 100(2), 99-136.

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS

Adams, E., J., Deer, S., Holder, M., & Ramirez, L. (2022, Oct. 6). Educate & act civic engagement in 2022 part XII: What you should know about the Indian Child Welfare Act [Virtual]. The Commons, Toni Johnson Center for Racial and Social Justice, KU Center for Service Learning, and the KU Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.

Akin, B. A., Dupree, S., McCall, S., Naemi-Jimenez, P., Fry, A., Smith, A., Turner, B., & Wright, K. (2022, Oct. 6). Collaborating in courageous conversations to transform child welfare toward racial equity [Virtual]. 2022 Kempe Center International Virtual Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare, Denver, CO.

Anderson, E. & Beason, J., Holder, M., (Moderator) (2022, Sept. 30). Intergenerational trauma & federal boarding schools [Virtual]. Boarding School Series, University of Kansas, KU Native American Initiatives, KU Native Faculty and Staff Council, and Toni Johnson Center for Racial and Social Justice, School of Social Welfare, Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, KS.

Bagwell-Gray, M. & Jen, S. (2022, Jan. 16). I’m not pussyfooting around… Whos got time for that anymore? A research poem of time lost and time left in healing from intimate partner violence. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Bagwell-Gray, M., Steiner, J., Wachter, K., Mathis, C., Kappas Mazzia, A., Johnson-Agbakwu, C., & Messing, J. (2022, Jan. 15). Perceptions of college men engaged in men’s engagement programs on masculinities and gender norms. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Bagwell-Gray, M., Steiner, J., Wachter, K., Mathis, C., Kappas Mazzio, A., Johnson-Agbakwu, C., & Messing, J. (2022, Jan. 16). Trauma-informed sexual health care among survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence in refugee resettlement contexts: A scoping review. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Barber, C., Jen, S., Mitchell, B., & Willey-Sthapit, C. (2022, Jan. 15). Discourse of ageism, racism, and gender during the COVID-19 pandemic: Critical discourse analysis roundtable. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Casey, E., Willey-Sthapit, C., Carlson, J., & Hoxmeier, J. (2022, Jan. 13). Patterns of gender equitable attitudes and behaviors among men: Relationships with violence perpetration. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS (CONT.)

Dupree, S., Fry, A., & Akin, B. A. (2022, Aug. 22). Courageous conversations: Launching a learning aeries on racial disparities in child welfare. National Association of Counsel for Children, 45th National Child Welfare Law Conference: Bridging Theory to Practice: Learning & Unlearning to Drive Effective Advocacy, Baltimore, MD

Jeong, M., Kang, H., Riquino, M.R., & Goldberg, J. (2022, Jan. 14). Representations of older adults in COVID-related newspaper coverages: A comparison of perspectives between older adults and young adults. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Kang, J. (2022, Dec.). Climate change and social work. Invited Presentation for Future Career in Social Work Webinar hosted by the Department of Social Welfare at Seoul National University.

Koenig, T. L., Nardi, P., Williams, M., Tersalvi, G., Cloyd, A., & Hudson, J. (2022). Life changing journeys: Perilous travel from Africa to Italy [Panel Presentation]. Digital Humanities Symposium, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.

Sattler, P. (2022, Jan. 15). An ethic of care: A narrative case study of criminal investigations in one southwestern police department. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Sattler, P., Roebuck, B., & Clayton, A. (2022, Jan. 13). Posttraumatic change: Respecting the narratives of victims and survivors of Violence. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Turner, B., & Naemi Jimenez, P. (2022, Oct. 7). Courageous conversations: Launching a learning series on racial disparities in child welfare [Roundtable discussion]. 2022 Michael Tilford Conference on Diversity and Multiculturalism, Topeka, KS.

Whiteman, D., Holder, M. (Moderator). (2022, Oct. 13). Indian boarding school legacies: Healing in our communities. Boarding School Series, University of Kansas, KU Native American Initiatives, KU Native Faculty and Staff Council, and Toni Johnson Center for Racial and Social Justice, School of Social Welfare, Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, KS.

Wright, K., Akin, B.A., Byers, K., McCall, S., Alford, D., & Clark, S. (2022, Jan. 16). Discrimination, disproportionality, and disparity: Black families experiences of structural and systematic bias in child welfare. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Wright, K., Akin, B.A., Byers, K., Clark, S., & Carr, K. & McCall, S. (2022, Nov. 11). Shaping anti-oppressive frameworks and detailing the creating of an anti-racist research model. Council on Social Work Education 68th Annual Program Meeting “Leading Critical Conversations: Human Rights are Global Rights,” Anaheim, CA.

Koenig, T.L. (2022). Digital Humanities African refugee project [Public dissemination]. https://xd.adobe.com/view/86df1b12-f5b5-457f-898f-1c90e6708430-d38c/?fullscreen

Holder, M. (2022, April 21). From historical trauma and oppression to cultural resurgence. SW 573 Intergenerational & historical trauma [Academic product/professional education]. University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare, Lawrence, KS.

Davis, L., Starr, R., Taylor, G., Carlson, J., Lewis, M. (2022, Oct. 20). Grand Challenges for Social Work: Build healthy relationships to end violence [Academic product/professional education]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration.

Koenig, T.L. (2022). Italy study abroad brochure for social work [Academic product/professional education]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare

Levy, M. & Fairman, M. (2022). Opening the door to learning how to connect with our Two-Spirit community [Public dissemination]. Spirit-Honor-Inclusion, Issue 9.

(2022, Feb). Racial Equity Learning Journey Series [Virtual, conference/workshop].

(2022, April). Racial Equity Collaborative Symposium [Conference/workshop]. University of Kansas.

FacultyMember ElevatestheVoice andExperiencesof IndigenousPeople

When Missy Holder was in high school, everything she learned about the history of America’s Indigenous people landed into two main buckets: erroneous accounts of Columbus “discovering” America and the first Thanksgiving.

“There were very few Indigenous students there, and I felt really detached from my culture,” remembers Holder, Ph. D., who is a citizen of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and of the Sac and Fox Nation.

That changed when she attended Haskell Indian Nations University, where she earned her associate in arts degree in social welfare and later worked as an instructor of social work. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the KU School of Social Welfare, where she is now an assistant professor.

Holder’s experience in high school helped guide her career in social welfare. “How can I help Indigenous students in a public institution feel more welcome?” she wonders now. “In what ways can we help connect them to their culture?”

Holder is working to ensure future generations of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students alike learn the stories, experiences, contributions and accomplishments of Indigenous people, in narratives they tell themselves. She’s starting with the social welfare students in her classes.

“This may be the first time a lot of these students have heard some of the statistics, or gained an overall understanding of the impact of colonization, which lead to historical trauma, which lead to the resiliency that our tribal nations are trying to implement in their communities,” she says.

Through her scholarship, Holder also wants to contribute to the body of academic literature in social welfare that is focused on Indigenous people. “When I was teaching social work classes at Haskell, we did not have a lot of materials written by Indigenous authors or Indigenous social workers,” she explains. “How can I make a difference and contribute to the literature?”

Her current research was influenced by her own experience growing up in a household where she witnessed intimate partner violence and alcoholism. “I feel like people who go into social welfare, there is something that impacted them early in life,” she explains. “That was my primary reason for wanting to help in some way, for individuals or children who were experiencing the same thing I did.”

The findings of her study, “Historical Trauma and the Impact on IPV among Indigenous Women,” focus on the impact of historical trauma on the rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) among Indigenous women, who are 1.2 times more likely than non-Indigenous women to experience violence. As part of her research, Holder interviewed Indigenous women advocates who worked with Indigenous women clients who had experienced IPV. She found that historical trauma caused by colonization helped shape these women’s experiences of and reaction to IPV.

As a result of her work, Holder believes that social workers will be better able to understand the root cause of the trauma that led to modern-day problems with IPV. Equipped with this understanding, social workers will then be able to use a culturally tailored practice when working with Indigenous clients and influencing policy.

“When I think about my work – my research and teaching – I hope it provides a clear path for Indigenous people in general but specifically for social workers, because they will be going back into our communities and working with our people,” she says. “If we are able to label how we got to where we are today, that will help us in terms of healing our communities.”

Event Honors Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Indigenous women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average, and four out of fve experience some form of violence in their lifetime, according to the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women. KU School of Social Welfare faculty members Missy Holder and Laurie Ramirez are working to raise awareness about the plight of Indigenous women and mobilize people to work for change.

Holder, Ph.D., assistant professor, and Ramirez, MSW, associate professor of practice and the school’s liaison to Native communities, hosted a communitywide event focused on the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Holder is a citizen of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and of the Sac and Fox Nation, and Ramirez is a citizen of Turtle Mountain, Band of Chippewas.

The weeklong event in April and May 2022 included an Actions for Justice kickof, a walk to honor victims and an awarenessraising social media campaign. It pulled together a wide group of partners, including the Lawrence, Kans., chapter of MMIWG2ST.

“The Actions for Justice week brought attention to atrocities against Indigenous people, from being abducted and murdered, to not receiving legal justice,” Holder says. “The committee will continue to support the Lawrence MMIWG2ST Chapter because the work does not end with an awareness week.”

“Holder is working to ensure future generations of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students alike learn the stories, experiences, contributions and accomplishments of Indigenous people, in narratives they tell themselves.”

SCHOLARSHIP HIGHLIGHT:

SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION & PROFESSION

Featured Research Story: 41-43

Jen, S., Brandt, G., Carr, K., Riquino, M. R., Cole, S. J., & Paceley, M. S. (2022). “I don’t know what world I live in anymore”: Social work student narratives of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative Social Work, 14733250221114389. https://doi.org/10.1177/14733250221114389

Koenig, T. L., Spano, R., & Thompson, J. B. (2021). Chapter 1: Introduction. In T. L. Koenig, R. Spano & J. B. Thompson (Eds.), Social work practice: Shining a light on powerful paradoxes and pitfalls. San Diego, CA: Cognella.

Koenig, T. L.’ Spano, R., & Thompson, J. B. (2022). Chapter 2: Frameworks for practice. In T. L. Koenig, R. Spano & J. B. Thompson (Eds.), Social work practice: Shining a light on powerful paradoxes and pitfalls. San Diego, CA: Cognella.

Koenig, T. L., Spano, R., & Thompson, J. B. (2022). Chapter 3: The art of relationship in social work practice: Part 1. In T. L. Koenig, R. Spano & J. B. Thompson (Eds.), Social work practice: Shining a light on powerful paradoxes and pitfalls. San Diego, CA: Cognella.

Koenig, T. L., Spano, R., & Thompson, J. B. (2022). Chapter 4: The art of relationship in social work practice: Part 2. In T. L. Koenig, R. Spano & J. B. Thompson (Eds.), Social work practice: Shining a light on powerful paradoxes and pitfalls. San Diego, CA: Cognella.

Koenig, T. L., Spano, R., & Thompson, J. B. (2022). Chapter 5: The professional social worker’s skills of helping (peer reviewed). In T. L. Koenig, R. Spano & J. B. Thompson (Eds.), Social work practice: Shining a light on powerful paradoxes and pitfalls. San Diego, CA: Cognella.

Koenig, T. L., Spano, R., & Thompson, J. B. (2022). Chapter 6: The professional social worker’s skills of helping. In T. L. Koenig, R. Spano & J. B. Thompson (Eds.), Social work practice: Shining a light on powerful paradoxes and pitfalls. San Diego, CA: Cognella.

Paceley, M.S., Jen, S., Riquino, M.R., Cole, S., Carr, K., & Wright, K. (2022). Trauma-informed approaches to teaching students with marginalized identities during times of crisis. In P. Thompson & J Carello (Eds.) Trauma-informed pedagogies: A guide for responding to crisis and inequality in higher education (pp. 93-104). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Pasque, P. A., & alexander, e. (Eds.). (2022).  Advancing culturally responsive research and researchers: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003126621

Street, L.A., Martin, P.H., White, A.R., et al. Problem-based learning in social policy class: a semester-long project within organizational policy practice. Journal of Policy Practice and Research 3, 118–131 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42972-022-00047-4

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS

Akin, B. A. (2022, March 4). Implementation Science in Social Work. Presentation to faculty and students of the Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Bagwell-Gray, M., Paceley, M.S., Carney, M.M., Jen, S., & Riquino, M.R. (2022, Jan. 13). It still comes back to my kids: A qualitative study of the lived experiences of BSW and MSW student mothers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS (CONT.)

Carlson, J., Diaz, A., Kepple, N. J., Banda, L., & Wright, K. (2022, Jan. 14). The implementation of an anti-racist practice in research teams: Process and pollination. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Clark, S. L. & Akin, B. A. (2022, April 3-5). There is no such thing as an independent scholar: Autoethnographic reflections of a doctoral candidate’s and chair’s experiences in doctoral education [Virtual]. ResilienceCon 2022, Nashville, TN.

Clark, S. L., Byers, K., Akin, B. A., Dunkerley, S., Wright, K., McArthur, V., & Carr, K. (2022, Jan.). Organizational responses to child welfare professionals: Do they predict secondary traumatic stress, burnout, compassion satisfaction and self-care among front line workers and supervisors? 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice, Washington, DC.

Hudson, J., & Koenig, T.L. (2022). The personal is professional: How U. S. social work educators’ personal relationships with nature inform their professional lives. Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium Conference, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Jen, S., Brandt, G., Carr, K., Riquino, M.R, & Paceley, M.S. (2022, Jan. 16). I don’t know what world I live in anymore: Student narratives of the COVID-19 pandemic. Society for Social Work Research 26th Annual Conference “Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice,” Washington, DC.

Lewis, M. (March 4, 2022). Strengths perspective in policy practice. Conference presentation for Joplin Professional Social Workers Group.

Naemi Jimenez, P., Brown, A., Clark, S., Byers, K., & Akin, B. A. (2022, Jan.). A confirmatory factor analysis of a brief version of the secondary traumatic stress-informed organization assessment (STSI_ OA). 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice, Washington, DC.

Schiele, J., Akin, B.A., A., Ali, S., Gil, K., & Sousa, C. (2022, May 24). Keynote panel discussion: Innovations in implementing anti-racist and inclusive practices in doctoral education [Virtual]. Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) Annual Conference: Societal Shifts and the Changing Landscape of Doctoral Education: Research, Pedagogy, and Public Impact, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

RESEARCH PRODUCTS

White, A.R. (2022, Feb.) Interview on Macro Social Work Practice Podcast [Public dissemination].

Levy, M. & Matejkowski, J. (2022, Sept. 7). Supporting learners in integrated behavioral health [Webinar, practitioner/community resource]. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration.

Faculty Member W to Elevate Unhear Voices to Infuenc Work Practice e

When asked about the future of social member of the KU School of Social has a career goal that may seem counterintuitive to some. “I want the profession to not exist anymore,” declares e alexander, Ph.D., assistant professor with the school and an affiliate with the KU Toni Johnson Center for Racial and Social Justice.

But on further examination, Dr. alexander’s goal makes all the sense in the world.

“Social work exists because social inequities exist. People often don’t know how to access resources, don’t have the agency to do so, or don’t have anyone to advocate for them in doing so,” Dr. alexander explains. “Ideally, I want to live in a society where social work isn’t necessary because when people have needs, members of their communities come together and take care of each other.

That’s how it is in my communities.” Dr. alexander is a Black woman from farming and mining communities, and a first-generation college graduate. “The adage in social work is, ‘When we do a good job, we work ourselves out of a job’ because clients don’t need us anymore!”

One of the ways Dr. alexander is working toward that future is by helping social welfare students to look at themselves and their clients differently.

First, social workers must understand their own frames of reference, which are shaped by factors such as their experiences, genders, races, and belief systems, because all those identities will impact their interaction with their clients.

“None of us is a blank slate. None of us is genderless, raceless, sizeless. If practitioners are not aware of their own personhood and the fact that their personhoods are not objective, and if they are not aware of those things in themselves and in their clients, then they have the potential to reproduce the very systems of oppression that make their jobs necessary in the first place,” Dr. alexander says.

As an example, Dr. alexander describes a possible scenario in which a social worker who is white and Christian is asked to assist a client who is a Muslim refugee from a country in East Africa. “If the social worker has never interrogated their own positionality in terms of race, nationality, and worldview, there are so many different ways they could end up being religiously oppressive or dismissive, or racist, or western-centric,” Dr. alexander points out. “They could do that harm and not even realize they are doing it. That’s why constant education and selfwork is important. It’s an ongoing process.”

Second, Dr. alexander says social workers must be able to see the world through the eyes of their clients and adapt their approaches to address a person’s unique needs. “A practitioner’s approach must be responsive to, and catered to, whomever they are serving. There is no cookie-cutter intervention or practice,” Dr. alexander explains.

In fact, Dr. alexander recommends that social workers go a step further and ask their clients what they need, instead of making assumptions about the best course of action on their behalf. “We need to ask the experts, the clients: ‘What would you need – what resources need to be accessible, what conditions need to exist – for your problems to go away?’ I guarantee they have ideas. These are the first steps in how practitioners should design interventions that sustain change –so they can work themselves out of their jobs!”

Dr. alexander’s academic research is grounded in community, culture and place, and focuses on developing new ways to elevate voices of individuals who have historically been unheard, excluded or harmed in academia. Currently, Dr. alexander is co-editing a book with Dr. Penny A. Pasque that collects the works of scholars who employ a wide variety of culturally responsive research methods.

Advancing Culturally Responsive Research and Researchers: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods will help faculty and other researchers learn

how to place cultural relevancy at the center of their work, with a goal of uplifting the voices and the needs of people who have historically been marginalized in research – including those who access human services.

“Practitioners could make for some of the strongest scholars! Techniques like interviewing, group work, and arts-based approaches are used in both therapeutic practice and research. Practitioners collect and construct data with clients, who are participants in that process,” Dr. alexander says.

“A lot of members of communities of Color, and low-income communities, and rural communities also do work that aligns with social welfare,” Dr. alexander points out. “They are the mothers of churches, PTA parents, community organizers, and others – people who have been advocating for their needs and rights for centuries.” Historically, these social change-makers have not been recognized by professions like social work because they lacked a professional title, certain degrees, institutional power, or access to resources. Dr. alexander wants to see that change.

“I want people who show up in the world the same way I do to know that they matter. Black women matter. Community workers of Color from low-income and rural communities matter,” Dr. alexander says. “And their labor matters! I want them to be affirmed that the knowledge they have cultivated throughout their lives from being in school, community, places of worship, and with family and friends, is just as valid and important as what they gain in a classroom. They need all of it to make the most positive impact, and all of it has a place in transformation work.”

Last, Dr. alexander asks members of the academy to prioritize sharing space with these experts – community workers and practitioners –so they can all learn from each other and co-create the strongest possible systems of mutual care that can be self-sustaining. “This collaboration could also allow everyone to pool and leverage their collective power, knowledge, access, resources, and credentials – toward this aim.” they are supported and engaging in behaviors that build their resilience, that will translate into better outcomes for participants.”

“Ideally, I want to live in a society where social work isn’t necessary because when people have needs, members of the communities come together and take care of each other. That’s how it is in my communities.”

FEATURED FACULTY & RESEARCH INVESTIGATORS

BECCI AKIN

Professor; PhD Director; Co-Director for the Center for Research to Transform Systems for Family, Community & Social Justice

Scholarship Focus

Equitable and effective child welfare practices and policies, foster care, adoption, children’s mental health, parent substance abuse, domestic violence, parent mental health, implementation research, intervention research, translational research, community-based research, evidence-based practice

Research Projects

• Kansas Strong For Children and Families (Principal Investigator)

• Kansas Family First Prevention Services Act Evaluation (CoInvestigator)

• Kansas Invests in Families (KinVest) (Principal Investigator)

• Fatherhood - Family-Focused, Interconnected, Resilient & Essential (FIRE) (Co-Investigator)

• Universal Prevention for Strong and Thriving Families (Family Strong) (Co-Investigator)

• Examination & Predictor of Youth Absent from Care (CoInvestigator)

• Oklahoma Partnership Initiative (Co-Investigator)

• Quality Improvement Center Violence in Child Welfare (QICDVCW) (Co-Investigator)

Read More Pgs. 8-15, 33-34, 39-40

E ALEXANDER

Assistant Professor

Scholarship Focus

Social disparities and protective factors on college campuses, with a focus on BIWOC and QTPOC; campuses as service providers, and campus employees as helping professionals; organizational behaviors in relation to labor politics and professionalization; culturally-sustaining research, teaching, training, and service provision; intersectional and neocolonial violence and resistance in higher education

Research Projects

• Professional Socialization of Black Graduate Womxn in Education (Principal Investigator)

• KU New Faculty Research Development Fund (Principal Investigator)

• Needs and experience of KU BSW and MSW BIPOC students during COVID (Principal Investigator)

Read More

Pgs. 23, 32, 39, 41-43

MEREDITH BAGWELL-GRAY

Assistant Professor

Scholarship Focus

Reduce health disparities for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV); sexual safety planning intervention to address HIV/STI risk, substance use, and trauma

Research Projects

• Survivor Link: Enhancing the Public Health Response to Domestic Violence (Co-Investigator)

• Cervical Cancer Prevention in Diverse Survivors of Gender Based Violence (Principal Investigator)

• Promoting Cervical Health for Latina Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Community Engagement Project to Culturally Adapt a Trauma-Informed Approach (Principal Investigator)

• Cervical Cancer Prevention among Survivors of Partner Violence: Technological Innovations for a Trauma-Informed Approach (Principal Investigator)

Read More

Pgs. 32-33, 39

MAHASWETA BANERJEE

Professor, BSW Program Director

Scholarship Focus

Theories and practices associated with enhancing social and economic justice; community development; micro-enterprise as an anti-poverty strategy; international social development; qualitative and quantitative research

JARED BARTON

Assistant Research Professor; Co-Director for the Center for Research to Transform Systems for Family, Community & Social Justice

Scholarship Focus

Child and family well-being; universal supports for prevention services and early childhood; transforming systems of child welfare; uptake of data and evidence in program improvement planning and data-driven decision-making; implementation and outcomes research; program evaluation

Research Projects

• Director of 8 sponsored projects for implementing Results Oriented Management (ROM Reports) (Principal Investigator)

• Evaluation of the Missouri Children’s Trust Capacity Building Project (Principal Investigator)

• Evaluation of the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund’s Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Initiative (Principal Investigator)

• Fatherhood - Family-Focused, Interconnected, Resilient & Essential (FIRE) (Principal Investigator)

• Interactive Reporting System for Child Welfare Administration and Management (Principal Investigator)

• Examination & Predictors of Youth Absent from Care (CoInvestigator)

• Kansas Family First Prevention Services Act Evaluation (CoInvestigator)

• Safe Sleep Grant Program Evaluation (Co-Investigator)

• Universal Prevention for Strong and Thriving Families (Family Strong) (Co-Investigator)

Read More Pgs. 8-9, 12-15

CHRISTINA BOYD

Associate Professor of Practice; Workforce Development Coordinator, Professional Education

Scholarship Focus

Behavioral health issues including SBIRT, Technology-Based Clinical Supervision, Behavioral Health Integration and Ethics in the Age of Technology; improving the delivery of integrated services in Kansas and across the country; equity of health resources in rural areas

Read More Pgs. 17, 19-21

JODY BROOK Professor

Scholarship Focus

Substance abuse across the lifespan, child welfare, family drug courts, substance abuse prevention, community substance abuse strategies, mixed research methods.

Research Projects

• Oklahoma Partnership Initiative (Principal Investigator)

• Oklahoma Infant Toddler Court Project (Co-Investigator)

Read More Pgs. 9, 11-12

KAELA BYERS

Associate Research Professor; Co-Director for the Center for Research to Transform Systems for Family, Community & Social Justice

Scholarship Focus

Social determinants of health and toxic stress; promotion of protective factors; child welfare and early childhood systems improvement; implementation and outcomes evaluation

Projects

• Examination & Predictors of Youth Absent from Care (Principal Investigator)

• Kansas Family First Prevention Services Act Evaluation (Principal Investigator)

• Universal Prevention for Strong and Thriving Families (Family Strong) (Principal Investigator)

• Evaluation of the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund’s Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Initiative (Co-Investigator)

• Fatherhood - Family-Focused, Interconnected, Resilient & Essential (FIRE) (Co-Investigator)

• Kansas Strong for Children and Families (Co-Investigator)

• Kansas Invests in Families (KinVest) (Co-Investigator)

• Safe Sleep Grant Program Evaluation (Co-Investigator)

Read More Pgs. 8-15, 23, 33-34, 40

JULIANA CARLSON

Associate Professor, Incoming BSW Program Director

Scholarship Focus

International organizational practices to engage men in genderbased violence prevention; formal support of new and expectant fathers to reduce child exposure to domestic violence; economic and social justice for families Projects

• Quality Improvement Center Violence in Child Welfare (QICDVCW) (Principal Investigator)

• Evaluation of Programs at KU Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center (Co-Investigator)

Read More Pgs. 8, 10, 32-33, 35, 40

MICHELLE CARNEY

Dean, Professor

Scholarship Focus

Intimate partner violence, at-risk youth, community practice, nonprofit development and management, program development and evaluation, leadership development, collaboration building and conflict resolution, grant writing, strategic planning

Read More

Pgs. 2, 17, 39

KORTNEY CARR

Associate Professor of Practice

Scholarship Focus

Intergenerational trauma, clinical practice in social work, leadership development, trauma and its impact on behaviors, relationships, and violence in communities, mental health

Read More

Pgs. 34, 39-40

WHITNEY GRUBE

Associate Researcher, Incoming Assistant Professor

Scholarship Focus

Child and adolescent mental health services, child and adolescent mental health policy, youth with serious emotional disturbance, child and adolescent wellbeing, impact of mental illness on children

and their families

Projects

• Attachment Bio-Behavioral Catch-Up Early Childhood Initiative (Co-Investigator)

• Universal Prevention for Strong and Thriving Families (Family Strong) (Co-Investigator)

Read More

Pgs. 10-12, 15

MELISSA “MISSY” HOLDER

Assistant Professor

Scholarship Focus

Research interest includes the impacts of historical trauma on intimate violence among Indigenous women, as well as the cultural integrity and competence of institutions of higher education serving Indigenous populations Projects

• Bridges to the Baccalaureate: KU-Haskell Bridge Program (Co-Investigator)

• Kansas Service Native American Families (KSNAF) (CoInvestigator)

Read More

Pgs. 18, 33-37

CHERYL HOLMES

Research Project Director

Scholarship Focus

Using a community based approach, Cheryl’s work focuses on physical/behavioral health, health disparities, and working with rural and frontier populations, including migratory and seasonal agricultural workers

Projects

• Health, Food, and Family: Rural Systems and COVID-19 Decision Making (Principal Investigator)

• Evaluation of the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund’s Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Initiative (Evaluator)

• Kansas Service Native American Families (KSNAF) (Evaluator)

• Quality Improvement Center Violence in Child Welfare (QICDVCW) (Evaluator)

Read More

Pgs. 10, 12, 24, 27

Assistant Professor

Scholarship Focus

Examines intersections of social work, gerontology, and sexuality with a focus on women and bisexual and other non-monosexualidentified older adults; explores life course trajectories and narratives of aging sexuality, sexual identity, and sexual expression; aims to support the sexual and intimate needs of older adults and the equitable health achievement of LGBTQ midlife and older adults.

Projects

• Cobble Something New: Mapping Bisexual Lives and Trajectories (Principal Investigator)

• Supporting the Equitable Health Achievement of Bisexual Midlife and Older Adults (Principal Investigator)

• Sexual Competencies, Policies, and Practices in Long-Term Care Settings for Older Adults (Principal Investigator)

Read More

Pgs. 8, 23-25, 29, 32-33, 39-40

KELLY JONES

Associate Professor of the Practice, Field Education Director

Scholarship Focus

Educational standards of field education and cohesive School and community partnerships, participatory budgetary decisions and policymaking, dementia care and public health in aging populations

Assistant Professor

Scholarship Focus

Climate change/climate justice; community-engaged research; disasters; ecosocial work; ethnographic methods; political ecology

Read More

Pg. 34

SARAH JEN

JOONMO KANG

NANCY JO KEPPLE

Associate Professor, MSW Program Director

Scholarship Focus

Social consequences of the availability, distribution, and use of psychoactive substances; substance use behaviors among parenting populations; the role of parent substance use in child welfare decision-making; and understanding the role of health and social service systems in addressing community needs

Projects

• Macro-level influences on police decision-making and engagement with victims of serious violent crime: A narrative case study of two states (Co-Investigator)

• Quality Improvement Center Violence in Child Welfare (QICDVCW) (Co-Investigator)

Award

Senior Administrative Fellow, University of Kansas, The Center for Faculty Development and Mentoring

Read More Pgs. 8, 10, 17, 23

TERRY KOENIG

Professor

Scholarship Focus

Ethical decision making in social work practice; social welfare philosophy; international social work development and crosscultural practices; Central Asian and post-Soviet issues; aging, elder abuse and self-neglect; qualitative research methods

Projects

• 2022 National Endowment for the Humanities (Principal Investigator)

• Digital Humanities Fellow, The long road out of Africa: Digital storytelling of African refugee journeys from home to Como, Italy (Principal Investigator)

Award 2021-2022 Digital Humanities Fellow

Read More Pgs. 34-35, 39-40

MICHELLE LEVY

Research Project Director

Scholarship Focus

Behavioral health, child and family services, social work education, and workforce development

Projects

• Integrated Health Scholars Program (HRSA) (Principal Investigator)

• Kansas Service Native American Families (KSNAF) (CoInvestigator)

Read More

Pgs. 10, 12, 24-25, 35, 40

MELINDA LEWIS

Associate Professor of Practice; Associate Director, CapacityBuilding & Community Evaluation for Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration

Scholarship Focus

Poverty and economic inequality, social change, strategies for effective policy advocacy, advocacy evaluation, and advocacy capacity-building for individuals and social service organizations.

Projects

• Health Forward Foundation (Evaluator)

Read More

Pgs. 10, 12, 17, 25-26, 35, 40

KILEY LIMING

Associate Researcher Projects

• Evaluation Services for the Oklahoma Regional Partnership 3 Grant (Principal Investigator)

• Oklahoma Infant Toddler Court Project (Principal Investigator)

Read More

Pgs. 9, 11

JASON MATEJKOWSKI

Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Associate Professor

Scholarship Focus

Mental illness and involvement with the criminal justice system, community integration of persons with mental illness, community corrections, integrated services for people with severe mental illness

Project

• Integrated Health Scholars Program (HRSA) (CoInvestigator)

Awards

Suzanne and Harry Statland Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship

Future Leaders in Social Work Education Program

National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work

Read More Pgs. 24, 40

BRIANA MCGEOUGH

Assistant Professor, Co-Director for the Center for LGBTQ+ Research & Advocacy

Scholarship Focus

Understanding and intervening on mental health disparities experienced by sexual minority individuals, particularly disparities in depression and alcohol use disorders

Project

• SMART Recovery Feasibility Trial, PI 12-Step and LGBTQ Participation (Principal Investigator)

Award

Best Practice Note of 2022, Families in Society

Read More Pgs. 8, 29-30

AMY MENDENHALL

Associate Dean for Research & Faculty Development; Professor; Director for the Center for Community Engagement & Collaboration

Scholarship Focus

Children’s mental health; child and family well-being; community based services; implementation research; intervention research; community-based research

Projects

• Attachment Bio-Behavioral Catch-Up Early Childhood Initiative (Principal Investigator)

• Evaluation Services for the Oklahoma Regional Partnership 3 Grant (Co-Investigator)

• Kansas Family First Prevention Services Act Evaluation (CoInvestigator)

• Kansas Service Native American Families (KSNAF) (CoInvestigator)

• Saint Francis Impact Assessment (Principal Investigator)

Read More

Pgs. 2, 9-11, 17

PEGAH NAEMI JIMENEZ

Associate Researcher

Scholarship Focus

Mixed method research and evaluation of social programs; racial equity and social justice

Projects

• Fatherhood - Family-Focused, Interconnected, Resilient & Essential (FIRE) (Evaluator)

• Kansas Strong for Children and Families (Evaluator)

• Kansas Invests in Families (KinVest) (Evaluator)

• Safe Sleep Grant Program Evaluation (Principal Investigator)

Read More

Pgs. 10, 12, 15, 33-34, 40

MEG PACELEY

Associate Professor, Director for Toni Johnson Scholars for Racial & Social Justice Program, Co-Director for the Center for LGBTQ+ Research & Advocacy

Scholarship Focus

Exploring the relationship between queer and trans youth’s social environments (communities, schools, families) and their health and well-being; community-based, qualitative, and mixed methods research; transforming stigmatizing environments that diminish well-being into affirming and supportive environments that promote healthy development and well-being for all queer and trans youth

Projects

• Evaluation of Mental Health Programs Provided by LGBTQ+ CBOs (Co-Investigator)

• COVID and School of Social Welfare Students (CoInvestigator)

• Evaluating an Internet-based Support Program for LGBTQ+ youth (Co-Investigator)

• Exploring the Relationship Between Community, Family, and School Factors and LGBTQ+ Youth Eating Disorders (CoInvestigator)

• LGBTQ Youth in Families Study (Co-Investigator)

• Kansas LGBTQ Youth Needs Assessment (Co-Investigator)

Awards

Selected Participant, 2023 annual “Sexual & Gender Minority Cancer 2022 Curriculum Advances Research Excellence (CARE)”

Workshop

Gene A. and Gretchen Budig Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Kansas School of Social Welfare

Christopher M. Sowa Outstanding Faculty and Staff Award, University of Kansas

Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity Mellon DEI Teaching Scholar, KU Center for Teaching Excellence and Lied Center for Performing Arts

Read More Pgs. 8-9, 11, 29-30, 39-40

Associate Professor of Practice; Liaison to Native Communities; Principal Equity Advisor

Scholarship Focus

Culturally grounded social work practice with oppressed populations, diversity, equity and inclusion in social work education, children and families, and evaluation of culturally adapted practices

Projects

• Kansas Service Native American Families (KSNAF) (Faculty Consultant)

Read More

Pgs. 33, 37

Scholarship Focus

Nonsuicidal self-injury across the lifespan, child and adolescent mental health and trauma, centering the perspectives of youth with marginalized identities, integrating micro and macro approaches, mixed methods research

Project

• LGBTQ Youth Needs Assessment (Co-Investigator)

Read More

Pgs. 8, 10, 23, 32, 34, 39-40

Associate Professor, DSW Program Director

Scholarship Focus

Anti-poverty programs and policies; social justice; policy and social change strategies

LAURA RAMIREZ

MICHAEL RIQUINO

Assistant Professor

EDWARD SCANLON

SICONG “SUMMER” SUN

Assistant Professor

Scholarship Focus

Social determinants of health and health equity; asset building and financial capability; poverty, inequality, and social mobility

Read More

Pgs. 11, 23

CARRIE WENDEL-HUMMELL

Research Project Director

Scholarship Focus

Dr. Wendel-Hummell’s research interests include aging, disability, mental health over the life course, and long term services and supports (LTSS)

Projects

• Care and Safety Practices During COVID-19 in Home Based Care (Principal Investigator)

• Kansas Disability Waitlist Study (Evaluator)

Read More

Pgs. 24-25

RENEE WHITE

Associate Professor of the Practice

Read More Pgs. 18, 39-40

CLAIRE WILLEY-STHAPIT

Assistant Professor

Scholarship Focus

Building on her family ties and professional experiences in Pokhara, Nepal, Dr. Willey-Sthapit’s scholarship centers translations between domestic violence research, policy, and practice, both within the United States and in international development settings. She has also been involved in research examining community strategies to address domestic violence and men’s gender equitable attitudes and behaviors.

Projects

• How Service Providers Negotiate International Knowledge and Knowledge Acquired through Community Practice to Address Domestic Violence (Principal Investigator)

• Gender Equitable Consciousness and Behaviors Project

Read More Pgs. 32-33

PHD GRADUATES, CANDIDATES, & STUDENTS

JENNIFER ANANDA HEATHER LASSMANN**

LINDA BANDA** KRISTINA MATTHEWS

(Pgs. 8, 10, 32, 40)

OMOWUNMI OLALEYE

KORTNEY CARR (Pg. 11)

(Pgs. 34, 39-40)

MICHELLE RIDLEY

SHELBY CLARK* (Pg. 10)

(Pgs. 8-11, 33-34, 40)

PATRICIA SATTLER**

APRIL DIAZ (Pgs. 9, 11, 34)

(Pgs. 8, 10, 40)

MEGAN DROVETTA

CAMILAH HICKS

(Pg. 11)

MIJIN JEONG*

(Pgs. 23-24, 32, 34)

*Graduated Spring 2022

**Graduated Summer 2022

NIKOLAUS SCHUETZ

KELECHI WRIGHT

(Pgs. 10, 33, 34, 39-40)

KELLY YOUNG

FEATURED RESEARCH STAFF

SHARAH DAVIS-GROVES

(Pg. 11)

KALEENA ERWIN

(Pg. 12)

VICKI MCARTHUR

(Pgs. 10-11, 40)

SARAH MCCALL

(Pgs. 8-11, 33-34)

ALANEA HANNA

(Pg. 11)

ARIANA NASRAZADANI

(Pg. 12)

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS & SPONSORS

THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WELFARE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MANY SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO MADE OUR WORK POSSIBLE IN 2022. TOGETHER WITH THESE PARTNERS, WE HAVE ENGAGED IN TRANSFORMATIVE SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH WHICH HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES IN KANSAS AND BEYOND.

• ACLU of Kansas

• Administration for Children and Families

• Adult Therapeutic Community

• Aetna Better Health of Kansas

• Alzheimer’s Disease Center at KUMC

• Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas

• Avenue of Life

• Bert Nash

• Big Tent Coalition

• Bridges--Haskell Bridge, Haskell Bridges students

• Capacity Building Center for Courts

• Capacity Building Center for States

• Casey Family Programs - Annie E. Casey

• Central Plains Area Agency on Aging Disability Rights Center

• Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago

• Child Advocacy and Parenting Services

• Children’s Bureau

• Children’s Mercy

• Children’s Trust Fund of Missouri

• Colorado Department of Human Services

• Cometa in Como, Italy

• Community Care Network of Kansas

• Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

• Community Solutions, Inc.

• Compass Behavioral Health

• Connecticut Department of Children and Families

• Cornerstones of Care

• DCCCA

• DFCS Agencies - IL, MA, PA

• Family Council

• Family Resource Center of Crawford County

• FosterAdopt Connect

• Futures without Violence

• GLSEN Kansas

• Great Circle

• Haskell Hiawatha Center for Justice

• Haskell Indian Nations University

• HCC Network

• Health Forward Foundation

• Horizons Community Mental Health Center

• Indigenous Community Center

• Iowa Department of Human Services

• Johnson County Department of Corrections

• KAN (KanCare Advocates Network)

• Kansas Advocates for Better Care

• Kansas Bar Association

• Kansas CASA Association

• Kansas Center for Recruitment and Retention

• Kansas Center for Rural Health

• Kansas Chapter National Association of Social Workers

• Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund

• Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL)

• Kansas City Indian Center Region 7

• Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence

• Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities

• Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services

• Kansas Department for Children and Families

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• Kansas Department of Administration

• Kansas Department of Corrections - Juvenile Services

• Kansas Department of Education

• Kansas Department of Health and Environment

• Kansas Disability Caucus

• Kansas Family Advisory Network

• Kansas Health Institute

• Kansas Legal Services

• Kansas Mental Health Coalition

• Kansas Office of Judicial Administration

• Kansas Parents as Teachers

• Kansas Pediatric Foundation

• Kid’s Harbor

• KSNAF Steering Committee

• KVC

• Lafayette County Health Department

• Lafayette Regional Health Center

• Lawrence Douglas County Health Department/ Success by Six

• LiveWell Northwest Kansas

• Loving Grace Organization, Joplin MO

• Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund

• Minds Matter, inc.

• Missouri Children’s Trust Fund

• Missouri Department of Social Services

• MOCSA Prevention Partners

• National Association of Community Health Centers

• National Center for Farmworker Health

• National Rural Health Association

• Nebraska Iowa Tribe of Kansas

• Nebraska Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas

• New Mexico’s Child, Youth, & Families Department

• Newton County Library System, Neosho, MO

• Office of Children, Youth, and Families

• Office of Family Assistance

• Office of Judicial Affairs

• Ohio Department of Job and Family Service

• Oklahoma Department of Human Services

• Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

• Oregon Department of Human Services

• Overland Park Regional Medical Center

• Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation

• Rainbows United

• Representative Haswood

• Rose Brooks Center

• Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI)

• Russell Child Development Center

• Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas

• Saint Francis Health Ministries

• Salina DA

• Self-Advocates of Kansas

• Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office

• SIRJ – Salina Initiative for Restorative Justice

• Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care

• Southern Plains Tribal Health Board

• Southwest Developmental Services, Inc.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

• Sunflower Health Plan

• Supreme Court Task Force on Permanency Planning Committee

• TFI Family Services, Inc.

• Topeka Center for Peace and Justice

• Topeka DA

• Topeka Independent Living Resource Center

• Tribal Food Systems

• Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• United Methodist Health Ministry Fund

• Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy

• University of Kansas and Haskell Indigenous representatives

• University of Kansas and Haskell Indigenous students

• University of Kansas Biologists

• University of Kansas Care Coordination

• University of Kansas Center for Migration Research

• University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research

• University of Kansas Center for Telemedicine and Telehealth

• University of Kansas Health System – Marillac

• University of Kansas Institute for Policy and Social Research

• University of Kansas Medical Center

• University of Kansas School of Medicine

• University of Kansas School of Nursing

• University of Kansas School of Pharmacy

• University of Oklahoma Health Science

• Van Go, Inc.

• Wichita LGBT Health Network

• Wichita State University

• Wichita State University

• Wyandotte DA