Davis, M. J., Raines, J. A., Benson, C. L., McDonald, C., & Altizer, R. A. (2021). Toward a framework for developing virtual reality skills training in human services. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 39(3), 295-313. Go to article

• Virtual reality (VR) is used increasingly for training in human services. A framework that can guide the development and implementation of VR training approaches in human services is needed if the promise of VR is to be realized. To this end, the authors provide design and development recommendations originating from work creating two VR training applications for the child welfare workforce. Their focus is on the training and practice of skills. They begin by providing a brief overview of VR training and the need for effective skills training approaches. Next, orienting information about the two applications is provided. Then, they discuss areas they believe need to be addressed to develop effective VR skills training approaches; namely, incorporating evidence-based learning theories, gaining and maintaining learner engagement using motivational strategies, and creating collaborative technology development teams. The article concludes with a discussion regarding ethical issues that should be considered when developing technology that will be used for training in human services.

Bettmann [Schaefer], J. E., Anderson, I., Makouske, J., & Hanley, A. W. (accepted). Mental health outcomes of peer-led therapeutic adventure for military veterans. Journal of Experiential Education. Accepted in: September 2021.

• Skepticism of therapy and stigma are significant barriers for veterans with mental health issues. Therapeutic adventure shows promise in addressing veterans’ mental health needs while circumventing the stigma many veterans face in initiating treatment. Given the small group model of therapeutic adventure programs, such programs may be ideal to provide social support for veterans and reduce mental health symptomology. This study investigated: can a brief peer-led therapeutic adventure program modify veterans’ mental health symptoms? Results indicated significant reduction in mental health symptomology from pre-trip to post-trip, but showed few longer-term changes in mental health symptomology. The study's findings are consistent with research suggesting improvements in overall psychological well-being immediately following a nature-based intervention, and suggest the need for ongoing, community-based interventions to optimally support military veterans’ mental health.

Sanyer, M., Bettmann [Schaefer], J. E., Anstadt, G., Ganesh, K. A., & Hanley, A. W. (accepted). Decenter to re-enter nature: Relationships between nature connectedness, self-transcendence, and decentering. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice. Accepted in: September 2021.

• Previous research proposed that a tendency to decenter from internal events may encourage feelings of nature connectedness by altering the individual’s sense of self. This research suggested decentering from an egocentric to an allocentric frame of reference leads to feelings that one’s sense of self is interdependent with the natural world. However, whether self-transcendence mediates the relationship between decentering and nature connectedness has not been empirically examined. This study investigated the relationship between decentering, self-transcendence, and nature connectedness in two separate samples. The authors hypothesized that: a) positive relationships would be observed between each variable of interest, and that b) decentering would be linked with nature connectedness via self-transcendence. Two samples were recruited from Mechanical Turk. Correlational analysis showed significant, positive correlations between the variables of decentering, self-transcendence, and nature connectedness. The authors also conducted path analyses to examine relationships between decentering, self-transcendence, and nature connectedness. In both samples, decentering had a direct, positive association with self-transcendence, and self-transcendence had a direct, positive association with nature connectedness. Decentering experiences appear to decrease rumination, increase cognitive flexibility, improve problem-solving, reduce depressive symptomology, and reduce the likelihood of depressive relapse. Therefore, clinicians should seek to implement specific interventions that promote decentering and self-transcendence in session.

Bettmann [Schaefer], J. E., Kouris, G. M., Anderson, I. M., & Cassleman, B. (2021). Wilderness as healing environment: Treating adolescent substance misuse in wilderness therapy. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 74(1), 249-264. Go to article

• This paper reviews three psychoanalytic conceptualizations of substance misuse, discussing the implications for substance treatment deriving from these conceptualizations. The paper also presents wilderness therapy as an evidence-based approach, reviewing the outcomes and primary components of such programs. Finally, the paper concludes with two case studies of adolescents with substance use disorders treated in wilderness therapy.

Bettmann [Schaefer], J. E., Prince, K. C., Ganesh, K., Rugo, K. F., Bryan. A. O., Bryan, C. J., Rozek, D. C., & Leifker, F. R. (2021). The effect of time outdoors on veterans receiving treatment for PTSD. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77(9), 2-41-2056. Go to article

• Duration, frequency, and intensity of nature exposure link to different physical and psychological benefits. This study aimed to determine how time outdoors affected military veterans’ posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology during PTSD treatment. The study found that time outdoors correlated with participants’ decreased PTSD symptomology: the more time participants spent outdoors, the greater the reduction in their PTSD symptoms. The effect of time outdoors was significant within-person, not between persons, suggesting that nature exposure may be used as an adjunct to traditional mental health treatment where exposure or dosage should be person-specific.

Leonard, A., Hoellger, L., Bettmann [Schaefer], J. E., Kouris, G., & Ganesh, K. (2021). Sierra club military outdoors: A nature-based intervention for female veterans. In D. L. Dustin, K. S. Bricker, D. A. Tysor, & M. T. J. Brownlee (Eds.), Outdoor recreation and our military family: Pathways to recovery. Champaign, IL: Sagamore Venture. ISBN: 978152815270.

• Nature-based interventions may be particularly promising for veterans. The outdoor setting and activities in nature-based programs may decrease stigma associated with mental illness and its treatment, as well as promote open veteran-provider and veteran-peer communication. This article argues that nature-based interventions for female veterans are critically needed to address the specific psychological needs of this population. The article presents the example of the Sierra Club Military Outdoors program as one such intervention.

Hopkins. P. D., Spears, C. A, Hoover, D. S., Li, L,  Cambron, C., Potter, L.,  Cinciripini, P., Lam, C. Y., Wetter, D. W. (accepted). Trajectories of motivation and self-efficacy during a smoking quit attempt: An ecological momentary assessment study. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Advance online publication. Go to article

• Conceptual models of addiction highlight self-efficacy and motivation as key variables important during a smoking quit attempt; however, recent research has primarily focused on self-efficacy. Given the importance of motivation in these models, a clearer understanding of the effects of motivation during a smoking quit attempt is needed. This study utilized ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to investigate the dynamic effects of motivation and self-efficacy early in a quit attempt. Participants were 356 smokers (45% male; 34% African American, 33% non-Hispanic White, 33% Latino). Participants completed EMAs of motivation, self-efficacy, and smoking for 4 days prequit through 1 week postquit, and returned for a follow-up assessment at 4 weeks postquit. Trajectory parameters of motivation and self-efficacy (mean, slope, and volatility) were analyzed in separate and combined regression models to predict smoking outcomes. Prequit results showed that parameters of motivation and self-efficacy were not associated with smoking on quit day. Postquit analyses revealed that participants with lower mean levels of motivation and self-efficacy were more likely to smoke at the end of Week 1. Moreover, individuals with decreasing levels of motivation over the first week of their quit attempt were more likely to be smoking at the end of Week 4. These findings highlight the need to incorporate dynamic measures of motivation in smoking research. Furthermore, the results underscore the value of utilizing EMA methods and trajectory parameters to gain a more nuanced understanding of the dynamic effects that key mechanisms have on smoking during a quit attempt.

Vinci, C., Cambron, C., Lam, C. Y., & Wetter, D. W. (2021). Perceived discrimination and smoking lapse among Mexican Americans: An ecological momentary assessment study. Health Psychology, 40(6), 388-397. Go to the article

• Racial/ethnic minorities face unique stressors, including perceived discrimination (PD), that may increase the difficulty of quitting smoking relative to the general population of smokers. This study examines the impact of acute PD on smoking lapse during a quit attempt, as well as potential mechanisms linking PD to lapse among Spanish-speaking Mexican Americans. Results indicated that PD operated indirectly through negative affect, positive affect, and urge to smoke, above and beyond other mechanisms, to increase risk for smoking lapse. Findings have direct implications for intervention development among this population, including the potential for developing strategies to buffer the impact of PD, as well as skills to directly manage increased negative affect and urge to smoke. Just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) might be particularly useful, given they are designed to deliver treatment in real-time (e.g., delivery of strategies to build resilience and implement coping strategies) that could counter the impact of PD on smoking lapse.

Potter, L., Haaland, B., Cincirpini, P., Cambron, C., Lam, C. Y., & Wetter, D. W. (2021). A time-varying model of the dynamics of smoking lapse. Health Psychology, 40(1), 40-50. Go to article

• The majority of smokers who make a quit attempt experience their first lapse within the first week of quitting, yet limited research to-date has examined how the strength and direction of the relationship between smoking risk factors and lapse may change over longer periods of time. Time-varying effect modeling (TVEM) was used to address this gap. Some associations were stable (e.g., negative affect, motivation), whereas others varied over time. Abstinence self-efficacy, positive affect, and positive coping expectancies were most strongly associated with lapse between days three and eight post-quit. The association of urge with lapse was strongest between days four and 10, as well as near the end of the quit attempt. Stress was also most strongly associated with lapse near the beginning and end of the post-quit period and was the only predictor associated with lapse on quit date. The strength of the association between smoking expectancies and lapse increased over time. There may be periods during a quit attempt when certain risk factors are more strongly related to lapse. This work has relevance for tailoring interventions designed to deliver intervention components in particular contexts or times of need.

Catalano, R. F., Hawkins, J. D., Kosterman, K., Bailey, J. A., Oesterle, S., Cambron, C., & Farrington, D. P. (2021). Applying the social development model in middle childhood to promote healthy development: Effects from primary school through the 30s and across generations. Journal of Developmental and Life Course Criminology, 7, 66-86. Go to article

• This paper describes the origins and application of a theory, the social development model (SDM), that seeks to explain causal processes that lead to the development of prosocial and problem behaviors. The SDM was used to guide the development of a multicomponent intervention in middle childhood called Raising Healthy Children (RHC) that seeks to promote prosocial development and prevent problem behaviors. This paper reviews and integrates the tests of the SDM and the impact of RHC. This integrative paper provides one of the few examples of the power of theory-driven developmental preventive intervention to understand impact across generations, and the power of embedding controlled tests of preventive intervention within longitudinal studies to understand causal mechanisms. The authors describe effects of the full multicomponent RHC intervention delivered in grades one through six by comparing outcomes of those children assigned to the full RHC intervention condition to controls from middle childhood through age 39. They also report the effects of the full RHC intervention on the firstborn children of participants compared with the firstborn children of controls. The use of the theory to guide the development and testing of preventive interventions, and the utility of nesting intervention tests within longitudinal studies for testing both theory and interventions, is discussed.

Canham, S. L.,Humphries, J., Seetharaman, K., Custodio, K., Mauboules, C., Good, C., Lupick, D., & Bosma, H. (2021). Hospital-to-shelter/housing interventions for persons experiencing homelessness. International Journal on Homelessness. Advance online publication. Go to article

• Persons with lived and living experiences of homelessness (PWLEs) commonly use hospitals and emergency departments to access healthcare, yet support for transitions from hospital to shelter/housing can be challenging to access. To improve the continuity of care and health outcomes for PWLEs who are being discharged from hospitals, a more complete understanding of two hospital-to-shelter/housing programs in Metro Vancouver, Canada was sought. Using a community-based participatory research approach, the authors conducted in-depth interviews in-person or by phone. Data were analyzed in NVivo 12 to identify successes including: 1) achieving health stability and recovery following hospital discharge; 2) having privacy and freedom while in the program; 3) building relationships with providers; 4) having formal support to find housing; and 5) cross-sector relationships between providers. Challenges included: 1) limited availability of affordable and appropriate housing; 2) other guests’ ways of life; 3) complex needs versus limited after-care resources; and 4) inequities in program access. While hospital-to-shelter/housing programs can serve as intervention opportunities to connect PWLEs to permanent housing, discharge plans need to acknowledge the local limitations on housing availability and offer short-term options for patients who require sub-acute rest and convalescence.

Canham, S. L., Moore, P., Custodio, K., & Bosma, H. (2021). Homeism: Naming the stigmatization and discrimination of persons experiencing homelessness. Housing, Theory and Society. Advance online publication. Go to article

• The authors examined stigmatization and discrimination experienced during the process of hospital discharge by people with lived experience of homelessness (PWLEs). The authors propose the term ‘homeism’ as the discrimination (behavior) toward an individual who is homeless; this form of discrimination is the result of negative stereotypes (stigmas) toward individuals who are experiencing homelessness. Based on a qualitative secondary data analysis of interviews with 20 shelter/housing and healthcare providers and 20 PWLEs, the authors identified four categories related to homeism: 1) who stigmatizes PWLEs and where stigmatization and discrimination occur, 2) reasons why PWLEs experience stigmatization and discrimination, 3) outcomes of stigmatization and discrimination, and 4) recommendations to reduce or eliminate stigma and discrimination. The authors propose a conceptual model that depicts the processes of homeism, including precursors, experiences, and outcomes. By naming homeism, we aim to instigate housing activism and future scholarship on this phenomenon to be pursued alongside interventions aimed at eliminating homeism.

Canham, S. L.,Humphries, J., Moore, P., Burns, V., & Mahmood, A. (2021). Shelter/housing options, supports, and interventions for older people experiencing homelessness. Ageing & Society, 1-27. Advance online publication. Go to article

• While experiences of later-life homelessness are known to vary, classification of shelter, housing and service models that meet the diverse needs of older people with experiences of homelessness (OPEH) are limited. To address this gap, a scoping review was conducted of shelter/housing options, supports, and interventions for OPEH. Fourteen databases were searched for English-language peer-reviewed and/or empirical literature published between 1999 and 2019, resulting in the inclusion of 22 sources. Through a collaborative, iterative process of reading, discussing, and coding, data extracted from the studies were organized into six models: 1) long-term care; 2) permanent supportive housing (PSH), including PSH delivered through Housing First; 3) supported housing; 4) transitional housing; 5) emergency shelter settings with health and social supports; and 6) case management and outreach. Program descriptions and OPEH outcomes are described and contribute to our understanding that multiple shelter/housing options are needed to support diverse OPEH. The categorized models are considered alongside existing “aging in place” research, which largely focuses on older adults who are housed. Through extending discussions of aging in the “right” place to diverse OPEH, additional considerations are offered. Future research should explore distinct sub-populations of OPEH and how individual-level supports for ageing in place must attend to mezzo- and macro-level systems and policies.

Canham, S. L.,Walsh, C. A., Sussman, T., Humphries, J., Nixon, L., & Burns, V. F. (2021). Identifying shelter and housing models for older people experiencing homelessness. Journal of Aging and Environment. Advance online publication. Go to article

• Limited research has identified the types of shelter/housing and supports for the growing population of older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) and the extent to which existing models align with their needs. To redress this gap, the authors conducted an environmental scan and three World Café workshops to identify and characterize shelter/housing models for OPEH in Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver (Canada). Fifty-two models were identified and categorized into six shelter/housing types based on the program length of stay and level of health and social supports provided onsite: 1) emergency, transitional, or temporary shelter/housing with supports; 2) independent housing with offsite community-based supports; 3) supported independent housing with onsite, non-medical supports; 4) permanent supportive housing with onsite medical support and/or specialized services; 5) long-term care for individuals with complex health needs and; 6) palliative care/hospice, offering end-of-life services. Models that met the unique needs of OPEH had coordinated supports, social and recreational programming, assistance with daily tasks, and had a person-centered, harm-reduction approach to care. This typology of shelter/housing models offers a basis from which local and regional governments can audit their existing shelter/housing options and determine where there may be gaps in supporting OPEH.

Marshall, G., Canham, S. L., Kahana, E., Larson, E., & Gallo, W. (2021). Mortgage delinquency, foreclosure, and cognition in later life. Housing and Society. Advance online publication. Go to article

• The rapid growth in housing insecurity among older adults is a major public health concern. While there is evidence that stress contributes to poor health, the relationship between housing-related financial stressors and cognitive functioning is relatively unknown. The authors investigated the association between the personal experiences of mortgage delinquency and foreclosure and cognition and its sub-components of episodic memory and mental status among Americans age 65 years and older. Using the data from two concatenated waves (2010, 2012) of the Health and Retirement Study, the authors analyzed data for respondents (N=6612) across both waves using generalized linear regressions. Their findings suggest that there is a negative association between mortgage delinquency/foreclosure and cognitive scores. Further, the authors found a negative association between mortgage delinquency and mental status among women, specifically. These results highlight the importance of financial well-being vis-à-vis housing stability and its significance to mental well-being and cognition of adults in later-life. Future research is needed to identify macro-level stressors such as mortgage delinquency and/or foreclosure. Such information would improve strategies for prevention and intervention, particularly for older adults living on fixed incomes who have little opportunity to earn pre-retirement levels of income.

O'Dea, E., Wister, A., & Canham, S. L.(2021). Cultural generativity in perspective: Motivations of older Jewish volunteers. Ageing and Society, 1-19. Advance publication online. Go to article

• The physical, mental and social benefits for older adults who volunteer are well-documented. Absent from this area of research is an understanding of volunteer motivations among ethnoculturally diverse older adults. This paper addresses this research gap by examining motivations to volunteer related to cultural generativity among Jewish older adults, a group that remains underexplored in research. Cultural generativity is defined as an impulse to pass down one's culture to the next generation, and thus to outlive the self. The Jewish community is notable for possessing high levels of social capital, indicated by close community ties and the large number of faith and culturally based organizations, and therefore makes them an important ethnocultural group to study. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 adult volunteers age 65 and over. The guiding research questions for this study were: “What are the motivations to volunteer among older Jewish adults?” and “Do these motivations align with the concept of generativity applied to Jewish culture?” Data analysis identified three themes related to cultural generativity: volunteering to preserve and pass down Jewish traditions and teachings; a Jewish ethic of giving back perceived as a duty; and experiences of anti-Semitism and discrimination motivating Jewish participants to volunteer. Findings suggest the ways in which cultural generativity may be expressed through volunteerism.

Canham, S. L.,Humphries, J., Danielsen, C., Small, S., & Bosma, H. (2021). Design considerations for the development and implementation of a medical respite for older adults experiencing homelessness in Metro Vancouver. Medical Care,59(4), S146-S153. Go to article

• Older persons with lived or living experience of homelessness (PWLEs) often live with complex physical and/or mental health conditions which are challenged by poor access to health services, especially primary care. To fill the gap in the continuum of care following hospital discharge for PWLEs, medical respite provides health and shelter support for PWLEs who do not have acute care needs that qualify for a stay in a hospital bed, yet are too sick or frail to recover on the streets or in a traditional shelter. This study examines how a medical respite could be designed for older PWLEs in Metro Vancouver, BC. Participants offered rich suggestions about: a) the culture of the medical respite, b) the physical design of a medical respite, c) individuals who should be involved in medical respite delivery, d) services a medical respite should provide, and e) who the medical respite should serve. When designing a medical respite for older PWLEs, considerations include providing an environment where patients can rest, but also feel safe and be surrounded by persons who they trust and who care for them. Developing a medical respite that adheres to the tenets of trauma-informed and patient-centered care acknowledges the mistrust and traumatization that often accompanies homeless patients presenting to health care.

Canham, S. L.,Bosma, H., Palepu, A., Small, S., & Danielsen, C. (2021). Prioritizing patient perspectives when designing intervention studies for homeless older adults. Research on Social Work Practice,31(6), 610-620. Go to article

• Medical respite provides postacute care to people experiencing homelessness upon hospital discharge if they are too sick to recover on the streets or in a traditional shelter. This study examined the feasibility of conducting a study to test the effectiveness of a medical respite intervention for older people experiencing homelessness. Participants’ considerations for how to design a program of research included: 1) desired qualities of researchers; 2) preferences for study design; 3) mechanisms for participant recruitment and retention; 4) what, where, and how to collect data; and 5) barriers and motivations to participation. Findings from this study build on an emerging research base on how to appropriately engage vulnerable patient groups, including older people experiencing homelessness, in trauma-informed research by including peer researchers on research teams to serve as advisors throughout the research process.

Canham, S. L.,Humphries, J., Kupferschmidt, A. L., & Lonsdale, E. (2021). Updated understanding of the experiences and perceptions of alcohol use in later life. Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue Canadienne du Vieillissement, 40(3), 424–435. Go to article

• The purpose of this study was to update our understandings of older adults’ experiences and perceptions of alcohol use. Taking a community-based research approach, three Knowledge Café workshops hosted 66 older adults and service providers in Vancouver, BC. Thematic analysis identified three overarching categories: a) reasons older adults use alcohol, including out of habit, social expectations, or to self-medicate; b) personal experiences of alcohol use, including reduced consumption over time as a result of the cost of alcohol, the physical effects, and increased knowledge about the effects of alcohol; and c) older adults’ perceptions of alcohol use outcomes, including positive outcomes from drinking in moderation and negative outcomes that can worsen one’s health, lead to tolerance, and harm others. Developing and promoting healthy drinking behaviors in later life is needed as the general population continues to age.

Canham, S. L.,Fang, M. L., & Wada, M. (2021). Advancing the concept of resilience for older adults who are experiencing homelessness. In A. Wister & T. Cosco (Eds.), Resilience and aging: Emerging science and future possibilities (pp. 245-268). Springer. ISBN: 9783030570880. Go to chapter

• Current conceptualizations of resilience are ambiguous, with neither consensus on the definition nor agreement on how resilience is measured and experienced across populations and subgroups. Moreover, guidance on how to further enhance understandings of resilience and expand resilience research and policy applied to vulnerable groups of aging persons is in its infancy. For example, existing definitions of resilience have overlooked the lived experiences of homeless older adults—individuals who have much to offer in terms of progressing notions on how some people “stand up” to adversity and “bounce back” to a state of physical and psychological homeostasis across the life course. To address this gap in the empirical literature, the researchers use data from a community-engaged research project, which examined the health supports needed for individuals experiencing homelessness upon hospital discharge, to develop a conceptual model of resilience pertinent to homeless older adults. The authors offer a brief overview of existing conceptualizations of resilience, followed by a description of late-life resilience that focuses on cumulative adaptive capability across different temporal locations. Subsequently, they provide a comparison of resilience among homeless individuals generally and homeless older adults, in order to identify unique characteristics of resilience. Finally, based on narratives of significant adversity experienced by homeless older adults while accessing (or attempting to access) healthcare in Vancouver, Canada, the authors offer a critical analysis of “resilience in ecological context” operationalized by successive levels of human development across micro-, meso-, exo-, and macro-systems. A conceptual model is developed based on reported adversities and challenges articulated in a sample of homeless individuals, which can be used to shape research, policy, and practice.

Humphries, J. & Canham, S. L.(2021). Conceptualizing the shelter and housing needs and solutions of homeless older adults. Housing Studies,36(2), 157-179. Go to article

• Estimates of the number of homeless older adults are highly variable, but the proportion is expected to increase in Western countries as the general population ages. Much of the current literature on homelessness among older adults focuses on the causes of homelessness in later life, along with the health outcomes and service needs of this population. However, there is a dearth of research investigating potential shelter/housing solutions specific to homeless older adults that would meet their unique needs. This scoping review investigated the needs for housing homeless older adults and potential solutions. Based on thematic analysis of findings from 19 sources of primary research, the authors developed a conceptual model that suggests distinct, senior-specific needs and shelter/housing solutions of both newly and chronically homeless older adults.

Fang, M. L., Sixsmith, J., Canham, S. L.,& Woolrych, R. (2021). Aging in the right place: Participatory and community mapping for collaborative working and knowledge co-creation. In P. Liamputtong (Eds.), Handbook of social inclusion: Research and practices in health and social sciences (pp. 1-21). Springer: Singapore. ISBN 978-3-030-48277. Go to chapter

• Tenets of aging in the right place emphasize the importance of creating accessible and inclusive environments that enable older people to maintain their health and well-being through developing a sense of belonging, autonomy, independence, safety, and security. Creating functional and “meaningful” environments for aging extends beyond altering physical surroundings and requires consideration of the psychosocial and cultural aspects of places and spaces. This chapter examines the role of place in the lives of older people through the use of participatory and community mapping as an innovative visual and participatory technique for including the voices of older people in the research process. There is a need for research methods to permit older adult’s expression of their sense of aging-in-place, and for researchers to understand what aging in the right place means to older people. This chapter draws on three “place-making with older people” projects in Canada and the UK to demonstrate application of this method in practice to: 1) better understand older people’s sense-of-place needs, and 2) articulate place within the context of their immediate environments and the wider community. Data from three community-based participatory research (CBPR) projects highlight how inclusive methods such as community mapping can foster inclusive spaces where older adults have the opportunity to collaborate with a range of community stakeholders in a co-created planning process that uncovers nuanced and deeper meanings of older adults’ sense-of-place.

Smith, E., Moore, P., & Canham, S. L.(2021). Examining the needs of persons experiencing homelessness: Bringing the voice of lived experience to policy priorities. International Journal on Homelessness, 1(1), 14-31. Go to article

• Policy related to homelessness varies across federal, state, and local levels influencing access to health and social services among persons experiencing homelessness. With a diversity of community stakeholders comes a diversity of ideas about which health and social services to provide and prioritize. Despite the unique insights people experiencing homelessness (PEH) are able to offer on their own situations, their voices often remain excluded from research and policy. The aim of this study was to identify the basic needs and health and social service priorities of PEH, to incorporate these voices into policy decisions and prioritization. Fifteen participants age 18 and older who had any experience of homelessness in Salt Lake County participated in in-depth qualitative interviews between February and March 2020. Open-ended questions enabled the interviews to naturally progress and focus on what was most relevant to participants and their experience. Data were categorized into the services and supports identified as the most needed by PEH and to help lift people out of homelessness: 1) housing and shelter, 2) income and employment, 3) transportation, 4) food, 5) physical and mental health services, and 6) social support. The authors describe the needs, challenges, and solutions as identified and narrated by study participants. Findings offer critical insight into how the homelessness crisis should be approached by policymakers as the ways in which PEH understand and utilize the system of available resources and supports must align with their abilities and realities. Without these in-depth discussions with PEH about how they understand and meet their basic needs, there will be ongoing gaps in service delivery and mismatches in the attempts made to serve this population.

Fang, M. L., Sixsmith, J., Woolrych, R., Canham, S. L.,Battersby, L., Ren, T. H. & Sixsmith, A., (2021). Case study: A community-based approach to developing optimal housing for low-income older adults. In A. Sixsmith, J. Sixsmith, A. Mihailidis, & M. L. Fang (Eds.), Knowledge, innovation, and impact: A guide for the engaged health researcher (pp. 59-63). Springer: New York. ISBN 9783030343897. Go to chapter

• Since 2014, the Gerontology Research Centre at Simon Fraser University, in partnership with the Richmond Kiwanis Senior Citizens Housing Society and the city of Richmond, has overseen the transition of low-income senior tenants from old, dilapidated accommodations into an affordable housing redevelopment project (Kiwanis Towers) in Richmond, British Columbia. The challenge was ensuring the seniors experienced their move with reduced stress and to find solutions for enhanced social participation to prevent loneliness and social isolation. To do this, a transdisciplinary partnership was created among gerontologists, health scientists, a geographer, an ecologist, and a psychologist, along with the building’s management, and local community organizations (involving the older adult tenants themselves). A series of community consultations using innovative community-based research methods identified the need for housing interventions that build a sense of place (Fang et al., 2018) and that keep older adults mentally and physically active while providing opportunities to build social capital as well as facilitating an enhanced role for older adults in the design process (Sixsmith et al., 2017).

Castillo, J. & Hull, Jr., G. (accepted). Generalist and advanced generalist practice in macro social work practice. Encyclopedia of Macro Social Work.

Castillo, J., Hendrix, E. W., Nguyen, V. L., & Riquino, M. R. (2021). Macro practice supervision by social work field instructors. Journal of Social Work Education. Advance publication online. Go to article

• Although the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has identified field education and macro practice as core domains in social work education, there has been limited research examining the implementation of macro practice elements into field education settings. In an effort to add to the extant literature, this exploratory study aimed to collect information from a sample of field instructors examining: 1) field instructors’ integration of macro practice elements in the field practicum setting, and 2) the amount of time field instructors allotted to discussing macro practice elements in their weekly supervision with students. Surveys were completed by 102 field instructors associated with an accredited undergraduate and graduate-level social work education program at a public university in the Intermountain West region of the United States. This study found that: field instructors integrate few or limited macro practice elements into the field practicum placement; field instructors spend minimal time discussing macro practice elements with students during weekly supervision; and field instructors’ discussion of macro practice elements varied during supervision, and this discussion on varied macro practice elements differed by the type of field practicum setting (primary area of practice focus). Implications for social work education and field practicum education are provided and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Frost, C. J., Johnson, E. P., Witte, B., Stark, L., Botkin, J., & Rothwell, E. (2021). Electronic informed consent information for residual newborn specimen research: Findings from focus groups with diverse populations. Journal of Community Genetics, 12(1), 199-203. Go to article

• The authors developed a video and an app for obtaining consent about allowing newborn blood spots (NBS) to be used as biospecimen resources for biobanking. Newborn screening programs test for treatable diseases and leave residual biospecimens that can be used in future research activities. The authors conducted focus groups and interviews with three diverse communities to determine: a) how well the consent tools worked, and b) participant familiarity with NBS. Participants preferred the video and noted that they were unaware that NBS could be used for future research. Providing information about how biospecimens could be used was a key issue.

Frost, C. J., Shaw, J., O’Toole, K., Metos, J., Brusseau, T., Moric, E., & Gren, L. H. (2021). Title IX and its impact after 40 years: Understanding physical activities perspectives of adolescent girls. Utah Women’s Health Review. Go to article

• Despite increases in sport participation among girls since the passing of Title IX legislation, girls still tend to have lower physical activity in comparison to boys. The aim of this pilot study was to better understand perspectives of adolescent girls about physical activity. Four themes from the focus groups were identified, including inspiration/motivation, comradery, accomplishment, and fairness. On a positive note, girls participated in many types of physical activity, both in and out of school, and recognized its benefits from physical, social, and psychological perspectives. On a negative note, they spoke at length about school-related discrepancies relative to unequal treatment of boys’ and girls’ sports teams. In this group of girls, physical activity was lauded as a healthy and enjoyable behavior, yet displeasure with school preferences for acknowledging and supporting boys’ sports was a stark reminder of the gender gap that still exists in school settings for promoting girls’ exercise activities.

Allkhenfr, H., Deardon, S., Frost, C. J., Gren, L. H., & Benson, S. (2021). Determining physical and mental health conditions present in refugees age 0-59 years arriving in Utah. Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 5(02): 211. Go to article

• The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of physical and mental health conditions identified for newly arrived refugees in Utah. Adult refugees have higher prevalence of both mental and physical health findings on screening exam. Screening identifies conditions that are largely treatable. However, these conditions typically don’t resolve without treatment and if left untreated, result in increased morbidity and mortality. The initial domestic screening is an opportunity to connect refugees with appropriate treatment to address health concerns, thus facilitating their ability to successfully engage in other resettlement activities, such as work and school.

Knight, J. A., Kehm, R. D., Schwartz, L. A., Frost, C. J., Chung, W. K., Colonna, S., Keegan, T. H. M., Goldberg, M., Houghton, L. C., Hanna, D., Glendon, G., Daly, M. B., Buys, S. S., Andrulis, I. L., John, E. M., Bradbury, A. R., & Terry, M. B. (2021). Prepubertal internalizing symptoms and timing of puberty onset in girls. American Journal of Epidemiology, 190(3), 431-438. Go to article

• Stressful environments have been associated with earlier menarche. The authors hypothesized that anxiety, and possibly other internalizing symptoms, are also associated with earlier puberty in girls. The Lessons in Epidemiology and Genetics of Adult Cancer From Youth (LEGACY) girls study (2011–2016) included 1,040 girls aged 6–13 years at recruitment whose growth and development were assessed every 6 months. A 1–standard deviation increase in maternally reported anxiety in girls at baseline was associated with earlier subsequent onset of breast and pubic hair development, but not menarche. The association of anxiety with earlier breast development persisted after adjustment for maternal anxiety. Increased anxiety in young girls may indicate risk for earlier pubertal onset.

Williams, A., Martinez, L., Garrison, A., Frost, C. J., & Gren, L. H. (2021). Factors leading to satisfaction with counseling for labor after cesarean among Latina women in the United States. Birth: Issues in perinatal care, 2021;00:1-9. Go to article

• Cesarean birth, especially repeat cesarean, is associated with significantly higher morbidity than vaginal birth. Appropriately counseling women who are candidates for labor after cesarean (LAC) has the potential to confer significant health benefits for women. Little guidance exists about optimal counseling techniques, especially for Latina women. The aim of this study was to evaluate satisfaction among Latinas about how LAC counseling is performed, specifically as it relates to shared decision making. Three major themes emerged related to LAC counseling, including influences on satisfaction, influences on the birth decision process, and preferences surrounding method and timing of counseling. Women experienced greater satisfaction from providers who used jargon-free communication, were perceived as trustworthy, cared about her experiences, and empowered her to make an informed decision. Women's decisions were influenced by prior birth experiences, desire for a safe delivery and easy recovery, and future family planning. Understanding the aspects of LAC counseling that are most meaningful for Latina women can promote effective communication between patient and provider and improve patient satisfaction. Globally, the findings highlight the importance of evaluating the experiences and preferences of minority groups; majority populations cannot be assumed to speak for minority populations.

Gabler, S., Barrios, A., Kakishita, S., Cufino, D., & Frost, C. J. (2021). Increasing diversity in research through dedicated language access services. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 106, 106439. Go to article

• In the context of research, one challenge at higher education and medical institutions that are engaged in high levels of research activities is recruiting and enrolling participants for research studies and clinical trials (1) who are of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and (2) whose primary language is not English. By 2020, of the 330 million people living in the U.S., 63 percent identified as white, 17 percent identified as Hispanic, 13 percent identified as Black, 5 percent identified as Asian, and 1 percent identified as other. With this shift in ethnic and racial demographics, researchers need to update their methods of recruitment as well as the information and documents provided about research opportunities. The University of Utah's Office Research Participant Advocacy (RPA) was created at the University of Utah in 2008 with an aim to identify and support individuals volunteering for research study participation. The focus of the important and uniquely situated office is to ensure that participants have the information they need for informed research participation, but also to provide researchers with oral and written language services to increase participant diversity in research studies. This short communication describes efforts underway at the RPA to ensure that information about and documents connected to research opportunities are congruent with the needs of research participants and offer equity for participation in research for a shifting cohort of diverse individuals.

Baayd, J., Simonsen, S.E., Stanford, J.B., Willis, S., & Frost, C. J. (2021). Identifying barriers to accessing skilled maternal health care in rural Morocco. Africa Journal of Reproductive Health, 25(1), 20-28. Go to article

• Over the past 30 years, the Moroccan government has made enormous strides toward improving maternal health care for Moroccan women, but outcomes for rural women remain much worse than those of their urban counterparts. This study aimed to understand the experiences of women giving birth in rural Morocco, and to identify the barriers they face when accessing facility-based maternity care. Fifty-five participants were recruited from villages in Morocco's rural south to participate in focus group discussions (FGDs), using appreciative inquiry as the guiding framework. Several themes emerged from the analysis of the focus group data. Women felt well-cared for and safe giving birth both at home and in the large, tertiary care hospitals, but not in the small, primary care hospitals. Women who gave birth at the primary care hospitals reported a shortage of some equipment and supplies and poor treatment at the hands of hospital staff. Locating and paying for transportation was identified as the biggest hurdle in accessing maternity care at any hospital. The findings of this study indicate the need for change within primary care health facilities.

Pfledderer, C., Gren, L., Metos, J., Brusseau, T., O'Toole, K., Buys, S., Daly, M., & Frost, C. J. (2021). Mothers’ diet and family income predict daughters’ healthy eating: Evidence from the Lessons in Epidemiology and Genetics of Adult Cancer from Youth (LEGACY) Girls Study. Preventing Chronic Disease, 18, E24. Go to article

• Understanding the degree to which parents may influence healthy behaviors may provide opportunities to intervene among populations at increased risk of diseases, such as breast cancer. In this study, the researchers examined the association between daughters’ healthy eating habits and family lifestyle behaviors among girls and their families by using baseline data from the LEGACY (Lessons in Epidemiology and Genetics of Adult Cancer from Youth) girls study. The objective was to examine the relationship between daughters’ healthy eating and family lifestyle behaviors and to compare these associations between families with and without a history of breast cancer. A mother’s diet and family income are related to the daughter’s healthy eating habits, although differences exist among families by family history of breast cancer.

Li, W., & Garland, E. L. (accepted). Treatment and interventions for addictive behaviors in cyberspace. In Z. Yan (Ed.), Cambridge handbook of cyber behavior. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 9781316691625.

• This chapter summarizes the literature on interventions for internet gaming disorder.

Garland, E. L. (2021). Mindful positive emotion regulation as a treatment for addiction: From hedonic pleasure to self-transcendent meaning. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 39, 168-177. Go to article

• Chronic drug use is theorized to induce cortico-striatal neuroplasticity, driving an allostatic process marked by increased sensitivity to drug-related cues, and decreased sensitivity to natural rewards that results in anhedonia and a dearth of positive affect. As such, positive emotion regulation represents a key mechanistic target for addictions treatment. This paper provides a conceptual model detailing how mindfulness may synergize a range of positive affective mechanisms to reduce addictive behavior, from savoring the hedonic pleasure derived from natural rewards, to self-generating interoceptive reward responses, and ultimately to cultivating self-transcendent meaning. These therapeutic processes may restructure reward processing from overvaluation of drug-related rewards back to valuation of natural rewards, and hypothetically, “reset” the default mode network dysfunction that undergirds addiction.

Garland, E. L., Fix, S. T., Hudak, J. P., Bernat, E. M., Nakamura, Y., Hanley, A. W., Donaldson, G. W., Marchand, W. R., & Froeliger, B. (2021). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement remediates anhedonia in chronic opioid use by enhancing neurophysiological responses during savoring of natural rewards. Psychological Medicine, 1-10. Advance online publication. Go to article

• Neuropsychopharmacologic effects of long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) in the context of chronic pain may result in subjective anhedonia coupled with decreased attention to natural rewards. Yet, there are no known efficacious treatments for anhedonia and reward deficits associated with chronic opioid use. Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), a novel behavioral intervention combining training in mindfulness with savoring of natural rewards, may hold promise for treating anhedonia in LTOT. Patients treated with MORE demonstrated significantly increased late positive potential (LPP) and skin conductance level (SCL) to natural reward cues and greater decreases in subjective anhedonia relative to those in the supportive group (SG). The effect of MORE on reducing anhedonia was statistically mediated by increases in LPP response during savoring. MORE enhances motivated attention to natural reward cues among chronic pain patients on LTOT, as evidenced by increased electrocortical and sympathetic nervous system responses. Given neurophysiological evidence of clinical target engagement, MORE may be an efficacious treatment for anhedonia among chronic opioid users, people with chronic pain, and those at risk for opioid use disorder.

Rosenthal, A., Levin, M. E., Garland, E. L., Romanczuk-Seiferth, N. (2021). Mindfulness in treatment approaches for addiction – underlying mechanisms and future directions. Current Addiction Reports, 8, 282-297. Go to article

• While the treatment of addictive disorders proves to be challenging, new treatment approaches that evolved around the concepts of mindfulness and acceptance have been utilized and investigated in recent years. The authors’ goal is to summarize the efficacy and possible underlying mechanisms of mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) in addictive disorders. Various meta-analyses have suggested that MBIs show clinical efficacy in the treatment of addictive disorders. Considering the factors that impact addictive disorders, MBIs have been indicated to augment responsiveness to natural rewards in contrast to addiction-related cues as well as to increase top-down cognitive control, decrease subjective and physiological stress perception, and enhance positive affect. In summary, MBIs hold promise in treating addictive disorders while larger randomized controlled trials with longitudinal study designs are needed to confirm their utility. Newest clinical endeavors strive to enhance the clinical utility of MBIs by augmentation or personalization.

Zgierska, A. E., Burzinski, C. A., Garland, E. L., Lennon, R. P., Jamison, R., Nakamura, Y., Barrett, B., Sehgal, N., Mirgain, S. A., Singles, J. M., Cowan, P., Woods, D., Edwards, R. R. (2021). Mindfulness-based therapy compared to cognitive behavioral therapy for opioid-treated chronic low back pain: protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 110, 2021 November, 106548. Go to article

• Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is disabling and costly. Existing therapies have proven suboptimal, with many patients resorting to long-term opioid therapy, which can cause harms. Cognitive behavioral (CBT) and mindfulness-based (MBT) therapies can be effective and offer unique skills for safe pain coping. This article describes the protocol for a study evaluating comparative effectiveness of CBT and MBT in adults with opioid-treated CLBP. This will be the largest RCT comparing CBT and MBT in opioid-treated CLBP. It will provide evidence on the impact of these interventions, informing clinical decisions about optimal therapy for safe, effective care, improving quality of life and decreasing opioid-related harm among adults with refractory CLBP.

Reese, S. E., Conradt, E., Riquino, M. R., & Garland, E. L. (2021). An integrated mechanistic model of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for opioid-exposed mother-infant dyads. Frontiers in Psychology, 12: 688359. Advance online publication. Go to article

• A growing body of neurobiological and psychological research sheds light on the mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of opioid use disorder and its relation to parenting behavior. Perinatal opioid use is associated with risks for women and children, including increased risk of child maltreatment. Drawing from extant data, here the authors provide an integrated mechanistic model of perinatal opioid use, parenting behavior, infant attachment, and child well-being to inform the development and adaptation of behavioral interventions for opioid-exposed mother–infant dyads. The model posits that recurrent perinatal opioid use may lead to increased stress sensitivity and reward dysregulation for some mothers, resulting in decreased perceived salience of infant cues, disengaged parenting behavior, disrupted infant attachment, and decreased child well-being. The authors conclude with a discussion of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement as a means of addressing mechanisms undergirding perinatal opioid use, parenting, and attachment, presenting evidence on the efficacy and therapeutic mechanisms of mindfulness. As perinatal opioid use increases in the United States, empirically informed models can be used to guide treatment development research and address this growing concern.

Harrell, S., Anderson-Nathe, B., Wahab, S., & Gringeri, C. (accepted). Feminist research practice: Reorienting a politic for social work. In C. Cocker & T. Hafford-Letchfield (Eds.), Rethinking feminist theories for social work practice. Palgrave Publishing.

• In recent decades, social work research, practice, and education have become increasingly constrained by the braided influences of neoliberalism, professionalization, and criminalization. Using concrete practice examples, this chapter proposes that principles of feminist research rooted in understandings of power as dynamic, historic, and structural offer a potential interruption to the influences of the braid on social work practice. Through their contributions to knowledge production, education, and practice, the authors hold that tenets of feminist research open a new politic for social work, in which social work scholars, practitioners, and educators might interrupt dominant paradigms in the field and open space for collaborative action and a new social work future.

Hanley, A. W., Derringer, A., Sneed, J. C., Bettmann [Schaefer], J. E., & Gonzalez-Pons, K. M. (accepted). The state of interdependence with nature scale: Development and initial validation. Ecopsychology. Accepted on: 27 August 2021.

• The three studies reported in this article detail the development of the state of interdependence with nature scale (SINS), a new self-report measure specifically designed to assess momentary fluctuations in feelings of deep connection, or ‘‘oneness,’’ with nature. Using exploratory factor analysis, Study 1 (N= 228) identified eight optimally performing items to be retained in the SINS. Using confirmatory factor analysis, Study 2 (N= 126) supported the SINS’ unidimensional structure. Using bivariate correlation analysis and linear modeling, Study 3 (N= 73) found the SINS demonstrated strong positive correlations with legacy measures capturing the dispositional tendency to feel connected with nature and was sensitive to behavioral intervention. Nature-based interventions increased SINS scores relative to a control condition. Together, these three studies provide preliminary evidence that the SINS is psychometrically sound.

Hanley, A. W., Gililland, J., & Garland, E. L. (2021). To be mindful of the breath or pain: Comparing two brief preoperative mindfulness techniques for total joint arthroplasty patients. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 89(7), 590-600. Go to article

• Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) often reduces pain and improves function, but it is also a risk factor for the development of chronic pain and postoperative opioid use. To protect against these untoward postsurgical outcomes, TJA patients need better, non-pharmacological pain management strategies. This study compared two promising, mindfulness-based pain management techniques. A brief preoperative mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) may be able to prevent both postoperative pain and opioid use. Moreover, the MBIs used in this study are highly feasible, capable of being delivered by nearly any healthcare provider, and requiring minimal clinic time given their brevity. As such, embedding MBIs in surgical care pathways has considerable potential.

Hanley, A. W., de Vibe, M., Solhaug, I., Farb, N., Goldin, P. R., Gross, J. J., & Garland, E. L. (2021). Modeling the mindfulness‐to‐meaning theory's mindful reappraisal hypothesis: Replication with longitudinal data from a randomized controlled study. Stress and Health, 37(4), 778-789. Go to article

• The mindfulness to meaning theory provides a detailed process model of the mechanisms by which mindfulness may promote well-being. Central to the mindfulness to meaning theory is the mindful reappraisal hypothesis (MRH), which suggests mindfulness training promotes well-being by facilitating positive reappraisal. Emerging evidence from interconnected domains of research supports the MRH. However, it remains unclear whether mindful reappraisal continues to develop after a mindfulness training course and whether this continued development encourages well-being over time. As such, this randomized controlled study compared participants receiving a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course with participants receiving no mindfulness training on positive reappraisal use and well-being over the course of six years. Latent growth curve modeling revealed that mindfulness training increased well-being by significantly increasing the trajectory of positive reappraisal over time. The MRH was then unpacked by examining whether MBSR also stimulated decentering and broadened awareness, core components of the MRH. Multivariate path analysis revealed that mindfulness training increased decentering, which in turn broadened awareness, which was then associated with positive reappraisal, ultimately promoting well-being. Taken together, these findings suggest that MBSR cultivates a downstream cascade of adaptive psychological processes that continue to promote quality of life six years after mindfulness training.

Hanley, A. W., Gililland, J., Erickson, J., Pelt, C., Peters, C., Rojas, J., & Garland, E. L. (2021). Brief preoperative mind-body therapies for total joint arthroplasty patients: A randomized controlled trial. PAIN, 162(6), 1749-1757. Go to article

• Although knee and hip replacements are intended to relieve pain and improve function, up to 44 percent of knee replacement patients and 27 percent of hip replacement patients report persistent postoperative joint pain. Improving surgical pain management is essential. The researchers conducted a single-site, three-arm, parallel-group randomized clinical trial at an orthopedic clinic, among patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA) of the hip or knee. Mindfulness meditation (MM), hypnotic suggestion (HS), and cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation (cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation) were each delivered in a single, 15-minute group session as part of a two-hour, preoperative education program. Preoperative outcomes—pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, pain medication desire, and anxiety—were measured with numeric rating scales. Postoperative physical functioning at six-week follow-up was assessed with the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system physical function computer adaptive test. Total joint arthroplasty patients were randomized to preoperative MM, HS, or cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation (n = 285). Mindfulness meditation and HS led to significantly less preoperative pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and anxiety. Mindfulness meditation also decreased preoperative pain medication desire relative to cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation and increased postoperative physical functioning at six-week follow-up relative to HS and cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation. Moderation analysis revealed the surgery type did not differentially impact the three interventions. Thus, a single session of a simple, scripted MM intervention may be able to immediately decrease TJA patients' preoperative clinical symptomology and improve postoperative physical function. As such, embedding brief MM interventions in surgical care pathways has the potential to improve surgical outcomes for the millions of patients receiving TJA each year.

Cooperman, N. A., Hanley, A. W., Kline, A., & Garland, E. L. (2021). A pilot randomized clinical trial of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement as an adjunct to methadone treatment for people with opioid use disorder and chronic pain: Impact on illicit drug use, health, and well-being. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 127, 108468. Go to article

• Chronic pain is highly prevalent among people in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for opioid use disorder and is known to be an important contributor to treatment discontinuation and opioid relapse. Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) is one of the few interventions developed and tested as an integrated treatment to simultaneously address both pain and illicit opioid use; however, this study is the first to evaluate MORE as an adjunct to MMT. Participants in MORE evidenced significantly fewer baseline adjusted days of illicit drug use and significantly lower levels of craving through 16-week follow-up compared to methadone treatment as usual (TAU). Also, participants in MORE reported significantly lower levels of pain, physical and emotional limitations, depression, and anxiety through 16-week follow-up compared to TAU. Conversely, participants in MORE reported significantly higher levels of well-being, vitality, and social functioning through 16-week follow-up compared to TAU. MORE could be an effective adjunct to MMT, and larger trials are warranted.

Deringer, S. A., & Hanley, A. W. (2021). Virtual reality of nature can be as effective as actual nature in promoting ecological behavior. Esopsychology, 13(3), 219-226. Go to article

• The purpose of this project was to better understand the relationship between virtual nature experiences and ecological behavior. Participants (n = 57) were gathered in three experimental groups. The first was a control group that did not participate in a nature experience and was asked to complete a survey. The second was a nature condition that participated in a self-guided hike and completed surveys before and after the experience. The third group was a virtual nature group that participated in a virtual nature experience through head-mounted displays and completed surveys before and after their experience. All three groups were asked if they would like to sign a letter to a senator that would support ecological behavior after their various experiences. Linear mixed modeling revealed that both the nature condition and the virtual nature condition had a significant effect on ecological behavior when compared with the control condition. Virtual reality of nature may be as effective as actual nature in promoting ecological behavior.

Sneed J. C., Deringer S. A., & Hanley, A. W. (2021). Nature connection and 360-degree video: An exploratory study with immersive technology. Journal of Experiential Education, 14(4), 378-394. Go to article

• Immersive technologies may be an avenue to explore the construct of human–nature connection more thoroughly and without some of the obstacles to accessing nature in-person. The aim of this project was to discover if self-exposure to immersive virtual nature can lead to any change in nature connectedness. Pairwise comparisons with the nature relatedness scale indicated that participants in the in-nature experience reported significantly stronger beliefs about their connection to nature than those in either virtual condition. With respect to the state of independence with nature scale, planned pairwise comparisons indicated that between participants in the in-nature experience and the virtual nature experience did not differ. This study suggests that to connect with nature, one should spend time there. In addition, here data support that a virtual immersive nature experience can affect a state-dependent measurement of nature connection, and even equal that of an in-nature experience.

Hoy-Ellis, C. P., Fredriksen-Goldsen, K. I., & Kim, H-J. (accepted). Utilization of recommended preventive health screenings between transgender and cisgender older adults in sexual and gender minority communities. Journal of Aging and Health. Accepted in: December 2021.

• Transgender older adults are among the most health disparate populations in the United States; they also face some of the most significant barriers in accessing high quality, affordable, preventive healthcare services. The researchers compared utilization rates of eight recommended preventive health screenings for adults aged 50 and older, by gender identity. Compared to cisgender LGB participants, transgender participants had significantly lower odds to have met four of the recommended screenings. Transgender men had significantly lower odds than transgender women to have met two of the recommended screenings. Increasing transgender older adults’ access to preventative health screening tests is critical to reduce the health burden in this aging population.

Hoy-Ellis, C. P. (2021). Minority stress and mental health: A review of the literature. Journal of Homosexuality. Advance online publication. Go to article

• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations experience significant health disparities, theorized to result from LGBT specific minority stressors. The fully conceptualized minority stress model was published more than 15 years ago. Minority stressors include external conditions and events, such as discrimination and victimization. Internal minority stressors include expectations of rejection and discrimination, concealment of minority identity, and internalizations of negative dominant cultural attitudes, beliefs, stereotypes, and values. Connection to sexual and gender minority communities is theorized to moderate the effects of minority stressors. In this integrative review, the author examine two decades of research on minority stress. Based on this review, the author highlights strengths and limitations of the model, and suggest next steps for moving minority stress research forward.

Hoy-Ellis, C. P. (2021). Just practice with midlife and older LGBT adults. In J. Finn (Ed.), The just practice framework in action: Contemporary case studies (25-26). Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780197529041.

• One of the most commonly held and erroneous ideas was that LGBTQ people are a relatively homogenous group. This is reflected in social workers’ understandable urge to “know how to work with [fill in the social identity group].” We rarely if ever seek to “know how to work with white folx,” or “straight folx.” When considering dominant positionalities, we assume heterogeneity. Conversely, learning “how to do therapy with LGBTQ people” implies homogeneity and an implicitly oppressive approach. To engage in just practice with midlife and older LGBTQ adults, we must recognize the diversity, history, and contexts of LGBTQ people and communities.  The author does not provide a manual on “how to work with midlife and older LGBTQ adults.” If you are willing to actually hear their stories and truly enter into their worlds, they will tell you.

Hudak, J., Hanley, A. W., Marchand, W. R., Nakamura, Y., Yabko, B., & Garland, E. L. (2021). Endogenous theta stimulation during meditation predicts reduced opioid dosing following treatment with Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement. Neuropsychopharmacology, 46, 836-843. Go to the article

• Veterans experience chronic pain at greater rates than the rest of society and are more likely to receive long-term opioid therapy (LTOT), which, at high doses, is theorized to induce maladaptive neuroplastic changes that attenuate self-regulatory capacity and exacerbate opioid dose escalation. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to modulate frontal midline theta (FMT) and alpha oscillations that are linked with marked alterations in self-referential processing. These adaptive neural oscillatory changes may promote reduced opioid use and remediate the neural dysfunction occasioned by LTOT. In this study, the researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to assess the effects of a mindfulness-based, cognitive training intervention for opioid misuse, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), on alpha and theta power and FMT coherence during meditation. The authors then examined whether these neural effects were associated with reduced opioid dosing and changes in self-referential processing. Before and after eight weeks of MORE or a supportive psychotherapy control, veterans receiving LTOT practiced mindfulness meditation while EEG was recorded. Participants treated with MORE demonstrated significantly increased alpha and theta power (with larger theta power effect sizes) as well as increased FMT coherence relative to those in the control condition—neural changes that were associated with altered self-referential processing. Crucially, MORE significantly reduced opioid dose over time, and this dose reduction was partially statistically mediated by changes in frontal theta power. Study results suggest that mindfulness meditation practice may produce endogenous theta stimulation in the prefrontal cortex, thereby enhancing inhibitory control over opioid dose escalation behaviors.

Hudak, J., Prince, K. C., Marchand, W. R., Nakamura, Y., Hanley, A. W., Bryan, C. J., Froeliger, B., & Garland, E. L. (2021). The temporal dynamics of emotion dysregulation in prescription opioid misuse. Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 104, 110024. Go to article

• Opioid misuse is theorized to compromise the capacity to regulate positive and negative emotions. Yet, the temporal dynamics of emotion dysregulation in opioid misuse remain unclear. Medication-adherent patients were able to significantly decrease galvanic skin responses (GSR) and heart rate (HR) during negative emotion regulation, whereas opioid misusers exhibited contradictory increases in these autonomic parameters during negative emotion regulation. Furthermore, GSR during positive emotion regulation increased for non-misusers, whereas GSR during positive emotion regulation did not increase for misusers. These autonomic differences, which remained significant even after controlling for a range of covariates, were evident within 1 s of emotional stimulus presentation but reached their maxima 3–4 s later. Opioid misuse among people with chronic pain is associated with emotion dysregulation that occurs within the first few seconds of an emotional provocation. Treatments for opioid misuse should aim to remediate these deficits in emotion regulation.

Jaggers, J. W., Cambron, C., Kerig, P. K., & Osteen, P. (2021). Measurement equivalence across multiple administrations of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 43, 882-889. Go to article

• Multiple studies have shown that the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument – Second Version (MAYSI-2) has strong validity and reliability. Justice involved youth are often administered the MAYSI-2 on repeated occasions. The purpose of this study was to test the equivalence of measurement properties over time for males who were administered the MAYSI-2 on multiple occasions. Archived data were drawn from the Utah Juvenile Justice Services administration, which consisted of all administrations of the MAYSI-2 between 2007 and 2018. Among these, 909 males completed the MAYSI-2 three or more times. The results of the study suggest that multiple administrations of the MAYSI-2 may not exhibit equivalent measurement properties over time. Consistency of the measurement properties of the MAYSI-2 over time is essential for evaluating changes in mental health. Given that contact with the juvenile justice system has the potential to worsen symptoms of mental illness, caution is warranted when using the MAYSI-2 to assess change.

Jaggers, J. W., Wilford, A., Anderson, I., & Bettmann [Schaefer], J. E. (2021). Perceived effectiveness of parent representation social workers by legal professionals involved with indigent defendants. Advances in Social Work, 21, 100-115. Go to article

• The total number of children in the U.S. foster care system exceeds 428,000. Previous research indicates that when social workers and legal professionals work together, children and their families benefit significantly. Parents who effectively engage in the child welfare system are more likely to benefit from services and reunify with their children. This study employed a phenomenological approach to explore how a parent representation pilot, which paired social workers with public defenders to better represent the needs of families in the child welfare system, was experienced by legal professionals. Judges and family court attorneys found the program to be helpful in reunifying families. Public defenders were able to leverage the social worker’s skills and experience to facilitate more positive outcomes, while reducing case burden. Challenges were also identified and included a lack of interdisciplinary training, potential overlap in ethical responsibilities, and role confusion. Structured intervention programs that encourage collaboration between social workers and legal professionals may improve case outcomes for indigent families involved in the child welfare system. It is advised that social work undertake a formal multidisciplinary approach in support of public defenders, which may serve to encourage positive case outcomes.

Jaggers, J. W., Tomek, S., Hooper, L. M., Mitchell-Williams, M. T., & Church II, W. T. (2021). What about the parental response? The effect of delinquency and anger on parental monitoring. Family Journal, 29(3), 316-327. Go to article

• Parental monitoring is a set of correlated parenting behaviors involving attention to and tracking of the child’s whereabouts, activities, and adaptations. The impact of parental monitoring is ubiquitous and has broad relevance for youth outcomes. Similarly, although less commonly investigated, youth behaviors can impact parents’ or caregivers’ responses or behaviors. Longitudinal analysis was used to assess the gendered effects of youth behaviors—defined as internalized anger, externalized anger, and delinquency—on parent behaviors (i.e., parental monitoring). Results showed that adolescent’s levels of internalized anger, externalized anger, and delinquency were predictive of parental monitoring. Specifically, as the adolescents aged, parental monitoring decreased and parental monitoring was differentiated based on gender. Results and implications for the parent–child relationship are discussed.

Jaggers, J. W., Sonsteng, M., Griffiths, A., Gabbard, W. J., & Murray, M. (2021). Behavioral problems and psychological distress among seriously delinquent youth: Assessing a mediational pathway of parental monitoring, peer delinquency, and violence exposure. Youth & Society, 53(2), 230-251. Go to article

• The onset of behavioral problems in early childhood is associated with an increased frequency of delinquent behavior. A significant amount of youth in the juvenile justice system have histories of mental illness and psychological distress. However, little is known about what factors mediate the relationship between early onset behavioral problems and psychological distress. This study tested the mediating effect of parental monitoring, antisocial peers, exposure to violence, and gender on the relationship between behavioral problems and psychological distress. A secondary analysis of data from the Pathways to Desistance study was examined using the serial mediation process proposed by Preacher and Hayes and a significant mediation of the behavior problems–psychological distress relationship was found. The results supported the mediational model in which parental monitoring impacted interaction with antisocial peers which in turn increased the level of violence exposure youth experienced ultimately leading to an increase in psychological distress.

Keyes, T. S., & White, K. G. (in press). Igniting the warrior spirit to address historical trauma among Indigenous people. In H. Weaver (Ed.), Routledgehandbook of Indigenous resilience.  Routledge. ISBN 9780367499853. Go to chapter

• The Warrior Spirit Movement to Heal Historical Trauma, through Native Healthcare Solutions LLC, is working to help heal Native people and communities through the integration of Native traditional knowledge with Western knowledge. The primary goals are to provide education about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and traditional healing practices, and to support trauma-informed approaches within Native communities. This chapter outlines the barriers to healing, the philosophy, and the evolution of the Warrior Spirit Movement to Heal Historical Trauma. This movement officially began in 2018, when there was a call to action from Native people to mobilize and address the trauma that was affecting their communities. In response to that mandate, three “Calling upon the Warrior Spirit” conferences were held that integrated a trauma-informed approach along with traditional healing practices and ceremonies in Native communities. Conference participants engaged in presentations and ceremonies from health care professionals, scientists, and traditional healers about approaches to healing through holistic, culturally-sensitive programs, services, and systems. Future goals and plans for the Warrior Spirit Movement to Heal Historical Trauma are underway.

Molloy, J., Keyes, T. S., Walhart, H., & Riquino, M. R. (accepted). An integrative review of restorative justice and social work: Untapped potential for pursuing social justice. Journal of Social Work Education. Accepted on 6 April 2021.

• Social workers have the skills to help individuals and communities heal from harm caused by crime, violence, and abuse. Restorative justice is an approach that centers the voice of those most impacted by harm through facilitated dialogue, perspective-taking, and storytelling. Restorative justice and social work have mutually beneficial and overlapping values and interests. The aim of this integrative review was to determine how these two areas have been integrated over time and in what settings. Following a search of the EBSCO research databases between 1997-2019, the researchers identified 27 articles that met the search criteria. The majority of articles reviewed were practice related and limited to the criminal justice system. The findings indicate the need to implement and facilitate restorative justice approaches in other social work practice settings. Further, the limited number of articles pertaining to restorative justice in social work education illustrates the need to incorporate restorative justice into social work curricula. The conceptual articles identified repeatedly highlighted the theoretical fit between restorative justice and social work values—what is missing are advancements in articulating these connections across settings and populations, and how to address pressing social justice issues in a meaningful way. Although the integration of these two disciplines has great promise, more work is needed.

Keyes, T. S., Hendrix, E., Tecle, A., Andino, C., Bitters, B., Carter, R., Koelling, E., Ortiz, E., Sanchez, M., Ota, I., & Gringeri, C. (accepted). “We wonder if white peers even want to understand”: Social work students’ experiences of the culture of human interchange. Journal of Social Work Education. Accepted on: 29 January 2021.

• Diversity curriculum supports students in becoming critically reflexive social workers and advancing their multicultural practice. Often unexamined is how students perceive the explicit curriculum about race and racism and experience the implicit curriculum through the culture of human interchange. At one western college of social work, 93 social work students completed a 2018 survey with open-ended questions regarding their experiences in developing critical consciousness. Using qualitative methods, the authors examine how students experienced the culture of human interchange with respect to discussions of race and racism. Presenting two themes, the authors detail ways classroom discussions about race and racism influence the culture of human interchange: the disconnect in instructional praxis, and the contested terrain between marginalized and privileged identities. Underscored is the importance of instructors having deep knowledge about the history of race and racism in the U.S. and the systemic and institutional barriers for people of color; and the need for instructors to engage in continual self-reflection about their positionalities of power and privilege. Navigating and individualizing the learning environment for students of color and white students is critical in order to support all students in reflecting upon and understanding the implications of their positionalities for multicultural social work practice.

Loomis, A. M., Freed, S., & Coffey, R. (in press). Inhibitory control, student-teacher relationships, and expulsion risk in preschools: An indirect effects path analysis. Early Childhood Education Journal.

• Identifying factors related to expulsion risk is of great need due to the high and disparate rates of young children routinely excluded from preschool classrooms. This study aimed to explore the pathways to expulsion risk among a sample of 88 preschool children from 22 Head Start classrooms. Data were collected on children’s inhibitory control using the child behavior questionnaire (CBQ), the closeness subscale of the student-teacher relationship scale (STRS-SF), and on children’s overall expulsion risk using the preschool expulsion risk measure (PERM). Direct pathways from children’s inhibitory control and student-teacher closeness to expulsion risk were significant. Results indicated that student-teacher closeness mediated the relationship between children’s inhibitory control and expulsion risk, indicating the importance of supporting positive relationships in preschool classrooms to disrupt pathways to expulsion.

Loomis, A. M., Davis, A., Cruden, G., Padilla, C., & Drazen, Y. (2021). Early childhood suspension and expulsion: A content analysis of state legislation. Early Childhood Education Journal. Advance publication online. Go to article

• In recent decades, there has been considerable public interest and policy action regarding the issue of exclusionary discipline from early care and education (ECE) settings. While numerous states have pursued legislation to address this practice, the legislation has received scarce empirical attention. Using a qualitative approach, this study investigated state legislation addressing ECE exclusionary discipline (13 bills from 12 states, as of January 2019) based on an existing policy framework with the following domains: motivating rationale, population, alternatives and practices, accountability, personnel development, and financing. The majority of bills recommended reducing or banning the use of expulsion in publicly funded preschools, and many bills offered alternative responses to expulsion, ranging from general responses (e.g., behavioral supports) to specific responses (e.g., early childhood mental health consultation). There was variability in the extent to which bills outlined recommendations for accountability, such as data tracking, and financing or recommended alternative responses. Based on our review of the legislation, the following recommendations were identified to support future legislative advances for this issue: identify developmentally-appropriate, evidence-based practices that curtail exclusionary discipline as well as its disproportionate impact on young boys of color; expand the scope of the legislative protections; incorporate mandates related to funding and enforcement; collect data; and include stakeholders when crafting and evaluating legislation.

Sonsteng-Person, M., & Loomis, A. M. (2021). The role of trauma-informed training in helping Los Angeles teachers manage the effects of student exposure to violence and trauma. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 14(2), 189-199. Go to article

• Exposure to trauma, such as community violence, has far-reaching effects on children’s learning and behavior. While schools are a critical place to provide positive and safe spaces for students, teachers have self-reported a lack of knowledge on how to work effectively with traumatized students. In response to this, there has been an increase in teacher training on trauma-related topics. However, it is unclear how training impacts teachers’ trauma knowledge and difficulty responding to traumatized students in the classroom. As such, this exploratory study used a survey with Los Angeles teachers to assess whether training on violence and trauma is related to trauma knowledge and reported difficulty responding to traumatized students. Regression analyses indicate that total training increased teachers’ trauma knowledge, which was found to mediate teachers’ difficulty responding to traumatized students. Findings from this study support the need for a focus on trauma-informed training within the education context.

White, A., Lundahl, B., Bryan, M. A., Okifuji, A., Smid, M., Gordon, A. J., Carlston, K., Silipigni, J., Abdullah, W., Krans, E. E., & Kenney, A. (2021). Pregnancy and the opioid crisis: Heightened effects of COVID-19. Journal of Addiction Medicine. Advance online publication. Go to article

• The opioid epidemic continues to affect pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD) adversely in unique and enduring ways. The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the necessary public health measures implemented to slow the transmission have increased barriers to care for these same women. This commentary explores the implications of these measures, and discusses strategies developed to manage these challenges based on the authors’ work in a clinical trial providing patient navigation to pregnant mothers with OUD. The authors believe these solutions can be applied in medical, behavioral health, and research settings through the pandemic and beyond to increase the quality of care and resources to this vulnerable population.

McDonald, C., Campbell, K. A., Benson, C. L., Davis, M. J., & Frost, C. J. (2021). Workforce development and multiagency collaborations as sustainable support for families: A presentation of two case studies in child welfare. Sustainability, 13(18), 10190. Go to article

• Two disciplines that work in the child welfare arena, social welfare and healthcare, are crucial for addressing families’ and children’s needs in social, emotional, and physical healthcare situations. How child welfare workers are trained and how healthcare teams collaborate with other stakeholders in the child welfare system is crucial in meeting and sustaining the needs of families and children. For the virtual reality (VR) training tool, 79 percent of participants indicated they would recommend the VR learning tool as effective in developing skills in the child welfare workforce. In response to the learning collaborative project, child welfare participants reported positive impressions regarding collaborative practices while identifying system-level barriers to implementation. Findings from these two case studies provide insights from which to consider system development for designing and implementing sustainable improvements in child welfare approaches to families and children referred for suspected maltreatment.

McDonald, C., Davis, M., & Benson, C. L. (2021). Using Evidence-Based Learning Theories to Guide the Development of Virtual Simulations. Clinical Social Work Journal, 49, 197-206. Go to article

• Technology-enhanced training such as virtual simulations can be effective only to the extent evidence-based principles of learning are integrated into their training platforms. Assuming skill acquisition is the target of training, programs should include time and space for repeated practice opportunities structured through evidence-based learning theories. Essential learning attributes derived from cognitive load Theory and the theory of deliberate practice can effectively integrate into virtual simulations intended to build expertise. Virtual home simulation (VHS) and virtual Motivational Interviewing (VMI) are presented in this paper as an approach to develop virtual simulations that provide child welfare workers a means to deliberately practice essential skills toward competence before entering the workforce. This paper reviews the development process, specific design aspects, and lessons learned as a guide on how to integrate effective learning attributes. Implications for using virtual simulations, including cost-benefits, measuring performance over time, and addressing training complications due to COVID-19 or similar obstacles, are also provided.

Kim, J., Minnes, S., Ridenour, T. A., Perzynski, A. T., Min, M. O., & Singer, L. T. (accepted). Attitudinal tolerance of deviance in at-risk early adolescents. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research.  Accepted on: 16 November 2020. Go to article

• Built on problem behavior theory, this study examined whether adolescent attitudinal tolerance of deviance (ATD) precedes health risk behaviors. The authors examined patterns of adolescent attitudinal tolerance of deviance (ATD) among early adolescents with prenatal drug exposure and associated the patterns with later risk behaviors. Latent class analysis identified three distinctive patterns of ATD: intolerance, tolerance-of-relational-deviance, and tolerance-of-all-deviance. These different ATD patterns differentiated subsequent alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors.

Min, M. O., Albert, J., Lorincz-Comi, N., Minnes, S., Lester, B., Momotaz, H., Powers, G., Yoon, D., & Singer, L. T. (2021). Prenatal substance exposure and developmental trajectories of internalizing symptoms: Toddlerhood to preadolescence. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 218, 108411. Go to article

• Using data from two large community-based birth-cohorts of 1,651 mother-child dyads, this study found that prenatal tobacco exposure was associated with suboptimal developmental trajectories of internalizing (depression, anxiety) symptoms during childhood (ages 2 – 13) in the context of prenatal poly-drug exposure, highlighting a need for continued and increased efforts toward prevention of prenatal tobacco use.

Min, M. O., Lewis, B. A., Minnes, S., Gonzalez-Pons, K. M., Kim, J., & Singer, L. T. (2021). Preschool blood lead levels, language competency, and substance use in adolescence. Environmental Research. Advance online publication. Go to article

• Elevated lead levels in children are a persistent public health problem, particularly in urban areas in the United States, yet few prospective studies have examined the association of childhood lead levels with substance use in adolescence. Using structural equation modeling, this study demonstrated that higher lead level during preschool age was related to a greater likelihood of substance use at age 15 in a sample of low socioeconomic status (SES), urban, primarily African American adolescents. In addition, a significant indirect association of lead, via childhood language skills, with substance use-related problems was found, identifying a risk process leading to adolescent substance use-related problems.

Min, M. O., Minnes, S., Momotaz, H., Singer, L. T., Wasden, A. M., & Bearer, C. F. (2021). Fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium and substance use in adolescence. Neurotoxicology & Teratology, 83, 106946. Go to article

• Prenatal alcohol exposure continues to be a serious public health problem, yet no reliable clinical tools are available for assessing levels of drinking during pregnancy. Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), the nonoxidative metabolites of ethanol measured in meconium, are potential biomarkers to quantify the level of PAE. The association between the concentrations of FAEEs from meconium and adolescent substance use and related problems was examined in a prospective birth-cohort of adolescents exposed to alcohol and drugs in utero. Higher concentrations of FAEEs (ethyl myristate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl oleate, ethyl linoleate, ethyl linolenate, and ethyl arachidonate) were related to a greater likelihood of marijuana use and experiencing substance use problems, but not tobacco or alcohol use, at age 15. Elevated levels of FAEEs in meconium may be promising markers for PAE, identifying newborns at risk for early substance use and developing substance use problems.

Singer L. T., Min, M. O., Momotaz, H., Powers, G., Minnes, S., & Bearer, C. (2021). Association of fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium with behavior during childhood. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 218, 108437. Go to article

• Using a biomarker of prenatal alcohol exposure, fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) analyzed in meconium, this study demonstrated that higher concentrations of FAEEs (ethyl myristate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl oleate, ethyl linoleate, and ethyl linolenate) were associated with caregiver-reported aggressive and/or delinquent behavior in youth ages 10 and 12. This finding indicates that higher concentrations of FAEEs in meconium are potential markers for prenatal alcohol exposure and may be useful in identifying children at risk for aggressive and delinquent behaviors at school age due to prenatal alcohol exposure.

Osteen, P., Castillo, J., Morris, R. C., & BaffourT. D. (in press). Professional values, gatekeeping, and motivations for seeking the MSW degree. Journal of Social Work Education.

Osteen, P., Castillo, J., Morris, R. C., & BaffourT. D. (accepted). Social work education and the integration of personal and professional identities: Merging theories of identity. Journal of Social Work Education.

Osteen, P. J., Ohme, K., Morris, R. C., Arciniegas, J., Frey, J. J., Woods, M., & Forsman, R. L. (2021). Suicide intervention training with law enforcement officers. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 51, 785-794. Go to article

• Law enforcement officers’ (LEO) interactions with people facing mental health crises have risen exponentially since the era of deinstitutionalization. On average, about 10 percent of the individuals law enforcement interacts with daily have mental health challenges. Several factors influence the outcome of these interactions, not least of which is an officer's role as a gatekeeper, as well as their training related to people with mental health challenges. The researchers hypothesized that participating in the online Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) for Law Enforcement training would be associated with improved knowledge about suicide, attitudes to suicide and suicide intervention, and self-efficacy. Additionally, the authors hypothesized that these outcomes would be associated with greater use of intervention skills when encountering individuals at risk for suicide in the community. Results of the longitudinal analysis found that most of the participating officers reported some prior training and yet demonstrated statistically significant improvements in knowledge and attitudes after controlling for previous training. No significant changes were observed in LEO’s use of intervention skills following training. The authors conclude by suggesting that there is substantial need for increased training; and offering possible conceptual and empirical explanations for the observed results.

Parisi, A. B., Wilson, A. B., Villodas, M., & Phillips, J. (in press). A systematic review of interventions targeting criminogenic risks among people with mental illness. Psychiatric Services. Accepted on: 14 October 2021.

• Individuals with serious mental illness are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Research has found that interventions targeting risk factors for recidivism (i.e., criminogenic risks) reduce justice involvement in the general correctional population. However, more needs to be learned regarding use of these interventions among individuals with serious mental illness. To this end, this systematic review synthesized research on interventions that target criminogenic risk factors and are delivered to justice-involved individuals with serious mental illness. Twenty-one studies were identified that evaluated nine interventions delivered to justice-involved individuals with serious mental illness. All identified programs targeted criminogenic risk factors, were group based, and used cognitive-behavioral strategies. Study quality was moderate to high. Interventions were associated with improvements in recidivism, violence, and criminogenic risk factors. Given the overrepresentation of persons with serious mental illness in the criminal justice system, these findings provide an important step toward identifying services that curb justice involvement in this population.

Parisi, A. B., Guan, T., & Chen, D. G. (2021). The effectiveness of The Seven Challenges® Program for addressing substance misuse: a systematic review. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 21(4), 317-332. Go to article

• The Seven Challenges® (7C) is a program for adults and adolescents with substance use disorders and co-occurring problems. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the methodological characteristics and substantive findings of studies evaluating the effectiveness of 7C. The authors identified seven studies via searches of seven electronic databases. The results suggest that 7C is associated with reduced substance use, decreased mental health-related problems, and reduced criminal behavior. However, further research is needed to determine whether 7C is superior to alternative interventions for substance misuse and to explore the efficacy of the 7C program among adult populations.

Lombardi, B. N., Jensen, T. M., Parisi, A. B., Jenkins, M., & Bledsoe, S. E. (2021). The relationship between a lifetime history of sexual victimization and perinatal depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 15248380211021611. Advance online publication. Go to article

• The association between a lifetime history of sexual victimization and the well-being of women during the perinatal period has received increasing attention. However, research investigating this relationship has yet to be systematically reviewed or quantitatively synthesized. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to calculate the pooled effect size estimate of the statistical association between a lifetime history of sexual victimization and perinatal depression (PND). Women with a lifetime history of sexual victimization had 51 percent greater odds of experiencing PND relative to women with no history of sexual victimization. Effect size estimates varied considerably according to the PND instrument used in each study and the racial/ethnic composition of each sample.

Wilson, A. B., Phillips, J., Parisi, A. B.,  Ishler, K. J., Villodas, M., & Francis, A. (2021). Patterns in Medicaid coverage and service utilization among people with serious mental illnesses. Community Mental Health Journal. Advance online publication. Go to article

• Disruptions in Medicaid adversely affect service use and outcomes among individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI). A retrospective longitudinal study examined Medicaid coverage and service utilization patterns among individuals with SMI (N = 8358) from 2007 to 2010. Only 36 percent of participants were continuously enrolled in Medicaid and 20 percent experienced multiple enrollment disruptions. Mental health diagnosis did not predict continuous coverage; however, individuals with schizophrenia were 19 percent more likely to have multiple coverage disruptions than those with depression. Single and multiple coverage disruptions were associated with decreased rates of outpatient service days utilized and decreased odds of not using acute care services. Future research should explore mechanisms underlying Medicaid stability and develop interventions that facilitate insurance stability and service utilization.

Chung, G., Jensen, T. M., Parisi, A. B., Macy, R. J., & Lanier, P. (2021). Impact of intimate partner violence on parenting and children’s externalizing behaviors: Transactional processes over time. Violence against women, 27(14), 1077801220985125. Go to article

• This study used longitudinal data to examine the transactional associations between mothers’ spanking and mother–child relationship quality with children’s externalizing behaviors in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). Data came from a sample of 1,152 low-income mothers with children age 10 – 14 years. Results showed that past-year IPV triggered transactional associations by increasing children’s externalizing behaviors which, in turn, increased spanking and subsequently more externalizing behaviors. Transactional associations were also found for relationship quality. All outcomes used were mothers-reported except relationship quality. Implications for practice include the importance of the mother–child dyad and their reciprocal processes in assessment and treatment.

Givens, A., Francis, A. M., Wilson, A. B., Parisi, A. B., Phillips, J., & Villodas, M. (2021). Accountability in intervention research: Developing a fidelity checklist of a mental health intervention in prisons. Community Mental Health Journal, 57, 1288-1299. Go to article

• Adherence to intervention content and delivery protocols is vital in establishing the efficacy of treatment programs for mental illnesses. Using a fidelity tool during interventions can substantially increase the likelihood of clients receiving the most scientifically rigorous treatment. This article outlines the steps taken to develop a fidelity checklist to measure treatment adherence of a two-part intervention delivered in a prison setting. 

Wilson, A. B., Phillips, J., Villodas, M., Parisi, A. B., & Dohler, E. (2021). Juvenile justice policies and programs. In J. Jenson & W. Hall. (Eds.) Social policy for children and families, Fourth Edition (pp. 333-361). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN: 9781544371481.

• This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the U.S. juvenile justice system and the services available to system-impacted youth. 

Prince, K. C., Jaggers, J. W., Walker, A., Shade, J., & Worwood, E. B. (in press). Methodological challenges in retrospective evaluation of mental health court effectiveness. Journal of Applied Social Science.

• Mental health courts (MHCs) are problem-solving courts that have been implemented throughout the United States. One critical component of MHCs is determining their effectiveness and limitations. However, unique challenges are encountered when evaluating MHCs. One major challenge, and the focus of this paper, is identifying an adequate control group. Though a randomized controlled trial presents an ideal approach, it is not always possible given retrospective data, and both ethical and logistical issues arise. Propensity score matching (PSM) provides an alternative approach for comparing groups when randomization is not possible. PSM works by first identifying the characteristics that make a person likely to be in treatment. This paper describes attempts to use PSM in a MHC evaluation. Specific challenges with PSM are discussed and recommendations are made for use of PSM with MHCs.

Roberts, R. L., Ledermann, K., & Garland, E. L. (2021). Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement improves negative emotion regulation among opioid-treated chronic pain patients by increasing interoceptive awareness. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 152, 110677. Advance online publication. Go to article

• Long-term opioid therapy presents health risks for people with chronic pain. Some chronic pain patients escalate their opioid dose to regulate negative emotions. Therefore, emotion regulatory strategies like reappraisal are key treatment targets for this population. Mindfulness has been shown to enhance reappraisal, but the mechanisms of action are unknown. This study was a secondary analysis of data from a randomized, controlled trial of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) to test a specific postulate of the mindfulness-to-meaning theory: that mindfulness-based interventions promote reappraisal, via interoceptive self-regulation, as a means of decreasing emotional distress. MORE facilitated reappraisal of distress by enhancing interoceptive self-regulation, supporting a central mechanistic causal pathway specified by the mindfulness-to-meaning theory.

Salisbury, E. J., & Van Voorhis, P. (in press). Correctional counseling and rehabilitation (10^th ed.). New York: Routledge. ISBN 9780367406455. Go to Book

• This book presents the foundations of correctional treatment and intervention, including overviews of the major therapeutic modalities that are effective when intervening with justice-involved individuals to reduce ongoing system involvement and improve well-being. The text also focuses on diagnosis of mental illness, correctional assessment and classification, case planning strategies, and the necessary counseling and human service skills for working alongside system-involved people.

Belisle, L., Salisbury, E. J., & Parker Keen, J. (in press). Did they move on? A Quasi-experimental outcome evaluation of the gender-responsive program, Girls…Moving On. Feminist Criminology.

• Gender plays a considerable role concerning girls’ pathways into the system, highlighting the need for gender-responsive programs and interventions that address the specific needs of justice-involved girls. Unfortunately, very few gender-responsive programs for system-impacted girls have been empirically evaluated, and to the authors’ knowledge, no studies have directly examined the gender-responsive program, Girls…Moving On (GMO). This study utilized a quasi-experimental design to compare outcomes between 135 girls in the control group (i.e., supervision as usual) and 135 girls who participated in the GMO program while on community supervision. Overall, there were relatively similar outcomes between girls who participated in the GMO program and the control group. However, girls who completed the GMO program had significantly larger reductions in risk scores and increases in strengths scores than non-completers, but little to no differences in recidivism. Several implications and considerations regarding the outcomes are discussed, with the goal to help guide future gender-responsive programs for system-impacted girls.

Belisle, L., & Salisbury, E. J. (2021). Starting with girls and their resilience in mind: Reconsidering risk/needs assessments with system-involved girls. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 48, 596-616. Go to article

• Despite the numerous differences between boys and girls in the juvenile justice system, there are currently no gender-responsive risk/needs assessments for system-impacted girls, thereby limiting agencies to the use of gender-neutral risk/needs assessments. This article examines commonly used gender-neutral risk/needs assessments and illustrates how these instruments are not truly “neutral.” The authors argue that predictive validity is not enough to demonstrate effectiveness; these tools can harm and possibly discriminate against girls by placing them in similarly labeled risk categories (i.e., high, medium, low) as boys, despite engaging in less delinquency. This practice of force-fitting girls to assessments primarily developed for boys results in over- and misclassification of girls’ risk and fails to capture their gendered needs and resilience. This is an opportunity to reconsider risk assessments altogether for girls and propose a resilience/needs assessment may be better suited to identify girls’ needs and predict future behavior.

Sanders, C. K., & Scanlon, E. (2021). The digital divide is a human rights issue: Advancing social inclusion through social work advocacy. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 6, 130–143. Go to the article

• The role of technology and importance of access to high-speed broadband have become glaringly obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic. High-speed Internet is a tool people rely upon to conduct the daily business of their life and interact with each other, the economy, and government. However, millions of people in the USA still have no home access to high-speed Internet. Low-income, people of color, older, Native Americans, and rural residents in particular are on the wrong side of the digital divide. This structural reality perpetuates social, economic, and political disparities. Consistent with a social work human rights approach, the United Nations General Assembly declared access to the Internet a basic human right in 2016. This calls upon social workers to engage in advocacy efforts to advance policy and programs to alleviate the digital divide. In this article, the authors examine the digital divide in the USA and discuss why it is a social justice and human rights issue. They provide a policy context and recent examples of state or local policy initiatives to reduce the digital divide. Prominent among them is California’s Internet for All Now Act. The authors also identify and share promising practices and advocacy tools being used in the field that provide guidance to community practitioners as they engage in work at state and local levels aimed at closing the digital divide.

Daftary, A.-M., Ortega, D., Sanders, C. K., & Hylton, M. (2021): A CRT analysis of policy making in Nevada: A case study for social work education, Journal of Social Work Education. Advance online publication. Go to article

• This study uses critical race theory (CRT) to uncover racialized interactions that influence legislative processes. The transcripts from public hearings from the 2017 Nevada state legislative session were included in the data analysis. Results demonstrate the utility of CRT as an analytic tool to examine the policy-making process, identify narratives that sustain and protect white supremacy imbedded in policies governing high school education, and uncover racist testimony throughout the policy-making process. More specifically, results demonstrate the ways that subtle racialized interactions drive conversations where white constituents protect white interests at the expense of racial equity. Conversely, findings highlight how people of color issue a counter narrative by providing necessary historical context and perspectives to work toward racial justice goals.

Siantz, E., Henwood, B., Rabin, B., Center, K., Fenwick, K., & Gilmer T. (2021). A mixed-method evaluation of the behavioral health integration and complex care initiative using the consolidated framework for implementation research. Medical Care, 59(7), 632-638. Go to article

• Integrated behavioral health and primary care can improve the health of persons with complex chronic conditions. The behavioral health integration and complex care initiative (BHICCI) implemented integrated care across a large health system. Whether behavioral health organizations (BHOs) and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) implemented the BHICCI differently is unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate integration under the BHICCI and to understand implementation differences between BHOs and FQHCs. All clinical settings received support from the health plan, but differences between BHOs and FQHCs affected integration progress. Study results can help identify organizational practices that advance or undermine the delivery of integrated care across multiple clinical settings.

Siantz, E., Redline, B., & Henwood, B. (2021). Improving integrated systems of care through practice facilitation: A scoping review. Journal of Behavioral Health Services Research, 48, 133-155. Go to article

• Little is known about the contributions of practice facilitators in settings aiming to deliver integrated behavioral health and primary care. This scoping review identifies peer-reviewed articles that describe efforts to deliver integrated behavioral health care with the support of practice facilitators. Five databases were systematically searched to identify empirical and conceptual papers. Fourteen articles met the following inclusion criteria: 1) empirical studies evaluating the effectiveness of practice facilitation, 2) study protocols that will test the effectiveness of practice facilitation, 3) studies that included practice facilitators as part of a larger intervention without evaluating their effectiveness, and 4) conceptual manuscripts endorsing practice facilitation for integrated care. Practice facilitators can potentially support health systems in delivering integrated behavioral health care, but future research is needed to understand their necessary qualifications, the effectiveness of practice facilitation, and what study outcomes are appropriate for evaluating whether practice facilitation has been effective.

Villamel Grest, C., Siantz, E., & Cederbaum, J. (2021). Behavioral health services use among racial and ethnic groups: Results from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. Advance online publication. Go to article

• Access and utilization of behavioral health services is a public health issue, yet disparities among racial/ethnic groups persist, resulting in fewer access points and lower utilization. Using pooled 2015 and 2016 California Health Interview Survey (N = 42,089) data of diverse adults, this study examines provider access points for behavioral health services use. Latinx, Asian, and first generation individuals reported lower odds of accessing specialty care behavioral health services, compared to no services. First generation adults reported lower odds accessing a primary care physician, compared to none. Results advance knowledge of behavioral health services access points among racial, ethnic and immigrant groups, following passage of the California Mental Health Services Act. Findings suggest primary care may be an important entry point for behavioral health service use engagement among underserved populations.

Darnell, D., Arean, P., Dorsey, S., Atkins, D., Tanana, M., Hirsc, T., & Mooney, S. (accepted). Harnessing innovative technologies to train nurses in suicide safety planning with hospital patients: Protocol for formative and pilot feasibility research. JMIR Research Protocols. Accepted on: 21 October 2021.

• Through four research aims, Project WISE will: 1) identify strategies for implementation and workflow integration of both the technology-enhanced training, as well as the delivery of suicide safety planning with patients; 2) adapt two existing technologies for skill-building to train nurses in general counseling skills for use in suicide safety planning (a conversational agent with simulated patient role-play and real-time feedback, and an artificial intelligence-based feedback system for counseling performance from safety planning role-play recordings); 3) observe training acceptability and nurse engagement with the training components to inform iterations of the training; and 4) assess feasibility of recruitment, retention, and collection of longitudinal self-report and electronic health record data for patients identified as at-risk of suicide.

Tanana, M., Soma, C. S., Kuo, P. B., Bertagnolli, N. M., Dembe, A., Pace, B. T., Srikumar, V., Atkins, D. C., & Imel, Z. E. (2021). How do you feel? Using natural language processing to automatically rate emotion in psychotherapy. Behavior Research Methods, 53, 2069-2082. Go to article

• Emotional distress is a common reason for seeking psychotherapy, and sharing emotional material is central to the process of psychotherapy. However, systematic research examining patterns of emotional exchange that occur during psychotherapy sessions is often limited in scale. Traditional methods for identifying emotion in psychotherapy rely on labor-intensive observer ratings, client or therapist ratings obtained before or after sessions, or involve manually extracting ratings of emotion from session transcripts using dictionaries of positive and negative words that do not take the context of a sentence into account. However, recent advances in technology in the area of machine learning algorithms, in particular natural language processing, have made it possible for mental health researchers to identify sentiment, or emotion, in therapist-client interactions on a large scale that would be unattainable with more traditional methods. As an attempt to extend prior findings, the authors compared their previous sentiment model with a common dictionary-based psychotherapy model, linguistic inquiry and word count (LIWC), and a new natural language processing (NLP) model, the biodirectional encoder representations and transformations (BERT). We used the human ratings from a database of 97,497 utterances from psychotherapy to train the BERT model. Our findings revealed that the unigram sentiment model outperformed LIWC, and ultimately, BERT outperformed both models.

Park, J., Jindal, A., Kuo, P., Tanana, M., Lafata, J. E., Tai-Seale, M., Atkins, D. C., Imel, Z. E., & Smyth, P. (2021). Automated Rating of Patient and Physician Emotion in Primary Care Visits. Patient Education and Counseling, 104(8), 2098-2105. Go to article

• The objective of this study was to train machine learning models that automatically predict emotional valence of patients and physicians in primary care visits. The agreement of emotion ratings from the recurrent neural network model with human ratings was comparable to that of human-human inter-rater agreement. The recurrent neural network model predicted the emotional valence of patients and physicians in primary care visits with similar reliability as human raters. As the first machine learning-based evaluation of emotion recognition in primary care visit conversations, this work provides valuable baselines for future applications that might help monitor patient emotional signals, supporting physicians in empathic communication, or examining the role of emotion in patient-centered care.

Flemotomos, N., Martinez, V. R., Chen, Z., Singla, K., Ardulov, V., Peri, R., Caperton, D. D., Gibson, J., Tanana, M., Georgiou, P., Van Epps, J., Lord, S. P., Hirsch, T., Imel, Z. E., Atkins, D. C., & Narayanan, S. (2021). Automated evaluation of psychotherapy skills using speech and language technologies. Behavior Research. Advance online publication. Go to article

• With the growing prevalence of psychological interventions, it is vital to have measures that rate the effectiveness of psychological care to assist in training, supervision, and quality assurance of services. Traditionally, quality assessment is addressed by human raters who evaluate recorded sessions along specific dimensions, often codified through constructs relevant to the approach and domain. This is, however, a cost-prohibitive and time-consuming method that leads to poor feasibility and limited use in real-world settings. To facilitate this process, the authors developed an automated competency rating tool able to process the raw recorded audio of a session, analyzing who spoke when, what they said, and how the health professional used language to provide therapy. Focusing on a use case of a specific type of psychotherapy, motivational interviewing, this system gives comprehensive feedback to the therapist, including information about the dynamics of the session (e.g., therapist’s vs. client’s talking time), low-level psychological language descriptors (e.g., type of questions asked), as well as other high-level behavioral constructs (e.g., the extent to which the therapist understands the clients’ perspective). The authors describe this platform and its performance using a dataset of more than 5000 recordings drawn from its deployment in a real-world clinical setting used to assist training of new therapists. Widespread use of automated psychotherapy rating tools may augment experts’ capabilities by providing an avenue for more effective training and skill improvement, eventually leading to more positive clinical outcomes.

Dodson, C. S., Garrett, B., Kafadar, K., & Yaffe, J. (2021). Eyewitness identification speed: Slow identifications from highly confident eyewitnesses hurt perceptions of their testimony. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 10(2), 259-267.

• Do high confidence eyewitness identifications dominate all other evidence that is relevant to assessing eyewitness testimony? To answer this question, participants evaluated a highly confident eyewitness’ lineup identification. Participants learned that the eyewitness either quickly identified the suspect (e.g., “I’m sure it’s him. I identified him instantly.”), slowly identified the suspect (e.g., “I’m sure it’s him. I identified him after a while.”), or they learned nothing about the eyewitness’ identification time and were in a confidence only condition (e.g., “I’m sure it’s him.”). Highly confident eyewitnesses who make a relatively slow identification are perceived as less accurate and suspects are regarded as less likely to be guilty as compared to either when no information is provided about identification-speed or when eyewitnesses make a fast identification. These experiments show that identification speed is one of the few variables that can cause people to discount the testimony of highly confident eyewitnesses.

Yi, J., Kim, M., Byrne, K. A., & Kim, S. H. (2021). Marital conflicts as perceived by mothers of a child with cancer in Korea. Journal of Social Service Research, 47(6), 763-775. Go to article

• This study explored marital conflicts as reported by mothers of a child with cancer in Korea. In-depth, semi structured interviews were conducted with 20 mothers, and transcripts of their interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Two major themes emerged: conflict escalation (becoming physically and emotionally distant, having financial challenges, feeling resentful, feeling not understood, husbands not behaving reliably), and repercussions of conflict (exploding, focusing on the child, making an effort to communicate better, husbands making an effort). Overall, the mothers perceived that their relationship with their spouse was significantly affected by their child’s illness, and they described how they tried to resolve conflicts with their husband. These findings demonstrate the need for interventions that help mothers manage the emotional burdens resulting from marital conflicts. Such interventions can ultimately promote child-parent relationships and the psychosocial well-being of children with cancer. Future research should examine the impact of external stressors and child characteristics on marital relationships amid childhood cancer survivorship.

Yi, J., Kim, M., & Choi, K. (2021). What makes oncologists feel compassion fatigue? Qualitative findings from Korea. Sage Open, 11(1). Go to article

• This study explored oncologists’ compassion fatigue in their practice with cancer patients and families. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted. A purposeful sample of nine oncologists was recruited from three hospitals in Korea. The authors used a hybrid of the theory-driven deductive approach and data-driven inductive approach, based on the transactional model of physician compassion. Oncologists shared contexts from which their compassion fatigue stems based on four categories: physician factors, clinical factors, patient and family factors, and environmental and institutional factors. Given the nature of their job, oncologists should receive interventions that improve resilience and reduce compassion fatigue. The authors suggest interventions that promote appropriate levels of compassion and reduce interfering barriers.

Chung, E. B., & Yi, J. (2021). Pandemic priorities: The impact of South Korea’s COVID-19 policies on vulnerable populations. International Journal of Public Administration, 44(11-12), 1028-1038. Go to article

• The South Korean government’s COVID-19 policies prioritized effective and efficient containment of the virus, which can accompany the risk of marginalizing vulnerable populations. Using a single-site case study, this research focuses on three main policy approaches by the South Korean government, which were widely cited as relatively successful in containing the COVID-19 outbreak: 1) preventive policies; 2) contact tracing; and 3) testing and relief packages. This study aims to leverage the unique situation of the pandemic to provide new insights into practices in disaster governance, examining how they disproportionally impact vulnerable groups.

Kim, M. A., Yi, J., Jung, S. M., Hwang, S., & Sung, J. (2021). A qualitative study on parents' concerns about adult children with intellectual disabilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34(4), 1145-1155. Go to article

• This study aimed to understand parents’ concerns about their adult child with intellectual disabilities due to the restriction of community-based services amid the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. Participants worried that their adult child was not aware of the seriousness of COVID-19, was more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus, could not recognize self-infection, and could have fatal consequences of getting infected with COVID-19. They expected challenges in their adult child's life (losing a daily routine, being isolated, regression in skills, becoming bored, lacking physical activities, and increased behavioral challenges), but also experienced adjustments and hopes. The study demonstrated parents’ worry about their adult child becoming infected with COVID-19, highlighting the urgent need for community-based services to address psychosocial challenges during the pandemic.

Kim, M. A., Yi, J., Bradbury, L., Han, K., Yang, J., & Lee, J. (2021). A Photovoice Study: The life experiences of middle-aged adults with intellectual disabilities in Korea. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34(3), 852-865. Go to article

• As adults with intellectual disabilities approach older adulthood, they face unique physical and psychosocial challenges. This study explored the lived experiences of middle-aged adults with intellectual disabilities living in their community. Thematic analysis yielded 11 subthemes under the five major themes selected by the participants: health, free time, time in the center, family, and my future in old age. The study findings showed complex issues middle-aged adults with intellectual disabilities may face in later life, including bereavement and healthy lifestyle concerns. It is important to create a space for meaningful social support and social interactions without stigma.

Kim, M. A., Yi, J., Molly, J., & Choi, K. (2021). The impact of compassion fatigue on the well-being of oncology social workers in Korea. Journal of Social Service Research, 47(5), 634-648. Go to article

• This study explored the impacts of compassion fatigue on social workers working with oncology patients. The purposive sample featured 12 medical social workers providing psychosocial care in hospitals to oncology patients in Korea. Based on in-depth interviews on the effects of compassion fatigue, the following main themes emerged: a) personal well-being (negative physical symptoms, feeling dejected, rumination, guilt and regret, excessive concern about health, and overwhelmed by sadness); b) work (losing a sense of purpose, emotionally unavailable, avoiding clients, and feeling demotivated); c) coming to terms with compassion fatigue (learning to manage compassion fatigue and recognizing helpful strategies); and d) transforming the impact of compassion fatigue (change in life perspective, finding strength in life and self, and becoming humble). This study informs readers of the development of interventions to counter the negative consequences of compassion fatigue. Future research should focus on further understanding how oncology social workers develop and cope with compassion fatigue, with an emphasis on the experiences of those with different characteristics and available resources.

Kim, M. A., Yi, J., Sung, J., Hwang, S., Howery, W., & Jung S. M. (2021). Changes in life experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities in the COVID-19 pandemics in South Korea. Disability and Health Journal, 14(4), 101120. Go to article

• The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on adults with intellectual disabilities who are dependent on community services. This study explored the experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities from their perspective during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, where most community-based services were suspended. Five overarching themes emerged: changes in a) daily life, b) health behaviors, c) family relationships, d) social relationships, and e) social participation. Most participants experienced the loss of daily routines and healthy behaviors, family conflicts, and social isolation, but they also developed new ways of adapting and finding a new normal. The findings offer valuable evidence of ways to develop and stabilize community-based services during a pandemic, with insights into the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities.

 

Other Publications

Benson, C. L., McDonald, C., Davis, M. J., & Raines, J. A. (2021). Design and Implementation Considerations for Virtual Reality in Human Services. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 39(3), 215-218. Go to article

• This was an issue introduction to all material in the issue, outlining the scope of virtual reality, why it’s important, and what readers will find inside the issue.

Johnson, J. E., Gren, L. H., & Frost, C. J. (2021). Mental health for Latina youth: The need for tailored resiliency interventions. Utah Women’s Health Review. Go to article

• Mental health is a serious issue associated with reduced life satisfaction, shortened life expectancy, and higher rates of physical illnesses. Among adolescents, poor mental health significantly impacts long-term health behaviors, such as drug use or sexual behaviors. In the recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey data summary and trends report for 2019, feelings of hopelessness and sadness increased among adolescents from 2009-2019 by 10 percent. The mental health and life outcomes of Latina adolescents is of particular concern as they have an increased risk of mental illness due to challenging experiences such as discrimination, violence, language and cultural barriers, academic challenges, and a lack of support. It is apparent that current programs and interventions do not meet the health needs of Latina adolescents, as adolescent females reported feelings of sadness or hopelessness by almost double the percentage of adolescent males, and 40 percent of Hispanic students reported these feelings compared to 36 percent of white students and 32 percent of Black students. In an attempt to address these challenges and improve mental health outcomes, researchers have implemented several resiliency programs among immigrant and U.S.-born Latina/o adolescents, with the hope that resilience will strengthen their ability to adapt to change and deal successfully with life’s challenges. However, these resiliency programs often fail to account for differences in sex and gender (sex referring to biological characteristics and gender referring to personal identification) among Latino and Latina adolescents. This is a potential issue as researchers have found that sex and gender play a significant role in Latina adolescents’ future mental and physical health outcomes. Despite the overall success of resilience programs, without gender- and sex-specific research, many programs are likely inadequate in meeting the needs of Latina youth.

Ledermann, K., Känel, R. V., Berna-Renella, C., Sprott, H., Burckhardt, M., Jenewein, J., Garland, E. L., & Martin-Sölch, C. (2021). Understanding and restoring dopaminergic function in fibromyalgia patients using a mindfulness-based psychological intervention: A [18F]-DOPA PET study study protocol for the FIBRODOPA study—a randomized controlled trial. Trials. Go to study protocol

• Mindfulness-based techniques are regarded as a very promising approach for the treatment of chronic pain and, in particular, Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). FMS is a very prevalent and debilitating chronic pain disorder that is difficult to treat. However, little is known about its impact on dopamine (DA) function and, in particular, with regard to DA responses to monetary reward in FMS. The Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) intervention, a mindfulness-based group intervention, has shown beneficial effects in opioid-treated chronic pain patients—including reduced pain severity, functional interference, and opioid dosing—by restoring neurophysiological and behavioral responses to reward. The aim of this study protocol is to evaluate if MORE is able to restore the DA function in FMS patients, in particular with regard to the DA responses to reward, and to reduce pain and mood symptoms in FMS. If the findings of this study confirm the effectiveness of MORE in restoring DA function, reducing pain and improving mood symptoms, MORE can be judged to be a promising means to improve quality of life in FM patients. The findings of this trial may inform health care providers about the potential use of the MORE intervention as a possible non-pharmacological intervention for FM.

McDonald, C., Davis, M., & Benson, C. L. (2021). Leveraging Real-Time Data Dashboards: Maximize Learning and Feedback Effectiveness During Child Welfare Simulation Training. APHSA: Policy and Practice.

• Leveraging real-time data dashboards to provide immediate feedback to simulation observers can help increase the transfer of learning to the field. This article provides technical guidance on how to utilize technology to provide specific and immediate feedback to learning through observing simulations; helping to overcome barriers agencies face in otherwise time-intensive, resource-heavy simulation labs that primarily target the learning of the caseworker(s).

Mueller, D. M., Sarver, C. M.,Wright, S., Cowell, M., & Oxendine, K.(2021). Non-judicial adjustment study: Final report. Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah College of Social Work.

• This study presents the results of a process analysis of the juvenile diversion program (non-judicial adjustment; NJA) operated by the Utah Juvenile Court. The data analysis included a systematic review of juvenile diversion, interviews with probation administrators, and an analysis of court data elements. This final report details best practices for juvenile diversion, identifies areas with the current process may not be in accord with that research, and provides suggestions for improving data collection in order to conduct an outcome analysis.

Mueller, D. M., Wilford, A., Sarver, C. M., & Prince, K. C. (2021). An evaluation of Utah’s 24/7 Sobriety Program: Phase two report. Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah College of Social Work.

• The 24/7 Sobriety Program, piloted by the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, aimed to reduce repeat DUI recidivism through an intensive supervision intervention. This phase two report summarizes one-year recidivism outcomes, as well as interviews with participants and stakeholders.

Mueller, D. M., Prince, K. C., Wilford, A., & Sarver, C. M. (2021). An evaluation of Utah’s 24/7 Sobriety Program: Phase three report. Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah College of Social Work.

• The 24/7 Sobriety Program, piloted by the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, aimed to reduce repeat DUI recidivism through an intensive supervision intervention. This phase three report summarizes two-year recidivism outcomes, as well as interviews with participants.

Prince, K. C., Mueller, D. M., & Sarver, C. M. (2021). Evaluation of the Utah Department of Correction’s (UDC) implementation of the statewide adult recidivism reduction (SRR) program: Phase two report. Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah College of Social Work.

• The second and final report for the statewide recidivism reduction program had the following objectives: 1) provide an evaluation of how well case action plans (CAPs) align with risk assessments, along with documentation of improvements in alignment over time; 2) perform a cohort analysis to examine whether there has been a statistically significant reduction in the rate of recidivism across the SRR cohorts (i.e., pre-SRR; short-term post-SRR; long-term post-SRR); and 3) build an interactive web application to address the effects of SRR that were exploratory in nature and involved a large number of statistical models. Case action plans (CAPs) represent a programming plan to target justice-involved individuals’ greatest needs in terms of successful rehabilitation and community re-entry; ideally CAPs should align well with needs identified in risk assessments. Findings related to CAP-to-service alignment demonstrated that Utah Adult Probation & Parole (AP&P) agents generally followed the risk principle by assigning more services to higher-risk parolees than lower-risk parolees. Findings also indicated that agents were better at matching services to needs when needs were absent (that is, when a service was not needed, they were likely not assigned to it). Unfortunately, underprescripton of service was common, meaning that many individuals did not receive services they needed as identified by risk assessment.

Prince, K. C., & Sarver, C. M. (2021). Housing Not Jail (HNJ): Year four outcome report. Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah College of Social Work.

• Pay for Success (PFS) is an innovative approach that leverages taxpayer risk by funding social service programs with private capital and ties payment for services to demonstrated outcomes through rigorous evaluation. Salt Lake County has partnered with the Utah Criminal Justice Center (UCJC), The Road Home (TRH), Sorenson Impact Center, and a variety of community stakeholders to develop a PFS project to address homelessness within the community. Despite spending $52 million in Salt Lake County annually on the homelessness service system, there are still large numbers of persistently homeless individuals in the County. These individuals spend long periods of time in emergency shelter and are commonly booked into jail for low-level crimes related to homelessness (e.g., public intoxication, trespassing). Analysis of this population demonstrates that the persistently homeless are at clear risk of remaining homeless without support and are a strain on public resources. Despite their poor outcomes, these individuals are highly unlikely to receive the currently available services for the homeless. To directly address this population and its unique issues, the County decided to utilize a Rapid Rehousing (RRH) approach to serve persistently homeless individuals through the Housing not Jail (HNJ) program. The HNJ program, developed by The Road Home (TRH), is based on the framework of the Housing First (HF) model, and was designed to move persistently homeless individuals out of the emergency shelter and into a stable housing placement. HNJ augments the RRH and Housing First (HF) models by incorporating a number of evidence-based practices and comprehensive wraparound services, such as intensive case management, behavioral health group services, and referral to employment services. UCJC is currently conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study to examine the program’s success improving housing stability, criminal justice, and behavioral health outcomes.

Prince, K. C., & Sarver, C. M. (2021). Recovery, Engagement, Assessment, Career Development, and Housing (REACH): Year four outcome report. Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah College of Social Work.

• Pay for Success (PFS) is an innovative approach that leverages taxpayer risk by funding social service programs with private capital and ties payment for services to demonstrated outcomes through rigorous evaluation. Salt Lake County has partnered with the Utah Criminal Justice Center (UCJC), First Step House (FSH), Sorenson Impact Center, and a variety of community stakeholders to develop a PFS project to address high recidivism rates among offender populations. The Recovery, Engagement, Assessment, Career Development, and Housing (REACH) program was designed by FSH to serve high-risk, high-need adult male probationers with moderate to severe substance abuse disorders. Specific program components include: evidence-based interventions specifically designed to address criminogenic factors that are tied to recidivism; substance use disorder treatment; employment support through job placement, education, and training; support and case management to meet individual needs through benefits enrollment, health resources, and community engagement; and housing support. UCJC is currently conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study to examine the program’s success improving criminal justice and employment outcomes.

Belisle, L., & Salisbury, E. J. (2021). Women’s reentry assessment, programming, and services (WRAPS): A randomized control trial of gender-responsive probation supervision.Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah College of Social Work.

• The study is a randomized control trial outcome evaluation of the WRAPS program model that had more enhanced wraparound, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed services and support (treatment group) compared to baseline, gender-responsive supervision (control group). A major component of the WRAPS model was the utilization and support of Community Health Specialists (CHSs) paired with the two WRAPS probation officers assigned to the intervention. CHSs worked alongside probation officers (POs) to provide additional support to women as they navigated community supervision. These staff served as primary client-centered case managers and were focused on needs that system-involved women must navigate such as treatment and support groups, medical/mental health needs, medication assisted treatment, parental needs, employment, housing, etc. Interviews with treatment group clients found very positive experiences with the CHSs and overall, clients found the CHSs to be extremely helpful in navigating supervision and various community resources. Gender-responsive supervision was positively perceived by both treatment groups. Additionally, many clients reported feeling safe with their PO, and all agreed that their POs balanced the role of holding them accountable while also genuinely caring for their wellbeing.

Sarver, C. M., Wilford, A., Mueller, D. M., & Oxendine, K. (2021). Evaluation of the FAST program: A rapid rehousing and critical time intervention to support homeless families. Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah College of Social Work.

• The Housing Support and Stability Program for Families (FAST) combines Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) with a critical time intervention (CTI) and targets extremely low-income families that have returned to homelessness after receipt of a traditional package of RRH supports. All families reside in the Salt Lake County area. In addition to returning to shelter subsequent to a RRH placement, FAST client families have at least one adult with a substance use disorder (SUD) and, possibly, a co-occurring mental health disorder (COD). FAST uses the Building on Strengths and Advocating Family Empowerment model (BSAFE) to provide an intensive package of case management supports to homeless families in order to stabilize them in permanent housing. FAST program goals include: stabilization in permanent housing; increased access to mainstream benefits for all family members; increased participation in mental health and substance abuse treatment; and increased quality of life. The long-term goals are improved well-being and quality of life for children and adult family members, improved parental functioning, and increased family income. This is an annual report for the five-year program and documents client families enrolled in the program during the first three years (1 January 2019 – 30September 2021), wherein the program enrolled families. Administrative data shows that clients had lengthy shelter histories, insufficient income, and experienced ongoing behavioral health symptoms.

Jemison, E., Cowell, M., Sarver, C. M., &Howell, W. (2021). State victim advocate needs assessment: Final report. Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah College of Social Work.

• Through interviews and surveys with survivors of crime and criminal justice stakeholders, this study examines gaps in services within the victim services field in the state of Utah. Using qualitative and quantitative analyses, the report describes existing gaps, as well as the correlates, causes, and pathways through which those problems occur. The results highlight differences in victim/survivor experiences in different regions of the state.

Seawright, J.,& Sarver, C. M.,(2021). Adherence to evidence-based practice in community-based treatment as part of Utah’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI): Aggregate results from correctional program checklist (CPC) program evaluations of local substance abuse authorities. Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah College of Social Work.

• This final aggregate report provides a snapshot of providers’ progress with respect to implementing evidence-based practices (EBP) for adult justice-involved clients mandated to substance abuse treatment.

Vogel-Ferguson,M. B., & Patin, K. (2021). California ACES Academy: 2020-2021 evaluation report. California ACES Academy. Social Research Institute, University of Utah College of Social Work.

• Four non-profits, including the Academy on Violence and Abuse (AVA), the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC), the California Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (CAPSAC), and the Center for Innovation and Resources, Inc. (CIR), came together to create and present the California ACES Academy. This report provides an evaluation of the program, highlighting the strengths of both the individual presentations and the model. Lessons learned will support replication of the model in other states with a broad range of communities served.