Posters & Presentations

Bettmann Schaefer, J. E. & Leonard, A. (2020, November). An investigation into the effects of a wilderness veterans program on veterans’ psychosocial functioning. Presentation at the 48^th annual meeting of the Association of Experiential Education, Virtual.

Byrne, K. (2020, October). PIPS: Identifying, responding, & providing treatment for children at-risk for traumatic stress and suicide. Presented at the 24^th annual conference of Critical Issues Facing Children and Adolescents, Salt Lake City, UT/Virtual.

• This presentation focused on the development and implementation of the pediatric traumatic stress care process model and included data from piloting the care process model (CPM) in pediatric primary care and children’s advocacy centers in Utah.

Byrne, K., Keeshin, B., & Shepard, L. (2020, January). Connecting care across systems: A care process model for child traumatic stress. Presented at the 35^th annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment, San Diego, CA.

• This presentation focused on the development and implementation of the pediatric traumatic stress care process model and included data from piloting the care process model (CPM) in children’s advocacy centers across Utah.

Gouripeddi, R., Wang, Y., Li, B., Davis, K., Cambron, C., Sward, K., Horel, J., Facelli, J. (2020, July). Modeling environment factors in local COVID-19 emergent phenomenon. Paper presented at the COVID-19 Global Climate & Environment e-Symposium, Virtual.

Cambron, C., Lam, C.Y., Cinciripini, P., Li, L., Wetter, D.W. (2020, January). Socioeconomic status, social context, and smoking lapse during a quit attempt: An ecological momentary assessment study. Paper presented at the 24^th annual meeting of the Society for Social Work Research, Washington, D.C.

• Low socioeconomic status (SES) is linked to failure to quit smoking. Health inequity models suggest that low SES smokers experience barriers to quitting in part due to greater exposure to pro-smoking social contexts. This study examined longitudinal associations among socioeconomic status, pro-smoking social context factors (i.e., exposure to other smokers, places where smoking was allowed), cigarette availability, and smoking lapse during a quit attempt. Consistent with models positing that SES influences health behaviors via contextual factors, this study demonstrated that low SES smokers attempting to quit experienced greater pro-smoking social contexts that affected subsequent risk for lapse.

Cambron, C., Hopkins, P., Burningham, C., Lam, C.Y., Cinciripini, P., Wetter, D.W. (accepted). Socioeconomic status, trait mindfulness, and momentary associations between stress and smoking lapse during a quit attempt. Paper accepted at the 30^th annual conference of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, D.C. (Conference canceled due to COVID-19).

• Models of health disparities highlight stress among low socioeconomic status (SES) smokers as a barrier to cessation. Recent studies suggest that mindfulness may improve cessation outcomes by reducing stress during a quit attempt. The current study examined associations of SES and mindfulness with ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) of stress and smoking lapse during a quit attempt. Within person estimates found that momentary increases in stress predicted increased risk of subsequent smoking lapse. Between person estimates found that lower SES was indirectly associated with greater risk for smoking lapse through increased stress; and, higher mindfulness was indirectly associated with lower risk for smoking lapse through reduced stress. Additionally, higher SES participants, who reported lower stress during the quit attempt, showed a stronger relationship between momentary increases in stress and risk for subsequent smoking lapse. Among low SES smokers engaged in a quit attempt, both SES and mindfulness uniquely influenced smoking lapse through their influence on stress. Findings support reports that mindfulness presents a promising intervention target to reduce stress and improve cessation outcomes among low SES smokers.

Canham, S. L., Humphries, J., Burns, V. F., Sussman, T., & Walsh, C. A. (2020, November). Uncovering promising practices for supporting older persons experiencing homelessness. Paper presented at the 75^th annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Virtual.

• Montréal, Calgary, and Vancouver have seen a dramatic increase in homelessness among adults aged 50+. In order to identify “promising practices” that promote aging-in-the-right-place for older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) in Montréal, Calgary, and Vancouver, the researchers conducted an environmental scan and three World Café workshops with 99 service providers and OPEH. They identified 53 promising practices managed or operated by 42 providers, which were categorized across a shelter/housing continuum: 1) emergency/transitional/temporary shelter/housing; 2) independent housing with offsite 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; and 6) palliative care/hospice. Study findings provide a template for existing solutions to the diverse shelter/housing needs of OPEH and insight into the gaps in shelter/housing and services that would support OPEH to age-in-the-right-place. Policy and practice implications for scaling promising practices were discussed.

Mahmood, A., Humphries, J., Moore, P., Burns, V. F., & Canham, S. L. (2020, November). Shelter/housing options, supports, and interventions for older persons experiencing homelessness. Paper presented at the 75^th annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Virtual.

• While older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) can have life histories of homelessness or experience homelessness for the first time in later life, understandings of shelter/housing models that meet diverse needs of this population are limited. The researchers conducted a scoping review of the international literature on shelter/housing models available to support OPEH. Through an iterative process of reading and rereading 24 sources (published 1999-2019), findings were organized into five categories of shelter/housing models that have been developed to support OPEH: 1) permanent supportive housing (PSH), including PSH delivered through Housing First; 2) transitional housing; 3) shelter settings with medical supports; 4) drop-in centers; and 5) case management and outreach. Findings expand the understanding of how a continuum of shelter/housing options are needed to support distinct health and housing needs of diverse OPEH. Policy and practice implications related to integrating health and social care to support OPEH to age-in-the-right-place were discussed.

Wada, M., Canham, S. L., & Fang, M. L. (2020, November). Advancing the concept of resilience for older people who are experiencing homelessness. Paper presented at the 75^th annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Virtual.

• Current conceptualizations of resilience have overlooked the lived expertise of older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH)—individuals who have much insight to offer in terms of progressing notions on how people “stand up” to adversity and “bounce back” to a state of physical and psychological homeostasis across the life course. Drawing from extant literature and data from a community-engaged research project, which interviewed 40 participants and examined the health supports needed for individuals experiencing homelessness upon hospital discharge, the researchers provided a comparison of resilience among homeless individuals generally and resilience among OPEH. Based on narratives of significant adversity experienced by OPEH in Vancouver, Canada, they offered a critical analysis of “resilience in ecological context” that identified unique characteristics of resilience at micro, mezzo, exo, and macro system levels. They discussed how their conceptual model of resilience pertinent to OPEH can be used to shape research, policy, and practice.

Humphries, J., & Canham, S. L. (2020, November). Conceptualizing the shelter and housing needs and solutions of older people experiencing homelessness. Paper presented at the 75^th annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Virtual.

• Newly and chronically homeless older adults have unique pathways into homelessness and distinct physical, mental, and social needs. Using a five-step process, the authors conducted a scoping review of primary research to investigate the needs and solutions for sheltering/housing older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH). Thematic analysis of data from 19 sources revealed: 1) shelter/housing needs and challenges of newly vs. chronically homeless older adults; 2) existing shelter/housing solutions addressing the needs of OPEH, including Housing First, permanent supportive housing, and multiservice homelessness intervention programs; and 3) outcomes of rehousing OPEH. Following, they authors developed a conceptual model that outlines how unique health and psychosocial needs of newly and chronically homeless older adults can be met through appropriately-designed shelter/housing solutions with individualized levels of senior-specific support. Future shelter/housing initiatives and strategies should use a rights-based approach and prioritize matching diverse OPEH needs to appropriate shelter/housing options that will support their ability to age-in-the-right-place.

Canham, S. L., Fang, M. L., & Wada, M. (2020, June). Examining and conceptualizing the lived experience of resilience for homelessness: A life course perspective. Paper presented at the 26^th conference of the International Association of People-Environment Studies, Quebec City, QC/Virtual.

• Current conceptualizations of resilience are ambiguous with neither consensus on the definition nor agreement on how resilience is measured and experienced across populations. 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 understandings of resilience. This paper examined and advanced conceptualizations of resilience for research, policy, and practice by reviewing existing literature and integrating with findings from a community-engaged research project on homelessness. The researchers’ conceptual model captures multi-system resilience factors at four levels: 1) micro-level (individual physical/mental health status, age, education, income, race/ethnicity, gender/sexuality, immigration status, and housing status); 2) mezzo-level (formal and informal supports, including social workers, hospital staff, transportation programs, Native counselors, children, neighbors, and homeless peers); 3) exo-level (operational policies and shelter design); and 4) macro-level (public and structural stigma of homelessness). Policymakers and practitioners must consider how the physical, social, cultural, systemic, and institutional aspects of services and other environments impact the older adults for whom they are making decisions or providing care. Using the author’s framework as a guide, they hope future decisions are made with older adults who are experiencing homelessness through systemic empowerment and meaningful social support to enhance their agency and resilience in place.

Canham, S. L. & Humphries, J. (2020, June). Homeism: Naming discrimination against the homeless. Paper presented at the 26^th conference of the International Association of People-Environment Studies, Quebec City, QC/Virtual.

• Though systemic issues, rather than personal defects, are at the root of housing insecurity, the latter is often emphasized. Moreover, there has been little acknowledgment of the distinct forms of stigma and discrimination experienced by people based on their lack of housing or their tenure in specific housing locations. While research has explored racialized and gendered experiences of discrimination that result in housing inequality, qualitative data collected from a study on the health needs of persons experiencing homelessness provide evidence of the distinct forms of discrimination experienced by people who lack housing or reside in marginalized neighborhoods. Based on data from 40 in-depth interviews with providers and persons with lived experience of homelessness in Metro Vancouver, BC, this paper defines “homeism” as the prejudice or discrimination toward an individual based on their housing status or lack thereof. Data suggest that the stigma of housing insecurity and homelessness influences access to health and housing supports and serves as a barrier to systems of care. While the data highlights examples of homeism experienced by persons living in a shelter or on the street, this term can also be extended to anyone who experiences stigma or discrimination based on their housing. By naming homeism, the authors aim to instigate housing activism, which recognizes housing as a human right and counteracts the neoliberal “not in my backyard” mentality. As well, by naming the discrimination against persons experiencing homelessness, future scholarship on this phenomenon can be pursued alongside interventions aimed at eliminating homeism.

Mahmood, A., Humphries, J., Moore, P., & Canham, S. L., (2020, June). A scoping review of housing options, supports, and interventions for older persons experiencing homelessness. Paper presented at the 26^th conference of the International Association of People-Environment Studies, Quebec City, QC/Virtual.

• Older persons experiencing homelessness (OPEH) may have life histories of prolonged or episodic homelessness, or they may experience homelessness for the first time in later life. While experiences of homelessness in later life may vary greatly, understandings of shelter/housing models that meet the diverse needs of OPEH are limited. To address this gap, a scoping review was conducted to examine the international literature on shelter/housing models for OPEH that support aging in the right place. Fourteen databases were searched for literature published between 1999 and 2019, resulting in 26 sources included for review. Through a collaborative, iterative process of reading and rereading the sources, findings were organized into six categories of models that support aging in the right place: 1) permanent supportive housing (PSH), including PSH delivered through Housing First; 2) transitional housing; 3) shelter settings with social and medical supports; 4) drop-in centers; 5) case management and outreach; and 6) other programs and policy approaches. Findings reveal that a continuum of shelter/housing options, from permanent settings with intensive supports, to person-centered, community-based services, can support diverse groups of OPEH to age in the right place. While existing aging-in-place research largely focuses on older adults who are securely housed, these findings expand our understanding of a scarcely studied topic and contributes knowledge that can inform housing policy and design for OPEH through a life-course perspective.

Walsh, C., Humphries, J., Dharshi, N., Canham, S. L., Burns, V., Sussman, T., & Hagner, J. (2020, June). Exploring promising practice models for housing older persons experiencing homelessness in Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal. Paper presented at the 26^th conference of the International Association of People-Environment Studies, Quebec City, QC/Virtual.

• Older adults make up an increasing proportion of persons experiencing homelessness in Canada. A broad range of shelter/housing options can support the unique and diverse needs of older persons experiencing homelessness (OPEH), yet knowledge of available promising practices is limited. In order to identify promising practices that support aging in the right place for OPEH in Montréal, Calgary, and Vancouver, the authors conducted an environmental scan and World Café discussions with health, shelter/housing, and homelessness service providers and persons with lived experiences of homelessness/housing insecurity (n=99) in each of the three cities. The authors identified 153 promising practices, categorized across the shelter/housing continuum: 1) emergency/transitional/temporary shelter/housing; 2) independent living with offsite supports; 3) supported independent living with onsite, non-medical supports; 4) permanent supportive housing with onsite medical support and/or specialized services; 5) long-term care; and 6) palliative care/hospice. Based on these findings, the authors created a conceptual matrix mapped onto the continuum of shelter/housing models for OPEH across aging-related care needs. This process led to the identification of promising shelter/housing options for OPEH in Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver and outlined strengths and gaps in housing and service provision. Study findings contribute to an enriched understanding of the array of solutions that can potentially meet the diverse needs of OPEH and suggest opportunities for scaling up and scaling out existing promising practices in Montréal, Calgary, and Vancouver across Canada.

Canham, S. L., Danielsen, C., Small, S., & Bosma, H. (2020, February). Giving voice to older homeless patients in the development of a medical respite intervention study in Vancouver, BC. Paper presented at the Symposium on Social Justice and an Ethic of Care to celebrate the 90^th anniversary of the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.

• The design of intervention research has often neglected to consider the perspectives of those for whom the intervention is intended. Yet, including patients in the design of their care helps to empower them. Using principles of community-based participatory research, the authors conducted a feasibility study with patient partners to determine how best to engage marginalized patients in intervention research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 patient and 11 provider participants between July and November 2018. Participants highlighted: 1) the importance of researchers’ approach (e.g., fostering trust with research participants, “meeting people where they are at,” and utilizing trauma-informed and culturally safe practices); 2) preferences for study design and data collection (e.g., the use of peer researchers); and 3) aspects vital to participant recruitment and retention (e.g., financial incentives). By giving voice to older homeless patients, this study builds on knowledge of how researchers should engage with vulnerable patient groups.

Castillo, J., Priddy, S., & Hendrix, E. (2020, January). Substance use and help-seeking among disadvantaged fathers. Poster presented at 24^th annual meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research Conference, Washington, DC.

• The examination of disadvantaged fathers’ help-seeking for substance use is an understudied area. Using participants (N = 3,362) from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study examined disadvantaged fathers’ need for substance use treatment and help-seeking for substance use treatment. The results of this study found that, among those needing treatment, disadvantaged fathers who were non-married and employed at fewer hours were in need of substance use treatment at higher rates than other groups of fathers. This study also found that disadvantaged fathers who were Black, Hispanic, non-married, and employed at fewer hours sought help for substance use at higher rates than other groups of fathers. Implications for health care policies, programs, and practices were provided and recommendations for future research were discussed.

Frost, C. J. (2020, October). Use of memoir in considering women’s health. Presentation for the Literature and Medicine Affinity Group meeting of the American Society for Bioethics & Humanities, Virtual.

• This presentation used information from the seven domains of health and In the Dream House to illustrate the intersection of literature and healthcare in explorations with graduate students. By discussing the domains of health in the context of a memoir, overlapping considerations of at least four domains of health (e.g., emotional, financial, physical, and social) and how to approach conversation with clients are brought to the forefront. The discussion that ensued in a classroom setting enabled individuals who may become health and/or mental healthcare providers to develop a more nuanced awareness of women as complex human beings whose life experiences should be taken into account for comprehensive, but tailored healthcare to be provided.

Hopkins, R. W., Patin, K., Shea, S., Vogel-Ferguson, M. B. (2020, August). Becoming a Trauma-Informed State – Sounds Great, But Where's Utah on the Map? Presentation at the Generations 2020 Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, Virtual.

• Being “trauma-informed” might seem like a buzz word, but really it simply means that we recognize the impact adversity often has on a person’s physical, emotional, or mental health. This approach is crucial in guiding individuals, organizations, and communities toward more effectively fulfilling their individual missions. In a state-wide effort to become trauma-informed, multiple organizations have joined to develop tools, create assessments, analyze data, and develop next steps. In Utah, heath, criminal justice, and state-wide coalitions have come together to transform our organizations. This presentation explored partnerships that support trauma-informed efforts across Utah and how an organization might grow their own efforts. After this presentation, attendees were able to: 1) discuss trauma-informed approaches at the agency and organizational level, including tools that were used to assess Utah’s statewide trauma-informed efforts; and 2) explore how Utah built and leveraged strategic partnerships to implement state-wide trauma-informed efforts.

Hoy-Ellis, C. P., Kim, H-J. & Fredriksen-Goldsen, K. I. (2020, November). Life course predictors of allostatic load among LGBTQ older adults. Paper presented at the annual scientific meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Virtual.

Hoy-Ellis, C. P. (2020, August). Sexuality, love, and intimacy: Older adults & Parkinson’s disease. Presentation for the Parkinson’s Disease Symposium at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Neurology. Salt Lake City, UT.

Fredriksen-Goldsen, K. I., Linscott, R., & Hoy-Ellis, C. P. (accepted). Promoting social justice in diverse LGBTQ communities by bridging aging practice and research. Workshop accepted for the annual conference of the American Society on Aging, Atlanta, GA. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19).

Jaggers, J., Osteen, P., Byrne, K. (2020, November). Systematic review of Seeking Safety intervention: Lessons for child welfare service delivery. Presentation at the 66^th annual meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Denver, CO/Virtual.

• For this poster presentation, the researchers shared findings from a systematic review of Seeking Safety for the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS).

Keyes, T. S., Day, B. J. Feygin, A. R., Clark, K., Brooks, M. (2020, January). Inside the black box of student-college match: The academic, social, and institutional experiences of high achieving, urban high school graduates in college. Poster presented at 24^th annual meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, D.C.

• A large percentage of students who enroll in college never earn a degree. Only 60% of all students who entered a four-year institution in the fall of 2010 completed a bachelor’s degree within six years. The gaps in degree completion by race/ethnicity show that only 40% of African-American students who entered four-year colleges in 2010 completed degrees within six years, compared to 64 % of white and 54% of Hispanic students. This disparity is alarming because of the clear payoff of college with respect to improved earnings, health, civic engagement, and job satisfaction. Research finds that students who enroll in the most selective college to which they have access, given their academic qualifications (i.e. student-college match), are more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree than their peers who “undermatch” at a less selective college. Accordingly, student-college match is seen as a critical lever for increasing degree completion, yet we do not fully understand why college match matters.

Molloy, J. & Keyes, T. S. (accepted). Integration of restorative justice theory and practice into social work education. Hot Topics session at the 66^th annual meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Denver, CO/Virtual. (Hot Topics sessions cancelled due to COVID-19).

• Harm, in its many forms, is prevalent in society and, as a result, social workers are called upon to support the healing of individuals, families, and communities. The integration of restorative justice theory and practice into social work education could support professionals seeking to promote social change, problem solving in human relationships, and personal and community empowerment. Restorative justice is an approach to relational healing that centers the voice and experience of those most impacted by crime, interpersonal violence, and conflict through facilitated dialogue, perspective-taking and storytelling. Social work values and skills are poised to support individuals, families, and communities in healing harm and transforming conflict. Likewise, the skills necessary to implement a restorative approach to conflict resolution and community building, align with social work training. Social work educators can play a role in promoting the use of this powerful, social justice oriented approach to reparation of harm by exposing students to the principles and practices of restorative justice. Through the use of case studies, skill building, and critical analysis, students could learn how to create alternative, more just, systems for addressing school discipline, justice system responses, workplace conflict, and other forms of interpersonal and community violence. Raising awareness in students and facilitating the development of restorative practice skills will prepare social workers to contribute on the micro level with repairing harm and transforming conflict between individuals, as well as the mezzo or macro areas of policy innovation, program development, and community organizing.

Keyes, T. S., Dilanchian, A., & Brooks, M. (accepted). Do the job postings for school social workers, school psychologists, and school counselors align with the professional models? Paper presentation for the 23^rd National School Social Work Conference, Baltimore, MD. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19).

• The landscape of the K-12 education system is changing rapidly, and the effects are being seen in the shape of overworked and underdeveloped teachers to underserved students. In addition to the shifting racial composition, other changes facing the U.S. public education system are focused on school climate and its association to violence in schools. The under-treatment and under-support of school-aged children has been noted as a major public health crisis. Only approximately 10% of the children who are in need of school-based services have any contact with a professional and the ways school-based student support services are currently structured are fragmented and inadequate. In most schools, existing programs focus only on improving academic and career skills, or attenuating disruptive behaviors. The professionals that commonly address these issues are social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, and school nurses. However, the challenge for school administrators is to not only have the necessary funding to hire these school-based student support professionals, but knowing which professional to hire to serve the unique needs of the student body and community. This study illustrates to educators the similarities and differences between these school-based student support professionals to better serve the needs of the student body.

Padilla, C., Loomis, A. M., Davis, A., Cruden, G., & Drazen, Y. A. (2020, December). Policy scan and qualitative analysis of state legislation limiting preschool exclusionary discipline. Paper presented at the National Research Conference on Early Childhood of the Administration for Children and Families, Arlington, VA/Virtual.

• High rates of preschool expulsion is a national problem that many states are trying to address through legislation banning or limiting the practice in preschool settings. This symposium included a review of the national landscape of proposed or passed pre-k expulsion legislation, as well as results from implementation of this legislation in the state of Illinois. Implications were discussed for the development and evaluation of comprehensive pre-k expulsion legislation.

Cruden, G., Drazen, Y., Davis, A., Padilla, C., & Loomis, A. M. (2020, November). Preventing school-based trauma: A framework for developing legislation to limit preschool expulsion and suspension. Paper presented at the special topic workshop: The State of Research on Prevention of Child Maltreatment for the Society for Research on Child Development, St. Louis, MO/Virtual.

• Disruptive, aggressive, or unfocused behavior among school-aged children is often associated with undiagnosed or untreated trauma. Unfortunately, resources to screen and support children are often limited, and teachers are rarely given adequate support to handle classroom behavior concerns or deliver trauma-informed practices. As a result, a striking number of children as young as 3 years are suspended or expelled, creating further trauma to the child. This presentation highlighted how state legislators are attempting to reduce or prohibit the rate at which preschool children are suspended or expelled, which has been linked to adverse outcomes across the life course. The authors reviewed the motivating rationale and alternative interventions that are proposed in pending or passed state legislation in order to prevent further trauma to children, and how well these proposed alternatives map onto the best available evidence. The authors offered a proposed framework for creating legislation that sufficiently attempts to prohibit the reduction of preschool expulsion or suspension through the inclusion of key components, such as multi-level prevention interventions, clear definitions of expulsion and suspension, adequate protection for particularly vulnerable children, appropriate evaluation targets, and sufficient funding for supporting the implementation of the proposed legislation. They concluded with a vision for next steps in sharing this information with policy makers so as to affect legislative practice, particularly with respect to legislation that aims to support trauma-exposed youth.

McDonald, C., Davis, M., Cajski, C., Benson, C. (2020, September). Developing child welfare skills using in-person and virtual reality (VR)-based simulations. Presentation for the Harnessing Technology for Social Good webinar series by the Grand Challenges for Social Work, Virtual.

• This webinar addressed two platforms that are used in tandem in western states to help develop the necessary skills of current and prospective child welfare workers. These two platforms are a technologically-driven simulation lab training and a virtual reality (VR) learning platform that leverages key aspects of deliberate practice theory in order to maximize engagement, while also providing immediate feedback for both the learners as well as the observers on their performance and ability to recognize when the target practice behaviors are properly demonstrated.

McDonald, C. & Davis, M. (2020, October). Using expert consensus in a virtual reality training environment to provide competency-based feedback to learners. Presentation for the New Directions conference of the National Staff Development Training Association, Virtual.

• Research on how humans learn has shown a valid learning environment is necessary to reliably acquire complex skills such as those needed for social work practice. For example, valid learning environments focus on learning specific skills under the guidance of a teacher, with frequent feedback, and opportunities for frequent practice. This type of skills practice is not sufficiently a part of the training of social workers. Absent effective ways to practice skills, social workers often learn on the job, putting clients at risk.

Landry-Bourne, T., Thompson, L., Figueroa, A., McDonald, C., Carmichael, D. (2020, October). Let's talk: Sustaining training in a virtual environment. Presentation for the New Directions conference of the National Staff Development Training Association, Virtual.

• This two-part presentation first explored the use of "person-driven" simulations (e.g., simulation labs or homes) as a training method in human services, including how organizations have transitioned these simulations to remote or online learning as a result of COVID-19. Drawing on the experiences of workshop participants, attendees developed a shared understanding about simulations as a teaching/training method, gained tips/strategies for implementing simulations in human services training, and identified a network of other professionals interested in designing and implementing effective simulations. The second part explored simulations designed as "virtual" or technology-driven simulations. In these simulations, known by various names to include virtual reality and computer-based simulations, the immersion experience is delivered through some form of technology.

Min, M. O., Minnes, S., Momotaz, H., Singer, L. T., Wasden, A. M., & Bearer, C. F. (2020, January).  Maternal drinking during pregnancy is associated with the substance use and related problems of adolescent offspring. Poster presented at 24^th annual meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, D.C.

• Lead exposure continues to be a major public health problem, particularly in urban areas in the U.S. Although the detrimental effects of early exposure to lead on children’s cognitive and social/emotional development have been well documented, relatively few studies examined its effects on adolescent behavioral outcomes. Findings from multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that, after controlling for covariates, higher blood lead levels (BLL) assessed at age 4 was related to a greater likelihood of using alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, and engaging in sexual intercourse before age 15, demonstrating the long lasting effects of environmental lead exposure. Given the vulnerability of the developing adolescent brain to the effects of drug use, the results of the study raise more attention to the detrimental effects of lead exposure on health.

Kim, S. K., Minnes, S., & Min, M. O. (2020, January). Maternal avoidant coping strategy and adolescent self-regulation among dyads affected by maternal prenatal substance use. Poster presented at 24^th annual meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, D.C.

• This study demonstrates the negative impact of maternal avoidant coping and the moderating effect of perceived family support on adolescent self-regulation in child/adolescent-mother dyads affected by maternal substance use during pregnancy. Given that poor child/adolescent-self regulation tends to predict later behavioral problems including substance use, this study highlights a need for social work interventions that address maternal coping strategies and promote family supports to prevent child/adolescent behavior problems.

Frey, J. J, Osteen, P. J., Nam, B., & Mosby, A. (2020, January). More than just depression: The need to screen for anger as suicide risk among working-age men. Poster presented at 24^th annual meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, D.C.

• Anger/irritability are critical in screening for suicide risk with working-age men. Reliance on positive screens for depression as a precursor for suicide screening is potentially life threatening, as 12% of men who screen for suicide report no or low risk for depression. Masculinity theory suggests that anger/irritability are important in assessing depression and this study demonstrates a strong link between anger/irritability and suicide, absent from traditional measures of depression.

Frey, J.J, Mosby, A., & Osteen, P. J. (2020, January). Research methods 2.0: Using technology to conduct research on stigmatized populations. Presentation at 24^th annual meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, D.C.

• This workshop focused on learnings from a state-wide campaign (Healthy Men Michigan— HMM) that tested the effectiveness of online screening for depression and suicide, in addition to an online support program for men ages 25-64. Researchers engaged over 240 organizational partners throughout the state and worked with a marketing company to develop male-focused strategies to engage men in the study. Funded by the CDC, this project represents one of the first randomized control trials on online interventions for suicide with working-aged men. Attendees learned how the researchers developed best practices for conducting research online, engaged a difficult to reach population using high tech and high touch recruitment strategies, maximized a limited budget, and creatively worked to ensure participant safety with complex online systems and communications. Attendees also learned how to effectively and safely use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Craig’s List, and Reddit for research. Researchers talked about how they partnered with a university’s human subject protection office (IRB) to conduct this study and learn best practices for online research.

Teasley, M., Spencer, M., & Bartholomew, M. (2020, January). Racism: The 13^th grand challenge for social work. Presentation at 24^th annual meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, D.C.

• At the root of most of the social problems social workers address are a host of structural and systemic issues that put disenfranchised communities at risk. Racism is certainly at the forefront of these issues. Although many of the scholarly papers that make up the Grand Challenges underscore the need to include race and discrimination as variables, the distinctiveness of racism as an overarching and causal factor is not captured within this collective body of work. This session highlighted the profound impact of racism on society, its importance to social work research, and why it is necessary for race and racism to not only be prominently integrated into every Grand Challenge, but also to emerge as the 13^th Grand Challenge for the social work profession. The presenters provided an overview of the far reaching parameters of racism in society, and how it relates to existing Grand Challenges, and social work at large; a specific example of how racism impacts health disparities and attempts to close the health gap; and the importance of integrating racism into existing the Grand Challenges and designating racism as the 13^th Grand Challenge for the social work profession. 

Shillington, A., Craig, C., Teasley, M., Williams, J. H., Flynn, M., Uehara, E., & Meyer-Adams, N. (2020, January). Grand Challenges for Social Work roundtable, Western Consortium for the Grand Challenges. Invited symposium at 24^th annual meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research Conference, Washington, D.C.

• In January 2016, the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare launched the 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work. During the initial years of this important initiative, the leads have been primarily at larger research-intensive universities. However, for schools that are smaller, often with tighter fiscal parameters, with a more balanced research-teaching mission, or a primarily teaching and service mission, their roles in the initiative have not been well defined. These programs, together with community practitioners, have significant and vital roles to play for the full implementation of the Grand Challenges, bringing an essential array of fresh perspectives. To strengthen the impact of these individual stakeholders, members of the Grand Challenges for Social Work leadership have developed a replicable consortium model. The Western Consortium for the Grand Challenges serves as a regional collaboration working together, leveraging talent and resources, to address shared concerns in their region. The Consortium identifies strategies for responding to regional issues and implements creative initiatives involving teaching innovation, translational and implementation science, curricular infusion of the Grand Challenges, new community practices in the field, scholarly professional learning networks, and fresh concepts of community service.