Posters & Presentations - College of Social Work

Andersen, T., Jones, B., Keefauver, L., Rusch, R., & Supiano, K. (2022, April). Holding the liminal space: Balancing uncertainty and rejuvenation. General assembly opening plenary presented at the annual summit of the Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Baffour, T. D., Whitakar, T., Rutledge, L., Mowdood, & A. McFarland, M. (2022, November). A scoping review protocol of anti-racist interventions in higher education: Implications for social work. Paper presented at the annual program meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Anaheim, CA.

The presentation described a scoping review protocol for anti-racism training in higher education. The scoping review collected, and mapped existing evidence about organizational opportunities to facilitate anti-racism in higher education. Attendees explored the application of evidence-informed literature to transform their own institutions.

Benson, C., Davis, M. J., McDonald, C., & Lundahl, B. (2022, January). Virtual motivational interviewing: Developing an app for the deliberate practice of motivational interviewing skills. A poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.

This poster presentation illustrated and demonstrated the virtual motivational interviewing (VMI) application that leverages deliberate practice theory and multi-media learning theory. This phone-based application is being developed to provide learners with repeated practice opportunities for developing motivational interviewing skills in the context of child welfare practice. The findings of a pilot usability study were shown, including a thematic analysis of comments made that were then considered in future iterations of the application development.

Davis, M. J., Benson, C., & McDonald, C. (2022, May). Using evidence-based learning theories to guide the development of virtual simulations. Presentation given at the meeting of the Korean Council of Social Welfare Education, Seoul, South Korea.

It is crucial to consider specific learning methods when developing virtual simulation platforms. This virtual conference demonstrated and discussed the various skills modules of the virtual social work trainer that stakeholders should consider in their efforts to develop an ever-increasing workforce that is using enhanced learning technologies, such as virtual reality, to develop their skill base.

Bettmann Schaefer, J. E., Couch, S., Stagaman, E., & Hanley, A. W. (2022, November). The effects of nature-immersive experiences on adults with mental illness: A meta-analysis. Paper presented at the international conference of the Association for Experiential Education, Black Hills, NC.

This meta-analysis aimed to answer the question: What are the effects of nature-immersive experiences on the social, mental, and physical health of adults with mental illness? Research illuminates the positive effects of nature on autonomic nervous system functioning. Being in nature elicits a salutary autonomic response, particularly among those who are stressed. Recent fMRI research suggests that being in urban environments may tax the neural mechanisms associated with regulating stress, while being in natural environments improves cognition and mood and decreases rumination-related neural activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex. If exposure to nature reduces stress and rumination while enhancing autonomic regulation, then nature-immersive experiences are likely to positively affect mental health symptomology.

Bettmann Schaefer, J. E. & Hanley, A. W. (2022, October). The effects of nature-immersive experiences on social, mental, and physical health in adults with mental illness or symptoms of mental illness. Presentation given at the SHIFT Summit, Fort Collins, CO.

This meta-analysis considered: What are the effects of nature-immersive experiences on social, mental, and physical health on adults with mental illness? Research illuminates the positive effects of nature on autonomic nervous system functioning. Being in nature elicits a salutary autonomic response, particularly among those who are stressed. If exposure to nature reduces stress and rumination while enhancing autonomic regulation, then nature-immersive experiences are likely to positively affect mental health symptomology.

Bettmann Schaefer, J. E., Couch, S., Stagaman, E., & Hanley, A. W. (2022, August). A meta-analysis of nature exposure for adults with mental illness: Emergent themes. Research preconference presentation at the Wilderness Therapy Symposium, Park City, UT.

This meta-analysis considered: What are the effects of nature-immersive experiences on social, mental, and physical health on adults with mental illness? Research illuminates the positive effects of nature on autonomic nervous system functioning. Being in nature elicits a salutary autonomic response, particularly among those who are stressed. If exposure to nature reduces stress and rumination while enhancing autonomic regulation, then nature-immersive experiences are likely to positively affect mental health symptomology. Emergent themes from the meta-analysis were presented.

Cambron, C., Castillo, J., & Frost, C. (2022, November). Effectiveness of brief in-person and virtual substance use disorder counselor trainings from 2019 to 2021. Poster presented at the annual program meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Anaheim, CA.

The goal of this study was to evaluate knowledge and self-efficacy gained from brief in-person and virtual workshops for paraprofessional substance use disorder counselor (SUDC) student trainees. Results of this study demonstrated that both in-person and virtual brief workshops for paraprofessional SUDC student-trainees led to knowledge gains related to six different modalities and self-efficacy gains related to four different modalities. Virtual workshops conducted showed similar effect sizes for knowledge and self-efficacy gains compared to in-person workshops. These results suggest virtual learning as a viable brief training tool for paraprofessional SUDCs.

Canham, S. L., Rigby, J. H., Farrell, T., Zeljkovic, A., & Hobson-Rohrer, W. L. (2022, November). Student preferences for virtual or in-person IPE simulations. Poster presented at the Interprofessional Education Collaborative Poster Fair, virtual.

Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Utah Interprofessional Education (IPE) program transitioned all simulations to a virtual Zoom platform. As public health restrictions shift, there is a need to assess the virtual IPE experience and student preferences for this pedagogical form. The purpose of this study was to examine student preferences for taking IPE simulations in-person or through a virtual Zoom platform, and perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of IPE simulations delivered virtually or in-person. On post-simulation student surveys from two IPE simulations, ambulatory care/diabetes and medical error offered in 2020-2021, we asked students if they would have preferred to take the IPE simulation in-person or through a synchronous online format. Following, we asked two open-ended questions: 1. What are the reasons you answered the previous question the way you did? and 2. What do you see as the advantage(s) and/or disadvantage(s) of a Zoom-delivered course? More students preferred a Zoom platform in 2021 than 2020, while the preference for in-person decreased. Students who chose Zoom felt this format was more convenient, safer, and eased interprofessional collaboration. The downsides to in-person simulations included travel logistics and technical challenges in the simulation lab. Students suggested in-person simulations more closely resembled ‘real life’ and that communication and body language is easier to covey in-person.

Canham, S. L., Weldrick, R., Mahmood, A., Sussman, T., & Walsh, C. (2022, November). Aging in the right place: A conceptual framework of indicators for older persons experiencing homelessness. Paper presented at the meeting of the Canadian Association to End Homelessness, Toronto, ON.

Recognizing housing as a fundamental right amidst increasing rates of homelessness in later life, this session will focus on the unique vulnerabilities of homeless-experienced older adults and models of housing and services that support this unique population. This session began with a co-presentation of a framework of indicators on place-based supports and was followed by two community-based organizations that support different populations of homeless-experienced older adults. Attendees learned actionable ways in which older adults experiencing homelessness can be supported as we work to close the gap between housing research, practice, and policy and advocate for housing justice.

Hong, A., Welch-Stockton, J., Young Kim, J., Canham, S. L., Greer, V., & Sorweid, M. (2022, November). Health and social outcomes of age-friendly community interventions: A scoping review. Paper presented at the conference of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, Toronto, ON.

To address numerous challenges associated with population aging, increased attention has been paid to building age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC). However, limited robust evidence exists to develop and implement evidence-based policies and strategies that enable a societal transformation to age-friendly communities. This research addresses this gap by conducting a scoping review of interventions designed to promote AFCC around the world. Of the initial 3,105 publications, 27 peer-reviewed journal articles were identified to have both health and social outcomes of AFCC interventions. Based on the synthesis of the results, four major themes emerged: physical activity interventions (n=11), educational interventions (n=9), multi-domain interventions (n=5), and other interventions (n=2). The results showed that many of the successful interventions used a partnership model and behavioral change theories to inform program design and implementation. The results also indicated that social participation and engagement played a key role in making the interventions successful. However, the results revealed that the literature is dominated by individual-focused approaches, suggesting that more research on environment-focused interventions is needed. Future research should develop an integrated framework that considers both programming strategies as well as urban design and planning strategies. This review offers important insights to inform policies and practices aimed at promoting old adults’ health and social outcomes.

Weldrick, R., Canham, S. L., Sussman, T., Walsh, C., Cormier, É., & Mahmood, A. (2022, October). Delivering services to older persons experiencing homelessness: Providers’ perspectives of what works. Paper presented at the annual scientific and educational meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2022, Regina, SK, Canada.

Older people with experiences of homelessness (OPEH) tend to experience more complex health, social, and psychological issues than people experiencing homelessness at younger ages. Simultaneously, many housing resources (e.g., shelters, temporary housing) are often ill equipped to meet the needs of OPEH. As such, OPEH are often not able to age in the right place (AIRP) – that is, in a place that supports unique needs and vulnerabilities. However, several promising practices exist that deliver housing and services tailored to OPEH. To investigate the aspects of housing and shelter that are most effective in supporting OPEH, this study examines the delivery of services in three such promising practices from the perspective of service providers. Participants included a diverse mix of service providers, including case workers, program coordinators, management, and others. Findings from 15 qualitative interviews revealed four overarching themes: 1. mechanisms of success (e.g., facilitating transitions in and out of housing); 2. program-specific barriers to providing individualized support (e.g., staff turnover); 3. double-edged swords (i.e., policies with both favorable and unfavorable consequences); and 4. shifting contexts and structures (e.g., housing market changes). Findings provide evidence to support the refinement of service delivery to OPEH by promoting AIRP. In doing so, these insights can help to elevate promising practices to the level of best practice.

Dukart, A., Hoselton, J., Walsh, C., Mahmood, A., Sussman, T., & Canham, S. L. (2022, October). Intersectionality and older adult experiences of homelessness: A social justice approach. Paper presented at the annual scientific and educational meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2022, Regina, SK, Canada.

Older adults are increasingly representative of the homeless population in Canada, and other Western countries. The rise in homelessness among older adults can be attributed to population aging, a shifting age structure, and the added consequences of poverty, economic volatility, housing affordability and subsidized housing availability, decreased social programs and social assistance benefits, and increased rates of mental health issues and substance use. Beyond the effects of classism, older adults experiencing homelessness face multiple and intersecting forms of oppression, including ageism, racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia. In the authors’ research with older adults with experiences of homelessness in Montréal, Calgary, and Vancouver, they employ an intersectional framework to illuminate ways in which this theory, grounded in social justice praxis, can be applied to research and practice. The increasing prevalence of older adults experiencing homelessness, combined with the complexities that intersecting identity markers produce, demand research that recognizes where an older person lives must match their unique lifestyles and vulnerabilities. In addition to understanding the systemic issues and barriers this population are confronted with to improve their health and well-being and to becoming housed, the multiple sites of oppression older adults face necessitate a research and practice approach aimed at social justice. Implementing intersectional theory into research serves as a call to action to improve housing options to meet the unique and complex health and social needs of older adults.

Patille, R., Bookmyer, G., Lam, E., Mora, D. J., Mahmood, A., Gurung, S., & Canham, S. L. (2022, October). Informing housing practices throughout photovoice with older adults who experience homelessness or housing insecurity. Paper presented at the annual scientific and educational meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2022, Regina, SK, Canada.

The concept of aging in the right place (AIRP) emphasizes that older adults’ environment must support their diverse needs to age optimally. However, there is limited research on what AIRP means for older persons experiencing homelessness (OPEH). This study’s objective was to identify concepts of AIRP through photo documentation of their lived experience in a temporary housing program (THP). The data collection method used was photovoice interviews, each consisting of two sessions. These were conducted with 12 OPEH with diverse backgrounds and housing experiences. Photovoice allowed participants to express what is important to them through a photo and take ownership of the themes discussed during the interviews. Three 30–90-minute interview sessions with each participant allowed for nuanced insights into how the THP contributes to AIRP for OPEH. Interviews were transcribed and a coding framework was developed to analyze insights from OPEH. The findings demonstrate that the THP is a steppingstone for OPEH to AIRP. The emerging themes contributing to AIRP are: 1. community mobility and access; 2. role of time, space, and diverse users in social interaction; 3. supportive nature of THP; and 4. engagement with built and natural environment. To conclude, photovoice provides an opportunity for OPEH to actively engage in research, tell their stories through visual representations, and reflect on what is important to AIRP. Findings can help bridge current gaps in knowledge and provide guidance to transform program practices related to housing for OPEH by offering insight on the barriers and facilitators of AIRP.

Cormier, É., Serrano, D., Bourgeois-Guérin, V., Sussman, T., Gauthier, M., Walsh, C., Mahmood, A., & Canham, S. L. (2022, October). Mental health and housing resources: The double bind to better understand the lived experiences of adults who have experienced homelessness. Paper presented at the annual scientific and educational meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2022, Regina, SK, Canada.

Older persons who have experienced homelessness (OPEH) are at heightened risk of mental health challenges. This may be due, in part, to the scarcity of services adapted to their needs and the complexities associated with their life trajectories. However, approaches to support their mental health within housing resources have remained relatively unexplored. This study explores what 31 OPEH shared about the intersections between their lived experiences in housing resources and their mental health in the context of photovoice interviews. It is part of the aging in the right place partnership project aimed at improving understandings of what aging in the right place means for OPEH in Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. The researchers’ thematic analysis revealed elements of housing resources that supported the mental health of some OPEH, alleviated the mental health issues of others, but also elements that often exacerbated their mental health challenges. These latest experiences were typically associated with a tension between OPEH mental health needs and the approaches governing the housing resources within which they resided. More specifically, they experienced tensions between: 1. being the subjects of their lives and the objects of care; 2. making sense of their personal story to move forward in a daily life that leave the impression of standing still; and 3. creating solid roots from which to grow, and living in transition created a circumstance which both exacerbated and rendered invisible the mental health challenges of OPEH. Implications for bridging the mental health needs of OPEH within housing practices were discussed.

Serrano, S., Cormier, É., Sussman, T., Bourgeois-Guérin, V., Provost, D., Walsh, C., Mahmood, A., & Canham, S. L. (2022, October). Thinking about space: Methodological considerations for integrating a trauma-informed approach to research with older persons with experiences of homelessness. Paper presented at the annual scientific and educational meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2022, Regina, SK, Canada.

Trauma-informed (TI) research approaches have become one of the predominant approaches when engaging with participants at heightened risk of a trauma history. Yet, despite the relational traumas associated with late life homelessness and trauma exposure while unhoused, little has been written about how the core reflective elements that underpin the TI approach can benefit research in this area. This reflective methodological paper redresses this critical gap by illuminating how TI research practices such as positionality, transformative potential, and power can be used to mitigate harm and foster therapeutic benefits within the research process. This paper is part of the aging in the right place partnership project, which explores the extent to which promising homeless practices within three major urban centers in Canada supported aging in the right place/space for a divergent group of older adults with experiences of homelessness. The reflections reported in this paper evolved from the researchers’ discussions reviewing and debriefing interviews with older persons with experiences of homelessness, site visits, and field notes. More specifically they offered reflections on how they attended to their positionality through “sensing space,” supported transformation through “co-creating space,” and shifted power through “re-constructing space.” The authors hope their reflections serve to highlight the valuable opportunity that thinking about space may contribute toward attending to the key TI tenants of positionality, transformation, and power when conducting research with older homeless persons.

Greer, V., Canham, S. L., Hong, A., Agutter, J., Garcia, I., VanNatter, J., Caylor, N., & Beck, K. (2022, May). Supporting older adults through the pandemic: Priorities from perspectives of aging service providers. Poster presented at the annual research retreat at the University of Utah Center on Aging, Salt Lake City, UT.

A disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic falls on the health and well-being of older adults, calling attention to the significant role service providers play in supporting older adults who wish to age in their communities. Aging in “the right” place recognizes that where an older person lives will impact their ability to age optimally and varies with each individual’s unique lifestyle and vulnerabilities. Research has shown older adults are happier and healthier when they age in place, and to age well, formal social supports are critical. To understand how the pandemic impacted older adults aging in place and how service providers are addressing emergent needs, the authors conducted a series of virtual World Café workshops with service providers specializing in working with older adults in the Salt Lake City metropolitan region (n=34). This poster presents findings from the three 90-minute sessions, intended to inform thinking around social impacts, innovation, and the ways we work together. In session one, participants were asked to prioritize environmental factors that support aging in the “right” place during the pandemic. In session two, participants were asked to report on concerns that have been brought to light because of the pandemic for older adults’ ability to age in the “right” place. Finally, in session three, participants were asked to envision solutions, leveraging supportive factors, and discovering how researchers can be a part of solutions.

Greer, V., Canham, S. L., Hong, A., Agutter, J., Garcia, I., Caylor, N., & VanNatter, J. (2022, May). A photovoice study of aging-in-place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Poster presented at the annual research retreat at the University of Utah Center on Aging, Salt Lake City, UT.

The shelter-in-place restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic meant people spent more time in their homes than ever before. Thus, the suitability of living environments for aging in place became critical for health and wellbeing during the pandemic. The researchers identified environmental factors that support positive experiences of aging in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study generated data through photos and stories shared by older adult participants. Five categories of factors were identified: 1. environmental factors, which helped older adults have a sense of agency over their living environments; 2. functional factors, which supported older adults in maintaining function and daily routines; 3. physical factors, which supported older adults in maintaining their physical health and safety; 4. social factors, which facilitated social connections with friends and family during times of social restriction; and 5. psychological factors, which supported older adults’ mental health and nurtured inner beliefs during the pandemic. In the context of discussing aging in place, the domain of “place” expands beyond home and neighborhood, and includes digital environments, open spaces, and destinations in communities. A co-creation process, which includes firsthand experiences of older adults, is necessary to incorporate the lived experiences of older adults into future planning, design, and supportive strategies. Efforts that strive to improve the well-being of aging populations can benefit from an interdisciplinary approach that draws on diverse perspectives and methodologies. Promoting services and spaces that increase access to the supportive factors can foster environments for healthy aging.

Hong, A., Welch-Stockton, J., Young Kim, J., Canham, S. L., Greer, V., & Sorweid, M. (2022, May). Health and social outcomes of age-friendly community interventions: A scoping review. Poster presented at the annual research retreat at the University of Utah Center on Aging, Salt Lake City, UT.

Limited robust evidence exists to develop and implement evidence-based policies and strategies that enable a societal transformation to age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC). The research team conducted a scoping review of interventions designed to promote AFCC around the world. Twenty-seven peer-reviewed journal articles were identified to have both health and social outcomes of AFCC interventions. Based on the synthesis of the results, four major themes emerged: physical activity interventions (n=11), educational interventions (n=9), multi-domain interventions (n=5), and other interventions (n=2). The results showed that many of the successful interventions used a partnership model and behavioral change theories to inform program design and implementation. The results also indicated that social participation and engagement played a key role in making the interventions successful. However, the results revealed that the literature is dominated by individual-focused approaches, suggesting that more research on environment-focused interventions is needed. Future research should develop an integrated framework that considers both programming strategies, as well as urban design and planning strategies.

Canham, S. L., Rose, J., Garcia Zambrana, I., & Jones, S. O. (2022, April). The impact of decentralizing homeless services on transportation and mobility. Panel at the National Institute for Transportation and Communities, Virtual.

This webinar was based on a study funded by the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) and conducted at the University of Utah. In 2019, the delivery of homeless sheltering services in Salt Lake County transitioned from a centralized emergency shelter—The Road Home Salt Lake Community Shelter and Resource Center (TRHSLC)—operated by The Road Home to a decentralized, scattered site model with multiple “Homeless Resource Center” (HRC) locations operated by multiple service providers. To understand to what degree and to which “proximity” to public transportation and other needed services was achieved, this study examined: 1) how the decentralization of homeless services influenced transportation demand and mobility patterns for persons experiencing homelessness (PEH); and 2) how transportation and mobility changes affected access to services for PEH. Using a mixed methods research design, this interdisciplinary study conducted historical public document analysis, GIS spatial analyses, client (PEH) surveys, and interviews with clients (PEH) and professional service providers. Findings reveal that while the region’s homelessness services system changed, the transportation network went unchanged, challenging the use of transportation, PEH mobility, and access to services. Recommendations to mitigate transportation issues when homeless services are decentralized include significant consideration of how the transportation network system will evolve alongside the restructured service system. This could include development of no- or low-cost transportation on demand options, expanding bus routes, state-level funding for a shuttle system, and education to PEH on how to use public transit.

Donovan, M., Canham, S. L., Rose, J., Jones, S. O., & Garcia Zambrana, I. (2022, April). Mobility consequences of decentralizing homeless services and shelters in Salt Lake County. Poster presented at the University of Utah’s Undergraduate Research Symposium, Salt Lake City, UT.

This study investigates the impact of the decentralization of homeless shelter services in Salt Lake County on people experiencing homelessness. The locations of the new resource centers affect mobility and access to services among homeless populations. The researchers conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews and participants in the study reported on their travel behaviors, transportation use, and access to services before and after the transition to the resource centers, and provided recommendations.

Frost, C. J., Gren, L. H., & Benson, L. S. (2022, November). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on female-identifying university staff. Poster presented at the annual conference of the American Public Health Association, Boston, MA.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in substantial mortality and morbidity globally and has forced employers to rethink how they provide goods and services to their customers while keeping both employees and customers safe. In academia, most reports of impacts highlight the greater burden that has been placed on women, but these reports are generally focused on faculty. We conducted an online survey of impacts for staff in academia, as well as policies and accommodations that mitigated negative impacts. Responses indicated that women reported working additional hours during the pandemic and making work adjustments that resulted in higher productivity relative to the pre-pandemic period. Women and men reported similar levels of caregiving for children during the pandemic, but more women reported increased responsibility for children’s social needs during the pandemic. Finally, more women reported worse physical health and mental health during the pandemic period compared to pre-pandemic.

Frost, C. J., Opoku Agyemang, D., Benson, L. S., & Gren, L. H. (2022, November). Are the ethical principles from the Belmont Report adequate for research with refugee populations? Presentation at the annual conference of the American Public Health Association, Boston, MA.

There has been a significant increase in the numbers of people who are refugees. Researchers should structure their work to address the Belmont Report ethical principles (i.e., respect for person, beneficence, and justice). Researchers need to be considerate of refugee populations who may never have been involved in research and/or who may be seen as convenient groups that benefit only a researcher’s agenda. To understand what the scholarly literature discusses, the team conducted a scoping review using five research databases for the years 2008-2021 (n=878 screened articles). The focus of this scoping review, which followed PRISMA guidelines, was to determine how the Belmont Report ethical principles were applied in terms of research involving refugees resettled in high-income countries. Community-based participatory/action research was used as a framework. Of studies that commented on ethical issues (n=9), the majority focused on engaging the refugee community and ways to make consent more accessible. An interesting finding was that a few studies commented on ethical issues that arose outside the boundaries of the described research study.

Johnson, J., Tovar, L. I., O’Farrell, K. D., Gren, L. H., Benson, L. S., & Frost, C. J. (2022, November). Women, wellness, and world cafes. Poster presented at the annual conference of the American Public Health Association, Boston, MA.

In 2005, the University of Utah Center of Excellence in Women’s Health pioneered the development of a holistic survey (the Circle of Health tool) to divide women's health into seven domains: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual. The Circle of Health tool received positive reception with feedback for ongoing improvement, resulting in current efforts to revise the survey tool to be inclusive of current women's experiences (age, sex vs gender, LGBTQ+). The purpose of this presentation was to showcase recent updates to the Circle of Health project and explore findings from a series of World Cafés. The Circle of Health tool has the potential to help transform our approach to women’s healthcare. The updated tool will contribute to the long-term aim of the project of evolving the approach to, and evaluation of, women’s health to be comprehensive of all areas of life impacting a woman’s health. The tool has promise in bridging the communication gap between patient and provider, as well as in empowering women to take the initiative with their healthcare.

Gorton, K., Michael, R. A., Mongortey, D., Bondah, E. K., Okorie Ugorji, H., Eyram Avorgbendor, Y., Arhinful, C., Sutherland, E .K., Acquaah-Arhin, R. Benson, L. S., Gren, L. H., & Frost, C. J. (2022, November). A qualitative exploration of the cultural and medical landscapes of breast cancer in Ghana. Oral presentation given at the annual conference of the American Public Health Association, Boston, MA.

Managing breast cancer has been especially challenging in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Further understanding about how women and men perceive the causes and impact of breast cancer in LMICs is needed. Public health issues, including the increasing incidence and presentation of breast cancer at lower ages, and the lack of a population-based cancer registry, made Ghana an ideal location for this study. This study clarified how women and men understood breast cancer. While other researchers have noted similar issues surrounding breast cancer attitudes, knowledge, and understanding, this study identified a new classification – personal behaviors – as a community belief about the causes of breast cancer. Engaging community leaders is one important strategy for addressing the cultural and medical landscapes that currently limit access to screening, detection, and treatment of breast cancer in Ghana.

Bizila, S., Frost, C. J., & Wilson-Holden, T. (2022, August). ORI grants programs: Experiences from past awardees. Presentation given at the annual conference of the Association for Research Integrity Officers, Salt Lake City, UT.

This session presented information about the types of grants institutions have applied for from the federal Office of Research Integrity. The purpose of the session was to highlight the need for more institutions to apply, as well as lessons learned from three universities that had successfully accessed the funds and conducted conferences or research studies with the funding.

Cox-York, K., Frost, C. J., Stalilonis, M., & Tyndall, R. (2022, August). Inappropriate conduct: Who is minding the store? Presentation given at the annual conference of the Association for Research Integrity Officers, Salt Lake City, UT.

With the potential for NIH directives about managing unprofessional behaviors in the research context, the presenters conducted a survey of members of the Association for Research Integrity Officers to determine: 1. whether research integrity officers had encountered any of these behaviors while investigating research misconduct; and 2. if higher education institutions had policies or guidance on how to handle these behaviors. In this session, the presenters outlined the information from federal agencies about these behaviors and highlighted the preliminary results from the survey (n=67). The results indicated that most institutions have some procedures to handle these issues, but units across campuses may not be as coordinated in sharing information as they could be.

Folsom, J., Benson, L. S., Frost, C. J., & Gren, L. H. (2022, March). Face and construct validation of a tool for measuring immigrant & refugee integration: A mixed methods study. Presentation given at the conference of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Salt Lake City, UT.

Using the work of Ager and Strang (2004), the authors developed a tool for measuring integration for refugee individuals as they were resettling in the U.S. The purpose of this session was to present the “Measuring Immigrant and Refugee Integration” (MIRI) tool and describe the face and construct validation that were conducted to finalize the tool for use by communities and practitioners.

Agyemang, D. O., Riffle, R., Benson, L. S., Frost, C. J., & Gren L. H. (2022, March). Are the ethical guardrails adequate for research with refugees? Panel presented at the conference of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Salt Lake City, UT.

The recent increase of refugees into Europe and North America has taken center stage in political debates and elections across the globe. Determining how to best provide services for refugee populations is a human rights issues, and the research behind designing services has ethical parameters that need clarification for social science and public health experts. Conducting research with refugee populations opens the door for a number of ethical considerations and may lead to unanswered questions for ensuring ethical and responsible conduct of research with refugee groups. The presenters led an interactive discussion about the considerations needed for conducting ethical research with refugee populations in high income countries. The discussion was based on the preliminary analysis of data from a systematic review of the literature.

O’Farrell, K. D., Johnson, J., Tovar, I., Benson, L. S., Gren, L. H., & Frost, C. J. (2022, March). Enhancing the concept of women’s health: An interactive world café. Panel presented at the conference of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Salt Lake City, UT.

This panel/roundtable session presented preliminary data about the revision of the “Circle of Health” tool developed by the Center of Excellence in Women’s Health at the University of Utah. The tool was updated and this session used a world café model to obtain stakeholder input about whether the tool’s changes were clear, as well as what other changes were needed to create a more effective tool.

Zahid, H., Zamudio, O., Kah, K., Gren, L. H., Benson, L. S., & Frost, C. J. (2022, March). Cultural idioms of distress. Panel presented at the conference of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Salt Lake City, UT.

Cultures and cultural groups have different ways to express their health concerns. For U.S. healthcare providers, the expression of health concerns can often be ambiguous and do not fit standard biomedical diagnosis systems. The result is often misdiagnosis of a physical or mental health condition. The purpose of this project was to understand different ways refugees communicate their health concerns and to determine methods to close cultural and societal gaps between patients and providers, such that better screening and less misdiagnosis in a healthcare encounter occurs. The sessions presented qualitative data from interviews with refugee community members (n=12) and healthcare providers (n=8) from a clinic in Utah. A number of relevant points for providers to consider were identified. In addition, refugee participants indicated reluctance to discuss “mental health” with providers and a concern about not understanding the U.S. insurance and healthcare systems.

Garland, E. L. (2022, December). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement targets addiction by restructuring reward from hedonic pleasure to self-transcendent meaning. Keynote presentation given at the Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Festival of the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.

Garland, E. L. (2022, October). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: Clinical outcomes and biobehavioral mechanisms of an evidence-based therapy for chronic pain, opioid misuse, and opioid use disorder. Presentation given at the Grand Rounds meeting of the Northwestern University Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL.

Garland, E. L. (2022, September). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: Clinical outcomes and biobehavioral mechanisms of an evidence-based therapy for chronic pain, opioid misuse, and opioid use disorder. Presentation given at the meeting of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Disease (NIAID), Bethesda, MD.

Garland, E. L. (2022, September). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: A group visit model for addressing chronic pain, opioid misuse, and opioid use disorder. Presentation given at the conference of the Integrated Group Medical Visit Conference, Virtual.

Garland, E. L. (2022, August). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for addiction, stress, and pain. Workshop presented at the annual conference for addiction medicine of the California Society for Addiction Medicine, San Diego, CA.

Garland, E. L. (2022, August). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: An innovative, neuroscience-based treatment to help heal the opioid crisis. Plenary lecture given at the East Coast Symposium for Addictive Disorders, Baltimore, MD.

Garland, E. L. (2022, August). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: A new, neuroscience-based treatment for addiction and pain. Plenary lecture presented at the conference of the Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Conference, Virtual.

Garland, E. L. (2022, June). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: A neuroscience-informed treatment for addiction and pain. Plenary lecture presented at the annual addiction conference of the New Jersey Prevention Network, Virtual.

Garland, E. L. (2022, June). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: An evidence-based intervention for chronic pain, addictive behavior, and emotion dysregulation. Presentation given at the International Mindfulness Symposium at the University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.

Garland, E. L. (2022, June). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: Clinical outcomes and biobehavioral mechanisms of an evidence-based therapy for chronic pain and opioid misuse. Keynote presentation given at the meeting of the Stanford Pain Relief Innovations Lab at the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.

Garland, E. L. (2022, May). Digital mindfulness interventions: Friend or foe? Presentation given at the symposium of the International Congress of Integrative Medicine and Health, Phoenix, AZ.

Garland, E. L. (2022, May). Novel mechanisms of mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain and addiction: Self-referential processing and reward. Presentation given at the symposium of the International Congress of Integrative Medicine and Health, Phoenix, AZ.

Garland, E. L. (2022, May). Healing the opioid crisis with Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: Clinical outcomes and biobehavioral mechanisms from a full-scale RCT. Presentation given at the symposium of the International Congress of Integrative Medicine and Health, Phoenix, AZ.

Garland, E. L. (2022, May). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for women with chronic pain, opioid misuse, and opioid use disorder: Biobehavioral mechanisms and clinical outcomes. Panel presented at the annual meeting of the NIH Women’s Health Symposium, Bethesda, MD.

Garland, E. L., Hudak, J., & Froeliger, B. (2022, April). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement restructures reward processing in opioid misuse. Presentation given at the meeting of the Society for Biological Psychiatry, New Orleans, LA.

Garland, E. L. (2022, April). Mindfulness occasions self-transcendence and reduces opioid misuse by enhancing frontal midline theta. Presentation given at the meeting of the Science of Consciousness, Tucson, AZ.

Garland, E. L. & Hanley, A. W. (2022, April). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: A new neuroscience-based treatment for opioid misuse, opioid use disorder, and chronic pain. Presentation given at the meeting of RxSummit, Atlanta, GA.

Gezinski, L. B. (2022, January). Police response to intimate partner violence in a mandatory arrest state: Perspectives of survivors and service providers. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC/Virtual.

States vary in their approach to arrest in cases of intimate partner violence (IPV). Few studies have examined mandatory arrest from the viewpoint of survivors of IPV. Therefore, research is needed to understand the implementation of this policy, especially related to determination of the predominant aggressor. This research study sought to understand survivor and service providers’ perspectives on police response in a mandatory arrest state. Survivors in this study described being criminalized, deemed as the predominant aggressor with implications for their criminal records, access to benefits, and willingness to contact police in the future. Improved IPV training is needed that includes trauma-informed practices, and predominant aggressor and lethality protocols. Training should go beyond the physical markers of violence to recognize the signs of psychological aggression, coercive control, and verbal abuse. Significant racial disparities continue to exist in the criminal justice system, and police brutality has eroded the public’s trust in the police, resulting in a decline in crime reporting. This may translate to increased reluctance of survivors, especially BIPOC survivors, to contact the police in cases of IPV. Overall, mandatory arrest policies require critical examination, especially given their role in the criminalization of survivors themselves.

Gezinski, L. B. & Gonzalez-Pons, K. (2022, January). Anti-trafficking policing of the internet: Is there evidence for FOSTA-SESTA? Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC/Virtual.

Technology has been linked to sex trafficking in the public policy arena, as evidenced by passage of the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Traffickers Act and Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (FOSTA-SESTA) in the United States. FOSTA-SESTA aimed to combat sex trafficking by legislating digital spaces; however, the actual incidence of Internet-facilitated trafficking was missing from legislative debate. Therefore, we examined the existing knowledge base to determine if empirical evidence supports this type of legislation. Studies tend to rely on small sample sizes and non-random sampling. The most common phenomenon examined was the domestic trafficking of cisgender female youth. Findings indicate few empirically documented cases of traffickers using digital platforms to recruit victims for sexual exploitation. Greater empirical evidence exists for trafficked persons being exploited online. However, the person posting these advertisements (e.g., self, friend, trafficker) varied across studies. Messaging about sexual predators lurking online may detract from more common scenarios of trafficking recruitment, such as in-person contact. Thus, evidence-based policy making should be the norm.

Hanley, A. W. (2022, May). Self-transcendent states during a brief mindfulness-based stress reduction class predict more positive participant outcomes. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the U.S. Association for the Study of Pain, Cincinnati, OH.

Hanley, A. W. (2022, May). Self-transcendence during mindfulness training decreases clinical symptomology: Results from five randomized clinical trials. Poster presented at the biennial International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health, Phoenix, AZ.

Hanley, A. W. (2022, May). Therapist mindfulness while guiding a mindfulness practice is associated with better patient outcomes. Poster presented at the biennial International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health, Phoenix, AZ.

Hanley, A. W. (2022, April). The connection between student mindfulness and college graduation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR.

Hanley, A. W. (2022, April). Clinical benefits of self-transcendence during mindfulness training: Results from two randomized clinical trials. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine, Orlando, FL.

Hanley, A. W. (2022, April). A single-session, preoperative mindfulness-based intervention improved surgical patients’ pre- and postoperative outcomes by encouraging self-transcendent states: Results from two randomized clinical trials. Poster presented at the annual Science of Consciousness meeting, Tucson, AZ.

Hanley, A. W. (2022, April). An ultra-brief, nurse-led, mindfulness intervention decreases surgical patients' preoperative pain and medication desire. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

Hanley, A. W. (2022, March). Clinical benefits of self-transcendence during mindfulness training: Results from five randomized clinical trials. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society, Long Beach, CA.

Margo-Wilson, C., Asakura, K., Jaggers, J. W., Negi, N., & Parrish, D. (2022, November). Writing for refereed journals: Strategies to get your paper published. Panel presented at the annual program meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Anaheim, CA.

Jaggers, J. W., Arcineagas, J., & Rehn, K. (2022, January). Latent transition analysis to determine change in health services use. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work Research, Washington, DC.

In the United States, approximately 2.1 million youth under the age of 18 are arrested in a given year. Research identifies health seeking behavior as a significant predictor for violent behavior. It is therefore imperative to identify the combination of health care services that impact violence related arrests among youth. Multiple health-related factors increase risk for violent behavior among adolescents, including a diagnosable mental health disorder, sexually transmitted diseases, and substance misuse. Despite a strong need for treatment services for current and formerly incarcerated youth, there is limited effort to increase the availability of services. This study examined patterns of health services need and how those patterns change over time. Early identification of individuals who may not use health and mental health services could provide valuable information for predicting future violent behaviors. Providing easy, safe access to treatment for those at the greatest risk can both improve health and mitigate violent behavior.

Loomis, A. M. & Mitchell, J. (2022, November). Enhancing the trauma-informed capacity of the early childhood workforce. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Anaheim, CA.

This presentation covered the influence of a trauma-informed training (Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement) on early childhood professionals’ trauma-informed attitudes and cross-sector collaboration, and discussed the role of social workers in promoting trauma-informed early childhood systems and cross-professional partnerships to better serve young children and their families.

Loomis, A. M., Gomez, M., Murdoch, E. (2022, June). Trauma-informed teacher training and preschool expulsion risk: Does training content matter? Poster presented at the Administration for Children and Families’ meeting of the National Research Conference on Early Childhood, Arlington, VA.

Childhood trauma can increase children’s risk for behavioral problems, poor student-teacher relationships, and ultimately, expulsion from school, even as early as preschool. Despite increased focus on trauma-informed school approaches, little empirical work has focused on the specific outcomes associated with different types of trauma-informed training content. This gap makes it difficult to know which trauma-informed approaches are most effective at reducing trauma-related risks, such as expulsion risk, within preschool settings. This study uses a randomized design to examine the relationship between two different streams of trauma-informed training to examine differential influences on teacher attitudes/stress and child expulsion risk.

Loomis, A. M., Curby, T. W., & Zinsser, K. (2022, April). Beyond the behavior: Teachers’ trauma informed attitudes mitigate expulsion risk among uninhibited preschoolers. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.

Children’s experiences of adversity and trauma are associated with behavior that is often perceived as more challenging (Jimenez et al., 2016; Loomis, 2020), so much so that for every increase in adverse childhood experience, preschool-aged children have an 80% increased risk of being suspended or expelled (Zeng et al., 2019). Access to information about children’s prior experiences and adversities does not mitigate the likelihood of a teacher recommending a child be expelled (Gilliam et al., 2016) and may actually expedite the process (Martin et al., 2018). Teachers who hold higher trauma-informed attitudes, however, may be better equipped to sensitively consider the effects of those experiences on children’s classroom behavior and form supportive relationships with them that in turn reduce the risk of expulsion. This study examined whether preschool teachers’ trauma-informed attitudes moderate the relationship between their perceptions of child behavior and expulsion risk. Teachers’ trauma-informed attitudes moderated the influence of children’s inhibitory control on expulsion risk; among children with low inhibitory control, stronger trauma-informed attitudes of teachers were associated with lower expulsion risk.

Loomis, A. M., Sonsteng-Person, M., Coffey, R., & Freed, S. (2022, January). Using multilevel modeling to identify trauma-informed mechanisms of change for preschool expulsion risk. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work Research, Washington, DC.

Preschool expulsion continues to disproportionately impact children of color and trauma-exposed children. Trauma-informed (TI) school interventions improve children’s academic outcomes; however, it is unclear through what mechanisms TI interventions influence school discipline rates, or whether they benefit all students equitably. One potential mechanism is TI self-efficacy, which includes confidence in responding to trauma-related behaviors. This study used a multilevel framework to test whether perceptions of children’s behavior and expulsion risk are influenced by teacher-level differences, namely teachers’ trauma-informed self-efficacy, as well as teacher-child racial/ethnic match.

Loomis, A. M., Zulauf-McCurdy, C., & Musson Rose, D. (2022, January). Mechanisms for enhancing equity in early childhood settings: The influence of parent and teacher reports of parent-teacher relationships on perceptions of child behavior. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work Research, Washington, DC.

Despite the long-held understanding of the benefits of positive parent-teacher relationships, little work has examined the direct association between parents’ and teachers’ perceptions of their current parent-teacher relationship and child behavior; even less is known about how these associations differ by child race. This study is from a longitudinal study of preschool children, their caregivers, and their teachers (n=126) recruited from 22 classrooms in a medium-sized, northeastern city. The study explores a protective strategy existent in all preschool settings, the parent-teacher relationship, which was related in this study to both teacher and caregivers’ perceptions of child behavior. Teachers’ perceptions of positive relationships with parents of Black children may be especially protective, as they were related to significantly lower self-regulation problems; in contrast, teachers’ perceptions of more negative parent-teacher relationships may be especially harmful.

Charron, E., Yu, Z., Baylis, J., Lundahl, B., Silpigni, J., Okifuji, A., Gordon, A. J., White, A., Carlson, K., Abdullah, Q., Haaland, B., Krans, E. E., Smid, M. C., & Cochran, G. (2022, November). Cluster analysis to identify typologies of pregnant persons with opioid use disorder. Poster presented at the national conference of the Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction, Boston, MA.

Thackeray, A., Hoogeboom, T. J., Landward, R., Hess, R., Fritz, J. M., Conroy, M. B., Heij, W., & Lundahl, B. (2022, December). Physical therapist assessment of an adapted Coach2Move intervention. Poster presented at the annual conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation, Academy Health, Washington, DC.

McDonald, C., Davis, M. J., Benson, C., & Marks, E. (2022, October). Comparing perceived simulation training effectiveness pre-COVID-19 to post-COVID-19 outcomes. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the National Staff Development Training Association (NSDTA), Spokane, WA.

Simulations using evidence-based learning methods to engage observers were thought to be as effective pre-pandemic (in-person) as post-pandemic (virtual/remote). Participants were asked about their perceptions of knowledge and skill, as well as their confidence in carrying out specific tasks, before and after simulations targeting the specific skills. Both pre- and post-pandemic learning platforms were found to have statistically significant improvements, and there was no difference in the post-outcomes of either group.

Brittain, C., McDonald, C., Benson, C., & West, K. (2022, October). Harnessing the power of competency models. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the National Staff Development Training Association (NSDTA), Spokane, WA.

Competency models have the power to connect workforce development systems by reflecting an agency’s practice model, articulating the knowledge and skills needed for human service staff to do their jobs, monitoring through performance management, and connecting it all through a continuous feedback loop. As a national survey of child welfare competency models showed, their power is diminished through confusing models unconnected to organizational practice models. This presentation shared the findings from an important study and a comprehensive approach to using competency models based upon research and best practices.

McDonald, C., Davis, M. J., Benson, C., & Marks, E. (2022, January). Increasing the impact of simulation training during COVID-19 limitations: A technology-based system for increasing trainee engagement and providing real-time feedback. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.

Simulations using evidence-based learning methods to engage observers were thought to be as effective pre-pandemic (in-person) as post-pandemic (virtual/remote). Participants were asked about their perceptions of knowledge and skill, as well as their confidence in carrying out specific tasks, before and after simulations targeting the specific skills. Both pre- and post-pandemic learning platforms were found to have statistically significant improvements, and there was no difference in the post-outcomes of either group.

Mercier, M. C. & Sarver, C. M. (2022, November). Needs assessment of the victim advocate system: Perspectives from victims and service providers. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA.

This study sought to characterize the strengths and weaknesses of the victim advocacy system in Utah. Interviews were conducted with victim advocates, criminal justice stakeholders, and victims of person crimes to identify gaps in services, collaboration, resources, and training. Furthermore, the study sought to examine differences in resources when comparing rural and urban communities. This qualitative study is based on interviews (N=51) with victims and criminal justice stakeholders in the state of Utah. Interviews explored referral pathways, interagency communication, unmet service needs, and implementation concerns along the service continuum. Results indicated that victims of crime value services that protect their right to make choices and emphasize decision-making opportunities, communication wherein the victim feels heard, and efforts to connect to others with similar experiences. More prominent themes emerged for victims around a general lack of understanding and uncertainty of navigating the criminal legal system. Advocates spoke to a lack of sufficient resources, tensions between system goals and victim needs, and program instability as the primary barriers to their work. Emergent themes point toward the need for clearly defined roles between community and system organizations and clear communication with the victims they serve.

Min, M. O., Kim, J., Minnes, S., Powers, G., Kim, S., & Singer L. T. (2022, January). Latent classes of individual assets and substance use in at-risk adolescents and adaptive functioning in emerging adulthood. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.

This study examined the co-occurring patterns of adolescents' individual assets (e.g., school engagement, values) and substance use, and whether the co-occurring patterns were associated with later functioning in emerging adulthood.

Min, M. O., Lewis, B. A., Gonzales-Pons, K. M., Minnes, S., & Kim, J. (2022, January). Preschool blood lead level and adolescent substance use: The role of language competency. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.

This study examined the association between early blood lead levels and adolescent substance use and whether childhood IQ, language skills, and/or externalizing behavior mediated the relationship, controlling for confounding biological (e.g., head circumference at birth) and environmental factors (e.g., maternal psychological distress and education, violence exposure, foster care).

Kim, H. & Min, M. O. (2022, January). Personal social networks and relapses in women with substance dependence: Application of the theory of planned behavior. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.

This study applied an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) to examine whether women’s personal social network characteristics variables (as subjective norms) were related to intentions toward, and/or a relapse to, substance use using prospective research design.

Kim, J., Minnes, S., Ridenour, T., & Min, M. O. (2022, January). Co-occurrence of psychopathology problems in adolescents with prenatal drug exposure: Childhood antecedents and emerging adulthood outcomes. Presentation given at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.

This study identified comorbidity patterns of psychopathology problems by utilizing data from urban, primarily African American, youth, the majority of whom were at heightened risk for exposure to drugs in utero. The roles of Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)-informed behavioral constructs of the negative valence (irritability) and social process systems (social disinhibition) as antecedents of the comorbidity patterns were further examined.

Kim, J., Minnes, S., Yoo, C., Zhang, L., Min, M. O., & Singer, L. T. (2022, January). Maternal childhood trauma and offspring's developmental course of aggressive behavior from ages 4 to 12 in an at-risk urban sample. Presentation given at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.

Using an at-risk urban sample, this study aimed to improve understanding of the long-term effect of maternal childhood trauma (MCT) on the trajectory of offspring’s aggressive behavior. Specifically, the researchers examined whether MCT influences offspring’s levels of aggressive behavior at age 4 or their rate of change in aggressive behavior during an eight-year period spanning from a preschool age to preadolescence.

Prince, K. C. & Sarver, C. M. (2022, November). Violent crime in Utah dashboard. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Chicago, IL.

Oftentimes questions in criminal justice are exploratory in nature, and, due to the breadth of these questions, are not amenable to static documents such as technical reports. In these instances, interactive dashboards provide a much more useful tool for criminal justice agencies to model outcomes and make decisions. To this end, the Utah Department of Public Safety contracted with the Utah Criminal Justice Center to create a dashboard modeling violent crime rates across the state. The dashboard, utilizing the R and Shinyapps.io platforms, provided rates of robbery, homicide, rape or sexual assault, and assault for 29 jurisdictions. It also provided significance tests comparing years. A second tab of the dashboard provided prediction models, following offenders over time, and allowing the user to select jurisdictions, violent crime type, and predictors of the violent crimes (including criminal histories, sex, and minority status). Prediction models utilized generalized additive models (GAMs) to analyze the non-linear trajectories that are commonly seen over time. The presenters discussed the untapped usefulness of these types of tools in criminal justice, and future additions to the dashboard, including adding community-level predictors (e.g., socioeconomic status, number of officers per capita).

Prince, K. C. & Sarver, C. M. (2022, November). Housing type and recidivism among formerly homeless adults. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA.

Research shows that chronically homeless individuals are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, with a sub-sample that cycles in and out of jail for low-level offenses. Although not intended specifically to reduce recidivism, Housing First (HF) interventions, have been associated with reduced criminal justice contact. Research suggests there may be differential outcomes depending on the type of housing placement. This study examined the relationship between housing type and criminal justice contact among a sample of chronically homeless persons with a history of repeated jail bookings.

Romero Coronado, Y., Martinez-Ortiz, S., & Mendes, M. (2022, May). Reclaiming our ancestors’ medicine: A few voices on healing practices in the Latine/x community. Presentation given at the annual Generations Conference in partnership with the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, University of Utah Health, and the Utah Department of Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Salt Lake City, UT.

Salisbury, E. J., & Belisle, L. (2022, November). Recidivism outcomes from a BJA-funded randomized controlled trial of a gender-responsive probation supervision model. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA.

Belisle, L., & Salisbury, E. J. (2022, November). Qualitative findings from a BJA-funded randomized controlled trial of a gender-responsive probation supervision model. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA.

Salisbury, E. J. (2022, November). Roundtable discussion at the invitation of REFORM Alliance. Reimagining community supervision. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA.

Brennan, T., Salisbury, E. J., & Jackson, E. (2022, November). Linking theory and taxonomy: Using abductive inference to elicit underlying generative mechanisms of separate pathways. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA.

Keen, J., & Salisbury, E. J. (2022, November). Does security create safety? How to meet needs in a women’s prison. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA.

Salisbury, E. J., Seawright, J., & Busby, H. (2022, August). Gender matters in community supervision. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the Training Institute of the American Probation and Parole Association, Chicago, IL.

Salisbury, E. J., & Trejbalová, T. (2022, July). Exploring the Women’s Risk Needs Assessment’s utility with adult male participants in a forensic mental health court. Presentation given at the biennial meeting of the International Academy of Law and Mental Health, Lyon, France.

Siantz, E., Henwood B., Rabin B., Center K., Fenwick, K., & Gilmer T. (2022, January). Using the consolidated framework for implementation research to understand integrated care: The case of the behavioral health integration and complex care initiative. Presentation given at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.

This mixed method social network and qualitative study explored the network positions of agency leadership in newly developed trauma-informed communities, and their experiences in developing community capacity to deliver trauma-informed care in several culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Los Angeles County.

Siantz, E., Lansing, A., Center K., Casteel, D., Sanghvi N., & Silva, V. (2022, January). “The communication really starts with me.” Agency leadership perspectives on the development of trauma-informed partnership networks. Presentation given at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.

This mixed methods study explored the process of implementing integrated behavioral health and primary care services in federally qualified health centers and behavioral health organizations under a large scale system transformation in southern California.

Uckerman, C. (2022, September). Cannabis on the streets and in medical practices. Presentation given at the annual Critical Issues conference in partnership with the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Salt Lake City, UT.

This presentation compared and contrasted the characteristics of cannabis “on the streets” and in medical practices. The presenter translated these findings into clinical settings and described ways to educate young clients and caregivers about the latest research around cannabis use and effects.

Uckerman, C. (2022, June). Marijuana updates: Prevention, policy, and treatment. Presentation given at the annual Addictions Update Conference at the University of Utah School of Medicine in partnership with the Utah Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Salt Lake City, UT.

This presentation traced the state and national trends regarding use and policies around marijuana, including the projected future trajectories. The presenter outlined the research, prevention, and intervention concepts around marijuana for various populations and uses.

Uckerman, C. (2022, May). Round and round we go: Marijuana – where we are not and its role in mental health treatment. Presentation given at the annual Generations Conference in partnership with the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, University of Utah Health, and the Utah Department of Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Salt Lake City, UT.

This presentation traced the historical and policy paths of marijuana and its current status in the U.S. and other continents, including the pro and con arguments around both recreational and medical uses. The presenter discussed the emerging use of cannabinoids in mental health treatment including, but not limited to, trauma work.