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Research & Recognition Roundup: January 2025

The January roundup includes 10 publications, a multitude of presentations and more. To view all of the School of Social Work presentations from the 2025 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) annual conference, click here.

Associate Professor Hsun-Ta Hsu receives the Innovation Award at the 2024 National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms. (Photo courtesy Nick Klein/Research Society for the Prevention of Firearm Related Harms)

Publications

Advanced Research Scientist Allison De Marco, Iheoma U. Iruka (UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health), Noreen Yazejian (UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute), Laura Kuhn (UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute), Destiny Ho (Boston University), Zachary Price (Towson University) and the Educare Team co-authored “Building Equitable Research and Evaluation Practices in the Educare Learning Network” for International Journal of Early Childhood Education. The authors utilized a community of practice model that injected anti-racism strategies into the evaluation of the Educare early learning program. The authors used mixed methods to identify the ways that community of practice activities impacted beliefs and knowledge about racism and race, “thoughts on schools, students, and race, and research practices at two time points. No significant changes were found for anti-racism knowledge, attitudes, or beliefs. However, there was an increased number of anti-racism practices used, and qualitative responses described changes. Despite COVID-19-related staffing challenges and some resistance to change, researchers are adopting more equitable practices. Efforts are ongoing to address continued complicity and develop strategies to track progress and create accountability.”

Assistant Professor Orrin Ware, Tara Bautista (Northern Arizona University), Mofan Gu (University of Arkansas), George Pro (University of Arkansas), Adam Kleinerman, Julie Baldwin (Northern Arizona University) and Martha Rojo (University of Arkansas) co-authored “Services Provided in Spanish in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facilities: Limited Access in Communities with Fast-Growing Spanish-Speaking Populations” for The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. The authors acknowledged that substance use disorders are increasing among populations who primarily speak Spanish, yet treatment use remains low. The authors utilized the Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Tracking Repository, as well as U.S. census data for locating substance use disorder treatment facilities offering services in Spanish to, “determine whether access to Spanish services is keeping up with the influx of primary Spanish-speaking populations in new areas that have not historically had a large Spanish language presence.” They found that 22% of substance use disorder treatment facilities nationwide offered services in Spanish. The authors found that access to service is not keeping up with population demand and concluded that, “SUD treatment services are lagging behind as the location of where primary Spanish-speaking families choose to live changes. Local health policies and ambitious interventions are needed that target the unique needs of SUD treatment clients who speak Spanish.”

Assistant Professor Orrin Ware, Jodi Frey (University of Maryland), Yali Deng (University of Maryland), Philip Osteen (University of Utah), Rachel Imboden (University of Denver), Amanda Mosby (University of Maryland), Alicia Bazell (University of Maryland) and Danielle Phillips (University of Maryland) co-authored “How are motivational interviewing techniques associated with US healthcare employees’ mental health help-seeking behaviours when using the interactive screening programme” for BMJ Public Health. The authors noted that suicide rates and mental health challenges are rising for healthcare workers in the United States. They examined the interactive screening programme used by healthcare employees and, “how ISP counsellors’ use of motivational interviewing (MI) techniques was associated with employee help-seeking outcomes.” Their results found that 45% of ISP users scored in high distress on the ISP screening, and found that using MI techniques led to higher rates of referrals requested, service commitment and an improved willingness toward services compared to no questions asked during the ISP intervention. They concluded, “Results support the use of the MI techniques, especially asking questions, with ISP dialogue to encourage healthcare employees’ mental health help-seeking.”

Assistant Professor Orrin Ware and Renee Schmid (Pet Poison Helpline/SafetyCall International) co-authored “Cat and Dog Exposures to Cocaine or Methamphetamine” for JAMA Network Open. The authors’ study, “found no significant trends of methamphetamine exposure for either cats or dogs reported using data from an international animal poison control center. However, significant increases in cocaine exposure were identified.” They concluded that, “As harms related to illicit substance use continue to trend upward, recognizing the potentially fatal effects on animals in the surrounding environment may help to minimize exposure to household pets.”

Assistant Professor Orrin Ware, Maxine Stitzer (Friends Research Institute), Annie Umbricht (Johns Hopkins University) and Kelly Dunn (Johns Hopkins University) co-authored “Exposure to Bupropion-SR vs. Placebo is associated with reductions in smoking among persons receiving methadone with no stated interest in smoking cessation” for Addictive Behaviors. The authors noted that smoking is prevalent among individuals receiving methadone treatment. Given that there is limited research on the efficacy of bupropion-SR on smoking cessation for individuals receiving opioid treatment, the authors conducted a secondary study, with one group receiving a placebo. The authors found that, “Data suggest that bupropion-SR significantly decreased the number of self-reported cigarettes smoked relative to placebo and reduced nicotine dependence severity by the end of the study.” They concluded by noting that follow-up studies are needed.

Associate Professor Lisa de Saxe Zerden, Jose Reyes (California State University), Julie Cederbaum (University of Southern California), Jennifer Zelnick (Touro University) and Abigail Ross (University of Pennsylvania) co-authored “Understanding the Social Worker Experience with Organizational Changes in HSOs During the COVID-19 Pandemic” for Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance. The authors examined the experiences of social workers dealing with organizational alterations during the initial surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors found and analyzed four themes that emerged, “(1) changes to organization capacity; (2) technology/infrastructure and workers arrangements; (3) workplace safety; and (4) impact on clients and workers.”

Associate Professor Lisa de Saxe Zerden, Research Assistant Professor Brianna Lombardi, Brooke Lombardi (UNC Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research) and Evan Galloway (UNC Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research) co-authored “Understanding Available Data Sources to Estimate the Size and Distribution of Community Health Workers in the United States” for Medical Care Research and Review. The authors utilized three national data sources—the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and American Community Survey—to estimate the number and distribution of community health workers (CHWs) in the United States. The authors found that, “Nationally, the rate of CHWs per 100,000 people in NPPES is 7.44, 18.37 in the BLS, and 35.44 in the ACS. No significant differences in the mean number of CHWs per 100,0000 people in states with or without certification and/or reimbursement was found.” They concluded that more research is needed with available data sources to provide solutions and insights for aiding the community health worker workforce.

Assistant Professor Bridgette Thom, Stephanie Wheeler (UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health), Austin Waters (UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health) and Veena Shankaran (University of Washington) co-authored “Interventions to Address Cancer-Related Financial Hardship: A Scoping Review and Call to Action” for JCO Oncology Practice. The authors utilized various sources to track the reporting on interventions addressing financial hardships related to cancer. The authors’ final analysis included 44 publications reporting on 43 interventions, and they concluded, “Interventions to address FH are feasible and can address all domains of FH—material, behavioral, and psychosocial. Future research should address the uptake and implementation of these interventions across diverse cancer care delivery settings. Such programs will be an essential part of cancer care delivery until broad social and policy changes can address the underlying factors that contribute to FH in Americans with cancer.”

Associate Professor Amy Blank Wilson, Natalie Bonfine (Northeast Ohio Medical University), Jonathan Phillips (University of Minnesota Duluth), Jamie Swaine (Tiny Homes Village), Faith Scanlon (Harvard University), Anna Parisi (George Mason University), Caroline Ginley (UNC School of Medicine) and Robert Morgan (Southern Illinois University) co-authored “Forging new paths in the development of community mental health interventions for people with mental illness at risk of criminal legal system contact” for Health & Justice. The authors will examine the efficacy of Forging New Paths (FNP), a “novel criminogenic-focused group intervention” made for individuals with serious mental illness and delivered in community mental health settings. The authors believe that, “FNP provides an important new service for community-based mental health settings to reduce criminal legal system involvement (and recidivism) among the individuals they serve with SMI.”

Ph.D. student Wan-Ting Chen co-authored a paper that was published in Child Abuse & Neglect with John A. Tate Distinguished Professor for Children in Need Emily Putnam-Hornstein and other colleagues from the Children’s Data Network titled, “Arrests among adolescents with a history of foster care placements in group home settings.”

Presentations & Trainings

Join us on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 10:30 a.m. to noon for a virtual presentation by Ph.D. student Anderson Al Wazni titled, “The Fragile States of America: An Exploration of State Fragility and U.S. Disaster Preparedness.”
Al Wazni’s presentation is the culmination of a dissertation fellowship from the American Association of University Women examining how climate disasters impact vulnerable populations in the United States through the concept of state fragility.
You can register for the event here.

Assistant Professor Sonyia Richardson (left), Associate Professor Lisa de Saxe Zerden (center) and Research Assistant Professor Brianna Lombardi (right) participated in an invited Policy Summit with SAMHSA’s Office of Behavioral Health Equity from Dec. 12-13.

Research Associate Professor Tonya Van Deinse co-presented, “Relationships: The Linchpin of Successful Management of Mental Health Caseloads” at the American Probation and Parole Association’s annual institute in Las Vegas in January.

Research Associate Professor Tonya Van Deinse co-presented, “Coordinating and Collaborating with Behavioral Health Service Providers to Engage Supervisees in Treatment” at the American Probation and Parole Association’s annual institute in Las Vegas in January.

Research Associate Professor Tonya Van Deinse co-presented, “Using Agency Administrative Data to Develop Tailored Supervision Guidelines to Reduce Revocations” at the American Probation and Parole Association’s annual institute in Las Vegas in January.

Assistant Professor Rebecca Rebbe conducted two presentations for the King County Dependency CASA program in January.

John A. Tate Distinguished Professor for Children in Need Emily Putnam-Hornstein moderated a panel discussion at the American Enterprise Institute in which a number of experts debated the topic: “Protecting or Overreaching? Parents’ Rights and Child Welfare Interventions.” The event took place in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 13, 2025.

Awards, News & Recognition

First-year Ph.D. student Hana Draher

First-year Ph.D. student Hana Draher received the UNC Global Partnership Award Exploration Grant to showcase the potential collaboration between the UNC School of Social Work and the University of Brasília. After receiving the award, Draher and a co-collaborator presented a lecture at the University of Brasília where students gained insight into UNC School of Social Work’s Global Social Development Innovations (GSDI) Research Center. Future activities are being developed to continue this collaboration.

Associate Professor Hsun-Ta Hsu was a recipient of the Innovation Award at the 2024 National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms.

Assistant Professor Orrin Ware and the School of Social Work were listed as a recent example for the Merriam-Webster definition of “social work.”

Associate Professor David Ansong and Associate Professor Rainier Masa were inducted into the 2025 class of Fellows of the Society for Social Work and Research. The professors became the 15th and 16th selections from the School since SSWR’s inaugural class in 2014.

Clinical Assistant Professor Alyssa Draffin (right) recently conducted the first lecture for her new psychedelic assisted therapy course. The 35 students heard from guest speaker Tatyana Kholodov (left) from Project Yes.

The National Initiative for Trauma Education and Workforce Development’s online course, Core Components and Skills for Common Trauma Informed Practice, is offered through UNC School of Social Work’s Behavioral Health Springboard with 4.5 free continuing education credits. In 2024, NITEWD had a total of 1,759 learners enrolled in the course and 1,261 learners who completed the course. You can visit the NITEWD website for more information about the online course here.
The National Initiative for Trauma Education and Workforce Development also offers training to faculty at schools of social work around the country who wish to teach our Core Components and Skills for Common Trauma Informed Practice MSW course. There has been a total of 47 sections of the MSW course being taught around the country at 46 different schools of social work during this academic year.