Pictured Above (Left to Right): Anil Arora, Arlene Bjugstad, Caitlyn Mytelka 

February 9, 2022

(HOUSTON, TX) - Doctoral students Anil Arora, Arlene Bjugstad, and Caitlyn Mytelka presented their research findings at the Society for Social Work Research's (SSWR) annual conference. 

We spoke to all three doctoral students to get their insight into the process of developing research presentations and why submitting their research for conferences is critical to fueling much-needed conversations within social work. 

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Name: Anil Arora
Pronouns: He/His

"Transitioning From Homelessness to Housing in Rapid Rehousing: Perspectives of Young Adults"

How was the overall experience in developing a research poster for the conference?  

Developing a research poster for a conference means synthesizing data into a quickly and efficiently discussable format. However, it wasn't easy to summarize all the collected qualitative data into a few slides. With support from Dr. Sarah Narendorf in structuring the information while making sure it flowed logically, there were many poster drafts. I enjoyed the process because it allowed the team to share the process and experience of youth rapid rehousing in Houston. 

Your e-poster focused on the experiences of youth experiencing rapid rehousing after being housing insecure. What were some key takeaways from the research?  

The research team interviewed all the youth-specific housing case managers in Houston and some youth who participated in the rapid rehousing program. We also collected stories of how it felt for those who transitioned from housing insecurity to having a place to call their own. This research and story collection highlights how an individual's well-being can significantly improve with housing. As many know, housing insecurity occurs along with barriers such as unemployment, domestic violence, access to transportation, and food insecurity; however, it highlights how case management is not uniform across settings, underscoring the need for critical time intervention for this transitional period.   

Housing insecurity is a subject that has come under intense scrutiny, especially in places like Austin, TX. Why is this research important for those unaware of the issues young adults face who may be housing insecure and searching for housing?   

Housing insecurity is a social justice issue that needs further research because youth who experience homelessness are disproportionally part of the BIPOC and LGBTQ population. As these inequalities arise, research shows that housing alone is not enough. Through enhanced programming, basic needs, such as mental health, employment support, and domestic violence resources, must also be secured and addressed. To create success on a large scale, we need to explore the idea of transitioning those experiencing housing insecurity to stable situations. Exploring these ideas can offer us possible solutions, and they, along with other sustainable measures, should be investigated.  

A part of your research focuses on better understanding how to positively impact public housing among veterans. What about the veteran experience inspired you to continue researching and exploring this topic as part of your doctoral education?  

Having a brother who is now part of the reserves after deployment with the Air Force first piqued my interest in the veteran population. Our family's dynamic of supporting my brother's continual moves reminds me of the support systems that can play a pivotal role for the military population. Along with my personal experience, the opportunity I have had to be a case manager, therapist, and advocate for veterans and their families has given me first-hand experience of the challenges this population experiences. Veterans experience a higher rate of suicide than their civilian counterparts and high rates of housing insecurity. Whether supporting the population through mental health services while at veteran-specific housing or advocating for benefits from the VA due to different disability ratings, these experiences have displayed the disproportionate needs this population has. Continuing to explore this topic is essential as the military population protects and serves our democratic values. Social workers must do their due diligence to ensure the military culture is recognized and supported.  

The vision of the GCSW is to achieve social justice local to global. Why is it essential for social workers to better understand veterans' experiences and the housing insecurity faced in the United States?  

Social workers have a unique position to provide mental health services, amplify experiences to government officials, and create programs that are best practices for any specific population. Our mission is to enhance human well-being, create change, and help people meet their basic human needs, as stated in our code of ethics. Social workers are the conduit to recognizing inequalities while having the power and privilege to support those who face housing insecurity or challenges experienced by veterans. These inequalities are not only on an individual level but also occur systemically. Social workers can be the voices of change from the bottom up.    

This year is the first academic year back in person. What about your educational experience at the GCSW has particularly stood out?  

As a second-year student who recently moved the Houston when school came back in person, I am impressed with the community environment at the GCSW. Social workers can be researchers or clinicians, but at the GCSW, I have been encouraged to be my authentic self and live through all experiences. I also never imagined I could be a part of the Hub for Engaged Action Research. This unique opportunity allows me as a doctoral student to lead the way in public scholarship by challenging the research process to be anti-racist and accessible to community members.  

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Name: Arlene Bjugstad
Pronouns: she/her

"Predictors of Lifetime Mental Health Service Utilization Among Latino High School Students"

Congratulations on being included in this year's SSWR conference. How was the overall experience participating in a couple of panel discussions?

Unfortunately, like many of us, I had to participate in SSWR from home this year, but these professional conferences are great places to meet other people engaged in research and practice in similar areas, learn from each other, and collaborate. 

Two of the panels you participated in focused on Latinx mental health amongst youth. What were some key takeaways you learned from the research?

In a nutshell, I've learned that contextual factors, such as systemic oppression, are primary drivers of mental health symptoms in Latinx youth and lead to disparities in treatment access and utilization.

For example, in one study, we investigated experiences of deprivation in the form of economic hardship and experiences of threat in the form of immigration enforcement fear and their association with mental health symptoms. We found that financial hardship was associated with elevated symptoms of depression for first and second-generation Latinx youth. Furthermore, we found that fear of immigration enforcement was significantly associated with elevated symptoms of PTSD for both first and second-generation Latinx youth. This finding illustrates the pervasive effects of discriminatory immigration policies on the mental health of BOTH immigrant and U.S. citizen children.

Mental health is an often stigmatized topic in Latinx homes. Why is this research important for those who may be unaware of the issues young Latinxs face regarding their mental health?

I believe it is critical to recognize that individual biological predispositions or familial problems do not solely explain mental health. Collectively we all play a significant role in the development and trajectory of the mental health of our community members, especially children. Early experiences with adversity in trauma exposure, economic hardship, and discrimination shape how our young people relate to the world and themselves. When we promote equitable systems that value the dignity and worth of Latinx communities (and BIPOC communities overall) and strive to ensure that basic needs of food, shelter, and safety are met, we can effectively reduce the burden of mental health issues. We all have the shared responsibility of ensuring young people's mental health and well-being, not just mental health professionals. The policies, practices, and resources that we put into our communities and schools directly impact young people. We can threaten them with police presence and exclusionary discipline or engage with caring adults and protect them by adopting policies and practices that honor their cultures and self-worth.

Your research focuses on learning how school engagement and systems can create environments that promote positive outcomes for Latinx students. What about the youth Latinx experience inspired you to continue researching and exploring this topic as part of your doctoral education?

I have worked with many Latinx youth and families as a teacher, social worker, and now as an aspiring researcher for 15 years. It is hard for me to put into words the strength, resilience, care, and love that I have experienced with these children and families. My goal is to try to capture these many strengths so that others less intimately familiar with Latinx communities gain a more accurate picture than what they may be exposed to through the media and other outlets. 

Schools are of particular interest to me because school metrics often focus on the negative academic and behavioral outcomes of Latinx youth with little regard to the role schools play in creating these disparate outcomes. I am interested in shifting the focus away from discussions on individual or familial shortcomings that contribute to poor academic performance or behavioral issues. Instead, I want to focus on institutional contexts that perpetuate the disadvantages that often begin from a very young age. 

The vision of the GCSW is to achieve social justice local to global. Why is it essential for social workers to better understand the experiences of Latinx children in the United States?

Latinx youth are the fastest-growing demographic in the country. These young people are our future, and we all are responsible for creating systems and spaces that nurture positive growth and development. While stigma and availability of services are significant issues, our research demonstrates that many other factors contribute to the mental health of Latinx youth for which we are all responsible. Limiting immigration enforcement activities, supporting equitable economic opportunities, and embedding care into existing institutions are all ways to address mental health issues and prevent further harm collectively. 

This year is the first academic year back in person. What about your educational experience at the GCSW thus far has stood out?

While nearly my entire tenure at UH has been virtual, the connections that the GCSW and faculty have in the community have been invaluable. Despite mainly being very new to Houston, I have been able to form dozens of relationships with organizations dedicated to serving immigrant families throughout Harris County and beyond, thanks to the GCSW's solid connections and reputation in the community.

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Name: Caitlyn Mytelka
Pronouns: she/her

"Social Networks Among Young Adults Transitioning from Foster Care to Adulthood"

Congratulations on being included in this year's SSWR conference. How was the overall experience developing and participating in a presentation for the conference? 

Thank you so much. Developing and participating in a presentation at SSWR was a great experience and learning opportunity. Our research team engaged with the data to synthesize and build our results. The presentation at SSWR offered an avenue to share and discuss these findings with a broader audience of social work researchers interested in supporting transition-age youth. 

Your discussion focused on young adults transitioning from foster care to adulthood. What were some key takeaways you learned from the research? 

We are ultimately interested in developing better approaches for supporting young adults transitioning from foster care, so this research focused on identifying and understanding their social networks. We learned that foster care history and current living situations affect the permanence of young adults' support systems, though how young people viewed and characterized social support varied. We also focused on mental health in this research. We found that young adults mainly relied on their natural supports in the networks for mental health support rather than mental health professionals.

The foster care system has gotten a lot of attention lately. Why is research important for those unaware of the issues faced by those who age out of the foster care system?

Those with only limited knowledge about the foster care system are often unaware of the difficulties that young people who transition into adulthood after foster care may encounter, including housing, educational, and employment instability. Enhancing support for those who age out of the foster care system is essential to promoting positive long-term adult outcomes. This research focuses on better supporting these young adults as they face this critical developmental transition. 

Your research focus is on better understanding youth development. What about youth development inspired you to continue researching and exploring this topic as part of your doctoral education? 

My experience as a school-based mental health therapist and working for a school district led me to focus on positive youth development in my doctoral education. In my work with adolescents, it seemed that many of them could have benefitted from learning and improving social and emotional skills, such as proactive coping and healthy relationship skills, enhancing their well-being and decreasing risks. This interest ultimately led me to focus my research on promoting wellness and positive mental health among adolescents through school-based prevention programs and models. 

The vision of the GCSW is to achieve social justice local to global. Why is it essential for social workers to better understand the experiences of youth experiencing housing insecurity and the overall development of youth well-being?

Social workers must promote overall youth well-being, particularly for vulnerable youth, such as those experiencing housing insecurity, because the mission and values of social work direct us to advance human rights and social justice among marginalized populations. Social workers have the tools and skills to advocate for and enhance equitable youth development, making it critical that social workers improve youth well-being from direct to macro practice levels.   

This year is the first academic year back in person. What about your educational experience at the GCSW thus far has stood out? 

I have been grateful for many of my educational experiences at the GCSW, both in-person and virtually. But, what has stood out to me the most during my time in the doctoral program is how committed the faculty members at the GCSW are to collaborating with doctoral students and encouraging doctoral student growth outside of the classroom. The tremendous encouragement and dedication from faculty members have helped shape my doctoral experience and have prepared me for an independent research career.