GCSW at SSWR 2023

January 12, 2023

GCSW faculty, students, and alumni will be presenting research at the Society for Social Work and Research 27th Annual Conference taking place from January 12–15, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. This year’s conference theme is “Social Work Science and Complex Problems: Battling Inequities + Building Solutions.”

GCSW Presentation Schedule

The following schedule of presentations, workshops, roundtables, and other events by and/or featuring the work of GCSW faculty, students, staff, and alumni. A full list of contributors and complete descriptions for each presentation can be referenced in the link to SSWR's online presentation schedule.

Thursday, January 12 | Friday, January 13 | Saturday, January 14 | Sunday, January 15 | Special Interest Groups & Panels

Thursday, January 12

Presentation/Poster/Paper Title	GCSW Affiliated Presenters	Location	Time	Description
Narrative and Phenomenological Methods to Understand the Lived Experiences of Clients/Communities	Edward Scott, Jr., Faculty Quenette Walton, Faculty	Encanto A, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	8:00 AM-12:00 PM MT	This interactive workshop has been designed for those with limited experience in conducting qualitative research.
County-Level Racial Disparities and the Wellbeing of Black Children Placed in Foster Care	Reiko Boyd, Faculty	Cave Creek, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	1:30PM-3:00PM MT	Inequities in key federal performance domains are persistent for Black children, and some appear to be exacerbated in counties that have larger disparities at the front end (CPS reporting stage) of their child welfare systems.
"Permission to Rest": Spirituality As an Intervention to Address the Mental Health of Middle-Class Black Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic	Gabrielle Aquino-Adriatico, Doctoral Candidate Priscilla Kennedy, Doctoral Candidate Nina Tahija, MSW (’21) Quenette Walton, Faculty Eshwar Ranganath, Undergraduate Student	Estrella, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	3:15PM-4:45PM MT	Middle-class Black women are often neglected in research, yet the mental health inequities they experience highlight the importance of finding solutions to support their mental health.
"No One Ever Asked Me": Using Real-Time Reflexivity in Qualitative Interviewing	Nina Tahija, MSW (’21) Priscilla Kennedy, Doctoral Candidate Gabrielle Aquino-Adriatico, Doctoral Candidate Quenette Walton, Faculty Eshwar Ranganath, Undergraduate Student	Camelback B, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	3:15PM-4:45PM MT	Findings reveal that study participants experienced a sense of relief, validation, and affinity for the interviewer because they felt seen and heard.

Friday, January 13

Presentation/Poster/Paper Title	GCSW Affiliated Presenters	Location	Time	Key Takeaway
Social Support in Active Duty Army Networks: Roles, Relationships, and Implications for Soldier Wellbeing	Anil Arora, Doctoral Student	Hospitality 1 - Room 443, 4th Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	3:45PM-5:15PM MT	Results showed that Soldiers’ perceptions of social support were nuanced and conditioned on relationship status.
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Racial Equity in Educational Outcomes: Examining the Protective Role of Positive Childhood Experiences	Riya Bhatt, Doctoral Student Sharon Borja, Faculty	Cave Creek, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	8:00AM MT	Findings suggest that despite the negative effects of ACEs on educational outcomes, PCEs are promising targets of intervention to improve overall school performance.
Financial and Economic Profiles of Hispanic Women Participating in a Healthy Relationships Program RCT	Sheara Jennings, Faculty Riya Bhatt, Doctoral Student	Valley of the Sun A, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	8:00AM MT	Findings suggest program effects that benefit low-income Hispanic women and their families on banking, which is an important aspect of financial/economic stability.
Mood Disorder Public Stigma in U.S. Jewish Communities	Limor Smith, Doctoral Student Robin E. Gearing, Faculty Christian Carr, PhD (’19)	Valley of the Sun B, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	8:00AM-9:30AM MT	Strategies to engage members of Jewish communities in stigma reduction initiatives are discussed.
The Burden: Living at the Intersection of Being Black, Female, and Middle-Class within the U.S. Healthcare System	Priscilla Kennedy, Doctoral Candidate Nina Tahija, MSW (’21) Gabrielle Aquino-Adriatico, Doctoral Candidate Quenette Walton, Faculty Eshwar Ranganath, Undergraduate Student	Valley of the Sun B, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	9:45AM-11:15AM MT	Examining middle-class Black women’s experiences within the U.S. healthcare system beyond the poverty discourse is a neglected topic.
Promoting Equity Among Hispanic Protective Service Workers: Predictive Factors to Support Motivation to Stay in the Workplace	Patrick Leung, Faculty Gabrielle Aquino-Adriatico, Doctoral Candidate Monit Cheung, Faculty	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	9:45-11:15AM MT	This study reveals that the work environment plays a significant role in motivation to stay among Hispanic employees. Creating a supportive work environment may positively impact employees’ well-being.
Historical Redlining, Neighborhood Disadvantage, and Reports of Child Maltreatment in a Large Urban County	Reiko Boyd, Faculty	Valley of the Sun A, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	9:45-11:15AM MT	Neighborhoods with worst historical redlining scores had a higher number of child maltreatment reports and neighborhood disadvantage mediated this relationship.
How Community Based Organizations Support Victims of Hate Crimes	Juan J. Barthelemy, Faculty Donna Amtsberg, Faculty Aabha Brown, Former Faculty Member Zoe Alterman, MSW (‘22) Hannah Hildinger, MSW (‘22)	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	9:45-11:15AM MT	Our analysis revealed mistrust of LE is the result of previous negative experiences with LE, poor LE perceptions in communities of color, and the threat of deportation for undocumented clients.
Promoting Equity in Adolescent Wellbeing Among Youth in Alternative Family Structures: Why Context Matters	Helen Spencer, Doctoral Student Sharon Borja, Faculty	Cave Creek, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	2:00PM-3:30PM MT	Findings demonstrate the importance of ecological contexts in the adaptive process of adolescents in alternative family structures.
Demonstrating Solutions for Health Equities in Maternal and Infant Birth Outcomes: Findings from a Community-Based Program	McClain Sampson, Faculty Wen Xu, Doctoral Candidate Miao ( Jessica) Yu, Researcher	North Mountain, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	2:00PM-3:30PM MT	Improved birth outcomes and increased postpartum visits among HS mothers may indicate its potential to reduce disparities in mortality and morbidity during the first year postpartum.
Parenting Strengths and Distress Among Black Mothers Reported to the Child Welfare System: The Role of Social Network Quality	Reiko Boyd, Faculty	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	2:00PM-3:30PM MT	Reported, but unsubstantiated Black mothers generally reported supportive networks with low levels of network toxicity, and supportive networks were a stronger predictor of positive parenting outcomes than toxic social networks.
Experiences with Law Enforcement Among Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness	Juan J. Barthelemy, Faculty Sarah Narendorf, Faculty Aly Jacobs, Doctoral Student Devonte Hill, Research Assistant	South Mountain, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	3:45PM-5:15PM MT	Our analysis revealed the pervasiveness of police within the lives of YAEH before and during homelessness. And, while victimization experiences are common while homeless, YAEH were not comfortable calling the police for protection.
Invited Journal Editors' Workshop II: Forum on Publishing Qualitative Research	Susan Robbins, Faculty	Paradise Valley, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	3:45 PM-5:15 PM MT	This workshop is for conference participants seeking to publish qualitative research and scholarly work in social work journals.
The Use of Neurofeedback in Treating Trauma Symptomatology Among Juvenile-Justice Involved Youth: Is It Effective?	Lindamarie Olson, Doctoral Candidate	North Mountain, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	3:45 PM-5:15 PM MT	Results indicate that NFB was more effective than treatment-as-usual at treating sexual concerns among youth in this sample.
Neighborhood Social Cohesion and Subjective Well-Being: Gender Differences Among Chinese Older Adults	Ying Ma, Student Patrick Leung, Faculty Monit Cheung, Faculty	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	3:45 PM-5:15 PM MT	This study reveals the positive impact of nSC on subjective well-being and the moderating effects of gender on the relationship between nSC and psychological health.
Cognitive Processing Therapy in Rape Crisis Centers: Does Race Congruency Matter?	Aly Jacobs, Doctoral Student	Hospitality 2 - Room 444, 4th Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	4:50PM MT	This study contributes to the literature and field by offering additional support for CPT use in RCC.
Characterizing Financial Strain Among Informal Cancer Caregivers: Results from the 2020 Caregiving in America Survey	Chiara Acquati, Faculty Elena Ionescu, Research Assistant	Paradise Valley, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	5:30PM-7:00PM MT	Informal caregivers for patients with cancer experienced financial toxicity more than those caring for patients with dementia, mobility, and the aging group.
Self-Care Practices of African American Informal Kinship Caregivers: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study	Quenette Walton, Faculty	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	5:30PM-7:00PM MT	The finding of high stress levels among caregivers is consistent with prior research; however, the utilization of qualitative methods allows us to not only explore specific factors that contribute to their stress, but importantly to gain knowledge from caregivers about the self-care practices that may possibly reduce their stress and improve their health.

Saturday, January 13

Presentation Title	GCSW Affiliated Presenters	Location	Time	Key Takeaway
Cancer Care Disruption and Health-Related Quality of Life Among a Tri-Ethnic Sample of Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic	Chiara Acquati, Faculty Elena Ionescu, Doctoral Student	Laveen A, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	9:45AM-11:15AM MT	The present work further extends current understanding of the effects of the pandemic on cancer care disruptions among breast cancer survivors.
Caregiver-Provided Life Review: Increasing Access to Mental Health Care By Training Family Caregivers	Christina E Miyawaki, Faculty Nina Tahija, MSW (’21)	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	9:45AM-11:15AM MT	The COVID-19 brought numerous recruitment challenges, especially among LTCFs: the facility closures, staff turnover, and technological disparities (i.e., shortages of cell phones and computers) made outreach extremely difficult resulting in the low number of LTCF dyads.
More Than a Warm Hand-Off: Capacity Building with Organizations during Times of Compounding Crises	Bec Sokha Keo, PhD (‘22) Samira Ali, Faculty Megan Stanton, Researcher	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	9:45AM-11:15AM MT	The results of participant ethnographic data and notes from the field outlines where Latinx and TGNC communities share experiences during unsettling times.
Relationships Matter: Exploring Case Management Strategies in a Hybrid Diversion and Reentry Program during the COVID-19 Pandemic	Juan J. Barthelemy, Faculty	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	9:45AM-11:15AM MT	Findings indicate that while COVID complicated case managers’ work, they were able to find ways to connect with young people and develop trusting relationships. Focusing on meeting young people’s basic needs was an effective mechanism for establishing trust and building relationships with new clients during this time.
Civic Engagement throughout the Disaster Lifecycle: Hurricane Harvey and Resilience in the Houston Area	Holly Davies, Doctoral Student Suzanne Pritzker, Faculty Helen Spencer, Doctoral Student	Camelback B, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	9:45AM-11:15AM MT	Findings have implications for engaging communities in different ways pre-, during, and after a catastrophe, to best address residents’ voiced needs at different disaster phases.
Social Work’s Role in Combating Anti-Transgender Legislation and Promoting Trans Rights	Bec Sokha Keo, PhD (‘22)	Valley of the Sun C, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	12:30PM-1:40PM MT	This year's doctoral student luncheon convenes social work scholars, educators, and practitioners to discuss social work's role in mobilizing resources, fighting for trans rights, and combating anti-trans actions at the local and national level.
Maternal and Infant Mental Health - Special Interest Group Meeting	McClain Sampson, Faculty	Hospitality 1 - Room 443, 4th Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	12:30PM-1:30PM MT	Conveners: Rena Bina, PhD, Bar Ilan University, Sarah Kye Price, PhD, VCU, Mcclain Sampson, PhD, University of Houston and Ruth Paris, Boston University School of Social Work
Battling Inequities in Education: Examining a Socioemotional and Sociocultural Transformative Intervention for Preservice Teachers	Jessica Bagneris, Faculty	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	4PM MT	Although socioemotional considerations were significantly malleable in response to InvEstEd, sociocultural considerations were not similarly impacted.
Infrastructure to Support Public Impact Scholarship: Launching the Hub for Engaged Action Research (HEAR) Lab	Jody Gardner, Doctoral Student Sarah Narendorf, Faculty Anil Arora, Doctoral Student Samira Ali, Faculty André Harris, Doctoral Student	Estrella, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	4:00PM-5:30PM MT	Social work researchers are at the forefront of creating social change however there are often barriers to impact due to the time lag on translating research to practice.

Sunday, January 14

Presentation Title	GCSW Affiliated Presenters	Location	Time	Key Takeaway
The Landscape of Gender Affirmative Care in Community-Based HIV Service Organizations in the U.S. South	Bec Sokha Keo, PhD (‘22) Samira Ali, Faculty Katie McCormick, Researcher Megan Stanton, Researcher	Camelback B, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	8:00AM-9:30AM MT	To our knowledge, this study is the largest survey of HSOs in the U.S. South that includes GAC data. Our study finds significant gaps in the training and implementation of GAC in Southern HSOs.
Toward Interprofessional Health Service Delivery: Results from a HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce and Education Training Program	McClain Sampson, Faculty Katya Strohl, Doctoral Student Miao ( Jessica) Yu, Researcher	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	8:00AM-9:30AM MT	These results demonstrate program success through interprofessional competence, self-efficacy and use of multi-cultural skills among social work and psychology graduate students who completed the Anonymous education and workforce training program.
Key Features and Characteristics of Success Among Community Based Health Integrated Teams	McClain Sampson, Faculty Katya Strohl, Doctoral Student Miao ( Jessica) Yu, Researcher	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	9:45AM-11:15AM MT	All the teams assessed social determinants of health and were dedicated to connecting the clients to community health and social resources.
Constructing Meaning in a Time of Destruction: Defining Civic Engagement in Disaster-Affected Communities	Helen Spencer, Doctoral Student	Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	9:45AM-11:15AM MT	As disasters become increasingly frequent, concurrent, and destructive, understanding how communities define and experience civic engagement in this context can be a critical step toward building equitable systems of recovery and transformative policies responsive to the needs of historically marginalized communities.
Salir Adelante: Transgenerational Transmission of Trauma and Resilience in Migrant Families from Central America	Arlene Bjugstad, Doctoral Student Jodi Berger Cardoso, Faculty	Laveen A, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	10:15AM	The purpose of this study is to explore the processes by which trauma and resilience are transmitted intergenerationally among families who have experienced forced migration and parent-child separation.
Building Connection to Support People Living with HIV/AIDS: Multilevel Predictors of Social Networks	Gabrielle Aquino-Adriatico, Doctoral Candidate Samira Ali, Faculty André Harris, Doctoral Student Katie McCormick, Researcher	Ahwatukee B, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	11:30AM MT	This study found that two structural variables (needing transportation assistance and LGBTQ stigma) and one interpersonal variable (social support) were significantly associated with social networks among PLWHA.
Black Men in Social Work	André Harris, Doctoral Student	Desert Sky, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)	11:30AM MT	This collaborative roundtable session will include critical conversations about the lived experiences of Black male social workers in the United States.