Current Projects

Understanding the Needs and Experiences of Educators Exposed to Students’ Trauma

We are interested in learning more about the perspectives and experiences of teachers working with students exposed to trauma. If you are a K-12 teacher, you are eligible to participate in this study. There is no direct benefit to you, but your participation can help us support teachers like you. If 25 or more teachers from your school participate, we can also share anonymous, group information to assist your school in understanding and addressing teacher needs. To learn more, please email Allison.Stiles@du.edu or Omar.Gudino@ku.edu.

Reducing Disparities in Unmet Mental Health Need for Latino Youths

Latino children and adolescents in Colorado and across the nation are at significant risk of having unmet mental health needs relative to non-Hispanic white youths. Although such racial/ethnic disparities are well-documented, less is known about the practical, attitudinal, cultural, and systemic factors that likely contribute to these disparities. Conducted in partnership with the Colorado Department of Human Services, this project aims to (1) capitalize on the knowledge of relevant stakeholders to understand the factors that influence disparities and (2) to translate this knowledge into effective models for reducing disparities in unmet mental health need.

Adjustment of Children in Contact with the Child Welfare System

Children who come to the attention of the child welfare system are at heightened risk of developing a range of negative psychological, social, academic, and health outcomes. Using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW), we are conducting a series of studies to answer fundamental questions about the adjustment of these children. For example, one study explores how the relationship between caregiver and child may protect children’s mental health over time, and how this relationship may in turn reduce placement instability for youth. Ongoing studies examine racial/ethnic disparities in mental health service use as well as mental health and academic trajectories of children in the child welfare system.