Grandparents raising grandchildren are a rapidly growing population in the United States. This project works on understanding the needs and challenges that grandparents face while getting essential information or guidance on their unique journeys by developing and optimizing an intervention to enhance the health and well-being of grandparents raising grandchildren.

Emerging adulthood (18-25 years) is a critical period for establishing positive or adverse health behaviors, including the potential for developing substance use disorder (SUD) and engaging in risky sexual behaviors. Particularly at risk are youth who have experienced child maltreatment and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Emerging adults exiting foster care are at a high risk of having experienced maltreatment and, in turn, SUD and risky sexual behaviors. 

This project uses the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) to develop and optimize a multicomponent intervention to prevent and reduce the risk for SUDs among young adults exiting foster care using principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR) and human-centered design.

Supported by the National Institute of Health

The most widespread strategies for preventing child sexual abuse are universal school-based programs, but these need innovation to reach more students effectively. The Roads to Impact study was developed to evaluate the effectiveness of two different delivery modalities for the Safe Touches workshops to determine their equivalence.

Read the protocol paper here.

Supported by the New York University School of Global Public Health Research Program

This project adapted the Smart Parents: Safe and Healthy Kids curriculum for universal delivery in a group format. We pilot-tested the adapted curriculum (Smarter Parents. Safer Kids) to ensure acceptability and feasibility. Parents' CSA-related awareness and intention to use protective behaviors increased from pre- to post-workshop (p <.05).  Read the study here.