Statement of Research

Diagram 1: Scholarship Focus Model

Marginalized Populations

My first research area focuses on human services practices with marginalized populations. This is an area that I am very passionate about since most of my professional expertise in the field has been in direct practice with marginalized populations, specifically Hispanic families, African American families, and LGBTQ clients. In total, I have five publications (four empirical and one conceptual) that focus on marginalized populations. I am the first author on three of these publications. I am the second author on one and the third author on another. Specifically, my research is geared towards identifying the relationship between family conflict and parenting dimensions among both African American and Hispanic families and then identifying implications for practice within these populations. In addition, my research explores training needs and barriers for human service agencies that serve LGBTQ clients, as well as identifying assessment and screening challenges for this population.

Competence in Human Services Practice

I currently have five manuscripts (four empirical and one conceptual) addressing efforts to advance literature on competence in the human services practice. I am the first author on a qualitative study that provides a model for practice with at-risk families and the second author on two studies that explore interprofessional collaboration in human services. I am also the second author on a study that utilizes qualitative methods to explore competence among rural human services professionals, as well as the second author on a study that focuses on advancing the use of ethical standards in the field of human services. These studies foster the development of competence in the human services practice in order to improve guidelines and advance human services practitioner identity development.

Advancing Human Services Field and Education

My third area of research focuses on moving the field of human services forward and expanding human services specific education. It is my belief that clearly characterizing the field in this manner will aid in the identity development of human services practitioners. I have six publications in this area of research.Two articles are dedicated to developing a Holland Code for the human services profession, whereby I am the second author on an article that utilizes the O’Net Profiler survey to identify a Holland Code for the field and the first author on a article that focuses on the need for advocacy in expanding the Bureau of Labor Statistics classification of the field. As well, I am the first author on two studies that focus on the human services credential, Human Services Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP), and the first author on a study that identifies the interdisciplinary nature of the field and provides insight to advance membership in the national organization. I am also the second author on a study that discusses the development of service learning focused study abroad trips.

I will continue to advance my efforts in community engaged scholarship that will lend to the identity development of human services practitioners by focusing on marginalized populations, competence in human services practice, and advancement in education and the profession. My immediate efforts are focused on defining the profession globally, identifying competency standards for practice with LGBTQ clients, developing a model for service learning focused study abroad and exploring how students perceive their human services identity, as well as what that means for humans education.