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I have been fortunate to have participated in a number of community engaged projects, which resulted in related products. Although different in nature, the projects fall under the categories of sport and physical activity (in juvenile justice settings); health equity and racial health disparities, and youth development and leadership. The projects and products are organized in their appropriate category below, although there is considerable overlap in the topic areas and implications.
Sport and Physical Activity in Juvenile Justice- SDoH
Sport and Physical Activity in Juvenile Justice- SDoH
The majority of my community-based work and research has been the result of my involvement with the lacrosse team at the Ferris School for Boys. This long-term, secure juvenile correctional facility is operated by the State of Delaware's Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services (DYRS). In 2017, the staff and administration from the Ferris School and DYRS identified an increase in restraints and assaults during the spring time, and decided that they would try and address this issue through the implementation of a sport program. This decision was enthusiastically supported by youth in the facility who wanted an opportunity to compete. After serving as the head coach for the first season I fell in love with the work, and equally recognized the immense gifts of many of the young people I coached and the challenges they faced during and after incarceration. I decided to pursue my doctorate to gain the knowledge necessary to further understand the issues facing justice-affiliated youth, and the skills to make a difference and infuence policy and practice in the field. I have contnued to serve as the head coach for the team throughout my doctoral program. The certificate program has enhanced my ability to engage in practice-based research, and research-based practice.
Through my dissertation research, I partnered with the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators (CJJA) in designing and distributing my survey on sport programs in long-term, secure juvenile correctional facilities across the United States. Following analysis, I developed a research brief which was distributed to CJJA members and was used as a resource for their 2021 Winter Meeting.
JCF Sport Programs Research Brief.pdfHealth Equity and Racial Health Disparities
Health Equity and Racial Health Disparities
Through my assistantship with the Partnership for Healthy Communities, and the leadership of my advisor Dr. Erin Knight, we worked collaboratively with the State of Delaware's Division of Public Health on a number of products which were co-produced for state employees and public audiences on SDoH and health equity, structural racism, and racial health inequities. This included the 2nd edition of the Health Equity Guide for Public Health Practitioners and Partners, which remains one of DPH's most downloaded resources. As well as, two policy briefs listed below.
Racism and Health in DE_PolicyBrief_4_11_19_Final.pdfKnight, E., & McDonough, K. (2019, April). Delaware focus: Health inequities and race in the first state. Policy Academy hosted by Partnership for Healthy Communities in Newark, Delaware.
Racism and Health_PolicyBrief_4_11_19_Final.pdfKnight, E., Codes-Johnson, C., Rendon, S., & McDonough, K. (2019, April). Structural racism as a fundamental cause of health inequities. Policy Academy hosted by Partnership for Healthy Communities in Newark, Delaware.
Policy brief on the Treatment Needs of Transition-Age Youth in the Justice System in Delaware highlights the unique needs of this population, and recommendations to better support them. The brief was reviewed by officials at Delaware's Department of Correction (DOC) and DYRS to better understand the current system, the relationship between the two, and the accuracy and feasbility of recommendations.
policy brief.pdfYouth Development and Leadership, Empathy (UNESCO)
Youth Development and Leadership, Empathy (UNESCO)
The Build Back Better webinar marks the launch of an exciting and dynamic partnership focused on working with local communities and national and international partners to further understand and promote the role of empathy in global recovery. In the midst of a public health and economic crisis, severe political polarization, and continued racial injustice we are reminded of the transformative power of empathy and kindness as a means of healing and revitalization. Driven by these pressing societal issues and a responsibility to work with communities in addressing them, the UNESCO Chairs Program at Pennsylvania State University and the National University of Ireland at Galway, the Biden School of Public Policy & Administration at the University of Delaware, and the Fred Rogers Center are partnering to promote empathy as a cornerstone of recovery and as a foundation to stable, civil societies in the pursuit of a more peaceful world. UNESCO Chairs Dr. Mark Brennan and Dr. Pat Dolan and UNESCO Graduate Fellow Dr. Kate Berardi, all experts in empathy, will be joined by the Biden School’s Dean Maria Aristigueta and Dr. Dana Winters, from the Fred Rogers Center at St. Vincent College, to discuss how empathy has supported our resilience throughout the pandemic, including examples of existing empathy work; and their vision for the role it can play in both personal and social recovery around the globe. I helped to support the development and launch of this partnership through the Biden School, and look forward to continue to contribute to this partnership and exploring the role of empathy with youth who are incarcerated.
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