I have the training and expertise needed to conduct culturally relevant program evaluation affecting marginalized communities. I have over 23 years of program evaluation experience in a variety of contexts including but not limited to bio-medical education, environmental health, faith-communities, health, foster-care, and HIV prevention education.
Social work researchers who identify and define social problems run the risk of leaving their soc... more Social work researchers who identify and define social problems run the risk of leaving their social fingerprints on such problems, as well as their favored solutions to them. As a result, the direction of the research agenda is driven by the focus of the research problem formulation, instead of the cultural relevance. The purpose of this article is to offer guiding principles for integrating cultural relevance into the social work research process.The authors offer definitions of cultural relevance, a rationale for using cultural relevance in social work research, a framework for constructing cultural relevance in the process of research problem formulation, and an example of how this framework applies within the context of HIV prevention education in the African American community.
This study organized a participatory action research team to investigate Council on Social Work E... more This study organized a participatory action research team to investigate Council on Social Work Education policies and their effect on the teaching and production of evaluation at the master's level. Data were collected in the form of 282 theses, 27 surveys, and 7 telephone interviews with field instructors to examine the use of evidence-based practice with students in field instruction. The study results indicate that students produced fewer theses and practice-based research papers compared to conceptual papers. Although field instructors valued evaluation in social work practice, the majority of respondents did not feel adequately prepared to engage students in its use in field instruction. The study suggests ways in which schools of social work can bridge the gaps between research and practice through evaluation.
Black women continue to be disproportionately affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ... more Black women continue to be disproportionately affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS. To theorize additional approaches to HIV prevention targeting Black women, this study explores how social determinants related to sexual oppression, poverty, racial segregation, and mass incarceration of Blacks place Black women at increased risk of HIV exposure. The role of other risk factors such as sexual exploitation of the Black female body, poverty, residential racial segregation, and the mass incarceration of Black men are also explored. The study concludes with an examination of how these social determinants might be used to inform prevention approaches to help reduce HIV transmissions among Black women.
INTRODUCTIONAccording to CDC, black communities continue to experience higher rates of Hiv/ AIDS ... more INTRODUCTIONAccording to CDC, black communities continue to experience higher rates of Hiv/ AIDS than any other group in the United States (U.S.) (CDC, 2011). Black women, despite representing only 13% of the female U.S. population, make up 72% of the female Hiv/ AIDS cases (CDC, 2008). In 2006, the rate of new Hiv infection for black women was nearly 15 times as high as that of white women and nearly 4 times that of Hispanic/Latina women (Prejean et ah, 2011). Research shows that there are socio-economic, historic, and cultural factors that place black women at increased risk of Hiv. This is especially true for black women living in economically depressed urban communities who encounter numerous gender specific stressors including, limited safe housing options, marginal employment opportunities, inadequate resources, geographic and emotional isolation, high rates of sexual trauma, victimization, and fewer eligible men (Boonstra, 2007). When compared to women living in more affluent communities, women in distressed urban communities were more likely to experience multiple risk factors including drinking, early sexual initiation, and multiple childbirths (Coker et al., 2000). These patterns tend to shape personal and community-level behaviors that place black women at increased risk of Hiv infection (Roche et al., 2006).This study explores how social determinants related to race, class, and gender influence Hiv risk among low-income black women by examining the effect of their living conditions and its impact on their sexual decision-making. The significance of this research question is that it departs from conventional research that typically uses quantitative approaches to identify correlational relationships between these variables. While these types of studies are informative they typically use secondary datasets. While these studies use large numbers of variables and yield strong correlations, they never tell us why the relationship exists. The contribution of this qualitative study is that it allows for a more in-depth examination of the relationship from the perspective of the women living the experience.GENDER, POVERTY, AND CLASSTwenty percent (20%) of all women in the United States are living in poverty (Kaiser, 2012). For blacks and Hispanics the rate of poverty is even higher at 36% and 35% respectively Since the 1970s poverty has become increasingly feminine and black (Pearce, 1978; Palmer, 1983). This trend caused Palmer (1983) to coin the phrase "the racial feminization of poverty" to reflect the fact that women of color are at greater risk of falling into poverty than either minority men or white women. According to Elmelch and Lu (2008) poverty rates in the United States suggest that black, Native American, and Hispanic women are disproportionately represented among the poor, and several studies have pointed to a need to study the distinct patterns and origins of women's poverty across both racial and ethnic lines (Hardy and Hazelrigg, 1995; Starrels, Bould, and Nicholas, 1994; Waters and Eschbach, 1995).The literature on gender inequality in poverty generally offers two explanations for this phenomenon (Casper, McLanahan, and Garfinkel 1994; Northrop, 1994; Pearce, 1978; Smith and Ward, 1989; Starrels, Bould, and Nicholas, 1994;Treas, 1987). First, the theory of human capital focuses on gender equality in labor market skills, and highlights the dynamic role of human capital and labor market attainment in the development of gender inequality. Human capital theory suggests that women and men acquire different skills and credentials (Mintz and Kyromkowski, 2010) so that, as a result, the economic resources of women fall behind those of men thereby increasing the likelihood that women will fall into poverty. Second, while generally men have greater access to social and financial compensation than do women, the extent of gender variations in human capital and labor force participation varies greatly across racial and ethnic lines. …
Journal of health care for the poor and underserved, 2017
This commentary outlines the incidence of HIV among African American women 18-24. The relationshi... more This commentary outlines the incidence of HIV among African American women 18-24. The relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA), poor maternal-child sexual health communication, and HIV is also explored. Recommendations for further and HIV prevention education are examined for this understudied area.
INTRODUCTIONAccording to CDC, black communities continue to experience higher rates of Hiv/ AIDS ... more INTRODUCTIONAccording to CDC, black communities continue to experience higher rates of Hiv/ AIDS than any other group in the United States (U.S.) (CDC, 2011). Black women, despite representing only 13% of the female U.S. population, make up 72% of the female Hiv/ AIDS cases (CDC, 2008). In 2006, the rate of new Hiv infection for black women was nearly 15 times as high as that of white women and nearly 4 times that of Hispanic/Latina women (Prejean et ah, 2011). Research shows that there are socio-economic, historic, and cultural factors that place black women at increased risk of Hiv. This is especially true for black women living in economically depressed urban communities who encounter numerous gender specific stressors including, limited safe housing options, marginal employment opportunities, inadequate resources, geographic and emotional isolation, high rates of sexual trauma, victimization, and fewer eligible men (Boonstra, 2007). When compared to women living in more affluent...
Background: Social workers entering the profession typically receive little, if any, content or t... more Background: Social workers entering the profession typically receive little, if any, content or training on evaluation practice. This is, in part, due to limited course offerings outside of the typical courses in most schools of social work. In addition, practicing social workers who often serve in the role as field instructors have not fully embraced the use of research in practice, and tend to employ less rigorous evaluative methods. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the development and use of evaluation knowledge among social work practitioners who supervise social work students. Setting: Not applicable. Intervention: Not applicable. Research Design: A mixed method, sequential research design within the context of an exploratory study was used to determine factors that facilitate evaluation, identify and prioritize evaluation competencies, and determine the extent to which evaluation constructs contribute to self efficacy, evaluation competency, evaluation influen...
This study explores the intersection of race, class, and gender on substance abuse treatment and ... more This study explores the intersection of race, class, and gender on substance abuse treatment and human immunodeficiency virus risk among 12 incarcerated black women by integrating the Health Belief Model with Black Feminist Theory. The findings suggest that the culture and context of substance abuse not only influenced the women’s perception of susceptibility of risk and severity of risk but, perhaps more importantly, the perceived benefit of the intervention on their life circumstances. These findings have implications for the conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation of substance abuse treatment, HIV prevention education, and prison reentry programs targeting Black women.
Introduction Over 65% of African American high school students report having had sexual intercour... more Introduction Over 65% of African American high school students report having had sexual intercourse, 15% had sexual intercourse before the age of 13, 29% had sexual intercourse with more than 4 persons, and 38% did not use a condom at their last reported intercourse (CDC, 2010). Risky sexual behaviors, such as these, increase the risk for HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (Weinstock, 2004; CDC, 2009; Martin et al, 2009). Currently, African American girls are one of the fastest growing groups to contract HIV, with rates even exceeding those of African American boys (Aronowitz, Rennells, & Todd, 2006). Some scholars have suggested that the negative sexual health statistics among African American girls are strongly influenced by sexualized images of African American women. For instance, Stephens and Phillips (2003) contend that the historic over-sexualized stereotypes of African American women publicized in the media and in broader society have helped to shape th...
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
This commentary outlines the incidence of HIV among African American women 18-24. The relationshi... more This commentary outlines the incidence of HIV among African American women 18-24. The relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA), poor maternal-child sexual health communication, and HIV is also explored. Recommendations for further and HIV prevention education are examined for this understudied area.
The growing presence of HIV in urban communities with sizable Black commuter congregations demand... more The growing presence of HIV in urban communities with sizable Black commuter congregations demands that social service providers understand niche opportunities for faith-based HIV service delivery. Focus groups were conducted with 16 clergy serving commuter congregations about the feasibility of faith-based HIV service delivery to low-income residents. Using thematic analysis, four major themes emerged: (a) Clergy see the need, but are not sure how to proceed; (b) prioritized sin; (c) push-back; and (d) niche ministries. These findings contribute new knowledge to our understanding of how Black churches with commuter congregations can respond to HIV service needs of low-income residents. Findings from this study suggest that commuter congregations are less likely to support HIV-related activities. Implications for future interventions are discussed.
This presentation reports on an evaluation of 'Community Connections,' a pilot interventi... more This presentation reports on an evaluation of 'Community Connections,' a pilot intervention conducted by Georgia State University, funded by the Bureau of Justice Affairs. This intervention provides supplemental case management and peer guidance to HIV+ former Georgia state prisoners reentering the Atlanta area. Community Connections' is designed to bridge the gap between prison-based discharge planning services such as the Pre-Release Planning Program within the Georgia Department of Corrections, and medical case management and social services provided by Ryan White clinics. Community Connections' identifies the unmet needs of reentrants and provides linkages to community-based organizations chartered to meet those needs for housing, substance abuse treatment, education, medical services and social support. Furthermore, Community Connections' pairs Participants with Peer Guides who have knowledge of corrections, HIV, addiction, and mentoring, and serve as social...
This study examines how the intersection of race, class, and gender influence HIV risk among 50 b... more This study examines how the intersection of race, class, and gender influence HIV risk among 50 black women living in a poor urban community in Atlanta—the Bluff. The study posits that an intersectional approach to examining the dynamic interaction of race, class, and gender tells us more about disproportionate HIV rates among Black women than do statements about lifestyle choices. The study also applies an interpretive framework, the Sojourner Syndrome, to examine how these marginalized Black women resist, disrupt, and/or transform these intersecting obstacles to find resilience. The theory reframes the issue of HIV risk and poor Black women to make the role of social oppression more transparent.
This study explores the HIV health information-seeking behavior among Black women living in a sou... more This study explores the HIV health information-seeking behavior among Black women living in a southern urban city in the United States. Interviews were conducted with 50 Black women to explore their HIV health-seeking behavior, self-efficacy, and locus of control. Results indicate that despite the multiple HIV risk factors faced by the women a majority of them did not seek out HIV health information. Policy implications for HIV prevention education are discussed.
Social work researchers who identify and define social problems run the risk of leaving their soc... more Social work researchers who identify and define social problems run the risk of leaving their social fingerprints on such problems, as well as their favored solutions to them. As a result, the direction of the research agenda is driven by the focus of the research problem formulation, instead of the cultural relevance. The purpose of this article is to offer guiding principles for integrating cultural relevance into the social work research process.The authors offer definitions of cultural relevance, a rationale for using cultural relevance in social work research, a framework for constructing cultural relevance in the process of research problem formulation, and an example of how this framework applies within the context of HIV prevention education in the African American community.
This study organized a participatory action research team to investigate Council on Social Work E... more This study organized a participatory action research team to investigate Council on Social Work Education policies and their effect on the teaching and production of evaluation at the master's level. Data were collected in the form of 282 theses, 27 surveys, and 7 telephone interviews with field instructors to examine the use of evidence-based practice with students in field instruction. The study results indicate that students produced fewer theses and practice-based research papers compared to conceptual papers. Although field instructors valued evaluation in social work practice, the majority of respondents did not feel adequately prepared to engage students in its use in field instruction. The study suggests ways in which schools of social work can bridge the gaps between research and practice through evaluation.
Black women continue to be disproportionately affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ... more Black women continue to be disproportionately affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS. To theorize additional approaches to HIV prevention targeting Black women, this study explores how social determinants related to sexual oppression, poverty, racial segregation, and mass incarceration of Blacks place Black women at increased risk of HIV exposure. The role of other risk factors such as sexual exploitation of the Black female body, poverty, residential racial segregation, and the mass incarceration of Black men are also explored. The study concludes with an examination of how these social determinants might be used to inform prevention approaches to help reduce HIV transmissions among Black women.
INTRODUCTIONAccording to CDC, black communities continue to experience higher rates of Hiv/ AIDS ... more INTRODUCTIONAccording to CDC, black communities continue to experience higher rates of Hiv/ AIDS than any other group in the United States (U.S.) (CDC, 2011). Black women, despite representing only 13% of the female U.S. population, make up 72% of the female Hiv/ AIDS cases (CDC, 2008). In 2006, the rate of new Hiv infection for black women was nearly 15 times as high as that of white women and nearly 4 times that of Hispanic/Latina women (Prejean et ah, 2011). Research shows that there are socio-economic, historic, and cultural factors that place black women at increased risk of Hiv. This is especially true for black women living in economically depressed urban communities who encounter numerous gender specific stressors including, limited safe housing options, marginal employment opportunities, inadequate resources, geographic and emotional isolation, high rates of sexual trauma, victimization, and fewer eligible men (Boonstra, 2007). When compared to women living in more affluent communities, women in distressed urban communities were more likely to experience multiple risk factors including drinking, early sexual initiation, and multiple childbirths (Coker et al., 2000). These patterns tend to shape personal and community-level behaviors that place black women at increased risk of Hiv infection (Roche et al., 2006).This study explores how social determinants related to race, class, and gender influence Hiv risk among low-income black women by examining the effect of their living conditions and its impact on their sexual decision-making. The significance of this research question is that it departs from conventional research that typically uses quantitative approaches to identify correlational relationships between these variables. While these types of studies are informative they typically use secondary datasets. While these studies use large numbers of variables and yield strong correlations, they never tell us why the relationship exists. The contribution of this qualitative study is that it allows for a more in-depth examination of the relationship from the perspective of the women living the experience.GENDER, POVERTY, AND CLASSTwenty percent (20%) of all women in the United States are living in poverty (Kaiser, 2012). For blacks and Hispanics the rate of poverty is even higher at 36% and 35% respectively Since the 1970s poverty has become increasingly feminine and black (Pearce, 1978; Palmer, 1983). This trend caused Palmer (1983) to coin the phrase "the racial feminization of poverty" to reflect the fact that women of color are at greater risk of falling into poverty than either minority men or white women. According to Elmelch and Lu (2008) poverty rates in the United States suggest that black, Native American, and Hispanic women are disproportionately represented among the poor, and several studies have pointed to a need to study the distinct patterns and origins of women's poverty across both racial and ethnic lines (Hardy and Hazelrigg, 1995; Starrels, Bould, and Nicholas, 1994; Waters and Eschbach, 1995).The literature on gender inequality in poverty generally offers two explanations for this phenomenon (Casper, McLanahan, and Garfinkel 1994; Northrop, 1994; Pearce, 1978; Smith and Ward, 1989; Starrels, Bould, and Nicholas, 1994;Treas, 1987). First, the theory of human capital focuses on gender equality in labor market skills, and highlights the dynamic role of human capital and labor market attainment in the development of gender inequality. Human capital theory suggests that women and men acquire different skills and credentials (Mintz and Kyromkowski, 2010) so that, as a result, the economic resources of women fall behind those of men thereby increasing the likelihood that women will fall into poverty. Second, while generally men have greater access to social and financial compensation than do women, the extent of gender variations in human capital and labor force participation varies greatly across racial and ethnic lines. …
Journal of health care for the poor and underserved, 2017
This commentary outlines the incidence of HIV among African American women 18-24. The relationshi... more This commentary outlines the incidence of HIV among African American women 18-24. The relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA), poor maternal-child sexual health communication, and HIV is also explored. Recommendations for further and HIV prevention education are examined for this understudied area.
INTRODUCTIONAccording to CDC, black communities continue to experience higher rates of Hiv/ AIDS ... more INTRODUCTIONAccording to CDC, black communities continue to experience higher rates of Hiv/ AIDS than any other group in the United States (U.S.) (CDC, 2011). Black women, despite representing only 13% of the female U.S. population, make up 72% of the female Hiv/ AIDS cases (CDC, 2008). In 2006, the rate of new Hiv infection for black women was nearly 15 times as high as that of white women and nearly 4 times that of Hispanic/Latina women (Prejean et ah, 2011). Research shows that there are socio-economic, historic, and cultural factors that place black women at increased risk of Hiv. This is especially true for black women living in economically depressed urban communities who encounter numerous gender specific stressors including, limited safe housing options, marginal employment opportunities, inadequate resources, geographic and emotional isolation, high rates of sexual trauma, victimization, and fewer eligible men (Boonstra, 2007). When compared to women living in more affluent...
Background: Social workers entering the profession typically receive little, if any, content or t... more Background: Social workers entering the profession typically receive little, if any, content or training on evaluation practice. This is, in part, due to limited course offerings outside of the typical courses in most schools of social work. In addition, practicing social workers who often serve in the role as field instructors have not fully embraced the use of research in practice, and tend to employ less rigorous evaluative methods. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the development and use of evaluation knowledge among social work practitioners who supervise social work students. Setting: Not applicable. Intervention: Not applicable. Research Design: A mixed method, sequential research design within the context of an exploratory study was used to determine factors that facilitate evaluation, identify and prioritize evaluation competencies, and determine the extent to which evaluation constructs contribute to self efficacy, evaluation competency, evaluation influen...
This study explores the intersection of race, class, and gender on substance abuse treatment and ... more This study explores the intersection of race, class, and gender on substance abuse treatment and human immunodeficiency virus risk among 12 incarcerated black women by integrating the Health Belief Model with Black Feminist Theory. The findings suggest that the culture and context of substance abuse not only influenced the women’s perception of susceptibility of risk and severity of risk but, perhaps more importantly, the perceived benefit of the intervention on their life circumstances. These findings have implications for the conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation of substance abuse treatment, HIV prevention education, and prison reentry programs targeting Black women.
Introduction Over 65% of African American high school students report having had sexual intercour... more Introduction Over 65% of African American high school students report having had sexual intercourse, 15% had sexual intercourse before the age of 13, 29% had sexual intercourse with more than 4 persons, and 38% did not use a condom at their last reported intercourse (CDC, 2010). Risky sexual behaviors, such as these, increase the risk for HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (Weinstock, 2004; CDC, 2009; Martin et al, 2009). Currently, African American girls are one of the fastest growing groups to contract HIV, with rates even exceeding those of African American boys (Aronowitz, Rennells, & Todd, 2006). Some scholars have suggested that the negative sexual health statistics among African American girls are strongly influenced by sexualized images of African American women. For instance, Stephens and Phillips (2003) contend that the historic over-sexualized stereotypes of African American women publicized in the media and in broader society have helped to shape th...
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
This commentary outlines the incidence of HIV among African American women 18-24. The relationshi... more This commentary outlines the incidence of HIV among African American women 18-24. The relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA), poor maternal-child sexual health communication, and HIV is also explored. Recommendations for further and HIV prevention education are examined for this understudied area.
The growing presence of HIV in urban communities with sizable Black commuter congregations demand... more The growing presence of HIV in urban communities with sizable Black commuter congregations demands that social service providers understand niche opportunities for faith-based HIV service delivery. Focus groups were conducted with 16 clergy serving commuter congregations about the feasibility of faith-based HIV service delivery to low-income residents. Using thematic analysis, four major themes emerged: (a) Clergy see the need, but are not sure how to proceed; (b) prioritized sin; (c) push-back; and (d) niche ministries. These findings contribute new knowledge to our understanding of how Black churches with commuter congregations can respond to HIV service needs of low-income residents. Findings from this study suggest that commuter congregations are less likely to support HIV-related activities. Implications for future interventions are discussed.
This presentation reports on an evaluation of 'Community Connections,' a pilot interventi... more This presentation reports on an evaluation of 'Community Connections,' a pilot intervention conducted by Georgia State University, funded by the Bureau of Justice Affairs. This intervention provides supplemental case management and peer guidance to HIV+ former Georgia state prisoners reentering the Atlanta area. Community Connections' is designed to bridge the gap between prison-based discharge planning services such as the Pre-Release Planning Program within the Georgia Department of Corrections, and medical case management and social services provided by Ryan White clinics. Community Connections' identifies the unmet needs of reentrants and provides linkages to community-based organizations chartered to meet those needs for housing, substance abuse treatment, education, medical services and social support. Furthermore, Community Connections' pairs Participants with Peer Guides who have knowledge of corrections, HIV, addiction, and mentoring, and serve as social...
This study examines how the intersection of race, class, and gender influence HIV risk among 50 b... more This study examines how the intersection of race, class, and gender influence HIV risk among 50 black women living in a poor urban community in Atlanta—the Bluff. The study posits that an intersectional approach to examining the dynamic interaction of race, class, and gender tells us more about disproportionate HIV rates among Black women than do statements about lifestyle choices. The study also applies an interpretive framework, the Sojourner Syndrome, to examine how these marginalized Black women resist, disrupt, and/or transform these intersecting obstacles to find resilience. The theory reframes the issue of HIV risk and poor Black women to make the role of social oppression more transparent.
This study explores the HIV health information-seeking behavior among Black women living in a sou... more This study explores the HIV health information-seeking behavior among Black women living in a southern urban city in the United States. Interviews were conducted with 50 Black women to explore their HIV health-seeking behavior, self-efficacy, and locus of control. Results indicate that despite the multiple HIV risk factors faced by the women a majority of them did not seek out HIV health information. Policy implications for HIV prevention education are discussed.
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