Active Projects/Grants Managed in the SSW

Interprofessional Health Education and Collaborative Care: A Transformative Model for the Health Sciences

January 2015 - June 2020

The seven health science schools at the University of Mich igan have cooperated in this submission to outline a program to transform how we teach our health professions students. Currently, the >4,000 students from our schools are taught almost exclusively by faculty from their own units; very rarely do they learn alongside their peers from the other health science schools. Dental, Medical, Pharmacy, Nursing, Social Work, Kinesiology, and Public Health students learning in these educational silos are expected to work in collaborative teams after graduation to provide quality patient care. Not surprisingly, this suboptimal educational approach has been criticized by the major health organizations (World Health Organization, Institute of Medicine,Institute of Healthcare Improvement, etc.) as an ineffective model for positively influencing the “Triple Aims” of health care: improving 1) patient experience of care; 2) population health; 3) cost of health care. The accreditation bodies for our health schools have responded to these criticisms by requiring increased implementation of interprofessional education (IPE) methods as a means to improve the development of more effective collaborative care models. Implementing more IPE experiences seems to be an obvious strategy, but thus far, the barriers to coordinating IPE between seven units have limited Michigan’s IPE offerings to small pilot projects led by individual faculty champions.

Genetic Contributions to Smoking and Internalizing Problems in Adolescence

August 2015 - August 2019

This Career Development Award (K01) will provide the candidate with the necessary skills to develop an independent research program focused on integrating genetic methodologies to the candidate's already strong longitudinal modeling skills to explore and clarify the etiology of the interplay between cigarette use and internalizing problems during adolescence. Despite decreases in prevalence of smoking during adolescence in the past two decades, adolescence continues to be the developmental period of greatest risk for cigarette use onset and increase in internalizing problems. Clarifying the complex etiological pathways involved in the co-occurrence between cigarette use and internalizing problems during this vulnerable time requires using multiple methodologies. The overall aim of the current proposal is to test increasingly complex longitudinal models that explore the degree to which the co-occurrence between adolescent cigarette use and internalizing problems are influenced by genetic and environmental factors and to include measured genetic variants. The training plan will be completed at the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University and is designed to provide the candidate with skills in genetic epidemiology, quantitative genetics, and molecular genetics. The candidate will acquire the knowledge and skills to a) conduct univariate, bivariate, and multivariate genetically informed studies to identify the genetic and environmental risk factors in smoking initiation, progression t heavier smoking, nicotine dependence, and internalizing problems; b) conduct longitudinal genetically informed studies to clarify the causal pathways involved in cigarette use and internalizing problems by exploring the degree to which genetic and environmental factors explain the covariance between the behaviors; and c) conduct genetically informed ecological momentary assessment studies of adolescent twin pairs to explore the causal pathway between these problems behaviors. These skills will be developed through a combination of formal coursework, mentored research projects, and didactic training. The proposed research program involves a combination of analysis of existing longitudinal studies of adolescent twins and an original data collection pilot project. The existing longitudinal studies of adolescent twins inclue the Swedish Twin Study of Child and Adolescent Development, the Minnesota Twin and Family Study, the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavioral Development, the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the GEDI (Genes, Environment, Development Initiative part of NIDA's Genetics Consortium). In the pilot project, the candidate will collect momentary cigarette use and mood data of 16- and 17-year-old adolescent twin pairs recruited from a population-based twin registry comprised of over 50,000 twins. Training activities and results will be used to develop a R01 proposal for a prospective momentary assessment and genotyping study of 14 to 17 year old adolescent twins.

COHSE Evaluation

March 2016 - June 2018

Our evaluation of COHSE’s programming will be comprised of two phases. During the first phase of project discovery and planning, CC-PEG will work with COHSE stakeholders to create an evaluation plan and develop any information tracking systems needed for evaluation implementation. In the second phase, CC-PEG will pilot test the evaluation. Quantitative approaches (e.g. analysis of exit surveys, needs assessments and program performance data) will be utilized to assess the need for, quality and effectiveness of COHSE programming, whereas qualitative approaches (e.g. media content analysis, focus groups/key informant interviews) will be utilized to capture the impacts of COHSE programming, as well as facilitators and barriers to COHSE program effectiveness.

Youth Civil Rights as Pathways to Higher Education

The purpose of project is to prepare a new generation of civil rights leaders in ways that provide pathways into higher education for everyone, with special emphasis on first generation, low income, and students of color.

Preventing HIV/STI in Urban Adolescents via an mHealth Primary Care Intervention

February 2017 - January 2019

HIV/STI remain significant public health concerns in the United States and adolescents are disproportionately affected. Adolescents engage in HIV/STI risk behaviors, including drug use and condomless sex, which increases risk for HIV/STI infection. At-risk adolescents, many of whom are racial minorities, experience HIV/STI disparities. Despite the facts that: (a) At-risk adolescents are disproportionately affected by HIV/STI risk behaviors, and infections, and (b) while CDC recommends routine HIV/STI testing in adolescents, relatively few adolescents report having ever been tested for HIV/STI. With expected increases in health clinic visits as a result of the Affordable Care Act, combined with technological advances, health clinics and mobile-health (mHealth), including apps, provide innovative contexts and tools to engage at-risk adolescents in HIV/STI prevention programs. Yet, a dearth of efficacious mHealth interventions delivered in health clinics to prevent/reduce both condomless sex and drug use and increase HIV/STI testing in at-risk adolescents exists. To address this gap in knowledge, we developed a theory-driven, culturally congruent mHealth intervention (hereon referred to as S4E) that has demonstrated feasibility and acceptability in a clinic setting. A next important step is to examine the preliminary efficacy of S4E on adolescent HIV/STI testing and risk behaviors. This goal will be accomplished by two aims: AIM 1 is to develop a cross-platform and universal version of S4E. The cross-platform and universal version of S4E will be compatible with both IOS and Android operating systems, and multiple mobile devices, aimed at providing adolescents with ongoing access to the intervention once they leave the clinic, and AIM 2 is to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of S4E, relative to Usual Care control condition, in preventing/reducing drug use and condomless sex, and increasing HIV/STI testing in a clinic sample of at-risk adolescents aged 14 – 21 living in Southeast Michigan. One-hundred adolescents recruited from a youth-centered community health clinic will be randomized via a blocked randomization with random sequence of block sizes to one of two conditions: S4E mHealth intervention or Usual Care. Theory-driven and culturally-congruent, S4E is a mHealth adaptation of the face-to-face Storytelling for Empowerment, which is registered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Registry of Evidence Based Programs and Practices.

A Community-University Approach to Preventing HIV

March 2018 - March 2019

HIV remains a significant public health concern in the US, and African American youth residing in Flint, Michigan, are disproportionately affected. Few HIV prevention programs have been developed and tested with this vulnerable population. To address these HIV prevention concerns, we collaborated with community-based organizations via NIDA funding to develop and pilot test, Storytelling 4 Empowerment (S4E), a theory-driven, mobile-health (mHealth) HIV prevention program that delivers targeted and tailored prevention messaging to youth. Our pilot study demonstrated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of S4E in a clinic setting with at-risk youth. The overarching goal of the proposed community-university research is to advance scientific knowledge of technology-based, HIV prevention, and improve public health by establishing the feasibility and acceptability of an innovative mHealth prevention program for at-risk African American youth. We will accomplish these goals with two specific aims. Employing the principles of CBPR, we will establish and mobilize a community steering committee to inform all aspects of the research process. We will test the feasibility and acceptability of S4E by: a) enrolling at-risk African American youth (N = 20) at water distribution sites in Flint, Michigan; b) delivering the S4E intervention by peer health educators (N=2); and c) measuring uptake of HIV testing. The primary outcome will be feasibility and acceptability of S4E (e.g., enrollment rates). The secondary outcome will be uptake of HIV testing immediately post-intervention. Our S4E approach is innovative in linking at-risk youth at water distribution sites to an mHealth intervention to improve HIV testing.

Ageless Acts

July 2017 - December 2018

By providing an exciting, creative outlet, older adults will be encouraged through Ageless Acts to bring their unique talents and life experiences to not only the theater troupe but the community, including senior apartment buildings, schools, nonprofit organizations and other community groups looking for excellence in art and intergenerational learning opportunities. Through this unique project, theater will be used to transform how older adults understand their own aging experience. According to Anne Basting, a professor of theater at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, theater is an ever expansive process where individuals grow as they take on new roles. In her research, once older adults realized that they could share their experiences and wisdom through storytelling they were better able to understand the value they still possessed. For Basting, older adults who participate in creative aging programming can see benefits on three important levels: the way they engage in everyday relationships; the way they can transform how mundane activities are carried out; and the way they think about aging in their own lives and in the context of their families.

Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) - KL2 Award

June 2017 - February 2022

The University of Michigan (U-M) and the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) are strongly dedicated to the education of a competent clinical and translational research workforce. To this end, MICHR’s educational programs cater to members of the clinical and translational research workforce within four broad roles: 1) pre-doctoral students, 2) post-doctoral fellows, 3) faculty, and 4) staff. The “crown jewel” of our educational offerings is the KL2 program, which has attracted and developed exceptional scholars. Collectively, over the last 10 years, the MICHR KL2 Scholars have published more than 1000 peer-reviewed publications and received over $155,385,534 in grant support as principal investigators (more than $4 million per scholar). Importantly, 100% of the KL2 Scholars have remained in clinical and translational research and 68% have been successfully promoted since program completion. One of our main priorities going forward is to expand the program, use creative methods to increase the number of KL2-like trainees that we influence, and create pathways of access to our KL2 offerings for the many other categorical K-12 scholars at U-M. Additionally, we aim to focus on mentor training for both the mentee and the mentor, using the curriculum developed by the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN). Creation of the MICHR Career Development Academy will provide education on critical skills for professional development that are often not taught. Through purposeful integration of our KL2 Scholars, along with our TL1 students, other MICHR Scholars, and community partners, we will provide the opportunity for our KL2 Scholars to gain “hands on” experience in mentoring and patient engaged research. Through development of an individualized learning plan, each Scholar will work with their mentoring team to successfully complete their research project and training plan. Monitoring of KL2 Scholar progress will take place through instruction and creation of eportfolios which will allow mentors ready access to each scholar’s work and formative reflective thoughts. Lastly, creation of a greater network or supportive research community surrounding our KL2 Scholars will be accomplished though purposeful integration with a diverse group of clinical and translational scientists as well as other Scholars within institutional training programs.

Children's Savings Account

October 2017 - August 2018

The Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion (AEDI), is wholly focused on harnessing the power of assets to create meaningful, equitable opportunities for economic mobility for all American children. AEDI’s mission is to create and study innovations related to assets and economic well-being, with a focus on the relationship between children’s savings and the educational outcomes of low-income and minority children as a way to achieve the American Dream.We bring our analytical expertise, theoretical foundation, collaborative relationships, and strategic insights to this formidable challenge. A core focus for AEDI is advancing Children’s Savings Accounts (CSAs) as critical interventions with considerable potential to realize this vision of broadly-shared prosperity.

Oakland Promise Qualitative Evaluation

April 2018 - November 2018

The Oakland Promise Qualitative Evaluation seeks to learn about the origins, goals, and operation of the Oakland Promise in Oakland, CA. Specifically, this study will examine two programs within the Oakland Promise: Brilliant Baby and Kindergarten to College. The study seeks to learn about the origins, goals, and operation of the Oakland Promise from the perspective of steering committee and advisory board members; program administrators; financial institution providers; funders; financial coaches; and staff at implementing partners. Methodology will consist of in-depth interviews, a review of earned opinion media, existing research on Promise Programs, as well as documents related to the Oakland Promise. A separate report will be prepared for both Brilliant Baby and Kindergarten to College.

Support to Develop a Research Design to Test Combining Reward Card Programs with Children’s Savings Account Programs

January 2018 - February 2019

At any given point in 2015, there were approximately 428,000 children in foster care in the United States. Almost 22,000 young people aged out of foster care in that year, without being reunited with a parent or placed with a family member or other guardian. While these are not the only children who will face steep odds in their effort to attain postsecondary education and transition successfully to adulthood, evidence suggests that they will face unique and daunting odds, realities that warrant additional, targeted intervention. While many Children’s Savings Account (CSAs) programs have developed ways to encourage children to save from the limited funds they control, few have developed good approaches for meeting the unique needs of children in cases like foster care or parental incarceration. This research project looks to identify new approaches to helping foster children to better benefit from CSA programs while working toward the creation of a national CSA policy.

General Support of AEDI

September 2018 - August 2019

The Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion (AEDI), is wholly focused on harnessing the power of assets to create meaningful, equitable opportunities for economic mobility for all American children. AEDI’s mission is to create and study innovations related to assets and economic well-being, with a focus on the relationship between children’s savings and the educational outcomes of low-income and minority children as a way to achieve the American Dream. We bring our analytical expertise, theoretical foundation, collaborative relationships, and strategic insights to this formidable challenge. A core focus for AEDI is advancing Children’s Savings Accounts (CSAs) as critical interventions with considerable potential to realize this vision of broadly-shared prosperity.

Belding Community Youth Food Collaborative

May 2017 - September 2018

The Belding Community Youth Food Collaborative project uses youth empowerment and community engagement models to develop knowledge of and infrastructure for sustainable horticultural practices and nutritious eating in a rural setting. By leveraging the strengths of the Belding community, including volunteer experts and an existing community garden, this project will meet environmental, public health, and community development needs.