Mansoor Kazi (far right) with members of his evaluation team

Program Evaluation in Scotland

Under the umbrella of the BCSR is the Program Evaluation Center (PEC), led by Mansoor Kazi, PhD. The center is engaged in a number of national and international projects—this item highlights its funded work with the Moray Council Child Welfare Services in Scotland. Kazi brought a team of 16 UB School of Social Work faculty, staff, doctoral and master students, as well as local community agency representatives to Scotland in June, 2007. Together, they conducted onsite program evaluation services as well as in-service training. The contract with the Scottish government incorporates an annual trip, which allows students opportunities to bridge classroom knowledge with community-based experiences and is illustrative of the practical knowledge-transfer commitment of the BCSR.

Thomas Vogt,
Senior Investigator, Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii

Thomas Vogt Is Fall 2007 Distinguished Scholar

Consistent with the BCSR mission of disseminating research findings and facilitating technology transfer, the Distinguished Scholars Series was initiated in 2006. Twice annually we underwrite the cost of bringing to Buffalo outstanding scholars to present their research findings to our community and university stakeholders. Our fall 2007 distinguished scholar is Thomas M. Vogt, MD, MPH, a senior investigator with Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Hawaii. His colloquium titled, “Quality, Costs and Special Interest: Can We Change Our Behavior in Time to Save U.S. Health Care?” will be presented on October 4, followed by a wine-and-cheese reception. For specifics about Vogt or further information on our Distinguished Scholars Series, please visit http://www.socialwork.buffalo.edu/research/distinguished.asp

World Conference on Research Integrity, Lisbon, Portugal

BCSR Director Attends Global Research Forum in Portugal

Approximately 350 persons from 62 countries attended the first World Conference on Research Integrity: Fostering Responsible Research held in Lisbon, Portugal, September 16-19, 2007. Conference invitees included Catherine Dulmus, PhD, BCSR director and associate dean for research. The conference was sponsored by various international organizations, including the U.S. Office of Research Integrity and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (NATO). The world conference is the first global forum convened to provide researchers, research administrators, research sponsors, journal editors, representatives from professional societies, policymakers and others an opportunity to discuss strategies for harmonizing research misconduct policies and fostering responsible conduct in research. Visit http://www.esf.org/conferences/researchintegrity for more information about the meeting.

Thomas Nochajski,
Associate Professor, UB School of Social Work

Research Impact: The Relationship of Depression With Substance-Use Treatment Outcomes

Thomas Nochajski, PhD, UB School of Social Work associate professor and BCSR research associate, reports findings from his National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)-funded clinical trial. Designed to evaluate the impact of brief interventions on subsequent alcohol and drug use of convicted drinking-drivers, this element considers the influence of depression symptoms on subsequent substance use and problems related to substance use, including drinking/drugged-driving. Results indicated that those individuals with high levels of depression symptoms reported more severe problems than those low in depression, and that those with high depression levels were more likely to seek treatment than those with low levels of depression. Furthermore, the individuals with high levels of depression symptoms who went for treatment showed the greatest improvements from the initial to follow-up interviews on problem and consumption measures. From the Transtheoretical Model of Change perspective, the results suggest that levels of depression may be one factor that moves individuals from pre-contemplation to contemplation or action. As a result, these individuals may be more receptive to treatment. Clinicians can potentially use such information to help engage clients in treatment.

Michael Hogan

Hold the Date

We are pleased to announce that Michael Hogan, PhD, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health, who served as chair of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, will be our spring 2008 distinguished scholar. Hold the date, April 10, 2008, for our spring event. Further details will be forthcoming.