Abbie Kirkendall, 4th year doctoral student

Abbie Kirkendall Awarded Prestigious Hartford Doctoral Fellowship

Fourth-year UB School of Social Work doctoral student Abbie Kirkendall has been awarded a Hartford Doctoral Fellowship in geriatric social work. Funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation and administered by the Gerontological Society of America, the Hartford Doctoral Fellowship conducts a nationwide search for doctoral students whose dissertations exhibit scholarly rigor and pertain to improving the health and well-being of older individuals, their caregivers and family members. This highly competitive fellowship provides financial assistance in the form of a $50,000 dissertation grant, as well as professional mentorship and $20,000 in matching support from the home institution. Abbie’s dissertation is titled, “How is end-of-life care provided to older individuals with developmental disabilities who live in a community residence?” Deborah Waldrop, associate professor of social work and BCSR research associate, is her faculty mentor. The School of Social Work celebrates Abbie’s success, as it shines a well-deserved light not only on her abilities, but also on the dedicated faculty who contribute to her growth as a scholar. Abbie will graduate in May 2009.

Erin Bailey, grant administrator for the BCSR

Erin Bailey Earns Certified Research Administrator Credential

Erin Bailey, grant administrator for the Buffalo Center for Social Research in the School of Social Work, recently passed the stringent examination to become a certified research administrator (CRA). This certification represents the highest level of professional achievement in the field of research administration. Individuals are eligible to sit for the exam if they have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum number of years of experience. They must also pass an extensive examination of their competencies in a broad body of knowledge relative to research and sponsored program management. The test includes questions in the areas of project development and administration, legal requirements and sponsor interface, financial management and general management. The CRA credential signifies in the national research administrators’ community specialization in most areas necessary to function at the top levels of efficiency and knowledge in the complex world of research operations. Erin’s expertise benefits both the research center and its affiliated researchers by ensuring that we all navigate the complex requirements of every grant submission and award. Thank you Erin, and congratulations on your achievement.

Dean Nancy Smyth

Nancy J. Smyth—Dean and Researcher

As principal investigator and co-investigator on several research grants at the University at Buffalo, Dean Nancy Smyth is one of the rare deans who is both a highly successful administrator and researcher. As the principal investigator on the Office of Mental Health, Dean's Consortium Project, funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health, Smyth oversees the incorporation of evidence-based practices into social work education and practice across New York state. Smyth is also co-investigator on two NIH grants at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions. The first grant, “Knowledge Exchange and Skills Training for Therapists,” under the direction of principal investigator Christopher G. Barrick and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, investigates developing a training program for therapists using a combination of laptop computers, interactive database, and distance learning in a state-of-the-science innovative model of technology transfer and knowledge exchange. The second project, “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in Alcoholism Treatment,” under the direction of principal investigator Gerard Connors and funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, will evaluate MBSR in a clinical setting with alcohol dependent patients. As dean of the School of Social Work, Smyth is a role model for faculty through her ongoing commitment to a funded research program.

Michael Hogan

Michael Hogan—Spring 2008 Distinguished Scholar

Our spring 2008 distinguished scholar was Michael Hogan, PhD, New York State Commissioner of Mental Health, who served as chair of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. His lecture, “Transforming Mental Health in New York State,” was presented on April 10 to more than 150 attendees. It was followed by a wine-and-cheese reception where students had the opportunity to display and discuss with attendees the content of their course projects through poster presentations. Twice annually we underwrite the cost of bringing to Buffalo outstanding scholars to present their research findings to our community and university stakeholders.

The Hogan Distinguished Scholar Lecture was videotaped and is available for viewing at http://www.socialwork.buffalo.edu/research/distinguished.asp

Doctoral Student Offices Moved Into the BCSR

This spring, Barbara Rittner, PhD, director of the UB School of Social Work doctoral program, enthusiastically accepted the BCSR invitation to house doctoral student offices within the center. Offices were moved from the School of Social Work into the center, which provided students with exceptional office space and proximity to such center resources as the data analysis lab. The move enabled doctoral students to increase their daily interactions with center researchers—a key activity for their education and socialization in grant writing and research.

The Hon. Mark Farrell, BCSR research associate

Thomas Nochajski, associate professor and BCSR research associate

Research Impact: Improving Identification and Treatment of Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Illness in Therapeutic Justice Courts

The Hon. Mark Farrell, JD, BCSR research associate and principal investigator and Thomas Nochajski, PhD, associate professor, BCSR research associate and co-investigator, have reported findings from their Robert Woods Johnson Foundation Substance Abuse Policy Research Program–funded study. The purpose of this project is to develop a therapeutic justice model that will maximize recovery and reduce recidivism among individuals treated for substance use disorders by improving identification and effective treatment of co-occurring mental illness. Currently being conducted in the Town of Amherst Therapeutic Court, the study considers the role that comorbidity may play in the outcomes for drug courts. The initial focus was on identifying potential screening devices that could be used within the drug court to identify individuals who may be at risk for comorbid mental health problems.

Individuals referred to drug court completed multiple mental health measures during two interviews. In the first session, participants completed the MINI, Reiss-Epstein-Gursky ASI, Beck Anxiety and Depression inventories, PTSD Symptom Assessment for DSM-IV, and the WHO Adult Self-Report Scale for ADHD. During the second session, participants completed the computerized version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (CDIS). A total of 230 individuals completed the initial surveys and 187 completed the CDIS. Initial findings identify that a substantial minority of drug court participants appear to have mental health problems in addition to chemical dependency issues. Given the literature that indicates that comorbid mental health issues are related to poorer outcomes in drug court, identifying these individuals at intake should help to develop treatment strategies that can improve these outcomes. Results from this study also suggest that no one screening device is ideal (high sensitivity and high specificity) for use within the drug court. However, the issue needs further study to determine the relative importance of sensitivity and specificity to outcomes and to further determine how drug court teams would use results of the screening.