Explore the diverse and dynamic contributions of The University of Alabama School of Social Work’s esteemed faculty and scholars at the 2024 SSWR Annual Conference. With our presentations, including symposia, workshops, roundtables, papers, and posters, our participants will showcase their expertise and findings in social work research.
Utilize the schedule below to see when we are presenting. Names in boldface are from the UASSW and names with an asterisk are the lead presenter.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11TH
Haelim Jeong
1:30PM – 3:00PM
Location: Marquis BR Salon 6, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title 1P: A Nationwide Look at Protective Factors of Suicide Ideation Among Youth in the Child Welfare System
Session: Poster Presentations I
Presenters (Names with an asterisk are the lead presenter.):
*Sarah Parmenter, MSW, Doctoral Candidate, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Haelim Jeong, MSW, Doctoral student, University of Alabama, School of Social Work
Dalhee Yoon, PhD, Assistant Professor, Binghamton University-State University of New York, Binghamton, NY
Susan Yoon, PhD, Associate Professor, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Dione King
1:30PM – 3:00PM
Location: Supreme Court, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title: “There’s Always Something, Some Type of Showing of Some Form of Sex”: Exploring the Role of Social Media Content on Sexual Health Behaviors and Decision-Making Among Young Black Females.
Session 20: Exploring Youth Perspectives and Preferences in Health and Sexual Health
Presenters (Names with an asterisk are the lead presenter.):
*Marquitta Dorsey, Vashti Adams, MSW, Doctoral Student, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
Tyriesa Howard, PhD, Assistant Professor, Washington University in Saint Louis
Jaleah Rutledge, Doctoral Candidate, Michigan State University
Dione King, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Amunn Jaffrey, MSW student, Loyola University Chicago
Terrell Richardson and Daphne Cain
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Location: Marquis BR Salon 6, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title 68P: Associations between depression and marijuana usage among Black male collegians
Session: Poster Presentations II
Presenters (Names with an asterisk are the lead presenter.):
*Terrell Richardson, MSW, M.Ed, Doctoral Student, University of Alabama
Grace Gowdy, PhD, Assistant Professor, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC
Daphne Cain, Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12TH
James Meadows and Leah Cheatham
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM, EST
Location: Liberty Ballroom N, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title: Military Families in the Exceptional Family Member Program: Attorney Understandings of Experiences and Policy
Session 81: Understanding the Behavioral Health Needs of, and Innovative Treatment Options for Service Members, Veterans and Their Families
Presenters: *James Meadows, MSW, Doctoral Student, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Leah Cheatham, PhD, JD, Associate Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Nicole Ruggiano
9:45 AM – 11:15 AM, EST
Location: Marquis BR Salon 7, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Workshop Title 92: Getting Smart and Connected to Advance Social Work Science: Funding Opportunities through the National Science Foundation
Author: Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, University of Alabama
Mandi Lowler, Lewis Lee, and Kelly Bolton
2:00PM – 3:30PM, EST
Location: Marquis BR Salon 6, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title 230P: Title: Evaluating the Preliminary Effectiveness of Continuum of Care Program in Youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviors: One-Group Pre-Posttest Design Session: ePoster Presentations V
Presenters:
*Mandi Fowler, PhD, Program Director, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Lewis Lee, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly Bolton, MSW, PhD Student, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Sebrena Jackson
2:00 PM-3:30 PM
Location: Marquis BR Salon 6, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title 233P: Changing the Research Narrative on Former Youth in Foster Care: A Focus on Educational Success and Attainment
Session: ePoster Presentations V
Toni Naccarato, PhD, Associate Professor, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA
M. Sebrena Jackson, PhD, Associate Professor & Associate Dean of Educational Programs and Student Services, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Hyunjune Lee
3:45 PM – 5:15 PM, EST
Location: Independence BR G, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title: An Examination of the Effects of Varying Types of Childhood Violence Exposure on the Aggressive Behaviors during Adolescence: Using a Sample of Predominantly Youth of Color from Low-Income Households
Session 157: Identifying Predictors of Externalizing Behaviors in Children and Youth
Presenters:
*Hyunjune Lee, MSW, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Katie Russell, MSSA, Doctoral Candidate, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Ashley Withrow, MSSA, Doctoral Student, Case Western Reserve University
Darrell Coleman, Doctoral Student, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Tian Xia, Doctoral Student, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Nicole Ruggiano
3:45 PM – 5:15 PM, EST
Location: Marquis BR Salon 9, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Roundtable Title 149: Effective Project Leadership: Perspectives on Managing Grants and Research Teams
Panelists:
Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, University of Alabama
David J. Brennan, PhD, University of Toronto
Jodi Frey, PhD, University of Maryland at Baltimore
Amanda Mosby, MA, University of Maryland at Baltimore
Richard Smith, PhD, Wayne State University
Laura Hopson, Gloria Abura-Meerdink, Catherine Carlson
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM, EST
Location: Liberty Ballroom O, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title: Developing a Culturally Relevant Integrated Health Assessment for School-Based Clinics in the Rural South
Session 184: School Social Work Workforce Development & Training
Presenters:
*Laura Hopson, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Gloria Abura-Meerdink, MSW, PhD Candidate/Graduate Research Assistant, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Catherine Carlson, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Sebrena Jackson
5:30 PM-7:00 PM
Location: Marquis BR Salon 10, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Roundtable Title 174: AI Chatbots and Academia: Applications for Research, Teaching, and Service
Panelists:
Johanna Creswell Báez, PhD, LCSW, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (Organizer)
Jonathan Singer, PhD, Loyola University, Chicago
Lauri Goldkind, PhD, Fordham University
Sebrena Jackson, PhD, LICSW, University of Alabama
Laurel Bidwell, PhD, LICSW, St. Catherine University and the University of St. Thomas
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13TH
Nicole Ruggiano, Brenda Smith
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Location: Liberty Ballroom P, ML4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Session Title 191 Innovation Incubator Session 1 (pre-registrants only)
Session Co-Chair: Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, University of Alabama
Program Mentor: Brenda Smith, PhD, University of Alabama
Leah Cheatham, Natalia Smith, Sebrena Jackson
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Location: Mint, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title: Exploring Barriers to Healthcare Access Among AL Youth with Disabilities Leaving Foster Care: A Collaborative Research Approach
Session 207: Foster Care: Youth in Transition
Presenters:
*Leah Cheatham, PhD, JD, Associate Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Natalia Smith, LICSW, Doctoral Candidate, University of Alabama, AL
Sebrena Jackson, PhD, LICSW, Associate Dean for Educational Programs and Student Services, Associate Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Holly Register, LICSW, Director of Quality Assurance, Embrace Alabama Kids, AL
Janet Rawls, LICSW, Vice President of Programs, Embrace Alabama Kids, AL
Brian Gannon, MD, Associate Professor, Pediatrics, University of Alabama, AL
Julia Fleckman, PhD, Assistant Professor, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Laura Hopson, Amy Traylor
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM, EST
Location: Marquis BR Salon 6, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title 415P: Equine-Assisted Learning for Children with Disabilities Session: ePoster Presentations VIII
Presenters:
*Laura Hopson, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Joy O’Neal, Executive Director, The Red Barn
Amy Traylor, PhD, Associate professor, University of Alabama School of Social Work
Rebecca Bailey, Director, Transitioning Families
Jaycee Dugard, Co-Director, Polyvagal Equine Institute
Claudia Won, Hyunjin Noh, Hee Yun Lee
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM, EST
Location: Liberty Ballroom I, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title: I Can be a Victim Anytime and Anywhere: The Impact of Asian Hate Sentiment on Mental Health of Korean Immigrants during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Session 214: Racial Discrimination and Bias
Presenters:
*Cho Rong Won, MSW, Doctoral Student/Research Assistant, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Shinae Choi, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Hyunjin Noh, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Hee Yun Lee, PhD, Professor, Endowed Academic Chair on Social Work and Health, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Luciana Giorgio
9:45 AM – 11:15 AM, EST
Location: Supreme Court, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title: Exploring the Social Context of Insomnia: A Thematic Content Analysis of the Lived Experiences of Insomnia of Latinx Adults
Session 236: Examining the future of Latinx wellbeing: the Next 30 years
Presenters:
*Luciana Giorgio, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, AL
Darwin Arias, BS, Postbac Fellow, Columbia University, NY
Carmela Alcántara, PhD, Associate Professor, Columbia University, New York, NY
Dione King
9:45 AM-11:15 AM
Location: Marquis BR Salon 6, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title: 472P Does the Perception of Health-Provider Treatment Relate to Accessing Sexual Health Resources for Young Adult Black Females?
Session: ePoster Presentations IX
Presenters:
*Marquitta Dorsey, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Loyola University, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Jordan Freeman, Doctoral student, John Hopkins University
Dione King, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Alabama, AL
Alejandra Priede, Assistant Professor, California State University, Long Beach
Jaih Craddock, Assistant Professor, University of California, Irvine
Tyriesa Howard, PhD, Assistant Professor, Washington University in Saint Louis
Amunn Jaffrey, MSW student, Loyola University Chicago
Schnavia Hatcher
12:45PM – 1:45PM
Location: Archives
Roundtable 247: Grand Challenges for Social Work Roundtable: Recentering and Generating Equity in Knowledge: How Will the Grand Challenges for Social Work Go Grander?
Panelists:
Michael Spencer, PhD, University of Washington
Neil Guterman, PhD, New York University, Carrie Pettus, PhD, Justice System Partners
Schnavia Hatcher, University of Alabama
Kira Silk, LMSW, University of Maryland at Baltimore
Lewis Lee and Hee Yun Lee
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM, EST
Location: Liberty Ballroom K
Title: Attitudes Toward Opioid-Related Service Needs: Do Social Determinants of Health Matter?
Session 275: Social Determinants of Health Across Contexts
Presenters:
Young Ji Yoon, PhD, Assistant professor, Colorado State University-Pueblo, Pueblo, CO
Dongwook Kim, MA, PhD student, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN
Lewis Lee, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Hee Yun Lee, PhD, MSW, Professor and Endowed Academic Chair on Social Work and Health, University of Alabama, AL
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14TH
Nicole Ruggiano, Brenda Smith
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Location: Liberty Ballroom P, ML4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Session Title 279: Innovation Incubator Session 1 (pre-registrants only)
Session Co-Chair: Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, University of Alabama
Program Mentor: Brenda Smith, PhD, University of Alabama
Gloria Abura-Meerdink, Kefentse Kubanga
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM, EST
Location: Marquis BR Salon 7, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title: The Association of Self-Disclosure, Social Support and Depression Among Young People Living with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa (YPLWHA)
Session 296: Methodological Approaches to Mental Health
Presenters:
Gloria Abura-Meerdink, MSW, PhD Candidate/Graduate Research Assistant, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Kefentse Kubanga, MSW, Ph.D. Student, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Emmanuel Adanu, PhD, Associate Research Engineer, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Luciana Giorgio, Tenesha Littleton, Karen Johnson, Hee Lee
9:45 AM – 11:15 AM, EST
Location: Monument, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title: The Moderating Role of in-Person and Online Social Connectedness in the Association between
Session 325: Racism, race, & systemic trauma
Presenters:
Luciana Giorgio, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, AL
Tenesha Littleton, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Karen Johnson, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
David Albright, PhD, University Distinguished Research Professor & Hill Crest Foundation Endowed Chair in Mental Health Research, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Hee Lee, PhD, MSW, Professor and Endowed Academic Chair on Social Work and Health, University of Alabama, AL
Lewis Lee
9:45 AM – 11:15 AM, EST
Location: Marquis BR Salon 7, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Title: Factors Associated with Perceived Transportation Barriers for Access to Opioid Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services
Session 321: Barriers and Facilitators in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Presenters:
Lewis Lee, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Dongwook Kim, MA, PhD student, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN
Young Ji Yoon, PhD, Assistant Professor, Colorado State University, Pueblo, CO
Hee Yun Lee, PhD, Professor, Endowed Academic Chair on Social Work and Health, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
