Amy N. Mendenhall, PhD, MSW
Room 304
Dr. Amy Mendenhall is an associate professor and the Associate Dean for Research in the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas. She joined the KU faculty in 2009, and served as the Director for the School's Center for Children & Families from 2013-2016. Dr. Mendenhall received her MSW and PhD from the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Division of the Department of Psychiatry at the Ohio State University Medical Center. As a graduate assistant and post-doctoral fellow in the OSU Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Mendenhall completed approximately three years of post-MSW practice experience in the inpatient, outpatient, and research units. Her scholarship and research focus on child and adolescent well-being and mental health, specifically service utilization, mental health literacy, and the impact of trauma and mental illness on families. Past research and evaluation projects include studies of strengths case management for youth, the Attachment Bio-Behavioral Catch-up intervention, Mental Health First Aid, service utilization of children diagnosed with serious emotional disturbance, and rural patient centered health care. Dr. Mendenhall teaches BSW and MSW clinical courses including "Mental Health and Psychopathology" in the MSW Program and "Foundations of Social Work Practice" in the junior year of the BSW Program.
Teaching Interests
- Social work practice
- Mental health
Research
Dr. Mendenhall's scholarship and research focus on children's mental health, specifically service utilization, mental health literacy, and the impact of mental illness on children and their families.
Research Interests
- Children's mental health
- Mental health literacy
- Service utilization
Selected Publications
Schuetz, N. Mendenhall, A. & Grube, W. (in press). Strengths Model for Youth Case Management: Professionals’ Perceptions of Model Impact on Clients. Social Work in Mental Health. DOI:10.1080/15332985.2018.1563024
Mendenhall, A. (in press). Mental Health. In S. Kapp (Ed.), Introduction to Social Work. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE PUblications.
Mendenhall, A. N., & Early, T. J. (in press). Pediatric bipolar disorder: considerations for school social workers. School Social Work Journal.
Cai, H. Spreckelmeyer, K. Mendenhall, A. Holmes, C. & Levy, M. (2018). A Regional Survey on Residents’ Preferences on Patient Centered Medical Home Design in Rural Areas. Health Environments Research & Design Journal . DOI:10.1177/1937586718806866
Moon, J. Williford, A. & Mendenhall, A. (2017). Educators’ Perceptions of Youth Mental Health: Implications for Training and the Promotion of Mental Health Services in Schools. Children and Youth Services Review., 73, 384–391. DOI:10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.01.006
Levy, M. Holmes, C. Mendenhall, A. & Grube, W. (2017). Engaging Rural Residents in Patient-Centered Health Care Research. Patient Experience Journal, 4(1), 46-53.
Frauenholtz, S. Mendenhall, A. & Moon, J. (2017). The Role of School Employees’ Mental Health Knowledge in Interdisciplinary Collaborations to Support the Academic Success of Students Experiencing Mental Health Distress. Children & Schools, 39(2), 71-79.
Grube, W. & Mendenhall, A. (2016). Adolescent Mental Health Case Management: Consumer Perspectives. Families in Society, 97(2), 86-94.
Grube, W. & Mendenhall, A. N. (2016). Adolescent Mental Health Case Management: Provider Perspectives. Social Work in Mental Health, 14, 583-605.
Mendenhall, A. & Grube, W. (2016). Developing a New Approach to Case Management in Youth Mental Health: Strengths Model for Youth Case Management. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. . DOI:10.1007/s10560-016-0467-z
Mendenhall, A. Arnold, E. & Fristad, M. (2016). Parent Counseling, Psychoeducation, & Parent Support Groups. In M. K. Dolcan (Ed.), Textbook of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2nd Edition(2nd ed.).
Frauenholtz, S. Williford, A. & Mendenhall, A. (2015). Assessing school employee’s abilities to respond to children’s mental health needs: implications for social work. School Social Work Journal.
Frauenholtz, S. Hiebner, A. & Mendenhall, A. N. (2015). Children’s mental health providers’ perceptions of mental health literacy among parents and caregivers. . Journal of Family Social Work, 18(1), 40-56.
Lucksted, A. Mendenhall, A. Frauenholtz, S. & Aakre, J. (2015). Experiences of Graduates of the Mental Health First Aid-USA course. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion. DOI:10.1080/14623730.2015.1013670
Frauenholtz, S. & Mendenhall, A. N. (2014). Child and Adolescent Mental Health Disorders. In . (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Social Work Online.
Mendenhall, A. N., Frauenholtz, S. & Hiebner, A. (2014). Provider Perceptions of Mental Health Literacy among Youth. Child and Family Social Work, 31(3), 281-293.
Mendenhall, A. N., Fontanella, C. Hiance, D. & Frauenholtz, S. (2014). Factors associated with treatment attrition for Medicaid-enrolled youth with serious emotional disturbances. Children & Youth Services Review, 40, 20-28. DOI:10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.02.011
Mendenhall, A. N., Kapp, S. Rand, A. Robbins, M. L., & Stipp, K. F. (2013). Theory meets practice: The localization of wraparound services for youth with serious emotional disturbance. Community Mental Health Journal, 49(6), 793-804.
Mendoza, N. S., Resko, S. M., De Luca, S. Mendenhall, A. N., & Early, T. J. (2013). Social workers and post-doctoral experience. Social Work Research. DOI:10.1093/swr/svt006
Mendenhall, A. N., & Jackson, S. (2013). Instructor Insights into Delivery of Mental Health First Aid USA: A Case Study of Mental Health Promotion across One State. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 15(5), 275-287.
Mendenhall, A. N., & Frauenholtz, S. (2013). Mental Health Literacy: Social Work's Role in Improving Public Mental Health. Social Work, 58(4), 365-368.
Mendenhall, A. N., Iachini, A. & Anderson-Butcher, D. (2013). Exploring facilitators and barriers to implementation of an expanded school improvement model. Children & Schools, 35(4), 225-234.
Mendenhall, A. Jackson, S. & Hase, S. (2013). Mental Health First Aid USA in a Rural Community: Impact on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior. Social Work in Mental Health, 15(5), 275-287.
MacPherson, H. Algorta, G. P., Mendenhall, A. N., Fields, B. & Fristad, M. A. (2013). Predictors and moderators in the randomized trial of Multi-Family Psychoeducational Psychotherapy for Childhood Mood Disorders. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 43(3), 459-472.
Mendenhall, A. & Frauenholtz, S. (2013). Predictors of Mental Health Literacy among Parents of Youth Diagnosed with Mood Disorders. Child and Family Social Work.
Mendenhall, A. N., & Frauenholtz, S. (2012). System of care development in children’s mental health: lessons learned from a process evaluation. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 23(1), 157-168. DOI:10.1007/s10826-012-9701-2
Mendenhall, A. N., Horwitz, S. Demeter, C. & Fristad, M. A. (2011). Mental health service use by children with serious emotional and behavioral disturbance: Results from the LAMS Study. Psychiatric Services, 62, 650-658.
Mendenhall, A. N., & Mount, K. (2011). Parents of youth with mental illness: A look at caregiver strain and caregiver-focused interventions. Families in Society, 92(2), 183-190.
Mendenhall, A. N. (2011). Predictors of service utilization among youth diagnosed with mood disorders. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 21(4), 603-611. DOI: 10.1007/s10826-011-9512-x
Mendenhall, A. N., & Fristad, M. (2010). Psychoeducational approaches to children with bipolar disorder. In D. J. Miklowitz & D. Cicchetti (Eds.), Bipolar disorder: A developmental psychopathology approach (pp. 494-521). New York, NY: Guilford Publications.
Mendenhall, A. N., Arnold, L. E., & Fristad, M. A. (2010). Parent counseling, psychoeducation, and parent support groups. In M. Dulcan (Ed.), Textbook of child and adolescent psychiatry (pp. 825-844). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Mendenhall, A. N., Davidson, K. H., & Fristad, M. A. (2010). The service provider and medication usage grids: A new method to measure Treatment as Usual (TAU). Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 6, 423-434.
Mendenhall, A. N., Fristad, M. A., & Early, T. J. (2009). Factors influencing service utilization and mood symptom severity in children with mood disorders: Effects of Multi-family Psychoeducation Groups (MFPG). Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 77, 463-473.
Mendenhall, A. N. (2007). Mary's emancipation: The integrative social work approach of a M.S.W. student. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 13(2), 17-26.
Mendenhall, A. N. (2007). Switching hats: Transitioning from the role of clinician to the role of researcher in Social Work doctoral education. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 27(3), 273-290.
Bronson, D. E., & Mendenhall, A. N. (2006). Women's contributions to social work research and evaluation in the United States: 1890-1940. In K. Slany (Ed.), Women's contributions to social work. Krakow, Poland: Jagiellonian University.
Mendenhall, A. N. (2006). A guide to the Earned Income Tax Credit: What everyone should know about the EITC. Journal of Poverty, 10(3), 51-68.
Selected Presentations
Grube, W. & Mendenhall, A. . (03/16/2016). The strengths model for youth: an innovative approach to case management. 29th Annual Children's Mental Health Research & Policy Conference. Tampa, FL
Selected Grants
Mendenhall, Amy, (Principal), Strengths Case Management for YouthTitle XIX - Children's Mental Health FY 2016, KS Dept for Aging and Disability Service, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, $133,858, Submitted 08/26/2015 (09/01/2015 - 06/30/2016). Federal. Status: Funded.
Mendenhall, Amy, (Principal), Rural Patient and Provider Perspectives on the Patient Centered Medical Home Model., Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, $224,598, (02/01/2015 - 01/31/2016). Not-for-Profit (not Foundation). Status: Funded.