Research Staff

Data analyst for the evaluation of the Kansas Family First Prevention Services Act Initiative and the Kansas Strong Initiative to develop, evaluate and implement strategies to reduce systemic barriers and improve safety, permanency and well-being for children and families.
The KUSSW Research Office supports and promotes research activities at the School by creating internal resources, launching initiatives to foster PI and research staff success, providing ways to engage the greater community with our work and disseminating information about current projects.

Academic Areas
Child welfare management; management reporting; use of data in program improvement planning and management decision making; outcomes research; program evaluation; risk assessment; and abuse/neglect prevention with public assistance populations.
Education
Ph.D., University of Kansas

Data analyst for the evaluation of the Kansas Family First Prevention Services Act Initiative and the Kansas Strong Initiative to develop, evaluate and implement strategies to reduce systemic barriers and improve safety, permanency and well-being for children and families.

Academic Areas
Social determinants of health and toxic stress; promotion of protective factors; child welfare and early childhood systems improvement; implementation and outcomes evaluation.
Education
Ph.D., University of Kansas

Development of family driven systems of care in children's mental health; and encouraging youth voice in policy and program development.

Monika coordinates activities related to supported housing initiatives. A Supported Housing Fidelity Scale and Resource Guide have been developed in the past few years. Monika is the official coordinator of activities for international visitors coming to the Office.

Academic Areas
Tribal communities including early childhood education, gaming, judicial council, and social services.
Tribal Affiliation
Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska/Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
Education
B.B.A., Washburn University
Whitney’s research and scholarship interests include child and adolescent wellbeing. Whitney is particularly interested in early childhood and early adolescent mental health treatment and evidence based practices. Whitney’s prior work experience includes project development for the prevention of early childhood exposure to adverse experiences; adaptation and implementation of strengths-based child and adolescent community-based mental health services; and direct practice experience with children diagnosed with severe emotional or behavioral disturbances.

Cheryl Holmes, MPA, joined the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare in 2002 and now serves as Research Project Director. Using a community based approach, her work focuses on physical/behavioral health, health disparities, and working with rural and frontier populations, including migratory and seasonal agricultural workers.

Bryan provides training and consultation on the Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment (IDDT) model for mental health centers across Kansas to help these agencies better serve people who have both a psychiatric disability and substance abuse challenges.

Behavioral health workforce development; integrated primary and behavioral health care; rural, frontier and tribal communities; interprofessional education; social determinants of health
AM, University of Chicago

Evidence-based best practices implementation support for organizations providing services to adults and transition age youth who experience serious mental illness; the Strengths Model of Case Management; Development of fidelity scales to measure adherence to emerging best practices in mental health; Client-centered social administrative practices for mental health organizations and state mental health authorities.
Center for Research on Aging and Disability Options

Serves as Research Project Coordinator working in evaluation of the Kansas Family First Prevention Services Act Initiative, longitudinally evaluating the impact of prevention services to keep children safely at home.

Center for Research on Aging and Disability Options

Data analyst for the evaluation of the Kansas Family First Prevention Services Act Initiative and the Kansas Strong Initiative to develop, evaluate and implement strategies to reduce systemic barriers and improve safety, permanency and well-being for children and families