May 22, 2013

At the School of Public Health assembly on May 20, 2013, the 2012-13 faculty and staff awards were presented to recognize dedicated service, innovative teaching and mentoring, outreach to the community and leadership and success in research programs. The awards were presented by the recipients of the 2011-2012 faculty and staff awards. Read more about the award recipients here. View photos from the event here. The 2012-2013 Faculty and Staff Awardees:

• Dr. Cheryl Holt, Department of Behavioral and Community Health: Research and Development Award
• Karen Mackey, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics: Viki Annand Staff Excellence Award
• Dr. Karoline Mortensen, Department of Health Services Administration: Leda Amick Wilson Mentoring Award
• Dr. Lori Simon-Rusinowitz, Department of Health Services Administration: Muriel R. Sloan Communitarian Award
• Dr. Jinhee Kim, Department of Family Science: Muriel R. Sloan Communitarian Award
• Dr. Olivia Carter-Pokras, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics: Jerry P. Wrenn Outstanding Service Award
• Dr. James Hagberg, Department of Kinesiology: George F. Kramer Practitioner of the Year Award
• Dr. Robin Sawyer, Department of Behavioral and Community Health: Doris Sands Excellent Teaching Award

  Read More >

May 22, 2013

The Department of Family Science celebrated another year of student success as our Spring 2013 graduates were awarded their degrees.

Megan Fitzgerald and Jocelyn Smith completed doctoral degrees in Family Science.

Eight Couple and Family Therapy students earned master's degrees including David Curtis, Andrew Dauler, Ebony Edwards, Nicole Ehlert, Stephen Mortensen, Elizabeth Ott, Stephanie Powell, and Robin Smith.

In addition, 116 undergraduate students were awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Science.

Congratulations FMSC Class of 2013! Stay in touch with us. We love to share news about our alumni on our web site!

May 16, 2013

Department of Family Science (FMSC) doctoral candidate Jocelyn Smith is the 2013 recipient of the President's Commission on Ethnic Minority Issues (PCEMI) Outstanding Graduate Student Ethnic Minority Achievement Award. The award recognize Jocelyn's unwavering commitment to promoting diversity issues and social justice. The PCEMI established this Ethnic Minority Achievement Award to recognize the outstanding contributions of a graduate student that reflects the University's equity efforts to improve the racial climate on campus and in the community.

Jocelyn's dissertation entitled, "Peer Homicide and Traumatic Loss: An Examination of Homicide Survivorship among Low-Income, Young, Black Men," examines how young, Black, male homicide survivors in low-income, urban contexts respond to experiences of loss resulting from community violence. Jocelyn's commitment to diversity issue extends beyond her research and into the classroom where she has taught courses on the interrelated issues of race, ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status; mentored students of color; and facilitated teaching assistant opportunities for underrepresented undergraduates. She served as a graduate representative to the research council and as a Committee Chair for the Black Graduate Student Association's 2008 Voter Empowerment Committee. Jocelyn has also utilized her clinical background in the community to facilitate grief and loss groups for low-income and ethnic minority youth in East Baltimore, as a volunteer crisis response team member with Lights of Hope in Baltimore, provide one-on-one support to youth whose fathers had been murdered at a grief camp, and facilitate a life skills group for African American and Latino youth with the Maryland Multicultural Youth Center in Langley Park. Upon graduation, Jocelyn plans to use her tenure as a Paul B. Cornely Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan School of Public Health to further develop a trauma-informed program of research. Her goal is to reduce homicide and traumatic loss health disparities among boys and men of color and to promote the health and success of marginalized boys and men through the context of fathering relationships.

Congratulations, Jocelyn, for this important and well deserved award!

May 13, 2013

Family Science doctoral candidates Tiffani Stevenson Lloyd (pictured far left) and Damian Waters (pictured left) and Maternal and Child Health doctoral candidate Laurén Doamekpor are 2013 recipients of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Distinguished Teaching Assistants award. Awardees were selected from the top ten percent of all teaching assistants for their exemplary teaching and mentoring contributions at the undergraduate level. Tiffani has been an instructor for FMSC 332, Children in Families; Damian has been an instructor for FMSC 381, Poverty, Affluence and Families; and Laurén has been an instructor for FMSC 302, Research Methods in Family Science. Awards were presented by the CTE, the Office of Undergraduate Studies, and the Graduate School at the annual Distinguished Teaching Assistant Ceremony on Wednesday, May 10th.

Congratulations, Laurén, Tiffani, and Damian, on this award!

May 10, 2013

FMSC Undergraduate and Graduate Students were honored this spring at the 8th Annual Dean's Scholars Dinner. Awards and scholarships recognized academic excellence, service, and leadership within the Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, and the larger community. FMSC departmental scholarship recipients included: Ebony Edwards, Jeanette Spier Beavers Memorial Scholarship; Damian Waters, Andrew Billingsley Endowed Scholarship Fund; Kathylin Flores and Megan Kimmel, Edlavitch Family Science Fund; Shana Simkin, Ned Gaylin Endowed Scholarship; and Ana Martinez, Noel Myricks Endowed Scholarship. FMSC recipients of School of Public Health scholarships included: Claire Bernstein, Fraley Award, and Jerry P. Wrenn Scholarship recipients Mila Choei, Natalie Gaudette, Zainab Hosseini, Samantha Reich and Maya Robinson. The School of Public Health also presented awards to the following FMSC students: Dean's Outstanding Graduate Scholars Jocelyn Smith (PhD) and Nicole Ehlert (MS); Dean's Senior Scholars Talya Miller, Lisl Setzer, and Lindsey Zemeir; and Undergraduate Scholars Talia Brown, Teresa Donaldson, and Menucha Frischling. Please visit the following link to learn how you can contribute to scholarships for outstanding students in Family Science.   Read More >

May 10, 2013

Six Department of Family Science Faculty (FMSC) were honored at the 6th Annual University-Wide Celebration of Scholarship and Research. FMSC awardees include Elaine Anderson, FMSC Chair & Professor; Amelia M. Arria, Director, Center on Young Adult Health and Development; Sandra Hofferth, Professor; Marian Moser Jones, Assistant Professor; Sally Koblinsky, Professor; and Sandra Quinn, Professor. Hosted by Provost Rankin and Vice President O'Shea, the celebration seeks to recognize University scholars and researchers who have made major contributions in their field of study.

Congratulations to the 2013 FMSC Honorees!

April 18, 2013

The School of Public Health and the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy have published the Cultural Competency and Health Literacy Primer: A Guide for Teaching Health Professionals and Students, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. The primer is a free resource guide for health professional educators responsible for training the current and future healthcare workforce. The guide provides teaching tools to improve cross-cultural communication skills, deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare services to diverse populations, and develop programs and policies to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities. Using real world scenarios, it enables health professionals to consider the relationship between health and race, ethnicity, and culture and encourages them to explore their own biases and create culturally-sensitive models for patient/client assessment and care. Dr. Olivia Carter-Pokras, associate professor of epidemiology and Dr. Bonnie Braun, professor of family science, have developed the primer over several years based on health literacy research and common core competencies established from the 2009, 2011, and 2013 American College of Epidemiology's Policy Committee workshops, convened by Dr. Carter-Pokras with funding from the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). The primer supports new cultural competency legislation enacted in Maryland in 2012 requiring higher education institutions that offer health professions degrees to report on how they incorporate health literacy and cultural competency into their program. "The School of Public Health is proud to partner with the state to translate public health research and best practices into a much-needed and innovative guide for faculty teaching students in health programs," says SPH Dean Jane E. Clark. "Drs. Olivia Carter-Pokras and Bonnie Braun are recognized leaders in the creation of cultural competency and health literacy tools. This primer is a valuable educational resource for college faculty and health professionals seeking to better serve the health needs of our state's diverse population." Read more here. Download the Primer here. Photos: Dr. Olivia Carter-Pokras (top) and Dr. Bonnie Braun (bottom).   Read More >

April 17, 2013

Family Science Assistant Professor Dr. Marian Moser Jones explores the history of efforts to protect consumers from the dangers of household chemicals in a new paper published in the American Journal of Public Health. The paper, Poison Politics: A Contentious History of Consumer Protection Against Dangerous Household Chemicals in the United States, explores the ongoing tensions between public health and the interests of business as a uniquely American struggle. It begins by acknowledging the recent reemergence of public health concern over household poisonings due to accidental ingestion of over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceutical products by children and describes efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to seek voluntary compliance from manufacturers to create safer package designs, along with public education campaigns to prevent poisonings. This paper is one of few to address this history of consumer protection against common poisons. Dr. Jones' analysis offers historical lessons that can shed light on contemporary debates over poison prevention and product packaging. Read Dr. Jones' paper here.   Read More >

April 12, 2013

Doctoral candidates Erica Doxzen (Behavioral and Community Health), Laurén Doamekpor (Maternal and Child Health), and Jocelyn Smith (Family Science) have been selected as delegates to the CDC Millennial Health Leaders Summit. The Summit brings together a cadre of public health, medical and public policy graduate students, nominated by their universities for their outstanding achievements and promise as future leaders in addressing health disparities across the nation. Students are selected based on their leadership and promise as scholars who will have an impact in significantly eradicating health disparities in the United States.

Congratulations to Erica, Laurén and Jocelyn on this outstanding achievement!

April 10, 2013

Sherry Starr, Clinical Administrative Professional in the Center for Healthy Families, has completed 30 years of dedicated service with UMCP. Sherry helped to create the Center (formerly known as the Family Service Center) when she began her service with the University and has contributed to its growing impact over the years. The Center now provides couple and family therapy for more than 450 families annually, making it a major mental health service provider for families in Prince George's County and other nearby areas. In addition to her excellent administrative work, Sherry has been an outstanding advisor, mentor, and friend to hundreds of Couple and Family Therapy Master's students, motivating and helping them to become skilled family professionals. FMSC faculty, staff and students praise her numerous contributions to the Center's productivity, collegial spirit, and high morale.

April 10, 2013

April is sexual assault awareness month, and the Maryland Council on Family Relations (MCFR) and the University Health Center are joining together to help sexual assault victims. Consider donating a new stuffed animal to be given to area sexual assault victims.

Did you know that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have been raped in their lifetime? Over a million rapes occur each year and most happen to those under 25. However, the statistics don't display the whole picture. They don't explain the aftermath: the suicidal thoughts, depression and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) the victims often face on a daily basis.

Prince George's Hospital's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center offers medical and supportive services to local survivors of sexual assault. The Center accepts new stuffed animals, which are given to victims as a source of comfort. Join the MCFR and University Health Center in donating new stuffed animals. Donations can be dropped off in the Department of Family Science (room 1142, SPH, building 255) or the University Health Center from now until April 30th.

April 5, 2013

Department of Family Science (FMSC) Professor Dr. Bonnie Braun has launched a new web site, Insuring Your Health, as part of a multi-state Extension Health Insurance Literacy Initiative. The site was created as a home-base for educational materials that aid in understanding the latest changes in health care and insurance coverage. The driving force for this initiative was passage of the Affordable Care Act that requires all citizens to obtain health insurance. Dr. Jinhee Kim, FMSC Associate Professor, contributed educational materials related to finance and FMSC Maternal and Child Health graduate student Andrew Williams created the web site. The site contains three sections: Consumer resources; Educator resources and External resources that provide helpful supplemental information on health insurance literacy and education. Updates in preparation for open enrollment in the fall of 2013 are forthcoming.

April 5, 2013

Family Science doctoral candidate Amanda Ginter has been awarded a 2013-14 All-S.T.A.R. Fellowship from the University of Maryland Graduate School. Amanda is one of 16 students to receive this inaugural award. The Graduate All-S.T.A.R. Fellowships are intended to honor graduate students who are both outstanding scholars and outstanding graduate assistants. Nominated by the Department of Family Science and selected among the top graduate assistants in the School of Public Health, Amanda's teaching, administrative work and research as a graduate student is among the best of her peers.

Amanda's primary research integrates the fields of family development and family health, with her dissertation focus on breast cancer patients without intimate partners and their use of social support. Her publications address use of health information in decision making and coping; use of technology and data collection with at-risk mothers; and the development of a screening tool for prediction of postpartum depression. Amanda has over 12 research presentations at professional meetings. During her tenure at the University of Maryland she has been the lead instructor of two undergraduate classes (Children in Families and Federal Health Policy) and the assistant for one other undergraduate class (Undergraduate Research Methods). She has served as both the President and Vice President of the student run organization - Maryland Council on Family Relations.

Congratulations, Amanda, on this outstanding recognition!

April 3, 2013

Erin McClure, coordinator and assistant to the chair in the Department of Family Science, was recognized with the Outstanding Exempt Staff award by the President's Commission on Women's Issues (PCWI) on April 2, 2013. The PCWI celebrates the accomplishments of women at the University of Maryland with an annual ceremony which has been held for the last 40 years. President Wallace Loh and Ann Wylie, Professor of Geology, Special Assistant to the President & former Provost, recognized each honoree. In addition to her role working in the School of Public Health, McClure is a UMD alumna (Sociology). She has completed graduate coursework in management at UMUC and social work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Erin has nine years of administrative experience at the University of Maryland, both in Family Science and the School of Public Policy. She is an intergroup dialogue facilitator for the Office of Diversity Education and Compliance, staff advisor for Alternative Breaks and Maryland Wishes, and trained Rainbow Terrapin Network Ally and Violence Intervention Assistant. Erin is dedicated to supporting and promoting a diverse, inclusive and safe campus. Prior to working with the University, Erin dedicated nearly ten years of direct service to children, youth, and families. She has experience working with non-profits managing group homes for the developmentally disabled and youth in foster care, leading parent and youth education classes for low-resourced youth/families, and providing mentoring and psychiatric rehabilitation services for at-risk and in-crisis children/youth/families in collaboration with the Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Department of Social Services. She has also worked as a Social Worker in an alternative public school and in the DC Department of Human Services processing TANF, Food Stamps, and Medicaid applications. Erin also volunteers and participates in community activities to support housing stability, anti-bullying initiatives, family violence prevention and LGBT inclusive initiatives. Congratulations to Erin on this well-deserved recognition. View photos from the event on the SPH Flickr site.   Read More >

March 25, 2013

Dr. Amelia Arria, director of the University of Maryland School of Public Health's Center for Young Adult Health and Development, and a group of 17 researchers, scientists, clinicians, and public health professionals jointly urged the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 to take action on energy drinks to protect adolescents and children from the possible risks of consuming high amounts of caffeine. Their letter summarized scientific evidence showing that the caffeine levels in energy drinks pose serious potential health risks, including increased risk of injury or even death, and suggested that the FDA has failed to apply its Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) standards for food additives to regulate energy drinks. Energy drinks, which are flavored beverages that contain added amounts of caffeine, as well as other additives such as taurine, guarana (a natural source of caffeine), and ginseng, have surged in popularity in recent years, particularly among adolescents (recent reports estimate that 30-50 percent of adolescents and young adults consume energy drinks). The U.S. energy drink industry is projected to reach $19.7 billion in sales by 2013. Energy drinks vary with respect to caffeine content and concentration, yet the high caffeine content of many energy drinks is not disclosed on the product label and many avoid regulation by labeling the beverages dietary supplements. Dr. Arria and colleagues urge the FDA to apply the existing GRAS standard for sodas to energy drinks and other beverages that contain caffeine as an additive and to require manufacturers to list the caffeine content of their energy drinks on the labels. Dr. Arria has been a leading voice expressing concern about the dangers of energy drinks and the risks to adolescents and young adults since January 2011, when she published a letter on the topic in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found at . As the principal investigator for the NIH-funded College Life Study, Dr. Arria's research focuses on health-related behaviors that influence young adult health and development. See College Life Study website for more.   Read More >

March 8, 2013

After the Violence Against Women Act expired in 2011 and a year of bi-partisan fighting, the House voted for the Senate's Bill and Congress reauthorized the Violence Against Woman Act. President Obama signed it into law on March 7.

This version of the Act extends protections to gays, lesbians and transgender individuals, and expands the authority of tribal courts to prosecute non-Indian offenders. It also helps victims of domestic violence who are undocumented immigrants by providing U.S. visas, which give victims temporary legal status if they help police investigate the crime. It also strengthens penalties for sex trafficking and preventing sexual assaults on college campuses.

If you or someone you know is experiencing physical or psychological violence, the Center for Healthy Families provides therapy to individuals in the Maryland/Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. This clinic, housed in the Department of Family Science, also provides services for couples to improve the couple relationship and maintain a safe environment for both partners. To make an appointment to see a therapist, call the Center for Healthy Families at 301-405-3659 or 301-405-2273.

March 7, 2013

Jocelyn Smith, a Family Science doctoral candidate, has been selected as the next Paul B. Cornely Postdoctoral Scholar in the Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture, and Health (CRECH) within the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

The Cornely Postdoctoral Program is one of the longest-running diversity postdoctoral programs housed in a School of Public Health in the United States. The program seeks to increase the number of scholars from underrepresented groups in academic public health. This post-doc is designed to enhance the research skills of early career doctoral scholars conducting research that addresses the clarification, reduction, and elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities.

Jocelyn plans to use her tenure as a Paul B. Cornely Postdoctoral Fellow at CRECH to further develop a trauma-informed program of research. Her goal is to reduce homicide and traumatic loss health disparities among boys and men of color (BMOC) and to promote the health and success of marginalized boys and men through the context of fathering relationships.

Congratulations to Jocelyn on this noteworthy achievement!

March 5, 2013

In a video interview with the School of Public Health, Dr. Marian Moser Jones , a professor in the Department of Family Science , shares about the process behind her new book: "The American Red Cross: From Clara Barton to the New Deal." The inspiration came from a simple question: "Why?" Dr. Jones was working in New York City during the September 11th attacks and watched the American Red Cross respond to the tragedy. "Why is it that the Red Cross shows up?" she asked, and found an inadequate response in the books and literature she discovered about the topic. So Dr. Jones set out to write a history of the American Red Cross and unearthed some interesting evidence about the Red Cross' commitment to universality and equality. Watch the video here:

Marian Moser Jones Interview - Teaser from UMD School of Public Health on Vimeo.

February 22, 2013

Each Spring the Department of Family Science announces competitive scholarship opportunities available through our department-related scholarship funds. These scholarships honor the educational and research legacy and/or philanthropic focus of their founding funders. Below is a list of the available competitive scholarships for 2013.

• Edlavitch Family Science Fund (Undergraduate) - for outstanding FMSC undergraduates with significant financial need. (2 awards in 2013)
• Noel Myricks Endowed Scholarship (Undergraduate) - for undergraduate students who are among the first generation of children in their family to attend college. (1 award in 2013)
• Andrew Billingsley Endowed Scholarship (Graduate) - for a graduate student conducting a research project on African American families. (1 award in 2013)
• Ned Gaylin Endowed Scholarship Fund (Graduate-CFT only) - for an outstanding Couple & Family Therapy (CFT) Master's student with financial need. (1 award in 2013)

If you meet the above requirements and are interested in applying for one of the above scholarships, complete the application and include a one-page typed essay responding to the questions/statements linked to the scholarship. You may apply for more than one scholarship (a separate application, essay and additional statement--if required--must be submitted).

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m., Sunday, March 10th, 2013, via email to Erin McClure, elmc@umd.edu. Subject line must contain your name, UID, and "Scholarship Application" (only electronic applications will be accepted). If you encounter problems submitting your application materials electronically, please contact elmc@umd.edu.

February 15, 2013

Dr. Stephanie Grutzmacher, Family Science Research Assistant Professor and also a University of Maryland Extension specialist, is the PI and Co-Project Director of Project ReFresh.

Project ReFresh, a collaboration between University of Maryland Extension (UME) and the Maryland State Department of Education, aims to improve children's fruit and vegetable consumption. Project ReFresh targets fruit, vegetable, and whole grain consumption choices of students in fourth and fifth grades. Through changes to the cafeteria environment and classroom-based nutrition education, the program encourages teachers, food service staff, and other adults in children's lives to become choice architects - individuals who can design environments that influence children to make healthier dietary choices. Over the course of the 2011-2012 school year, 34 schools in the state of Maryland participated in the project. UME faculty in six counties implemented ReFresh activities in cafeterias and classrooms.

Through several self-report and observation measures that were completed before and after implementation of the program, cafeteria sales records and student self-reports consistently found that children in the intervention groups ate more fruits and vegetables than students in the control group, which did not receive any portion of the program's components. Furthermore, according to the students' own self-report, children in the group that received both changes in the cafeteria and the classroom curriculum improved the most throughout the program. Observation measures and educator feedback revealed that many positive changes were made in cafeteria environments to promote healthier eating habits.

The FoodSmart impact team produced a report on their findings. As the pilot phase of this project closes, the FoodSmart impact team and FSNE program are leading the continued implementation of ReFresh activities across the state.

The project was funded by a 2010 Team Nutrition grant from USDA's Food and Nutrition Service.

Dr. Stephanie Grutzmacher was also awarded a new grant called The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) to improve the dietary quality of the School Lunch Program by requiring schools to serve more nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. In support of implementing HHFKA changes to school meals, this project will create educational tools to market fruit and vegetable offerings, implement classroom-based nutrition education and food tastings for elementary students, and train teachers to integrate nutrition education into the elementary curriculum. University of Maryland Extension will partner with the Maryland State Department of Education to provide HHFKA activities in 10 counties across the state.

February 5, 2013

Chinese family scholars from Beijing Normal University visited the Department of Family Science on January 23 to meet with Department faculty and tour the Center for Healthy Families clinic. Professor Xiaoyi Fang, Director of the Institute for Developmental Psychology at BNU, and his colleagues Drs. Linyuan Deng, Jintao Zhang, and Jing Lan were in the U.S. for a month to meet with U.S. collaborators, including our Department's Professor Norman Epstein. Dr. Epstein has worked with Dr. Fang and his associates on cross-cultural research projects and the development of BNU's family therapy training program, and the current visit focused on plans for future collaboration. This past August, 13 graduate students from the Department of Family Science Couple and Family Therapy program traveled with Dr. Epstein to BNU to participate in the inaugural Sino-American Forum on Marital and Family Therapy, and during the current visit, Dr. Fang announced plans to hold the second Forum in 2014. During a meeting with Department faculty, the Chinese scholars discussed current social and economic trends affecting Chinese families, family policies, and the rapid growth of the family therapy field in China. Opportunities for furthering the family research collaboration between our universities were explored. During their tour of the Center for Healthy Families, the Chinese visitors attended clinical supervision sessions and a clinic staff meeting.

February 1, 2013

FMSC students engage in multiple experiences including internships, research, education abroad and community service. FMSC faculty Lis Maring is bringing some of these opportunities to the Global Health Scholars program. Watch this video to learn more.

January 29, 2013

Students from the University of Maryland chapter of Engineers without Borders (UMCP-EWB) and the School of Public Health (SPH) recently travelled together on a 10-day trip to Compone, Peru, a rural community in the Andean mountains of southern Peru, where UMCP-EWB students have been working to implement a water sanitation project. The SPH representatives, Dr. Lis Maring, director of the Global Public Health Scholars program, and graduate students Graciela Jaschek (PhD candidate in epidemiology) and Greg Raspanti (PhD student in environmental health) spent time meeting the locals and learning lessons about engineering and local Peruvian life. And while the UMCP-EWB members focused on water quality testing and past project issues, the SPH team was conducting public health interviews with community leaders and household members. "We're excited that the School of Public Health is partnering with Engineers without Borders to help solve global public health challenges," says SPH Dean Jane Clark. "This collaboration should provide unique hands-on experiences for our students to work across the globe in interdisciplinary teams to improve public health." To read more about this evolving collaboration and what their interviews revealed, visit the UMD Public Health meets EWB blog. Photo: Graciela Jaschek (center), a PhD candidate in epidemiology, with community members in Compone, Peru.   Read More >

January 14, 2013

Dr. Marian Moser Jones, Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Science, is the author of "The American Red Cross, From Clara Barton to the New Deal," which discusses the origins and underpinning ideals of the American Red Cross. The book published by Johns Hopkins University Press traces the story of how the personal project of a lone, 59 year old woman developed into one of the most well-established providers of aid to U.S. families in disasters as well as a major purveyor of global humanitarian aid.

Dr. Moser Jones also has a journal article slated for publication in the May 2013 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. Her article, "Poison Politics: A Contentious History of Consumer Protection against Dangerous Household Chemicals in the United States," discusses the history of consumer product regulation and illuminates how regulation to protect children as well as adult consumers from household poisons has proceeded in a reactive rather than a precautionary manner. It offers key lessons for future policymakers seeking to protect children's and consumer health.

January 10, 2013

Dr. Mia Smith Bynum, Associate Professor of Family Science, is a 2012-2013 Consortium on Race, Gender and Ethnicity (CRGE) seed grant recipient. This award is funding through a joint program with CRGE's Qualitative Methods Research Interest Group and the Maryland Population Research Center (MPRC). Dr. Smith Bynum is leading a study with African American adults titled "'Gendered' Racial Socialization Experiences: A Focus Group Study with African American Emerging Adults."

Research has shown racial socialization to be a critical parenting strategy in preparing African American children for coping with racial discrimination. Despite the reality that African American males and females often confront different racial realities (e.g., gender-based racial stereotypes), few studies have been successful at detecting gender differences in parental messages about race that deal explicitly with the realities of being an African American male or female. Dr. Smith Bynum and colleagues propose that current theory and existing quantitative self-report measures completed by children and parents fail to assess gendered experiences with racial socialization.

This study will address the intersection of gender and race in regard to parental messages about race, black identity, and racial discrimination. Data from the study will be used in preparation of a larger grant proposal focused explicitly on the role of gender in African American fathers' teaching about race to children.

Congratulations, Dr. Smith Bynum, on this accomplishment!

January 2, 2013

Stephanie Rivero, a 2012 graduate of the Couple and Family Therapy master's program and 2010 graduate of the Family Science undergraduate program, is the Co-Instructor & Assistant Coordinator of the Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Program (SARPP) Study Abroad spring break course in Italy.

This three credit course, HLTH 389S, is an interdisciplinary 10-day study abroad experience enabling students to travel to Rome and Sicily, where they will learn about issues surrounding domestic violence. Students will gain first-hand experience and knowledge of domestic violence, response, and prevention in Italy. Students will perform community service at a local domestic violence shelter, meet with law enforcement officials, explore resources at a local university, and interact with community members. For more information please email sarppstudyabroad@health.umd.edu.

Stephanie's undergraduate and graduate coursework and training in family science and couple and family therapy lend themselves well to the work she is conducting in this course and in the SARPP office at the University Health Center. Congratulations, Stephanie, on serving as an excellent ambassador for the Department of Family Science both locally and abroad.

December 21, 2012

Happy Holiday's from the Department of Family Science. Have the best of holiday seasons and a peaceful new year. Enjoy the Department of Family Science annual holiday newsletter.

December 21, 2012

Four undergraduate Family Science seniors represented the department and School of Public Health at this fall's school and university-wide commencement ceremonies. Maya Robinson and Zainab Hosseini provided the School of Public Health and University commencement speeches (respectively). Both were selected from a talented pool of nominees. Maya Robinson was the inaugural speaker for the School's first year with a student led commencement address. Zainab Hosseini is the first undergraduate student from Family Science selected to give a University-wide commencement speech.

Maya's speech centered on the theme of diversity and how it applies to the campus community and the student body. Coming from a multi-racial family, Maya has grown to appreciate diversity throughout her undergraduate career at Maryland. In her comments, she commended and acknowledged the diversity of experiences and aspirations among the graduating class. Beginning in the fall of 2013, Maya will be attending the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, where she will study podiatric surgery. She is greatly interested in the study and treatment of diabetes and intends to receive a Master's degree in Public Health simultaneously with her doctoral degree.

In her University address, Zainab shared memories of growing up in Iran as a child of both Iranian and Mexican heritage. She recalled times when her mother would cook large amounts of food and take her on adventures to distribute food to women and children impacted by earthquakes, etc. She shared that she is now on her own adventures working to help families and encouraged her fellow graduates to give back to community as they begin their own adventures. Zainab plans to enroll in a joint master's of social work and law degree program after taking time off for spiritual studies and to travel. She wants her career path to reflect the values she learned regarding community engagement from her upbringing.

Additionally, Jan Catindig and Natalie Gaudette were nominated and served as Senior Marshals at the University Commencement. Jan is applying to graduate school in social work for Fall 2013. Natalie has been selected to complete a year of service with City Year, supporting educational interventions for youth in grades 3 through 9.

The Department of Family Science is very proud of Maya, Zainab, Jan and Natalie, as well as the 60 other FMSC undergraduate December graduates!

November 21, 2012

Family Science Associate Professor Jinhee Kim was awarded the 2012 Outstanding Conference Research Paper Award from the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE). Dr. Kim's paper, Debt Burden of Young Adults in the United States, was co-authored with Dr. Swarn Chatterjee from the University of Georgia and Dr. Jung-Eun Kim, Visiting Scholar in Family Science from the Korean Institute for Consumer Education in South Korea. This honor recognizes a written paper that is of great use to the profession, including a thorough review of literature, a new and innovative approach to examining a current topic, sound research methods, and creative practical applications. The AFCPE is an international, professional membership organization dedicated to improving personal financial management education, training, and certification of financial counselors, educators, and other related practitioners.

Congratulations to Dr. Kim!

November 16, 2012

A new project led by a Family Science faculty research associate is showing low-income Marylanders how they can shop and eat healthier. Since July 2012, Stephanie Grutzmacher, who is also a University of Maryland Extension specialist, has deployed extension educators to several Maryland farmers markets each week to teach about a different leafy green. They provide easy, tasty recipes and demonstrate how to prepare them. The project, Market to Mealtime: Greens, Roots, and Fruits, is in partnership with Eat Fresh Maryland, a coalition of more than 20 farmers markets and nonprofit agencies working to expand federal nutrition benefits redemption at farmers markets. "I created recipes like Cooked Kale with Nuts and Raisins and Fruit and Spinach Salad to appeal to a broad audience, including kids, and to persuade people to buy an item they don't typically purchase," says Grutzmacher. "Plus, greens pack a lot of nutritional punch." For next year, Grutzmacher is working with farmers to create recipe kits, which will include the ingredients and be sold at a set price. "This takes the guesswork out of how to get the most value from limited benefit dollars" she says, "and should also help the farmers to sell more." This story appeared in the October 2012 issue of Between the Columns, a newsletter for University of Maryland faculty and staff. For more details, read the Market to Mealtime story by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.   Read More >

November 16, 2012

Stephanie Grutzmacher, a faculty research associate in the Department of Family Science, is one of a team of University of Maryland Extension specialists who are working to empower women in war-torn Afghanistan and improve the capacity of extension services to support the food and nutrition needs of poor families. The project, funded with $1.3 million from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), focuses on supporting vulnerable women -- those who have been abandoned, divorced or widowed--living in the poorest sections of Kabul. The goal is to increase access to healthy food, improve the quantity and quality of healthy food, and increase the income from the sale of home-grown food. Grutzmacher and her colleagues traveled to Afghanistan in July 2012 to train female extension agents employed through the Ministry of Agriculture. They will return for one or two visits over the next year to continue to build capacity for Afghan women to take control of their own futures. Money from the USDA grant will pay for a full-time person to live in Kabul to oversee the project and help its progress. For more details on the project, please read the story Empowering Women in the War Zone on the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources website.   Read More >

November 14, 2012

Family Science doctoral candidate Jocelyn Smith has been awarded the Ethnic Minorities Student/New Professional Best Paper from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Her paper is based on her dissertation research. The purpose of her study is to examine how young, Black, male homicide survivors in low-income, urban contexts respond to experiences of loss resulting from community violence. Specifically, her paper uses qualitative data from interviews with young, Black men in Baltimore to inform contextual understandings of trauma responses and posttraumatic stress symptoms among homicide survivors in low-income urban communities. Interdisciplinary implications for research, policy, and practice with young, Black, male homicide survivors are discussed.

This award recognizes the most outstanding student/new professional conference proposals among the Ethnic Minorities Section presentations from the 2012 National Council on Family Relations annual conference. It acknowledges individuals that further the interests of the organization and/or exemplify the standards to which members aspire. The NCFR is the oldest multi-disciplinary professional organization that focuses on family research, practice, and education. Their mission is to provide an educational forum for family researchers, educators, and practitioners to share in the development and dissemination of knowledge about families and family relationships, establish professional standards, and work to promote family well-being. As an award recipient, Jocelyn Smith is among distinguished colleagues who have dedicated themselves to working in the family field and have given outstanding service.

Congratulations, Jocelyn, on this professional achievement!

November 14, 2012

Dr. Kranti Vora is a new associate professor at the Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar--part of Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). The organization is a premier public health education institute in western India. Dr. Vora is teaching postgraduate public health courses on health policy and planning and maternal child health to medical graduates. She is also tasked with conducting a community based research project funded by European Commission. This prospective study looks at improvement in access to maternal health services in Gujarat and its impact on maternal morbidity and cost utility analysis of "Chiranjeevi Yojana," a health financing scheme for maternity services in Gujarat.

Dr. Vora graduated with a PhD in Maternal and Child Health in Spring 2012. Her dissertation was titled "Implementation of Janani Suraksha Yojana and other maternal health policies in two Indian states: Predictors of maternal health service utilization among poor rural women."

Congratulations to Dr. Vora on this accomplishment!

November 13, 2012

Dr. Sandra Hofferth, Professor of Family Science, is leading two important new projects that serve the population research community. The Time Use Survey Data Access System project, a five-year, $3 million grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), integrates, documents and disseminates individual-level data on how people allocate their time. This project facilitates research on parental time with children, how time use influences heath, household responses to changing economic conditions, and cross-national research on health and well-being in different cultural and policy settings.

The second project, "Research Coordinating Network: the NSF Social Observatories Coordination Network," stemming from a three-year, $300,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) award, assists with developing and planning a set of observatories for the Social, Behavioral, and Economic (SBE) sciences that will transform SBE science. The observatories will address questions of central interest in SBE sciences and will focus on two broad intellectual themes: 1) opportunity and mobility and 2) change and adaptation.

Congratulations, Sandy, on these accomplishments!

November 9, 2012

Diaper need is a silent crisis in the United States. Diapers are a basic need for children, as essential to their health and well-being as food and shelter. Babies need 10 to 12 diapers a day and toddlers need approximately 8 diapers, costing families up to $120 each month. Yet nearly 1 in 3 families in America struggle to afford diapers for children.

In an effort to meet the needs of low-income families and provide an essential service to this community, Department of Family Science students from the Maryland Council on Family Relations (MCFR) and Phi Upsilon Omicron Honor Society (Phi U) are holding a Fall Diaper Drive from November 12th through November 30th. Donations of unused diapers, formula, diaper wipes, and diaper cream are welcomed. Extra unused diapers that your child or sibling has outgrown are also acceptable for donation--please be sure to label the size and quantity on any open packages. Larger sizes (5, 6, and pull-ups) are most needed, but anything will help! Donation drop boxes are located at the following places: The Family Science Department (1142 SPH), STAMP Student Union, Cambridge Community Center, and Eppley Recreation Center.

Monetary donations in the form of a check made out to DC Diaper Bank, cash, or direct payment via www.dcdiaperbank.org are also acceptable. The DC Diaper Bank can purchase large quantities of discounted diapers directly from distributors--100 diapers can be purchased for $12. Please contact Jenni at mcfr.umd.edu@gmail.com if you would like to make a monetary donation. All proceeds from the Family Science Diaper Drive will be donated to the DC Diaper Bank.

Join Family Science, MCFR and Phi U in giving something as simple as a fresh and clean bottom to help babies and their families!   Read More >

October 30, 2012

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) PhD Alumnas Dr. Ndidi Amutah has been named the new President of the Society for the Analysis of African American Public Health Issues (SAAPHI).

Dr. Amutah has served SAAPHI in numerous capacities over the past two years. She has served as a member of the scientific symposium that has reviewed abstracts for the annual meeting, chair of the fundraising-finance committee, and member of the membership committee. As President, she will focus on positioning SAAPHI within the larger governance of APHA, recruiting and retaining younger public health professionals, strengthening collaborations with other Public Health organizations, and expanding the financial resources of SAAPHI. Dr. Amutah received her PhD in Maternal and Child Health at the University of Maryland in 2010. Her dissertation focused on infant mortality in Washington, DC and specifically examined neighborhood level disadvantage, social determinants of health, and race/ethnicity as predictors of infant mortality. Dr. Amutah was a Kellogg Community Health Scholar post-doctoral fellow at Morgan State University where she examined the family planning practices, beliefs, and aptitude for women ages 18-45 in Baltimore City. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences at Montclair State University.

Congratulations to Dr. Amutah!

October 26, 2012

Department of Family Science Associate Professor Dr. Kevin Roy has been named Deputy Editor of the Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF). For more than 70 years, JMF has been the premier research journal in the field of family studies. The journal publishes research and theory, research interpretation and reviews, and critical discussion on all aspects of marriage, close relationships, and families. It is a journal of the National Council on Family Relations, the oldest multi-disciplinary professional organization that focuses on family research, practice, and education. Their mission is to provide an educational forum for family researchers, educators, and practitioners to share in the development and dissemination of knowledge about families and family relationships, establish professional standards, and work to promote family well-being.

Congratulations to Dr. Roy in his new role with this prestigious journal!

October 20, 2012

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Whether you are an educator, student, family or individual who cares about students, bullying/relational aggression is a family and public health issue that affects us all. Research shows that relational aggression carries lasting adverse mental health consequences into late adolescence, such as increased depression, loneliness, rejection, maladaptive eating patterns, risky sexual behavior, and suicidal thinking.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, the Center for Healthy Families, provides therapy to families, couples, and individuals in the Maryland/Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. This clinic, housed in the Department of Family Science, provides services including couples therapy, marriage therapy, family therapy, parent education, family therapy conferences, and continuing education for professionals. To make an appointment to see a therapist, call the Center for Healthy Families at 301-405-3659 or 301-405-2273.

For additional resources on bullying, the National Bullying Prevention Center offers engaging and educational resources for parents, schools, teens and youth about bullying prevention.

October 19, 2012

In an effort to inform voters where major presidential candidates stand on family-relevant issues, family policy doctoral students in the Department of Family Science at the University of Maryland School of Public Health compiled this family issues voting guide under the direction of Dr. Elaine Anderson, Chair & Professor. An objective, non-partisan collection of information comparing candidates on important family and health policies is presented. Readers will find this a useful tool in identifying candidate positions on an array of domestic, social, and health issues that affect families in the United States in order to make informed choices in the upcoming Presidential election. The information presented was taken from each candidate's website during September 2012, from the Congressional Record, or other sources as cited.   Read More >

October 15, 2012

Wednesday, October 17, 2:00-5:00 P.M.
School of Public Health Career Expo

Current undergraduate and graduate students and SPH alumni are invited to network with representatives from a variety of health-related agencies and corporations.
View the list of participating employers
Venue: SPH, ground floor main hall
Contact: Erin Thiel (ethiel@umd.edu)
Contact Phone:(301) 405-2545

Friday, October 19, 8:30 A.M.-1:00 P.M.
Research Walks and Talks

The School of Public Health will hold its 12th Annual Research Interaction Day on Friday, October 19, 2012. This year's event will be in a new format: Research Walks and Talks. The purpose of this event is to provide students, faculty,  staff and collaborators with an opportunity to visit units to learn about their research activities. Assistant and associate professors will also make brief oral presentations on their research activities.
We also welcome alumni, community and university collaborators and campus colleagues to join us.

Friday, October 19, 2:30-4:30 P.M.
Alumni/SPH Faculty Ice Cream Social

SPH alumni, faculty and staff are invited to join new Dean Jane Clark to socialize and network over delicious ice cream!
Friday October 19, 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the School of Public Health Faculty/Staff Lounge.
Venue: School of Public Health Faculty/Staff Lounge

Friday, October 19, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.

How I Got Where I am Today: Alumni Presentation and Reception with Joy Bauer ('86) and Terri Holley ('87)

Please join us for a special presentation by Today Show personality and nutrition and health expert Joy Bauer, MS, RD (B.S., Kinesiology '86) and new media maverick Teresa (Terri) Holley, MS, (B.S., Kinesiology 87), who is CEO/owner of Holley Creative and a health educator. Both will discuss how their education and experiences at the University of Maryland contributed to their highly successful careers.
This event is free, but you must RSVP to alumni.umd.edu/sphreception
Venue: School of Public Health Main Foyer, second floor

Homecoming Day, Saturday, October 20, 2012

Attending the UMD vs. NC State football game?
Stop by Riggs Alumni Center and visit the School of Public Health Information Table for details on new programs at the school.

12-3 p.m. outside of Riggs Alumni Center

Complete list of UMD Homecoming 2012 Events

October 9, 2012

Department of Family Science (FMSC) Post-Doctoral Scholar Katherine E. Speirs, doctoral students Lauren Messina and Ashley L. Munger, and Faculty Research Associate and University of Maryland Extension Family Specialist Stephanie Grutzmacher reported results from a convenience sample of 154 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-eligible adults in the 23rd volume of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. Their article, "Health Literacy and Nutrition Behaviors among Low-Income Adults," presents findings suggesting that health practitioners should ensure nutrition-related messages are accessible to all of their clients, especially those with the lowest health literacy levels. Read the abstract.

October 9, 2012

Congratulations to Dr. Sandra Hofferth, Professor, and Dr. Jinhee Kim, Associate Professor and Family Finance Specialist for the University of Maryland Extension, on recent appointments to the National Institutes of Health Social Sciences and Population Studies A Study Section and the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE) Board of Directors respectively.

Dr. Hofferth's A Study Section at the National Institutes of Health is within the Center for Scientific Review. Members are selected based upon a demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific discipline as evidenced by the quality of research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals, and other significant scientific activities, achievements and honors. Study sections review grant applications submitted to the NIH, make recommendations on these applications to the appropriate NIH national advisory council or board, and survey the status of research in their fields of science.

As an AFCPE board member, Dr. Kim will provide visionary leadership to promote new ideas and concepts leading to new practices and processes in organizational development. She will also integrate research, policy, and education/counseling in financial management. The AFCPE is a non-profit, international, professional membership organization dedicated to improving personal financial management education, training, and certification of financial counselors, educators, and other related practitioners.

October 8, 2012

Twelve School of Public Health faculty members were among those recognized at the university's 14th Annual Research Leaders Luncheon at the Riggs Alumni Center on October 4, 2012. The following faculty members were selected for recognition because of their successful acquisition of significant research grants and their leadership of innovative research programs:

• Bradley O. Boekeloo, Behavioral and Community Health
• Pamela I. Clark, Behavioral and Community Health
• Stacey Daughters, Behavioral and Community Health
• Kerry Green, Behavioral and Community Health
• James Hagberg, Kinesiology
• Sandra Hofferth, Family Science
• Cheryl Holt, Behavioral and Community Health
• Sally Koblinsky, Family Science
• Don Milton, Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health
• Robin Puett, Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health
• MinQi Wang, Behavioral and Community Health
• Sacoby Wilson, Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health

September 10, 2012

Professor Norman B. Epstein and thirteen graduate students from the Department of Family Science's Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) program traveled to Beijing, China from August 4-15 to participate in the inaugural Sino-American Forum on Marriage and Family Therapy at Beijing Normal University (BNU). The Forum was hosted by the Institute of Developmental Psychology at BNU and brought together prominent family therapy researchers and practitioners from across China and several U.S. universities. The Maryland CFT students (Jodi Cobb, David Curtis, Andrew Dauler, BreAnna Davis, Ebony Edwards, Nicole Ehlert, Tara Gogolinski, John Hart, Stephen Mortensen, Elizabeth Ott, Stephanie Powell, Deanna Pruitt, and Robin Smith) participated in group discussions with graduate students from family therapy training programs at BNU and other U.S. Universities, focusing on cultural similarities and differences that affect the application of Western-derived family therapy approaches with Chinese families. The Maryland students also had opportunities to visit major cultural sites in the Beijing area, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the Lama Temple, and the Beijing Opera.

At the conference, Dr. Epstein presented two full-day workshops on cognitive-behavioral therapy with couples and families, as well as a paper on strategies for conducting process and outcome research on family therapy in China. Chinese scholars presented talks on topics such as the history and current developments of family therapy in China, family time and collective healing in the wake of the Wenchuan earthquake, family therapy for anorexia nervosa in China, cultural adaptation of systemic family therapy in China, treating loss and grief in Chinese families, and the current status of family therapy training in China. The Forum was an excellent opportunity for the development of collaborative relationships for research and clinical training among the U.S. and Chinese participants.

September 6, 2012

A growing number of high school and college students are using ADHD drugs to improve their grades in school. Dr. Arria, Director of the Center on Young Adult Health and Development, discusses Adderall abuse and what is being done to address it.

Listen to the podcast.

Center on Young Adult Health and Development researchers have also published a finding based on data from a longitudinal study showing a relationship between how often students used marijuana and ten different health indicators.

Read the Abstract.

For other publications from the College Life Study and the Center on Young Adult Health and Development, click here.

September 6, 2012

Family Science Professor Dr. Sandra Hofferth has been awarded $3 million to renew her National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Project Grant (R01) over the next five years. This project, the Time Use Data Access System, will integrate, document and disseminate individual-level data on how people allocate their time.

How people use their time, why individuals allocate their time as they do, and what consequences flow from these time use decisions are fundamental to the health, quality of life and effective functioning of a society. The potential of time use data for unlocking the black box of household decision-making is just being realized. Continuing this project for another five years and adding samples and functionality will facilitate research on parental time with children, how time use influences health, household responses to changing economic conditions, and cross-national research on health and well-being in different cultural and policy settings.

Dr. Sandra Hofferth was also awarded the 2012 Distinguished Career Award this August by the American Sociological Association for her work on families.

Congratulations, Sandy, on these outstanding accomplishments!

August 31, 2012

At the School of Public Health assembly on August 28, 2012, the 2011-12 faculty and staff awards were presented to recognize dedicated service, innovative teaching and mentoring, outreach to the community and leadership and success in research programs.

The award recipients included:

• Research and Development Award: Dr. Robin Puett, Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health
• Viki Annand Staff Excellence Award: Regina Clary, Department of Kinesiology
• Leda Amick Wilson Mentoring Award: Anne Anderson-Sawyer, Department of Behavioral and Community Health
• Muriel R. Sloan Communitarian Award: Dr. Sacoby Wilson, Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health

• Jerry P. Wrenn Outstanding Service Award: Dr. Sally Koblinsky, Department of Family Science

• George F. Kramer Practitioner of the Year Award: Dr. Jae Shim, Department of Kinesiology

• Doris Sands Excellent Teaching Award: Dr. Karoline Mortensen , Department of Health Services Administration and Dr. Xin He , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Read more about these award recipients.

 

  Read More >

August 20, 2012

Dr. Lis Maring, director of Global Public Health Scholars and Faculty Research Associate in Family Science, led a summer study abroad program to Northern India. The program offered 11 University of Maryland students the opportunity to glimpse complex health and development issues, to compare and contrast their own life experiences, and to explore global health firsthand. Mili Duggal, doctoral student in Maternal and Child Health was the TA. Students began their journey in Delhi and Agra, shopping in local markets and visiting the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world. Then it was off to the holy city, Varanasi, where they visited the Institute of Medical Sciences at Banaras Hindu University, experienced a cultural program of Indian classical music, and took a mystical boat ride on the Ganges River. At their final destination, Manali, located in the picturesque Himalayas, students participated in lecture and discussion and conducted individual research projects choosing a local hospital, schools, or village health workers for interviews on health topics. Examples of student projects included: exploration of cultural practices around childbirth, health impact of biofuel use on patients in the hospital, perceptions about the dangers of tobacco use among adolescents, perceptions of the daily lives and stressors among adolescents, interviews with local Anganwadi workers who provide basic health and nutrition needs for children under 6 in rural areas, and perceptions of ayurvedic medicine. View the Flickr album of photos from their trip.   Read More >

August 14, 2012

The University of Maryland School of Public Health has admitted four Commissioned Corps officers from the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) as students in its Certificate in Global Health program. This group will be the fourth sent through the RADM Jerrold M. Michael Fellowship, a partnership between the school and the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health, which funds half of the certificate for the officers. "This fellowship program is a great demonstration of the growing partnership between our School of Public Health and the U.S. Public Health Service," says Maryland Dean Jane Clark. "This year we've collaborated with the USPHS Commissioned Officers Foundation on community-based health promotion efforts and co-sponsored the USPHS annual scientific and training symposium. We look forward to continuing this fellowship and providing future educational trainings tailored for the USPHS as part of our participation in the Mid-Atlantic Public Health Training Center." "We are pleased to welcome these Commissioned Corps officers to our global health program," says Dr. Colleen Farmer, assistant dean for undergraduate education at the School of Public Health. "It is a mutually beneficial partnership because our students learn from interacting with these seasoned public health officers, and we are proud that our program provides training to support their ability to analyze and respond to major global health issues."   Read More >

July 17, 2012

The American Sociological Association Section on Sociology of Family awarded Family Science Professor Sandra Hofferth the 2012 Distinguished Career Award. This recognition honors Dr. Hofferth's numerous contributions and achievements involving family policy issues. To read more about Dr. Hofferth's award and her outstanding work, visit the following link to the ASA Section on Sociology of the Family newsletter, Family Forum (scroll to page 2).

Congratulations, Sandy, on this outstanding achievement!   Read More >

July 6, 2012

Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown recently announced the partnership between University of Maryland and Maryland's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) to meet the behavioral and mental health needs of Maryland veterans and their families. Led by Family Science (FMSC) faculty Sally Koblinsky, Leigh Leslie, and Sandra Quinn in the School of Public Health, the partnership will identify gaps in veterans' services and train mental health professionals, primary care doctors, and clergy to better understand and address the unique needs of our veterans.

Findings from this research will be used to design trainings that increase professionals' knowledge of military culture and the impacts of deployment on veterans and family members, including children. These new trainings will not only provide strategies for addressing mental health, substance use/abuse, and suicide prevention, but will also focus on employment-related stressors, women veterans' issues (including military sexual trauma), and reintegration into family life. To learn more about this exciting new partnership and all that it entails, please visit the following link.   Read More >

July 5, 2012

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) doctoral candidate Mili Duggal has been awarded the 2012-2013 Ethel L. Parker International Graduate Fellowship award from the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). This award supports Mili's continued academic pursuits in the Family Science Department at the University of Maryland's School of Public Health. It includes a $5,000 fellowship and an additional $1,000 to support a year-long AAFCS membership and participation in the professional organizations annual conference. This award was established in honor of Ethel Parker, an active member in AAFCS and head of Home Economics Education at the University of Kentucky. It honors students who are either from another country or have specific goals related to study in another country and exhibit the potential to make contributions to the family and consumer sciences profession.

The Department congratulates Mili on this great honor!