Cultural Factors:

Implementation of Circle of Security: This project will pilot the implementation of Circle of Security, a trauma-informed group-based intervention to biological parents of children impacted by opioid exposure and traumatic stress and foster/kinship care providers of children impacted by opioid exposure and traumatic stress. This project is in partnership with the WVU Medicine ReACT Clinic led by Dr. Maria Khan. Lead: Dr. Roley-Roberts

NAP (Neurofeedback for Adolescent Posttraumatic Stress Disorder): NAP is looking at EEG neurofeedback as a non-medication treatment for adolescents ages 12-18 with PTSD with and without intellectual disabilities. Neurofeedback is a method for training the speed of brain waves with the goal to decrease beta waves (fast waves that go with hypervigilance and paying attention) and decrease theta waves (slow waves that go with sleepiness and distractibility) while increasing alpha waves (medium waves that go with calmness and relaxation). The goal of the study to ensure the safety and usefulness of this neurofeedback protocol. Lead: Dr. Roley-Roberts

NAS Developmental Outcome: The NAS Developmental Outcomes Project is a systematic review of the long-term developmental consequences of in utero opioid exposure in children 0-12 years old. Lead: Dr. Roley-Roberts

Spanish QOLaFI: This measurement validation study is looking to refine and validate a culturally-sensitive questionnaire of quality of life and functioning for adults who primarily speak Spanish. Lead Graduate Student: Jailyn Wilson

Mechanism: 

Pathways Systematic Review: This systematic review aims to evaluate the literature on risk factors related to child and adolescent suicide and suicidal ideation in the United States. These risk factors may include cultural, environmental, external, and internal factors such as stressors, trauma exposure, and epigenetic factors. We would like to synthesize these factors and gather a consensus on the weight of their effect on suicidal risks in children and adolescents. Lead Graduate Student: Erinn Victory

Trauma Exposure and Suicide Risk: This project looks at the relationship between childhood traumatic events and suicide risk (including acquired capability of suicide). The study uses an undergraduate sample. Lead Graduate Student: Jailyn Wilson

Preventing Perinatal Onset Distress (P-POD): This project is an Internet-delivered intervention for perinatal anxiety where the major goals of this project are to 1) Evaluate P-POD’s effects on prenatal anxiety and other postpartum anxiety risk
factors during the second trimester of pregnancy and 2) Use parallel quantitative and qualitative methods to convergently evaluate effects of P-POD on postpartum maternal anxiety and partner and infant relationships. This study is funded by an NICHD-funded R15 grant (1R15HD109689-01A1) in collaboration with Dr. Shari Steinman. Lead: Dr. Roley-Roberts

Positive Factors:

ARTIC (Attitudes Related to Trauma Informed Care): This project focuses on understanding the attitudes of healthcare professionals toward trauma-informed care and their experiences with burnout. We are surveying staff at the Resilience After Complex Trauma (ReACT) clinic and other agencies referring children with trauma histories. Using the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) Scale and the Two-Item Burnout Scale, we aim to assess these professionals’ perspectives. The findings will help initiate discussions on implementing sustainable trauma-informed care practices to reduce burnout and improve care quality. This project is in partnership with the WVU Medicine ReACT Clinic led by Dr. Maria Khan.Lead: Dr. Roley-Roberts

CAC (Child Advocacy Center) Evaluation: This project is focused on evaluating treatment outcomes at a local Child Advocacy Center (CAC). The CAC provides trauma-focused therapy services to children who have experienced abuse or neglect and their families. Our goal is to assess the effectiveness of these services and identify the factors that impact treatment outcomes. This project is in collaboration with the Mon County Child Advocacy Center led by Dr. Laura CaPage. Lead Graduate Student: Jailyn Wilson

ReACT Clinic Evaluation: The goal of this project is to examine the effectiveness of current services delivered to children who have experienced trauma and their families at a local community outpatient center. This project is in partnership with the WVU Medicine ReACT Clinic led by Dr. Maria Khan. Lead Graduate Student: Marinne Morgan

Trauma-Informed Care Systematic Review: The goal of this project is to review currently recommended guidelines for implementing trauma-informed care across the fields of psychology, medicine, education, justice system, and related sectors.  Lead Graduate Student: Jailyn Wilson