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Photovoice project provides clear view of Lakota women’s challenges, resilience

A recent project featuring photographs by Native American women has brought into focus some of the challenges they have faced — and highlighted their strengths and resilience.

Ramona Herrington, cultural outreach manager for the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory, and Preciouse Trujillo, senior community liaison with the Rapid City Family Project, led the project, which documented challenges and triumphs of Lakota women with histories of incarceration. Katie Edwards, IVRL director and professor of educational psychology and CYFS, worked with Herrington and Trujillo on the project. Full Article

‘Homegrown’ training program fills need for rural mental health professionals

For small towns scattered throughout Nebraska, mental health professionals are hard to come by. Recruiting and retaining such professionals is crucial to ensuring these rural populations have access to quality mental health care.

Because mental health trainees are more likely to remain and work in the rural communities where they live, Beth Doll, professor of educational psychology, and Matthew Gormley, assistant professor of educational psychology are leading a virtual training program that can be accessible to anyone interested in a career in school psychology, no matter where they reside. Full Article

Video available for MAP Academy presentation featuring Joseph Gardella

Joseph Gardella, postdoctoral research associate at the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory, led the third and final presentation of the Spring 2023 Methodology Applications Series May 5.

Video is now available of Gardella’s virtual presentation, “Implementation Lessons from a Fully Online Pilot Intervention for LGBTQIA2S+ Teens to Reduce Dating Violence and Alcohol Use.” Full Article

NAECR Networking event highlights early childhood research from across NU system

Early childhood research across the University of Nebraska system was the focus of the Spring NAECR Networking event May 5.

Attendees of the virtual event enjoyed presentations by Tiffany Moore, associate professor in the College of Nursing and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Julia Torquati, professor of child, youth and family studies at UNL. Afterward, attendees connected with colleagues and discussed research and collaboration opportunities. Full Article

Michigan researcher outlines obstacles, potential solutions for racially marginalized youth

Many racially minoritized youth do not have equal access to the benefits of being young, according to a University of Michigan researcher.

Deborah Rivas-Drake, Stephanie J. Rowley Collegiate Professor of Education and Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan, said during her May 3 keynote presentation at the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center that youth of color are frequently dismissed or marginalized — often because of how they speak and express themselves. That generates an “unequal, social-emotional toll” on them from experiencing racial and immigration injustices. Full Article

Study explores bullying that targets students with disabilities — and how to fight it

Being bullied is not pleasant for anyone. But for students with disabilities, the effects can be more damaging — and the risk of bullying is disproportionately higher.

Bullying is a public health crisis linked to adverse educational and mental health outcomes such as poor grades, negative perceptions of school, depression and anxiety. Students with disabilities have a greater risk of being victimized, as well as more social difficulties than peers without disabilities, and may be less responsive to existing bullying intervention programming. Full Article

Study reveals many American atheists hide their non-belief

The religiously unaffiliated, including atheists, are the fastest-growing (non)religious population in the United States. But the social stigma associated with atheism leaves this population vulnerable to isolation and poor mental health outcomes.

Dena Abbott, assistant professor of counseling psychology, recently completed a yearlong study to investigate the psychological well-being of two groups of atheists — rural-residing and woman-identified atheists — in the context of anti-atheist discrimination in the U.S. Full Article

Get SET Nebraska addresses special education teacher shortage

As in other states, Nebraska’s ability to deliver high-quality instruction to students served in special education depends on the availability of qualified teachers.

Unfortunately, shortages of special education teachers — both statewide and nationally — leave many students in individualized education programs at further risk for compromised educational outcomes. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 49 states and the District of Columbia reported shortages of special education teachers in 2021. Full Article