Johnson, Cheng Present at SparkTalks
Two Jane Addams College of Social Work researchers presented their work at SparkTalks, University of Illinois Chicago’s take on lightning talks that provides an opportunity for faculty, leaders, and others across campus to learn about the exciting activities happening throughout the college.
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From left to right, Annette Johnson, UIC Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda and Shih-Ying Cheng
Clinical Associate Professor Annette Johnson presented “School Social Worker Effectiveness: Retooling and Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice Through Training.” Retraining experienced school social workers who focus on evidence-based practices significantly enhances the quality of their intentions, Johnson said of her work. The training equips them with the knowledge and skills to implement research-supported strategies, leading to more effective outcomes for students, especially those with complex social and emotional needs. The presentation reviewed outcome data that demonstrated the effectiveness of the Training Institute for School Social Work Professionals, first developed by Johnson at the JACSW in 2009.
Assistant Professor Shih-Ying Cheng, PhD, presented “Breaking Barriers: Culturally Sensitive Services for Asian Immigrant Women Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence.”
Intimate partner violence, encompassing physical and sexual violence, stalking and psychological aggression by an intimate partner, is a significant public health issue affecting individuals worldwide, Cheng said. Over one-quarter of ever-partnered women globally report experiencing intimate partner violence. This violence leads to considerable physical and mental health consequences, which can be intensified by intersecting identity factors such as race, ethnicity, immigration status and socioeconomic background. These factors often heighten women’s risk of negative health outcomes and can create unique obstacles when survivors navigate intimate partner violence.
Women from racially minoritized groups, immigrants and individuals with lower incomes face additional challenges in seeking help and accessing services to mitigate the impact of intimate partner violence. Among this group, Asian immigrant women represent an underserved and under-researched population. A review of case files from domestic violence organizations in Illinois found that Asian American survivors were underrepresented compared with their state population proportion. They were less likely to receive referrals to domestic violence programs from law enforcement and reported greater needs for language support, financial assistance and legal aid in comparison to survivors from other racial and ethnic groups.
Cheng’s presentation discussed the barriers Asian immigrant survivors face when seeking help to address intimate partner violence, and she provided insights on practical strategies to reduce those barriers and improve support accessibility.