Responding to Sexual Assault on Campus: A national assessment and systematic classification of the scope and challenges for investigation and adjudication
Project Director: Linda M. Williams, Ph.D. Co-Investigators: April Pattavina, Ph.D., Alison Cares, Ph.D., and Nan Stein, Ed.D. Funded by: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice
A project of the Justice and Gender-Based Violence Research Initiative of the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW), this project responds to the unprecedented recent attention paid to campus sexual assault and provides a systematic overview of how colleges approach the investigation and adjudication of incidents. The study is documenting the current landscape (the breadth and differences) of campus approaches to reports of sexual assault. Informed by a victim centered focus and a scan of 969 college websites, the project will provide a panoramic snapshot of how colleges publicly present their investigation and adjudication approaches. Interviews with key stakeholders will describe their analysis of the strengths and challenges presented when different approaches to investigation and adjudication are taken. End products for colleges will include guidance on the conduct of a website self-evaluation, a checklist on policies and procedures (based on federal requirements), and a summary of approaches to investigation and adjudication.
Environment Rating Scales Reliable Rater Level 4 Classroom Observations and Level 3 Technical Assistant Site Visits for MA QRISProject Director: Joanne Roberts, Ph.D. Funded by: MA Department of Early Education and Care
The Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) will provide Environment Rating Scales Reliable Rater site visits to center-based programs, family child care providers, and out-of-school time programs seeking Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement System (MA-QRIS) Level 4 designation. The WCW research team will also make Technical Assistance site visits to those center-based programs, family child care providers, and out-of-school time programs who are applying for MA-QRIS Level 3.
QRIS Measurement Tools Training for Technical Assistance ProvidersProject Director: Joanne Roberts, Ph.D. Funded by: MA Department of Early Education and Care
The Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) will provide the following services: revise the Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Validation Study data analysis plan; analyze the data collected from the QRIS Validation Study; report the QRIS Validation Study findings to MA Department of Early Education and Care (EEC); make recommendations for revisions to the MA QRIS to EEC; and share the findings with relevant stakeholders.
Depression Prevention for Middle School Students in NatickProject Director: Tracy Gladstone, Ph.D. Funded by: MetroWest Health Foundation
This project aims to implement an evidence- based suicide prevention program in the Natick, MA middle schools and to identify and connect to appropriate services early adolescents in the Natick community who report self-injury, suicidal thinking, and depressive symptoms. The research team will implement a comprehensive depression screening program with the Natick middle school student population. The program aims to: increase mental health literacy among the Natick middle school community; offer screening to all 7th and 8th grade students; make referrals as needed; and communicate with Natick middle school parents/guardians about their teens, youth depression, and possible interventions. Risk Behaviors among Offspring of Teen Parents: Effects of parenting on the next generation Project Director: Jennifer Grossman, Ph.D. Funded by: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development This study addresses the potential of maternal and paternal parenting processes to reduce high risk of early sex and teen pregnancy for offspring of teen parents. It will use the first three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) data to investigate whether protective effects of maternal and paternal parenting on adolescents’ and emerging adults’ sexual health extend to teen-parent families. It will also assess variation in parenting processes within teen-parent families and its associations with sexual behaviors. This work will provide recommendations for how pediatricians and other health care providers can support offspring of teen parents in order to combat the costs of intergenerational early sex and teen pregnancy for this at-risk group.
Risk Behaviors among Offspring of Teen Parents: Effects of parenting on the next generationProject Director: Jennifer Grossman, Ph.D.
Funded by: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
This study addresses the potential of maternal and paternal parenting processes to reduce high risk of early sex and teen pregnancy for offspring of teen parents. It will use the first three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) data to investigate whether protective effects of maternal and paternal parenting on adolescents’ and emerging adults’ sexual health extend to teen-parent families. It will also assess variation in parenting processes within teen-parent families and its associations with sexual behaviors. This work will provide recommendations for how pediatricians and other health care providers can support offspring of teen parents in order to combat the costs of intergenerational early sex and teen pregnancy for this at-risk group.
