Melissa D Grady
Biographic Data
| ID | 1743494 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Melissa D Grady |
| GIVEN NAMES | Melissa D |
| FAMILY NAME | Grady |
| SIGNATURE | GRADY M D |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-8064-6084 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 18 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 20 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1991 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents with Problem Sexual Behaviors: Feasibility and Acceptability for Alleviating Traumatic Stress, Regulation Problems, and Sexual Behavior Prob…
Experiences of social work students at faith-based institutions
Behavioral Health Interventions for Incarcerated Adults With Histories of Trauma: A Scoping Review
Purpose: The majority of incarcerated individuals have experienced traumatic events in their lifetime, contributing to related behavioral health issues, including post-traumatic stress, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. The purpose of this article is to understand the existing state of the literature through a scoping review on correctional-based programs that address both trauma and behavioral health. Methods: Proquest and EBSCO databa…
Seeking an Integrated Approach to Trauma and Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Adolescents: Learning from Practitioners
Guidelines for Spiritually Informed Care for Individuals who have Experienced Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse (CSA) impacts individuals and communities in numerous ways, including their faith. This study’s aim was to learn from individuals who have an interest and/or expertise in spirituality and CSA about how various groups can support those impacted by CSA. The participants (n = 76) took part in a symposium focused on this topic and responded to an online survey with open-ended questions. Three themes emerged: negative impacts, direc…
Mind the gap: Strategies for child protection in communities and organizations
This study reports on the findings of a symposium co-sponsored by blinded information focused on how to address child sexual abuse in communities and organizations. The focus of this study was on the participants’ perspectives regarding how individuals, organizations, and communities can prevent child sexual abuse. All those who attended were invited to participate in the study by responding to an online survey that included open-ended questions …
Positive Caregiving Styles Attenuating Effects of Cumulative Trauma Among Youth Who Commit Sexual Crimes
Among youth who commit sexual crimes, childhood trauma experiences have been linked to a host of outcomes including trauma symptom expression. Furthermore, research has begun assessing differential rates of cumulative adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) between youth who commit sexual and non-sexual crimes. Yet, few studies have comparatively examined rates of cumulative traumatic events using more robust measures of adversity. There is scant re…
I can’t talk about that”: Stigma and fear as barriers to preventive services for minor-attracted persons
Minor-attracted persons (MAPs; N = 293; 154 completed all questions) responded to 10 open-ended questions that were designed to capture in their own words their experiences of seeking treatment. We conducted a qualitative analysis of their responses using grounded theory, which is designed to allow
Linking Adverse Childhood Effects and Attachment: A Theory of Etiology for Sexual Offending
Sexual violence continues to be a significant public health problem affecting significant portions of the population. Unfortunately, an agreed upon theory of etiology remains elusive leading to challenges in developing effective prevention and treatment interventions. Recently, there is a growing body of literature examining the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the development of sexually violent behavior. This research has begun t…
Childhood Adversity, Substance Abuse, and Violence: Implications for Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice
The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adult substance abuse and violence in a sample of offenders (n = 180). Higher ACE scores were significantly correlated with substance abuse scores and violence scores. Substance abuse and violence were also significantly correlated with each other. The violent offenders had significantly higher ACE and substance abuse scores than the nonviolent offen…
Grand Challenges: Social Justice and the Need for Evidence-Based Sex Offender Registry Reform
Sex offender registries, though popular, bring with them enormous fiscal costs and unintended consequences for offenders and communities. Consistent with the Grand Challenges, social workers can play a role in advocating for sex offender management policies that are better informed by evidence and thus a better use of resources. Registry reform would also moderate the stigma resulting from the sex offender label, and reduce barriers to offender r…
Agency-University Partnerships for Evidence-Based Practice: A National Survey of Schools of Social Work
Efforts to disseminate and implement evidence-based practice (EBP) and empirically supported interventions (ESI) have been rapidly increasing in social work education, research, and practice. Nevertheless, the gap between research and practice remains substantial, reducing the opportunity for social work clients to benefit from the best available practices. Partnerships between schools of social work and community agencies to promote EBP, ESI, or…
Strengthening the Professional Selves of Social Workers Through the Lens of Self Psychology
New social workers have been shown to experience higher rates of burnout, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and vocational turnover. It is critical to find ways to support the growth and development of competent and resilient social workers. Yet, due to current contextual issues in the workplace, social workers are often not in environments that are conducive to fostering the growth of strong professional selves. A self psychology lens is use…
Making Room for Dynamics in Evidence-Based Practice: The Role of Psychodynamic Theory in Client-Centered Approaches
The move toward evidence-based practice has fortified, and continues to strengthen, the social work profession through accountability, greater support for social interventions, and linking research and practice. This article considers potential limitations in exclusively promoting evidence-based practice in social work programs and advocates for an integrative approach when teaching clinical practice to master of social work students. Such an app…
Do Children with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions have Greater Difficulty Using Health Services than Children with Physical Disorders
The Missing Link: The Role of Social Work Schools and Evidence-Based Practice
The translation and adoption of evidence-based practice principles has proved to be more difficult than researchers anticipated. Schools of social work are in a unique position to support this process within their home communities. Using the evidence-based practice process steps outlined by previous researchers, this article identifies specific strategies that schools of social work can adopt to support their broader communities as they attempt t…
Are Curriculum Decisions Based on the Evidence? How Social Work Faculty Members Make Choices in Curriculum Decisions
An important step in translating evidence-based practice and empirically supported interventions into large-scale service improvements is to develop an understanding of practitioners' education and training in these practices. This understanding begins with discovering the factors that influence the decision-making process by social work faculty regarding curriculum content for master's level social work programs. This exploratory study uses quan…
Suppression of racial disparities for children with special health care needs among families receiving Medicaid
Gatekeeping: Perspectives from Both Sides of the Fence
As gatekeepers for the social work profession, social work educators play a critical role in upholding professional standards and improving the profession's rigor; however, many faculty members struggle with this role for a variety of reasons. This article presents the narratives of a faculty member from a graduate school of social work and a student who failed the faculty member's class—which triggered automatic expulsion. Both authors reflect o…
Knowledge about HIV and behavioral risks of foreign-born Boston public school students
In 1990, 3049 Boston public middle and high school students were surveyed anonymously in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, French, or Haitian Creole. Significantly fewer immigrant students, 35% of those surveyed, knew the principal modes of human immunodeficiency virus transmission. Fewer immigrants reported having sexual intercourse (31% vs 53% of nonimmigrants), but among the sexually active only 38% always used condoms, and more immigrant…
The Missing Link: The Role of Social Work Schools and Evidence-Based Practice
The translation and adoption of evidence-based practice principles has proved to be more difficult than researchers anticipated. Schools of social work are in a unique position to support this process within their home communities. Using the evidence-based practice process steps outlined by previous researchers, this article identifies specific strategies that schools of social work can adopt to support their broader communities as they attempt t…
Knowledge about HIV and behavioral risks of foreign-born Boston public school students
In 1990, 3049 Boston public middle and high school students were surveyed anonymously in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, French, or Haitian Creole. Significantly fewer immigrant students, 35% of those surveyed, knew the principal modes of human immunodeficiency virus transmission. Fewer immigrants reported having sexual intercourse (31% vs 53% of nonimmigrants), but among the sexually active only 38% always used condoms, and more immigrant…
Agency-University Partnerships for Evidence-Based Practice: A National Survey of Schools of Social Work
Efforts to disseminate and implement evidence-based practice (EBP) and empirically supported interventions (ESI) have been rapidly increasing in social work education, research, and practice. Nevertheless, the gap between research and practice remains substantial, reducing the opportunity for social work clients to benefit from the best available practices. Partnerships between schools of social work and community agencies to promote EBP, ESI, or…
Making Room for Dynamics in Evidence-Based Practice: The Role of Psychodynamic Theory in Client-Centered Approaches
The move toward evidence-based practice has fortified, and continues to strengthen, the social work profession through accountability, greater support for social interventions, and linking research and practice. This article considers potential limitations in exclusively promoting evidence-based practice in social work programs and advocates for an integrative approach when teaching clinical practice to master of social work students. Such an app…
Suppression of racial disparities for children with special health care needs among families receiving Medicaid
Gatekeeping: Perspectives from Both Sides of the Fence
As gatekeepers for the social work profession, social work educators play a critical role in upholding professional standards and improving the profession's rigor; however, many faculty members struggle with this role for a variety of reasons. This article presents the narratives of a faculty member from a graduate school of social work and a student who failed the faculty member's class—which triggered automatic expulsion. Both authors reflect o…
Strengthening the Professional Selves of Social Workers Through the Lens of Self Psychology
New social workers have been shown to experience higher rates of burnout, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and vocational turnover. It is critical to find ways to support the growth and development of competent and resilient social workers. Yet, due to current contextual issues in the workplace, social workers are often not in environments that are conducive to fostering the growth of strong professional selves. A self psychology lens is use…
Are Curriculum Decisions Based on the Evidence? How Social Work Faculty Members Make Choices in Curriculum Decisions
An important step in translating evidence-based practice and empirically supported interventions into large-scale service improvements is to develop an understanding of practitioners' education and training in these practices. This understanding begins with discovering the factors that influence the decision-making process by social work faculty regarding curriculum content for master's level social work programs. This exploratory study uses quan…
Knowledge about HIV and behavioral risks of foreign-born Boston public school students
In 1990, 3049 Boston public middle and high school students were surveyed anonymously in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, French, or Haitian Creole. Significantly fewer immigrant students, 35% of those surveyed, knew the principal modes of human immunodeficiency virus transmission. Fewer immigrants reported having sexual intercourse (31% vs 53% of nonimmigrants), but among the sexually active only 38% always used condoms, and more immigrant…
Gatekeeping: Perspectives from Both Sides of the Fence
As gatekeepers for the social work profession, social work educators play a critical role in upholding professional standards and improving the profession's rigor; however, many faculty members struggle with this role for a variety of reasons. This article presents the narratives of a faculty member from a graduate school of social work and a student who failed the faculty member's class—which triggered automatic expulsion. Both authors reflect o…
Do Children with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions have Greater Difficulty Using Health Services than Children with Physical Disorders
The Missing Link: The Role of Social Work Schools and Evidence-Based Practice
The translation and adoption of evidence-based practice principles has proved to be more difficult than researchers anticipated. Schools of social work are in a unique position to support this process within their home communities. Using the evidence-based practice process steps outlined by previous researchers, this article identifies specific strategies that schools of social work can adopt to support their broader communities as they attempt t…
Are Curriculum Decisions Based on the Evidence? How Social Work Faculty Members Make Choices in Curriculum Decisions
An important step in translating evidence-based practice and empirically supported interventions into large-scale service improvements is to develop an understanding of practitioners' education and training in these practices. This understanding begins with discovering the factors that influence the decision-making process by social work faculty regarding curriculum content for master's level social work programs. This exploratory study uses quan…
Suppression of racial disparities for children with special health care needs among families receiving Medicaid
Making Room for Dynamics in Evidence-Based Practice: The Role of Psychodynamic Theory in Client-Centered Approaches
The move toward evidence-based practice has fortified, and continues to strengthen, the social work profession through accountability, greater support for social interventions, and linking research and practice. This article considers potential limitations in exclusively promoting evidence-based practice in social work programs and advocates for an integrative approach when teaching clinical practice to master of social work students. Such an app…
Strengthening the Professional Selves of Social Workers Through the Lens of Self Psychology
New social workers have been shown to experience higher rates of burnout, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and vocational turnover. It is critical to find ways to support the growth and development of competent and resilient social workers. Yet, due to current contextual issues in the workplace, social workers are often not in environments that are conducive to fostering the growth of strong professional selves. A self psychology lens is use…
Agency-University Partnerships for Evidence-Based Practice: A National Survey of Schools of Social Work
Efforts to disseminate and implement evidence-based practice (EBP) and empirically supported interventions (ESI) have been rapidly increasing in social work education, research, and practice. Nevertheless, the gap between research and practice remains substantial, reducing the opportunity for social work clients to benefit from the best available practices. Partnerships between schools of social work and community agencies to promote EBP, ESI, or…
Childhood Adversity, Substance Abuse, and Violence: Implications for Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice
The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adult substance abuse and violence in a sample of offenders (n = 180). Higher ACE scores were significantly correlated with substance abuse scores and violence scores. Substance abuse and violence were also significantly correlated with each other. The violent offenders had significantly higher ACE and substance abuse scores than the nonviolent offen…
Grand Challenges: Social Justice and the Need for Evidence-Based Sex Offender Registry Reform
Sex offender registries, though popular, bring with them enormous fiscal costs and unintended consequences for offenders and communities. Consistent with the Grand Challenges, social workers can play a role in advocating for sex offender management policies that are better informed by evidence and thus a better use of resources. Registry reform would also moderate the stigma resulting from the sex offender label, and reduce barriers to offender r…
Linking Adverse Childhood Effects and Attachment: A Theory of Etiology for Sexual Offending
Sexual violence continues to be a significant public health problem affecting significant portions of the population. Unfortunately, an agreed upon theory of etiology remains elusive leading to challenges in developing effective prevention and treatment interventions. Recently, there is a growing body of literature examining the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the development of sexually violent behavior. This research has begun t…
I can’t talk about that”: Stigma and fear as barriers to preventive services for minor-attracted persons
Minor-attracted persons (MAPs; N = 293; 154 completed all questions) responded to 10 open-ended questions that were designed to capture in their own words their experiences of seeking treatment. We conducted a qualitative analysis of their responses using grounded theory, which is designed to allow
Positive Caregiving Styles Attenuating Effects of Cumulative Trauma Among Youth Who Commit Sexual Crimes
Among youth who commit sexual crimes, childhood trauma experiences have been linked to a host of outcomes including trauma symptom expression. Furthermore, research has begun assessing differential rates of cumulative adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) between youth who commit sexual and non-sexual crimes. Yet, few studies have comparatively examined rates of cumulative traumatic events using more robust measures of adversity. There is scant re…
Seeking an Integrated Approach to Trauma and Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Adolescents: Learning from Practitioners
Guidelines for Spiritually Informed Care for Individuals who have Experienced Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse (CSA) impacts individuals and communities in numerous ways, including their faith. This study’s aim was to learn from individuals who have an interest and/or expertise in spirituality and CSA about how various groups can support those impacted by CSA. The participants (n = 76) took part in a symposium focused on this topic and responded to an online survey with open-ended questions. Three themes emerged: negative impacts, direc…
Mind the gap: Strategies for child protection in communities and organizations
This study reports on the findings of a symposium co-sponsored by blinded information focused on how to address child sexual abuse in communities and organizations. The focus of this study was on the participants’ perspectives regarding how individuals, organizations, and communities can prevent child sexual abuse. All those who attended were invited to participate in the study by responding to an online survey that included open-ended questions …
Behavioral Health Interventions for Incarcerated Adults With Histories of Trauma: A Scoping Review
Purpose: The majority of incarcerated individuals have experienced traumatic events in their lifetime, contributing to related behavioral health issues, including post-traumatic stress, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. The purpose of this article is to understand the existing state of the literature through a scoping review on correctional-based programs that address both trauma and behavioral health. Methods: Proquest and EBSCO databa…
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents with Problem Sexual Behaviors: Feasibility and Acceptability for Alleviating Traumatic Stress, Regulation Problems, and Sexual Behavior Prob…
Experiences of social work students at faith-based institutions
Medicine (15 works) · Psychology (15 works) · Political science (10 works) · Psychiatry (9 works) · Child Abuse and Trauma (8 works) · Clinical Psychology (8 works) · Social Work (8 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Psychological intervention (7 works) · Public relations (6 works)