Rachel A Fusco
Biographic Data
| ID | 4226835 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Rachel A Fusco |
| GIVEN NAMES | Rachel A |
| FAMILY NAME | Fusco |
| SIGNATURE | FUSCO R A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Georgia |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9122-5093 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 78 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 27 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Improving Safe Housing Access for Domestic Violence Survivors Through Systems Change
Domestic violence (DV) survivors often encounter serious barriers navigating between housing and homelessness (H/H), coordinated entry (CE), and DV service systems to access safe housing. This study examined an innovative program that deployed DV coordinators as systems change agents liaising between H/H services, DV programs, and CES to increase survivors’ safe housing access. Five listening sessions were conducted using a semi-structured interv…
“The Propellers of My Life” The Impact of Domestic Violence Transitional Housing on Parents and Children
Introduction to the special issue
Co-occurring Substance use and Intimate Partner Violence in Pregnant and Postpartum Women
War on Families
Multiple Types of Childhood Maltreatment, Sleep, and Anxiety in Former Foster Youth
Perceived stress and sleep quality among master’s students in social work
Poor sleep quality is prevalent in professional graduate school students due to academic- and work-related stress. In addition, it has been found that high levels of perceived stress, including lifetime traumatic stress, are significantly associated with poor sleep quality. This study surveyed 196 MSW students from a university in the United States. The study revealed that the majority of MSW students had poor sleep quality, which was significant…
Grandparenting, Social Relations, and Mortality in Old Age
Guided by a convoy model of social relations, this study investigates the relationships between grandparenting status, social relations, and mortality among community-dwelling grandparents age 65 and older who are caring for their grandchildren. The data were drawn from the 2008 and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study ( N = 564). Latent class analysis was used to identify the social network structure based on six indicators of interpers…
Frequent Marijuana or Alcohol Use in Low-Income Emerging Adults
Background The transition to adulthood may be especially difficult for those who use drugs and alcohol regularly. While research clearly links adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with later substance use, many studies have explored only a limited range of ACEs, and have focused on the number instead of specific types of ACE. Objectives: The current study examined the role of ACEs on the likelihood of frequent marijuana and alcohol use among a co…
Trauma, Sleep and Mental Health Problems in Low-Income Young Adults
Low-income young adults are more likely to have exposure to trauma, which increases risk for mental health problems. Although adequate sleep promotes good health, people with histories of trauma are more likely to have sleep problems. The current study explored whether poor sleep mediated the relationship between trauma exposure and mental health. A sample of 143 low-income 18-24-year-old young adults completed depression, anxiety, and trauma exp…
The impact of foster care experiences on marijuana use in young adults
Transitioning to adulthood may be more challenging, and lead to greater negative outcomes, when a youth uses drugs. This study examined the unique effects of foster care experiences on marijuana use in young adults aged 18–25 (N = 185), controlling for mental health, trauma history, and child maltreatment type. Compared to a low-income control sample, foster care alumni were more likely to report trauma exposure, anxiety, and daily marijuana use.…
Cognitive and Emotional Outcomes of Latino Threat Narratives in News Media
Objective: Although negative news portrayals can influence attitudes and beliefs about immigrants, little is known about how different types of threat narratives influence Americans’ emotions and perceptions of Latino immigrants specifically. This study examines cognitive and emotional responses to Latino threat narratives in the news media. Method: We conducted an online experiment using a posttest-only randomized design to assess participants’ …
Not Just One, It’s Both of Us”
Perceptions of Strengths-Based Child Welfare Practices Among Mothers With Drug Use Histories
Families in the child welfare system show especially poor outcomes when a parent has a drug use history. These parents may be difficult to engage, which may contribute to their failure to follow through with service planning and receipt. The child welfare system has historically emphasized risk and pathology and does not always use a strengths-based approach, although this has and can greatly increase client engagement. The current study involves…
Bedtime is when bad stuff happens”
Motherhood in Liminal Spaces
Most of the extant social work research on biracial children and families has focused on the experiences of transracially adopted black or biracial children and their white parents or Afro-Caribbean/white children and their white mothers in the United Kingdom. This study adds to the body of knowledge by using focus group interviews analyzed through a feminist lens to understand the experiences of a diverse group of white women parenting their bio…
Maternal victimization and child trauma
Developmental and Social-Emotional Screening in Child Welfare
Studies of child maltreatment in rural areas are equivocal, with some showing higher rates and others showing no differences compared with other communities. The current study presents findings on developmental and social-emotional screenings among young child welfare-involved rural children (N = 1,321). Almost half of these children showed problems requiring further assessment. Children who spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and chil…
Effects of Structural Family Therapy on Child and Maternal Mental Health Symptomatology
Objective: This pilot study examined the effect of structural family therapy (SFT) on children’s impairment and depressive symptomatology and mothers’ depressive symptomatology and anxiety for 31 families served by a community mental health clinic. Method: A one group predesign/postdesign, with a baseline and two follow-up time points, was used. Results: A series of repeated measures analyses of variance showed significant improvement for mothers…
It's hard enough to deal with all the abuse issues”
Directions for developmental screening in child welfare based on the ages and stages questionnaires
A racial comparison of Family Group Decision Making in the USA 1
This study examined Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) among a nationally representative sample of African‐American and White children investigated for maltreatment in the US. While FGDM was developed for work with ethnic minority families, there is no research on how this is being carried out in the US, where African‐American children are overrepresented in child welfare services. The study views racial differences in child, caregiver and maltr…
Aren't they just black kids? Biracial children in the child welfare system
In the USA, African‐American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. However, little is known about the child welfare system experiences of biracial children, who are predominately both White and African‐American. To better understand this population, data from public child welfare in a US county were used to examine biracial children in the child welfare system. Results showed significant racial differences between children in …
Domestic violence crimes and children
Domestic Violence and Children’s Presence
Children’s Direct Exposure to Types of Domestic Violence Crime
A racial comparison of Family Group Decision Making in the USA 1
This study examined Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) among a nationally representative sample of African‐American and White children investigated for maltreatment in the US. While FGDM was developed for work with ethnic minority families, there is no research on how this is being carried out in the US, where African‐American children are overrepresented in child welfare services. The study views racial differences in child, caregiver and maltr…
Motherhood in Liminal Spaces
Most of the extant social work research on biracial children and families has focused on the experiences of transracially adopted black or biracial children and their white parents or Afro-Caribbean/white children and their white mothers in the United Kingdom. This study adds to the body of knowledge by using focus group interviews analyzed through a feminist lens to understand the experiences of a diverse group of white women parenting their bio…
It's hard enough to deal with all the abuse issues”
An investigation of preschool classroom behavioral adjustment problems and social–emotional school readiness competencies
Domestic violence crimes and children
Directions for developmental screening in child welfare based on the ages and stages questionnaires
Cognitive and Emotional Outcomes of Latino Threat Narratives in News Media
Objective: Although negative news portrayals can influence attitudes and beliefs about immigrants, little is known about how different types of threat narratives influence Americans’ emotions and perceptions of Latino immigrants specifically. This study examines cognitive and emotional responses to Latino threat narratives in the news media. Method: We conducted an online experiment using a posttest-only randomized design to assess participants’ …
Bedtime is when bad stuff happens”
Aren't they just black kids? Biracial children in the child welfare system
In the USA, African‐American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. However, little is known about the child welfare system experiences of biracial children, who are predominately both White and African‐American. To better understand this population, data from public child welfare in a US county were used to examine biracial children in the child welfare system. Results showed significant racial differences between children in …
Not Just One, It’s Both of Us”
Maternal victimization and child trauma
Domestic Violence and Children’s Presence
Perceptions of Strengths-Based Child Welfare Practices Among Mothers With Drug Use Histories
Families in the child welfare system show especially poor outcomes when a parent has a drug use history. These parents may be difficult to engage, which may contribute to their failure to follow through with service planning and receipt. The child welfare system has historically emphasized risk and pathology and does not always use a strengths-based approach, although this has and can greatly increase client engagement. The current study involves…
Developmental and Social-Emotional Screening in Child Welfare
Studies of child maltreatment in rural areas are equivocal, with some showing higher rates and others showing no differences compared with other communities. The current study presents findings on developmental and social-emotional screenings among young child welfare-involved rural children (N = 1,321). Almost half of these children showed problems requiring further assessment. Children who spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and chil…
An investigation of preschool classroom behavioral adjustment problems and social–emotional school readiness competencies
Domestic Violence and Children’s Presence
Children’s Direct Exposure to Types of Domestic Violence Crime
Domestic violence crimes and children
A racial comparison of Family Group Decision Making in the USA 1
This study examined Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) among a nationally representative sample of African‐American and White children investigated for maltreatment in the US. While FGDM was developed for work with ethnic minority families, there is no research on how this is being carried out in the US, where African‐American children are overrepresented in child welfare services. The study views racial differences in child, caregiver and maltr…
Aren't they just black kids? Biracial children in the child welfare system
In the USA, African‐American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. However, little is known about the child welfare system experiences of biracial children, who are predominately both White and African‐American. To better understand this population, data from public child welfare in a US county were used to examine biracial children in the child welfare system. Results showed significant racial differences between children in …
Directions for developmental screening in child welfare based on the ages and stages questionnaires
Developmental and Social-Emotional Screening in Child Welfare
Studies of child maltreatment in rural areas are equivocal, with some showing higher rates and others showing no differences compared with other communities. The current study presents findings on developmental and social-emotional screenings among young child welfare-involved rural children (N = 1,321). Almost half of these children showed problems requiring further assessment. Children who spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and chil…
Effects of Structural Family Therapy on Child and Maternal Mental Health Symptomatology
Objective: This pilot study examined the effect of structural family therapy (SFT) on children’s impairment and depressive symptomatology and mothers’ depressive symptomatology and anxiety for 31 families served by a community mental health clinic. Method: A one group predesign/postdesign, with a baseline and two follow-up time points, was used. Results: A series of repeated measures analyses of variance showed significant improvement for mothers…
It's hard enough to deal with all the abuse issues”
Motherhood in Liminal Spaces
Most of the extant social work research on biracial children and families has focused on the experiences of transracially adopted black or biracial children and their white parents or Afro-Caribbean/white children and their white mothers in the United Kingdom. This study adds to the body of knowledge by using focus group interviews analyzed through a feminist lens to understand the experiences of a diverse group of white women parenting their bio…
Maternal victimization and child trauma
Bedtime is when bad stuff happens”
Cognitive and Emotional Outcomes of Latino Threat Narratives in News Media
Objective: Although negative news portrayals can influence attitudes and beliefs about immigrants, little is known about how different types of threat narratives influence Americans’ emotions and perceptions of Latino immigrants specifically. This study examines cognitive and emotional responses to Latino threat narratives in the news media. Method: We conducted an online experiment using a posttest-only randomized design to assess participants’ …
Not Just One, It’s Both of Us”
Perceptions of Strengths-Based Child Welfare Practices Among Mothers With Drug Use Histories
Families in the child welfare system show especially poor outcomes when a parent has a drug use history. These parents may be difficult to engage, which may contribute to their failure to follow through with service planning and receipt. The child welfare system has historically emphasized risk and pathology and does not always use a strengths-based approach, although this has and can greatly increase client engagement. The current study involves…
Frequent Marijuana or Alcohol Use in Low-Income Emerging Adults
Background The transition to adulthood may be especially difficult for those who use drugs and alcohol regularly. While research clearly links adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with later substance use, many studies have explored only a limited range of ACEs, and have focused on the number instead of specific types of ACE. Objectives: The current study examined the role of ACEs on the likelihood of frequent marijuana and alcohol use among a co…
Trauma, Sleep and Mental Health Problems in Low-Income Young Adults
Low-income young adults are more likely to have exposure to trauma, which increases risk for mental health problems. Although adequate sleep promotes good health, people with histories of trauma are more likely to have sleep problems. The current study explored whether poor sleep mediated the relationship between trauma exposure and mental health. A sample of 143 low-income 18-24-year-old young adults completed depression, anxiety, and trauma exp…
The impact of foster care experiences on marijuana use in young adults
Transitioning to adulthood may be more challenging, and lead to greater negative outcomes, when a youth uses drugs. This study examined the unique effects of foster care experiences on marijuana use in young adults aged 18–25 (N = 185), controlling for mental health, trauma history, and child maltreatment type. Compared to a low-income control sample, foster care alumni were more likely to report trauma exposure, anxiety, and daily marijuana use.…
Multiple Types of Childhood Maltreatment, Sleep, and Anxiety in Former Foster Youth
Perceived stress and sleep quality among master’s students in social work
Poor sleep quality is prevalent in professional graduate school students due to academic- and work-related stress. In addition, it has been found that high levels of perceived stress, including lifetime traumatic stress, are significantly associated with poor sleep quality. This study surveyed 196 MSW students from a university in the United States. The study revealed that the majority of MSW students had poor sleep quality, which was significant…
Grandparenting, Social Relations, and Mortality in Old Age
Guided by a convoy model of social relations, this study investigates the relationships between grandparenting status, social relations, and mortality among community-dwelling grandparents age 65 and older who are caring for their grandchildren. The data were drawn from the 2008 and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study ( N = 564). Latent class analysis was used to identify the social network structure based on six indicators of interpers…
Improving Safe Housing Access for Domestic Violence Survivors Through Systems Change
Domestic violence (DV) survivors often encounter serious barriers navigating between housing and homelessness (H/H), coordinated entry (CE), and DV service systems to access safe housing. This study examined an innovative program that deployed DV coordinators as systems change agents liaising between H/H services, DV programs, and CES to increase survivors’ safe housing access. Five listening sessions were conducted using a semi-structured interv…
“The Propellers of My Life” The Impact of Domestic Violence Transitional Housing on Parents and Children
Introduction to the special issue
Psychology (26 works) · Medicine (21 works) · Psychiatry (17 works) · Child Abuse and Trauma (14 works) · Clinical Psychology (13 works) · Developmental psychology (11 works) · Mental health (11 works) · Homelessness and Social Issues (10 works) · Poison control (10 works) · Clinical Psychology (9 works)