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Amy Salazar

Amy Salazar
Associate Professor 360-546-9733 McClaskey 225, Vancouver 14204 Salmon Creek Avenue

Curriculum Vitae

Amy Salazar CV

Education/Training

  • Ph.D. Social Work and Social Research, Portland State University, 2011
  • MSW Portland State University, 2010
  • B.S. Psychology, University of Miami, 2004

Professional Experience

Present
Associate Professor, Department of Human Development, Washington State University

2016-2022
Assistant Professor, Department of Human Development, Washington State University

2011-2016
Research Scientist, Social Development Research Group, University of Washington

Areas of Emphasis

  • Child welfare system
  • Aging out of foster care
  • Postsecondary access and retention of youth in foster care
  • Developing, adapting, and testing interventions
  • Program evaluation; Maltreatment, trauma, and PTSD
  • LGBTQ youth well-being
  • International approaches to child welfare services

Recent Grant Funding

  • Multi-Site Randomized Controlled Trial of Better Futures Postsecondary Access Intervention for Youth in Foster Care. U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences. Role: Principal Investigator. (9/1/2022-8/30/2027).
  • Quality Improvement Center on Engaging Youth in Finding Permanency. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. PI: Spaulding for Children. Role: Evaluation team member. (9/30/2021-09/29/2026).
  • Fostering Higher Education Site Expansion Project. Annie E. Casey Foundation. Role: Principal Investigator. (4/1/20 – TBD).
  • National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. PI: Spaulding for Children. Role: Evaluation team member. (10/01/2017-09/30/2022).
  • Fostering Higher Education Pilot Study. Annie E. Casey Foundation. Role: Principal Investigator. (8/1/18-7/31/21).
  • In-Depth Casey Studies of Authentic Youth Engagement in Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative sites. Annie E. Casey Foundation. Role: Principal Investigator. (7/1/18-10/31/19).
  • Foster/Adoptive Parent Preparation, Training and Development Initiative. “Critical Ongoing Resource Family Education (CORE) Teen”. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. PI: Spaulding for Children. Role: Evaluation team member. (10/01/18-9/31/19).
  • Oregon Keeping Families Together II. Oregon Department of Human Services. PI: Richard Catalano. Role: Co-investigator. (5/1/16-8/31/18).
  • A trial of Connecting to prevent drug abuse and risky behaviors in foster teens. National Institute on Drug Abuse (1R01DA038095). PI: Kevin Haggerty. Role: Co-Investigator. 2015-present
  • Developing a substance abuse and college support intervention for foster youth. National Institute on Drug Abuse (1R21DA036652). Role: Principal Investigator. 2014-2016
  • Oregon Keeping Families Together (Communities That Care adaptation for community prevention of child abuse and neglect). Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon/Casey Family Programs/Oregon Department of Human Services. PI: Richard Catalano. Role: Project Director and Investigator. 2013-present
  • Supporting early adulthood transition study: An evaluation of the Jim Casey youth opportunities initiative. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Annie E. Casey Foundation. PIs: Richard Catalano and Kathryn Monahan. Role: Research Scientist. 2011-2015

Publications

Salazar, A. M., Day, A., Thompson, J., Buckland Young, E., Podsobinski, J., Fowler, J., … & Kongira, M. (in press). Assessing Foster/Adoptive Parent Training Curriculum’s Improvement of Resource Parent Knowledge and Skills. Research on Social Work Practice, 10497315231222813.

Collins, C. M., Salazar, A. M., Hoffman-Cooper, A., Johnson, R. M., Schmidt, L., Tiller, L., & Young, S. (in press). Evaluation of two Georgia college campus support programs for students with experience in foster care. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal.

Kelly, P., Heyman, J., Zhai, F., & Salazar, A. M. (2023). Social and emotional supports during college years: Associations with post-college economic and subjective well-being among alumni of foster care. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 40, 607-621.

Salazar, A. M., Spiers, S. S., Bennett, M., & Haggerty, K. P. (2023). Fostering Higher Education: Preliminary findings from a small randomized pilot study. Children and Youth Services Review, 150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106991

Salazar, A. M., Barkan, S. E., Rankin, L. F., Woo, C. B., Rozekova, I., Fowler, N., Haggerty, K. P., Shogren, D., & Salzer, A. (2023). Evaluation of a brief foster parent/ case worker training to support relationship building skills and acceptance of LGBTQ+ youth in care. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 17(1), 213-237. DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2021.2011531

Day, A., Salazar, A. M., Bennett, M., & Vanderwill, L. (2022). CORE Teen: Impact of an adolescent-focused parent training curriculum on foster parent perceptions of preparedness to foster teens. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 39, 619-632.

Salazar, A. M., Spiers, S. S., & Pfister, F. R. (2021). Authentically engaging youth with foster care experience: Definitions and recommended strategies from youth and staff. Journal of Youth Studies, 24(8), 1015-1032. DOI: 10.1080/13676261.2020.1792863.

Salazar, A. M., Lopez, J. M., Gutschmidt, S., Spiers, S., & Monahan, K. (2021). Building Financial Capability in Youth Transitioning from Foster Care to Adulthood. Child & Family Social Work, 26(3), 442-453.

Salazar, A. M. & Schelbe, L. A. (2021). Factors Associated with Post-College Success for Foster Care Alumni College Graduates. Children and Youth Services Review, 126.

Vanderwill, L. A., Salazar, A. M., Jenkins, G. J., De Larwelle, J. A., McMahon, A. K., Day, A., & Haggerty, K. P. (2021). Systematic literature review of foster and adoptive caregiver factors for increasing placement stability and permanency. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 15(4), 487-527.

Salazar, A. M., Day, A., Feltner, A., Lopez, J. M., Garcia-Rosales, K. V., Vanderwill, L. A., Boo, M., Ornelas, L. A., Wright, L. B., & Haggerty, K. P. (2020). Assessing caregiver usability of the National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents. Children and Youth Services Review, 114. doi: 10.1080/15548732.2020.1760176.

 Salazar, A. M., Haggerty, K. P., Barkan, S. E., Peterson, R., Furlong, M., Kim, E., Cole, J. J., & Colito, J. M. (2020). Supporting LGBTQ+ foster teens: Development of a relationship-focused, self-guided curriculum for foster families. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 17(2), 239-251.

Salazar, A. M., Horn, J. P., & Cleveland, M. J. (2019). Factors associated with postsecondary engagement for youth leaving foster care: An analysis using the National Youth in Transition Database. Child Welfare, 97(6), 121-144.

 Salazar, A. M., Haggerty, K. P., Walsh, S., Noell, B., & Kelley-Siel, E. (2019). Adapting the Friends of the Children program for child welfare system-involved families. Child & Family Social Work, 24(4), 430-440.

 Salazar, A. M., Haggerty, K. P., Briney, J., Vann, T., Vinson, J., Lansing, M., Catalano, R. F., Pecora, P. J., & de Haan, B. (2019). Assessing an adapted approach to Communities That Care for community child maltreatment prevention. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 10(3), 349-369.

Salazar, A. M., McCowan, K., Cole, J., Skinner, M., Noell, B. +, Colito, J. M., Barkan, S. E., & Haggerty, K. P. (2018). Developing relationship building tools for foster families caring for teens who are LGBTQ2S. Child Welfare, 96(2), 75-97. Special issue on children and youth with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities/expression involved in child welfare and other public systems. (PMC5978427)

Salazar, A. M., Noell, B. +, Cole, J., Haggerty, K. P., & Roe, S. S. (2018). Incorporating self-determination into substance abuse prevention programming for youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood. Child & Family Social Work, 23(2), 281-288. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12416.

Salazar, A. M., Jones, K. R., Amemiya, J., Cherry, A.+, Brown, E. C., Catalano, R. F., & Monahan, K. C. (2018). Defining and achieving permanency among older youth in foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 87, 9-16. (PMC5978934) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740917308204

Sowers, J.A., Powers, L., Schmidt, J., Keller, T.E., Turner, A., Salazar, A., & Swank, P.R. (2016). A randomized trial of a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Mentoring Program. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 1-9.

Salazar, A.M., Haggerty, K.P., & Roe, S.S. (2016). Fostering higher education: A postsecondary access and retention intervention for youth with foster care experience. Children and Youth Services Review, 70, 49-56.

Salazar, A.M., Roe, S.S. Ullrich, J.S., & Haggerty, K.P. (2016). Professional and youth perspectives on higher education-focused interventions for youth transitioning from foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 64, 23-34. PMCID: PMC4821474

Salazar, A.M., Jones, K.R., Emerson, J.C., & Mucha, L. (2016). Postsecondary strengths, challenges, and supports experienced by foster care alumni college graduates. Journal of College Student Development, 57(3), 263-279.

Salazar, A.M., Brown, E.C., Monahan, K.C., & Catalano, R.F. (2016). Psychometric properties of the Transitions from Foster Care Key Leader Survey. Evaluation and Program Planning, 55, 91-102.

Salazar, A.M., Haggerty, K.P., Catalano, R.F., de Haan, B., Vann, T., Vinson, J., & Lansing, M. (2016). Using Communities That Care for community child maltreatment prevention. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 86(2), 144-155.

Phillips, L.A., Powers, L.E., Geenen, S., Schmidt, J., Winges-Yanez, N., McNeely, I.C., Merritt, L., Williamson, C., Turner, S., Zweben, H., Bodner, C., &, The Research Consortium to Increase the Success of Youth in Foster Care (2015). Better Futures: A validated model for increasing postsecondary preparation and participation of youth in foster care with mental health challenges. Children and Youth Services Review, 57, 50-59.

Geenen, S., Powers, L.E., Phillips, L.A., Nelson, M., McKenna, J., Winges-Yanez, N., Blanchette, L., Croskey, A., Dalton, L.D., Salazar, A.M., & Swank, P. (2015). Better Futures: A randomized field test of a model for supporting young people in foster care with mental health challenges to participate in higher education. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 42(2), 150-171.

Barkan, S.E., Salazar, A.M., Estep, K., Mattos, L.M., Eichenlaub, C., & Haggerty, K.P. (2014). Adapting an evidence based parenting program for child welfare involved teens and their caregivers. Children and Youth Services Review, 41, 53-61.

Salazar, A.M. (2013). The value of a college degree for foster care alumni: Comparisons with general population samples. Social Work, 58(2), 139-150.

Salazar, A.M., Keller, T.E., Gowen, K., & Courtney, M.E. (2013). Trauma exposure and PTSD among older adolescents in foster care. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 48(4), 545-551.

Salazar, A.M. (2012). Supporting college success in foster care alumni: Salient factors related to postsecondary retention. Child Welfare, 91(5), 139-167.

Hooven, C., Walsh, E., Willgerodt, M., & Salazar, A. (2011). Increasing participation in prevention research: Strategies for youths, parents, and schools. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 24, 137-149.

Salazar, A.M., Keller, T.E., & Courtney, M.E. (2011). Understanding social support’s role in the relationship between maltreatment and depression in youth with foster care experience. Child Maltreatment, 16(2), 102-113.

Keller, T.E., Salazar, A., & Courtney, M.E. (2010). Prevalence and timing of diagnosable mental health, alcohol, and substance use problems among older adolescents in the child welfare system. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(4), 626-634.