Research
Lab Projects
BayCare ACEs/Community Health Data project (Florida Counties)
2026 - Present
We are partnering with the USF James and Jennifer Harrell Center to analyze community health data from surveys conducted by BayCare across eleven counties in Florida. These data include information on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), health conditions, and access to medical and mental health services.
Haiti - adverse childhood experiences Study
2021 - Present
SWIRL and OREZON conducted an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) community survey in Cité Soleil, an urban setting in Haiti (January - June, 2021). A total of 673 residents responded to questions on ACEs from the ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). This study is among the first ACE studies to be conducted in urban Haiti.
Access and utilization of services by immigrant South Asian female survivors of intimate partner violence: Implications for social work practice, policy and research
2021 - Present
SWIRL and the Aldephi School of Social Work collaborated with Hindu Family Support Services (HFSS) to examine how South Asian immigrant women (n=30) subjectively define Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), resist and respond to violence, and seek help from informal and formal sources of help. This study is also documenting women’s perceptions of the help they received and the gaps in service provision. Additionally, in this study they are exploring the perspectives of service providers (n=20) who provide support and services to immigrant women and highlight their perceived challenges to service provision especially to immigrant South Asian women survivors of IPV.
Annual Campaigns TO Address Violence Against Women and Children in Collaboration with our Haiti-based partner
2019 - Present
In November, on the 25th of the month, the day that is designated internationally as the day to increase awareness of and to prevent violence against women, we support OREZON to conduct a community-wide “Banm Prev” prevention campaign to address violence against women and children.
Review our Krik Krak Project work with our Haiti-based Partner
Review our other activities with our Haiti-based Partner
ENDURE, evolve, achieve: Effectiveness of the Swamp Apes program in restoring biopsychosocial functioning of American veterans
2018 - Present
A growing body of evidence highlights the benefits of recreational outdoor therapy for veterans experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder. In response, we began our work with the Swamp Apes Volunteer Wilderness Alliance in 2018 with our first article published in 2019. We employed the Hawkins Model for “Nature as Strengths-based Recreational Therapy Intervention for Military Members” to assess the Swamp Apes/Volunteer Wilderness Alliance (SA/VWA) in South Florida, which has among its key objectives ridding the Everglades National Park of invasive species (e.g., Burmese python). Focus group and interviews with 10 veterans and seven non-veterans (i.e., family, health providers) were conducted to assess benefits, risks, and potential for developing SA/VWA activities into a formal therapy program for veterans rooted in the American Therapeutic Recreation Association’s standards.
Visit the Swamp Apes Volunteer Wilderness Alliance Website
Watch One Veteran go Python Hunting with Swamp Apes (43 seconds)
Krik Krak: Mental Health for Pregnant Haitian Teens
2018 - 2020
The “Krik-Krak” framework is a familiar format that is historically rooted in African oral story-telling tradition. Dr. Rahill has found that the use of metaphors in Haitian proverbs and in our story telling tradition to be a useful paradigm for developing and implementing culturally relevant interventions with Haitian clients. Developing the Krik Krak mental health for pregnant Haitian teens intervention is among the first of many steps in reducing the depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation and gestures and post-traumatic stress disorders that these young women live with.
Krik Krak project was funded by the Healthy Minds for Adolescent Mothers: Achieving Healthy Outcomes for the Family [Round 20] initiative of the Global Grand Challenges.
If you are interested in joining our team or you wish to get in contact with our lab about collaboration or services, please contact Dr. Manisha Joshi.