UNC study finds promising results in domestic violence prevention program

A groundbreaking UNC study on domestic violence prevention has found that women who completed an intervention program designed to improve their families’ safety, strengthen their self-esteem, and enhance their parenting skills were less likely to be re-victimized and more likely to leave an abusive spouse or partner.

School of Social Work researcher Rebecca Macy led a team of UNC colleagues in directing the five-year study, which is believed to be the first in the country to focus on survivors of domestic violence who have become entangled in the courts or with child protective services as a result of fighting back against their abuser. Story and video

New study aims to improve mouth care, reduce disease in older adults

In recent years, research has suggested that pneumonia, the leading cause of infectious death in nursing homes, could be prevented if residents received better daily mouth care. Now, a new UNC study could pinpoint just how significant an effect improved brushing and flossing could have on infection prevention in older adults.

Researchers at the UNC School of Social Work, Department of Family Medicine, Schools of Public Health and Dentistry and the UNC Center for Infectious Diseases are collaborating on the five-year, $2.5 million study, which is being funded by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Read story

Two doctoral alumni receive grants for work seeded in UNC coursework

Recently, two 2009 doctoral alumni received substantial grants for projects -- and both contacted Professor Mark Fraser to relay the good news and to tell him how much his Development of Social Intervention Models course helped prepare them for this work. Read story

Jack M. Richman, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor
(919) 962-5650
jrichman@email.unc.edu