Name: Ruth McRoy (MSW from University of Kansas and PhD from University of Texas at Austin)
Research: McRoy has conducted extensive research on child welfare, with specific focus on adoption. This area of research is especially interesting to me because I work in foster care as an Adoption Recruiter. McRoy's research touches on the complexities of adoption such as interracial adoption, adolescent development and adoption, and continued relationships with birth families post-adoption. These are all topics that I encounter in my work everyday, and I am excited to see that McRoy has devoted her career to exploring these issues. Throughout her many publications and research studies, McRoy employs mixed methods for research - she utilizes both quantitative methods such as questionnaires and scales and also conducts qualitative interviews.
Impact: McRoy's research has a huge impact on the field of child welfare. Her research has widespread implications regarding race, child development, and family relationships in adoption. Her findings should influence how adoptions are thought about in the field and should offer guidance for social workers to assist families throughout this process. Her research also impacts policy makers in decisions regarding policies about adoptions such as international adoption, and open and closed adoptions. For instance, in one of McRoy’s studies (below), she found that adopted infants who had contact with their birth families had better identity formation later in life during adolescence. Policy makers and social workers alike would be wise to take this into consideration when making decisions regarding open versus closed adoptions.
Publications:
Adopted Adolescents' Preoccupation with Adoption: The Impact on Adoptive Family Relationships
Contact Between Adoptive and Birth Families
Atasha G.
Colette Phipps, LMSW, PhD
Name of Social Work Researcher - Work
Colette Phipps, LMSW, PhD has been an active force in the geriatric social work field for over 25 years. She presently serves as a Research Analyst for the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services and also as my Field Instructor/coworker. In her current position she analyses, interprets and evaluates data and information for program and service delivery as well as policies and legislation related to such programs, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods for her studies. She is the Executive Director of the Westchester County Livable Communities: A vision for All Ages Initiative, a multi-year project aimed at increasing livability in the county and a Co-coordinator of the New York Southern Region Aging Network, a consortium of agencies based in the southern most region of the state focused on advocacy, capacity/skill building and workforce development.
She is executive director of the Westchester Alliance of Academic Institutions for Aging Related Studies and Workforce Development. She is also co-coordinator of the Westchester County Millennium Aging Project, a countywide needs assessment program and Deputy Executive Director of the Westchester County Pre-White House Conference on Aging Mini Series, an award winning project designed to prepare for the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. She was selected to serve as a volunteer for the 2005 White House Conference. Ms. Phipps is also a professor at Fordham University and NYU teaching Human Rights and Social Justice.
Discuss the type of research that this researcher does and why it interests you.
I am especially interested in her work, because of the impact it has on my career as a Social Worker. Her specializations include working with, advocacy and program development for older adults, caregivers, and telehealth often with an intergenerational focus. Due to the pandemic, I am currently offering support through the telehealth TIPS program (the Telehealth Intervention Programs for Seniors). Ms. Phipps work within my community to Reducing Healthcare Disparities in Communities of Color with Peer-to-peer Leadership, as well as the Next Stage Network. This is one of her initiatives for Westchester county and I am lucky enough to coordinate the social and engagement monthly schedule. Ms. Phipps connects people to dynamic experiences and inspiring participants to stay involved while enjoying the next stage of life. This is especially impactful to seniors, caregivers and communities in need of supportive services. Her research led to programs that give seniors access to resources they need, supportive services and a better quality of life.
Publications
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/tmj.2018.0248
https://www.asaging.org/blog/care-circles-are-step-forward-giving-back
MT1022
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