My research program explores risk and resilience factors among children and families. I am interested in individual and family adaptation to poverty-related stressors and have studied the impact of stress, coping, involuntary stress responses, and other factors in this context. In addition, I am focused on cultural and family factors in relation to psychopathology and mental health intervention. In particular, I am interested in how family and cultural factors might enhance or ameliorate the relationship between stress and child psychopathology, especially among Latino families. I am currently translating this work into interventions in community settings. In partnership with community parents and providers, I have developed and evaluated a culturally informed family treatment component for low-income Latino children exposed to violence and participating in a school-based intervention for trauma. Our lab will continue both basic and intervention research that explores adaptation to poverty-related stressors among low-income children and families.
