MSW/PhD Child & Family Study Awards
In August and January each year, when funding is available, the Child & Family Center for Innovative Research (CFCIR) accepts Student Research Awards applications. These awards support PhD students’ dissertation research (at any stage) and MSW research (in independent studies or study abroad). We do not set application deadlines. Before submitting an application, please email Dr. Monit Cheung (mcheung@uh.edu) to check if funding is available, indicating the type of research you plan to conduct as related to children/families (dissertation, thesis, independent studies research, or study abroad study).
AWARD ELIGIBILITY & APPLICATION FORM (Click here)
MSW Awardees
| Year | MSW Awardee's Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Burnett, Blair | Social Welfare Systems and Family Wellbeing: U.S. & Taiwan |
| 2026 | Davis, JaCoya | Child Protection and System Justice in Study Abroad in Taiwan |
| 2026 | Hoelter, Laura | International Social Work: A Comparative Approach |
| 2026 | Martinez, Angie | International Social Work: A Comparative Analysis of School-Based Approaches to Supporting Adolescents' Mental Health in Taiwan and the United States |
| 2026 | Mata, Stephanie | Trauma-Informed Care for Children Exposed to Family Violence: A Comparative Paper of Taiwan and the United States |
| 2026 | Pena, Naomi | International Social Work: Exploring How Cultural Identity Influences Childhood Experiences in Taiwan |
| 2026 | Redhead, Danielle | Youth Development: Insights from Taiwan Family and Education Systems Abroad |
| 2026 | Richardson, Essie | Family and Social Justice for Female Migrant Domestic Workers |
| 2026 | Serrano-Perez, Ana | Expanding Cultural Competence in Social Work Through Study Abroad in Taiwan |
| Yeager, Jessica | Study Abroad Taiwan: Substance Use and Mental Health | |
| 2025 | Chorn, Loren | International Social Work: A Comparative Approach |
| 2025 | Hernandez, Alejandra | Cross-Cultural Approaches to Mental Health Prevention and Intervention for Children and Families: A Comparative Study of India and the United States |
| 2024 | Young, Jazlyn | Cross-Cultural Comparisons of Mental Health Interventions for Marginalized Youth in India and the U.S.A. |
| 2024 | Tahtouh, Christina | Experiential Comparative Analysis of the Factors Influencing Mental Health in Taiwan vs. The United States of America |
| 2023-2024 | McDonald, Christopher | A Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life in LGBTQ Populations in the United States and Taiwan |
| 2023-2024 | Jackson, Emily | A Comparative Analysis of Healthcare Systems in the United States and Taiwan |
PhD Awardees
| Year | PhD Awardee's Name | Title |
| 2026 | Gardner, Jody | Exploring Sexual Health Education for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Social Cognitive Ecological Approach |
| 2026 | Rollins, Tanya | Protecting While Black: A Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Black Women Child Protection Professionals |
| 2026 | Khan, Umaira | Adolescent Identity Formation and the Transition to Adulthood in the Context of Exclusionary School Practices |
| 2025 | Brown, Marcus | Pathways to Mental Health Recovery among Black Adults with Serious Mental Illness |
| 2025 | Burr, Sean | Digital Interventions for Suicide Prevention |
| 2024 | Hood, Alexandra N. | Collaborative Partnership Empowering Black Girlhood: Unveiling Strengths in the Social Identity Development of Black Girls within Multiple Youth-Serving System Courts |
| 2023 | Spencer, Helen | “When there is no after: Exploring contextual factors affecting alternative family structures in an era of compounding stress” |
| 2023; 2025 | Ionescu, Elena | “Dementia Friendly Community: Building Stigma-Free Environments for Older Adults with Dementia” |
| 2022 | Aquino-Adriatico, Gabbie | The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Filipina Mothers: A Mixed Methods Study |
| 2021 | Xu, Wen | Re-examining the Mediating Process of Parental Assets, Expectation, and Children's Academic Performance |