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鈥� 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 DESCRIPTION (Click here)
MSW Awardees
| Year | MSW Awardee's Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jones, Irelita | A Comparative Analysis of Juvenile Justice Approaches, Taiwan vs. U.S. |
| 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 |
| 2026 | 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 | Ma, Ying | Connected Yet Lonely: Investigating the Relationships Between Internet Use, Social Capital, and Loneliness in Chinese Adults |
| 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 | 鈥淲hen there is no after: Exploring contextual factors affecting alternative family structures in an era of compounding stress鈥� |
| 2023; 2025 | Ionescu, Elena | 鈥淒ementia Friendly Community: Building Stigma-Free Environments for Older Adults with Dementia鈥� |
| 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 |