Nadine M Finigan-Carr
Nadine M Finigan-Carr, Ph.D., is a prevention research scientist focused on the application of behavioral and social science perspectives to research on contemporary health problems, especially those which disproportionately affect people of color. Her scholarship is grounded in theories and methods found primarily in the field of health behavior change among individuals and the environments. More specifically, she has focused on adolescent risk behaviors and their determinants.
Biography
Nadine M Finigan-Carr, Ph.D., is a prevention research scientist focused on the application of behavioral and social science perspectives to research on contemporary health problems, especially those which disproportionately affect people of color. Her scholarship is grounded in theories and methods found primarily in the field of health behavior change among individuals and the environments that support or impede chronic disease prevention or management, injury, and violence. More specifically, she has focused on adolescent risk behaviors and their determinants.Dr Finigan-Carr began her career as a classroom teacher where she quickly realized that teaching was more than being aware of the educational needs of her students but also involved considering the physical and mental health needs. Currently, Dr. Finigan-Carr is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland: School of Social Work. In this position she has research projects at both the state and federal levels designed to intervene with system involved youth – those in foster care or the juvenile justice system, for example. These youth have a double vulnerability – adolescence, a critical stage marked by increased risk for negative social and behavioral outcomes including aggression and sexual risk behaviors; and, being removed from their families of origin.
Education
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PhD, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, 2011
MS, University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 1999
BS, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 1992
Areas of Research / Professional Expertise
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Prevention Science
Child and Adolescent Development
Sexual Risk Behaviors
Maternal and Child Health - Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Aggression and Violence
Substance Use and Abuse
Personal Interests
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I have a loving husband and son. We enjoy spending time together traveling around the world.
I have been a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for more than 25 years.
Books
Articles
Beyond Systems of Oppression: The Syndemic Affecting Black Youth in the US
Published: Aug 09, 2022 by Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal
Authors: Nadine M Finigan-Carr & Tanya L Sharpe
This manuscript describes the syndemic of injustice framework as it relates to the ways in which anti-Black racism contributes to experiences of structural, symbolic and interpersonal violence for Black youth and how these experiences of violent oppression ultimately influence the developmental processes involved in identity formation for Black youth.
Moving from Survival to Fulfillment: A Planning Framework for Community Schools
Published: Feb 01, 2018 by Phi Delta Kappan
Authors: Wendy Shaia & Nadine M Finigan-Carr
Community schooling is an effective tool for combating the effects of poverty by integrating academic, social service, health, and economic supports for students, families, and community members. This article suggests a planning framework that can help community schools succeed in coordinating wide-ranging program activities designed to support basic survival needs, help clients build power and self-determination, and support them in developing healthy relationships and hope for the future.
Intimate partner violence and pregnant and parenting adolescents in out-of-home care: reflections on a dataset and implications for intervention
Published: Aug 01, 2017 by Journal of Clinical Nursing
Authors: Judith JW Herman, Nadine M Finigan-Carr, KM Haigh
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To present the findings from a data set reflecting intimate partner violence among adolescents who are pregnant and parenting and living in out-of-home care and to analyse these findings in order to generate potential interventions to address this significant issue...
Mental Health and Educational Experiences Among Black Youth: A Latent Class Analysis
Published: Jul 28, 2017 by Journal of Youth and Adolescence
Authors: Theda Rose, Michael A Lindsey, Yunyu Xiao, Nadine M Finigan-Carr & Sean Joe
Disproportionately lower educational achievement, coupled with higher grade retention, suspensions, expulsions, and lower school bonding make educational success among Black adolescents a major public health concern. Mental health is a key developmental factor related to educational outcomes among adolescents; however, traditional models of mental health focus on absence of dysfunction as a way to conceptualize mental health. The dual-factor model...
Youth Violence: How Gender Matters Among Urban Early Adolescents
Published: May 05, 2015 by Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Authors: Nadine M Finigan-Carr, Andrea Gielen, Denise Haynie & Tina L Cheng
Although research suggests gender differences in both forms and functions of aggressive behavior, there has been limited research into these types among African American early adolescents. This study examined the types and patterns of aggression in girls and boys in that group. Participants were 452 predominantly African American middle school youth (50.4% girls) aged 11 to 13 (M = 11.97) enrolled in three urban public schools...
Photos
News
Even with a pandemic, many older Americans are carrying on as usual.
By: Nadine M Finigan-Carr
Why Foster Youth Need Sex-Ed
By: Nadine M Finigan-Carr
Youth in foster care or the juvenile justice system have higher rates of pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and associated sexual risk behaviors than youth living with their families. Young mothers in foster care have unique needs and challenges, including risk of rapid repeat pregnancies and limited parenting skills. For young men, half of 21-year olds aging out of foster care report having a child compared to 19% of young men who have not been in foster care. Why are youth involved in foster care or the juvenile justice system more at risk? What can we do to support them as they transition to adulthood?
Read more about Why Foster Youth Need Sex-Ed in Dr Finigan-Carr's latest blog about her research on Public Health Post.
Child Prostitutes Don't Exist - A Tedx Talk
By: Nadine M Finigan-Carr
Dr Finigan-Carr presented her first Ted Talk on November 9, 2018. The topic was "Child Prostitutes Don't Exist." Coverage of the event can be found at https://www.umaryland.edu/news/archived-news/november-2018/newspressreleaseshottopics/tedx-amplifies-umbs-cutting-edge-innovations.php.
SSW's Finigan-Carr & Shaia publish "School Social Workers as partners in the school mission"
By: Nadine M Finigan-Carr
Research Assistant Professor Nadine Finigan-Carr, PhD, left, and Executive Director of the Social Work Community Outreach Service Wendy Shaia, EdD, MSW, right, had their article "School social workers as partners in the school mission" published in the latest issue of Phi Delta Kappan.
ABSTRACT:
Social workers in schools provide benefits not just for struggling
students, but for the entire school community. But, the authors
argue, school social workers are often relegated to monitoring IEPs
and doing basic casework. By using skills and values that have long
been fundamental to social work practice, school social workers can
advocate for, develop, and assume leadership in providing services
that bring together the school, the family, and the community to
meet students’ needs.
JBHE: Recent Books of Interest
By: Nadine M Finigan-Carr
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education featured Linking Health and Education for African American Students' Success as a book of interest.
Progress in the Fight Against Child Trafficking
By: Nadine M Finigan-Carr
Maryland has made significant progress in combating human trafficking, but there is much more work to be done, according to experts and panelists who attended a recent conference hosted by the University of Maryland School of Social Work (UM SSW).
“We need to make sure that you all know more about what is going on with human trafficking in our state so that you all can start to respond and spread the word about what needs to be done,” UM SSW Research Assistant Professor, Nadine Finigan-Carr, PhD, told an audience of 350 at the Maryland Child Trafficking Conference: Moving from Awareness to Response, held Dec. 4 at Towson University. UM SSW hosted the statewide conference in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention and the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF).
“The title of this conference was not chosen lightly,” continued Finigan-Carr, who is also director, Prevention of Adolescent Risks Initiative, and assistant director, Ruth H. Young Center for Families and Children. “Moving from awareness to response is really what we want. We need to do more than know human trafficking exists. We need to be able to respond, because the children that we serve, the youth that we serve, the citizens here in our state deserve us to be better, to do better.”
Since UM SSW’s founding 56 years ago, its faculty has been applying science and practice to understand and redress social problems, UM SSW Dean Richard P. Barth, PhD, MSW, said in his welcoming remarks. “None of our work is more important or innovative than our work on human trafficking, which is taking shape in three ways,” (See link for full story)
RYC’s Dr Finigan-Carr to speak on child sex trafficking at the School of Medicine’s Social Justice Lecture
By: Nadine M Finigan-Carr
Dr Nadine Finigan-Carr, Research Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of the Ruth Young Center, will be a lecturer in the School of Medicine's Social Justice Curriculum's series. This semester the series will focus on issues that children face in our country...
Linking Health and Education...Book Endorsements
By: Nadine M Finigan-Carr
“The book tackles a vital program in our country. While there are many efforts to address inequality among educational and health professionals, we often operate as if health does not affect education and education does not affect health. Nadine Finigan-Carr has moved the conversation forward by compiling the evidence of the health/education link.” – Thomas LaVeist, Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health
“Dr. Finigan-Carr assembled groundbreaking research, thoughtful analysis and a compassionate understanding to build a compelling case for “Linking Health and Education for African American Students’ Success.” Both intellectually stimulating and easy to read, Linking Health gives a comprehensive picture of the health-related antecedents to positive educational outcome. The book is serious and provocative with describing critical health issues, yet hopeful and forward thinking in presenting a vision for healthy educational environments for African Americans.” – Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D., Director of Quality Education for Minorities; Professor, Howard University; Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Negro Education; and, Contributing Education Editor and TheRoot.com
“Health outcomes are intertwined with educational outcomes. This book describes this truth for African American children but more importantly suggests a path forward.” – Tina L. Cheng, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Pediatrician in Chief, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.
Racism has left an ugly stain on America's history, and it as created structural inequalities, which have affected African American students’ educational and health outcomes. Linking Health and Education for African American Student Success challenges those issues, and provides compelling evidence for the causal role that educationally relevant health disparities play amongst African American students. With an unparalleled depth of insight and clarity of voice, Dr. Finigan-Carr’s book, must be a fundamental part of school reform. – LaMarr Darnell Shields, Ph.D., Change Agent and Author, What I Learned in the Midst of KAOS: The Making of an Ubuntu Teacher
Videos
Published: Nov 07, 2018
Child sex trafficking victims are just that, victims!" proclaims social work expert Nadine Finigan-Carr. They shouldn't be characterized in the media as child prostitutes, she says, because they don't have a choice in what happens to them.