Biographical Sketch

Dr. Kristin M. Ferguson is an Associate Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Her research focuses on the design, implementation and evaluation of vocational interventions for homeless youth that integrate employment and clinical services, including supported employment and social enterprises.

She was previously the principal investigator of an international, inter-disciplinary research project that identified best practices in faith-based organizations servicing street-living children in Los Angeles, Mumbai and Nairobi. Additionally, she led a feasibility study with homeless young adults in Hollywood to evaluate the impact of participation in an income-generating cooperative on diverse health, mental health and social outcomes. From 2006-2009, she was funded to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of community-based services for vulnerable children in Nairobi, Kenya and separately, for youth victims of commercial sexual exploitation in five cities in the United States. From 2008-2009, she was the principal investigator of a study examining the migration, mental health, substance abuse and employment patterns among street youth across Los Angeles, CA; Austin, TX; St. Louis, MO; Denver, CO; and New Orleans, LA. From 2009-2011, she was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health to test an employment intervention for homeless youth (ages 16-24) with mental illness. The Social Enterprise Intervention (SEI) is a vocational intervention integrated with clinical services that is designed to train homeless youth with mental illness in vocational and business skills and to support them in starting an affirmative business/social enterprise. During that period, she was also funded by Columbia University to test the feasibility of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment with homeless youth with mental illness in two drop-in centers in Los Angeles. She is currently working with several youth organizations in East Harlem, NY to adapt the IPS model with at-risk young adults. In partnership with SCAN-NY, she also received funding from the New York Community Trust to design, implement and evaluate a service engagement and delivery model for at-risk children, youth and families in East Harlem.

At both national and international conferences, she has presented papers on her work with street children, social development initiatives, social capital and vocational interventions for homeless youth. Additionally, she has published her work in journals such as Research on Social Work Practice, Social Work Research, Social Work, Journal of Interpersonal Violence,Community Mental Health Journal, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Youth & Society, Evaluation Review, and International Social Work. She also serves as a reviewer for Social Thought, Journal of Community Practice, International Social Work and for Social Problems.

Dr. Ferguson teaches courses in social planning, social policy, theories and perspectives in youth development, and global social work and social development.

Research Interests

Homelessness and runaway youth, commercial and sexual exploitation of children, social enterprises, competitive employment (Individual Placement and Support [IPS] model), university-agency research partnerships, global social work

Publications

• Ferguson, K., Bender, K., Thompson, S., Xie, B., & Pollio, D. (In press). General strain predictors of arrest history in homeless youths from four U.S. cities. Journal of Juvenile Justice.

• Bender, K., Thompson, S.J., Ferguson, K., Komlo, C., Taylor, C., & Yoder, J. (In press). Substance use and victimization: Street-involved youths' perspectives and service implications. Children and Youth Services Review.

• Ferguson, K., & Xie, B. (2012). Adult support and substance use among homeless youths who attend high school. Child & Youth Care Forum, 41(5), 427-445. DOI 10.1007/s10566-012-9175-9

• Ferguson, K., Bender, K., Thompson, S., Xie, B., & Pollio, D. (2012). Exploration of arrest activity among homeless young adults in four U.S. cities. Social Work Research. DOI 10.1093/swr/svs023

• Ferguson, K., Xie, B., & Glynn, S (2012). Adapting the Individual Placement and Support model with homeless young adults. Child & Youth Care Forum, 41(3), 277-294. DOI 10.1007/s10566-011-9163-5

• Ferguson, K., Bender, K., Thompson, S., Maccio, E., & Pollio, D. (2011). Employment status and income-generation among homeless young adults: Results from a five-city, mixed-methods study. Youth & Society. DOI 10.1177/0044118X11402851

• Ferguson, K. (2011). Merging the fields of mental health and social enterprise: Lessons from abroad and cumulative findings from research with homeless youths. Community Mental Health Journal, 48(4), 490-502. DOI 10.1007/s10597-011-9440-7

• Ferguson, K., Bender, K., Thompson, S., Maccio, E., Xie, B., & Pollio, D. (2011). Social control correlates of arrest behavior among homeless youth in five U.S. cities. Violence and Victims, 26(5), 648-668. DOI 10.1891/0886-6708.26.5.648

• Ferguson, K., Bender, K., Thompson, S., Xie, B., & Pollio, D. (2011). Correlates of street-survival behaviors in homeless young adults in four U.S. cities. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 81(3), 401-409. DOI 10.1111/j.1939-0025.2011.01108.x

• Ferguson, K., Kim, M.A., & McCoy, S. (2011). Enhancing empowerment and leadership among homeless youth in agency and community settings: A grounded theory approach. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 28(1), 1-22. DOI 10.1007/s10560-010-0217-6

• Thompson, S., Jun J., Bender, K., Ferguson, K., & Pollio, D. (2010). Estrangement factors associated with addiction to alcohol and drugs among street youth in three U.S. cities. Evaluation and Program Planning, 33, 418-427. DOI 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2010.02.002

• Bender, K., Ferguson, K., Thompson, S., Komlo, C., & Pollio, D. (2010). Factors associated with trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder among homeless youth in three U.S. cities: The importance of transience. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23(1), 161-168. DOI 10.1093/swr/33.4.219

• Ferguson, K., Jun J., Bender, K., Thompson, S., & Pollio, D. (2010). A comparison of addiction and transience among street youth: Los Angeles, California, Austin, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri. Community Mental Health Journal, 46(3), 296-307. DOI 10.1007/s10597-009-9264-x

• Ferguson, K., Soydan, H., Lee, S., Yamanaka, A., Freer, A., & Xie, B. (2009). Evaluation of the CSEC Community Intervention Project in Five U.S. Cities. Evaluation Review, 33(6), 568-597. DOI: 10.1177/0193841X09346132

• Ferguson, K. (2009). Exploring the psychosocial and behavioral outcomes of multi-type abuse among homeless young adults. Social Work Research, 33(4), 219-230. DOI 10.1093/swr/33.4.219

• Heidemann, G., & Ferguson, K. (2009). The girl child: A review of the empirical literature. AFFILIA: Journal of Women and Social Work, 24(2), 165-185. DOI 10.1177/0886109909331701

• Ferguson, K. (2009). Exploring family environment characteristics and multiple abuse experiences among homeless youth. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24(11), 1875-1891. DOI 10.1177/0886260508325490

• Ferguson, K., & Heidemann, G. (2009). Organizational strengths and challenges of Kenyan NGOs serving orphans and vulnerable children: A template analysis. International Journal of Social Welfare, 18, 354–364. DOI 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2009.00637.x

• Ferguson, K., & Islam, N. (2008). Conceptualizing outcomes with street-living young adults: Grounded theory approach to evaluating the Social Enterprise Intervention. Qualitative Social Work: Research and Practice, 7(2), 217-237. DOI 10.1177/1473325008089631

• Ferguson, K., Dortzbach, K., Dyrness, G., Dabir, N., & Spruijt-Metz, D. (2008). Faith-based programs and outcomes for street-living youth in Los Angeles, Mumbai and Nairobi: A comparative study. International Social Work, 51(2), 159-177. DOI 10.1177/0020872807085856

• Ferguson, K., & Xie, B. (2008). Feasibility study of the Social Enterprise Intervention with homeless youth. Research on Social Work Practice, 18(1), 5-19. DOI 10.1177/1049731507303535

• Roberts, K. L., & Ferguson, K. (2007). Sources of exploitation and strategies for development: An analysis of the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Cambodia. Social Development Issues, 29(3), 59-71.

• Hoefer, R. & Ferguson, K. (2007). Controlling the levers of power: How advocacy organizations affect the regulation writing process. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 34(1), 83-108.

• Ferguson, K., Wu, Q., Dyrness, G., & Spruijt-Metz, D. (2007). Perceptions of faith and outcomes in faith-based programs for homeless youth: A grounded theory approach. Journal of Social Service Research, 33(4), 25-43. DOI 10.1300/J079v33n04_03

• Ferguson, K. (2007). Implementing a social enterprise intervention with homeless, street-living youth in Los Angeles. Social Work, 52(2), 103-112. DOI 10.1093/sw/52.2.103

• Ferguson, K. & Mindel, C. (2007). Modeling fear of crime in Dallas neighborhoods: A test of social capital theory. Crime and Delinquency, 53(2), 322-349. DOI 10.1177/0011128705285039

• Ferguson, K., Wu, Q, Spruijt-Metz, D., & Dyrness, G. (2007). Outcomes evaluation in faith-based social services: Are we evaluating faith accurately? Research on Social Work Practice, 17(2), 264-276. DOI 10.1177/1049731505283698

• Ferguson, K. (2006). Responding to children’s street work with alternative income generation strategies. International Social Work, 49(6), 705-717. DOI 10.1177/0020872806069076

• Ferguson, K., Dabir, N., Dortzbach, K., Dyrness, G., & Spruijt-Metz, D. (2006). Comparative analysis of faith-based programs serving homeless and street-living youth in Los Angeles, Mumbai and Nairobi. Children and Youth Services Review, 28(12), 1512-1527. DOI 10.1016/j.childyouth.2006.03.005

• Ferguson, K. (2006). Social capital predictors of children’s school status in Mexico. International Journal of Social Welfare, 15, 321-331. DOI 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2006.00422.x

• Ferguson, K. (2006). Towards social development policies for child street workers in Mexico. Social Development Issues, 28(1), 34-52.

• Ferguson, K. (2006). Social capital and children’s well-being: A critical synthesis of the international social capital literature. International Journal of Social Welfare, 15, 2-18.

• Ferguson, K. (2005). Child labor and social capital in the mezzosystem: Family- and community-based risk and protective factors for street-working children in Mexico. Journal of Social Work Research and Evaluation: An International Publication, 6(1), 101-120.

• Ferguson, K. (2005). Beyond indigenization and reconceptualization: Towards a global, multi-directional model of technology transfer. International Social Work, 48(5), 519-535. DOI 10.1177/0020872805055315

• Ferguson, K. (2004). Measuring and indigenizing social capital in relation to children’s street work in Mexico: The role of culture on shaping social capital indicators. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 31(4), 81-103.

• Ferguson, K. (2004). Shaping street-children organizations across the Americas: The influence of political, social and cultural contexts on Covenant House and Casa Alianza. Social Thought: Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work, 23(4), 85-102. DOI 10.1300/J377v23n04_06

• Ferguson, K. (2003). The social economy model in social work: Addressing the social and labor exclusion of vulnerable groups in Mexico with the social economy model. Social Perspectives, 5(2), 147-168. (In Spanish)

• Ferguson, K. (2002). Child street migration in the micro, mezzo and macrosystems: A theoretical review. Revista Internacional de Ciencias Sociales (SOCIOTAM), XII(2), 87- 113. Autonomous University of Tamaulipas, Mexico. (In Spanish)

• Ferguson, K. (2002). Intra-regional assessment of the structural influences of the street-children phenomenon in Latin America: The case of Brazil and Mexico. Social Development Issues, 24(2), 23-32.

• Ferguson, K. (2001). The culture of gangs: A transformation from micro intrapersonal healing to macro social action. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 7(3), 20-33.

Funded Research Projects

• 2012-present: Principal Investigator. “Pilot Study of the Individual Placement and Support Program with At-Risk Young Adults in East Harlem.” PSC-CUNY Research Award Program.

• 2012-present: Principal Investigator. “Pilot Study of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Program with At-Risk Young Adults in East Harlem - IPS Training for Host-Agency Staff.” CUNY Hunter College Presidential Fund for Faculty Advancement.

• 2012-present: Principal Investigator (Evaluator). "The Children of East Harlem - Model Engagement and Service Delivery Matrix (MESDM): A Comprehensive, Coordinated Approach to Meeting the Needs of a Challenged Community.” SCAN-New York; New York Community Trust.

• 2009-2011: Principal Investigator. “Engaging Homeless Youth in Vocational Training to Meet Their Mental Health Needs.” 1R34MH082804-01A2. National Institute of Mental Health. 9/18/2009-8/31/2011.

• 2009-2010: Principal Investigator. “Feasibility Study of the Individual Placement and Support Program with Homeless Youth in Los Angeles.” Center for Homelessness Prevention Studies (CHPS), Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, CHPS Scholars’ Program 2008-2009.

• 2008-2009: Principal Investigator. “Migration and Transience in Service Use by Homeless Youth in Los Angeles.” The John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation Faculty Fellowship Program.

• 2006-2009: Co-Principal Investigator. “University-NGO Coalition-Building Initiative (UNCBI) in Nairobi and Eldoret, Kenya to Strengthen the Research Capacity of Professionals Working with Vulnerable Children.” HED/USAID 2006 New Ideas Partnership Program.

• 2006-2008: Principal Investigator (Evaluator). “CSEC Community Intervention Project (CCIP) Training Institute: Building Community Capacity to Reduce the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth.” The Salvation Army; Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

• 2005-2006: Principal Investigator. “Social Enterprise Intervention Model (SEI) and Homeless Young Adults: Preventing the health, mental health and social deterioration of homeless, street-dwelling young adults through an income-generating cooperative in Los Angeles.” Larson Endowment for Innovative Research and Teaching, University of Southern California School of Social Work.

• 2004-2005: Principal Author. "Innovative Programs Servicing Homeless and Street-Living Children around the World: A Compilation of Best-Practice Models from Los Angeles, Mumbai and Nairobi." Urban Initiative Faculty Publication Award, University of Southern California.

• 2004-2005: Principal Investigator. “Innovative Programs Servicing Homeless and Street-Living Children around the World: A Comparative Study of Mumbai, Nairobi and Los Angeles.” Larson Endowment for Innovative Research and Teaching, University of Southern California School of Social Work.

• 2003-2005: Principal Investigator. “Best-Practice Models for Faith-Based Initiatives Serving Homeless and Runaway Youth in Los Angeles County.” Urban Scholar with Urban Initiative, University of Southern California.

Teaching

MSW Courses:

• Spring 2013: SSW702: Social Welfare Policy Analysis, Development and Change

• Fall 2012: SSW742: Community Organization Planning & Development II

• Fall 2011; Spring 2012; Fall 2012: SSW701: Social Welfare Policies and Services I

• Fall 2011: SSW775: Ways of Knowing: Perspectives in Youth Development

• Fall 2006, 2007, 2008: SOWK534: Policy and Practice in Social Service Organizations

• Spring 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011: SOWK639: Social Policy for Macro Practitioners

• Fall 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010: SOWK670: Global Dimensions in Social Welfare Policy and Social Work Practice: Introduction to International Social Work and Social Development.

• Fall 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008: Community Immersion: Social Capital and Social Networks

• Fall 2003, 2004: SOWK674: Administration and Community Practice in Family and Children’s Service Settings

Doctoral Tutorials:

• Fall 2005; Spring 2009: Qualitative secondary data analysis (MAXqda software)

• Fall 2007: Template Analysis: Strengths/Challenges of Kenyan NGOs

• Spring 2006: Conducting a pilot feasibility study: From pilot to publication

Education and Professional Experience

Education:
2003: Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León
1996: M.S.W., University of Michigan School of Social Work
1994: B.A., Psychology and Spanish, University of Virginia

Professional Experience:

Last modified: Fri Nov 2, 2012 14:35 EST