Outreach and Engagement
Adjudicated Latino Youth
Dr. Villarruel has worked with several national organizations (Center for Children’s Law and Policy, W. Haywood Burns Institute, National Council of La Raza, Coalition for Juvenile Justice, Youth Law Center, Justice Policy Institute). He is on the national board of the Campaign for Youth Justice and the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency and has served as a consultant with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs (OJJDP) and the MacAurther Models for Change Initiative to address Latino Disproportionate Minority Contact. He has been involved in policy research and system reform efforts in multiple states to address the challenges of adjudicated Latino Youth.
Culturally Sensitive Interventions and Prevention in Latino Families
Dr. Parra-Cardona is currently involved in research focused on the cultural adaptation of an evidence-based parenting intervention for Latino populations. Specifically, he is the principal investigator of a R34 cultural adaptation study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The major goal of this study is to implement a culturally adapted parenting intervention in collaboration with community partners in the city of Detroit, Michigan. He is also a core member of the MSU Violence Against Women Research and Outreach Initiative (http://vaw.msu.edu). His violence research in Michigan focuses on the evaluation of cultural relevance of services for Latino survivors as well as Latino men who batter and abuse. Dr. Parra-Cardona collaborates with researchers in Monterrey and Chihuahua (Mexico) to implement community-based lines of research focused on parenting and violence against women. Specifically, he is in collaboration with Dr. Elizabeth Aguilar (CIFAC Director) and Dr. Elizabeth Wieling (University of Minnesota) conducting exploratory research to test the feasibility and initial efficacy of a culturally informed evidence-based parenting intervention implemented in the city of Monterrey. Aguilar and Parra-Cardona are also developing a pilot project to implement EMERGE, a best practice intervention for Latino men who batter. Ted German, PhD, (Co-Director of EMERGE) is closely collaborating in these efforts. Finally, in the State of Chihuahua (Mexico), Dr. Parra-Cardona works with research partners in the design of a community response initiative to address violence against women. As part of these efforts, Mexican clinicians have been trained in an internationally renowned model for batterer treatment (i.e., The Duluth Model).
Early Childhood - General and Special Education Endorsement (ZS)
Experienced Elementary Education and Special Education Teachers can complete an additional endorsement which is applied to their teaching certificates. The Early Childhood - General and Special Education Endorsement, or ZS (formerly the ZA) is available at times which will work with your teaching schedules. Courses are offered hybrid, in the evenings or in a condensed summer session to accomodate your teaching schedules. For additional information please click on the heading, Early Childhood- General and Special Education Endorsement (ZS) above for information and an application packet.