Matthew Vasquez

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Professor (Associate) at University of Northern Iowa

In the past 2 decades, social work education has increasingly advocated for inclusion of trauma-related content in educational programming. Yet, to date, little is known about the current state of trauma education and training in social work programs. The aim of this study is to describe trauma education and training in accredited, North American s...

Research shows that most people experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetimes, and between 6% and 8% of those with a history of trauma will develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or related mental health conditions. Women face a greater threat of trauma exposure and have a higher risk of PTSD and depression than men. Trauma-S...

Early intervention programs for youth in residential treatment can have a positive impact on numerous outcomes, including health, educational performance, and reduced prevalence of high-risk behaviors. Yet, there is currently a limited number of evidenced-based interventions that treat youth in these settings. This paper presents preliminary findin...

Over the past decade, there has been substantial growth in empirical evidence supporting that proper assessment and treatment of trauma using evidence-based practices can effectively reduce a wide range of symptoms in both children and adults. Given the complex nature of trauma treatment, trauma-based educational programming in social work is most...

Children diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder (RAD) have been reported to exhibit a multitude of symptoms and behaviors that are not captured by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria. One behavior in particular that has been the source of much argument and controversy is aggression. Although limited research on t...

In 2010 a Midwestern School of Social Work developed a certificate program named “Critical Cultural Competence” to supplement existing coursework in support of culturally competent practice among graduating bachelor’s in social work (BSW) students. This certificate program was popular among social work students and was made available to undergradua...

Children with histories of early childhood neglect can exhibit a multitude of problematic behaviors, along with the potential for numerous physical and cognitive deficits. In some cases, these children can exhibit behaviors reflective of a diagnosis of reactive attachment disorder (RAD). Families who adopt children with RAD may face unique issues w...

Residential treatment (RT) is often the final stop for children who exhibit extreme aggression and/or self-harming behavior. The onset of these behaviors can usually be traced back to multiple and long-term experiences of abuse (psychological, physical, and sexual), neglect (severe deprivation to inconsistent care giving), and witnessing acts of vi...

Two cases of children in residential treatment with substantial histories of trauma will be presented. One child is a 15 year old girl diagnosed with PTSD, generalized anxiety, and had a history of suicidal ideation and self-harming behavior. She was placed into treatment after multiple suicide attempts, and reports of severe aggression and self-ha...

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health problem that reaches across age, sex, and ethnicity. In this study, we examined risk factors for physical IPV perpetration among young adult males and females from four ethnic groups. Data were taken from Waves 1–3 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The sample inc...

To develop cultural competence, one must undertake an elusive journey that likely has no destination. Social workers have a responsibility to undertake this often rocky journey with few guideposts. As educators of future professionals, schools of social work must ensure that their students begin, or continue, this journey during this time of profes...

The authors begin this article by highlighting clinical social casework as a historic trend in school social work practice. They then identify two major shifts in current education policy related to school social work practice. One shift is an emphasis on a multilevel intervention approach, and the other is the differentiation between academic and...