Benjamin C. Graham, MS, LCPC, is project coordinator for the study, Improving Health and Function across the Lifespan in Adults with Intellectual Disability. Benjamin is an advanced doctoral student in DePaul University’s community psychology program. His research interests include the impact of school transportation problems on psychosocial wellbeing for students with disabilities, inclusive school learning environments, sense of community among recovery home residents, and school violence prevention programming. He is a licensed clinical professional counselor with 6 years experience working with youth with serious mental illness and their families in community and school settings. He has also previously served as project coordinator for a school-based violence prevention demonstration project.
Biosketch
Positions and Employment
6/06-Present
Student Life Evaluator (consultant), DePaul Dept. of Residential Education, Chicago, IL
Collaborate with residential education department to conduct a mixed-methods evaluation and strategically plan regarding student alcohol/drug within a university community. Conduct focus groups and 1-1 interviews with key stakeholders. Design and manage administration of online student survey. Analyze a longitudinal data set consisting of 1,400 surveys to assist university in promoting student wellness.
6/07-8/07
Summer Human Rights Fellow, Appleseed/Midwest Coalition for Human Rights,Lincoln, NE
Worked with public interest law firm to create data report on worker/immigrant rights issues in Nebraska meatpacking plants. Created and managed survey database (in SPSS 15.0 & Exel), conducted literature review, managed volunteer tasks, and developed strategy on policy implications of project. Advised partner firm in Minnesota on IRB issues related to research with immigrant populations. Planned with community outreach worker to generate research participation in five sites.
9/07-Present
Teaching Fellow, DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Instructor for psychology and quantitative reasoning courses at DePaul University. Develop syllabus and lectures based on best practice research in youth programming for course on “Promoting the Mental Health of Chicago Youth”, involving the oversight of five university-community partnerships with Chicago youth-serving nonprofits. Work with sites, students, and university center for service-learning to ensure effective service-learning placements.
10/05-10/07
Co-founder and Community Counselor, Teens Acting in Community (TAIC), Chicago, IL
Co-founded a nonprofit 501(c)3 after-school program blending creative writing, theater, and mental health counseling within a youth empowerment model. Implemented program in a bilingual, primarily Mexican-American K-6 school in Chicago. Community counseling role involved 1-1 meetings with students to set individualized program goals and maintaining relationships with school, parents, and community members. Co-founder role involved administrative duties including overseeing nonprofit incorporation (including creating business plan and securing grant funding of $22,000), budget management, and development of a web-based data tracking system.
7/05-8/06
Crossroads Prevention Specialist, DePaul Community Mental Health Center, Chicago, IL
Provide assessment, group counseling and program evaluation for a state-funded program serving African-American youth in Chicago Public Schools. Designed curriculum, collaborated with school staff promoted parent involvement, and provided linkage services to two groups.
3/01-6/05
Child & Family Therapist/Bridges Clinician, Community Care Options, Berwyn, IL
Provided therapy to children and their families. Provided comprehensive services with families of children with high emotional and behavioral needs in office, home and school. Served on multiple interagency committees to collaboratively address the needs of youth, including representing agency on the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council of the 5th Municipal District and multiple school committees.
10/99-2/01
Project Coordinator, Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, Chicago, IL
Coordinated demonstration and evaluation project involving the establishment of comprehensive school-based violence prevention initiatives. Provided technical assistance to school districts in regard to violence prevention (including CPS), worked with research team to evaluate the project, coordinated the creation of a comprehensive violence prevention audit tool and resource manual including school, youth, parent and community involvement, and managed budget for $500,000 demonstration grant.
1/99-7/99
Peer Mediation Trainer, Melbourne, Australia
Provided training and consultation to establish a Peer Mediation program at a low-income, urban high school and a private K-12 school. Collaborated with various school staff, trained 80 high school sophomores in a 12-hour program, and coordinated two school presentations.
Professional Service
American Psychological Association of Graduate Students, institutional rep., 2007-8
Reviewer, APA Division 27 Annual Conference, 2008
Member, IL Family Violence Coordinating Council of the 5th Municipal Dist., 2001-2
Reviewer, Illinois Safe to Learn School Grants, 1999
Hate Crimes Taskforce Member, Lakeview Action Coalition, 1999-2000
Mentor Program Coordinator, UW-Madison Counseling Program, 1998
Research Experience
9/05-present
Doctoral Student, Department of Psychology, DePaul University, Chicago
Directed data report for the Department of Residential Education at DePaul University. Collected and analyzed large, 2-year quantitative and qualitative data set to create a final report informing university policy around student alcohol and drug use. Currently conducting research on the nature and impact of community psychology centers. Also serving on research team investigating the impact of inclusion practices on students with disabilities transitioning from a school for students with disabilities to their neighborhood schools. For masters thesis project, conducted research on psychological sense of community among individuals living in a recovery co-housing program.
7/98-7/99
Visiting Ambassadorial Scholar, Dept. of Psychology, Univ. of Melbourne, Australia
Conducted doctoral-level research involving the development, training, and evaluation of a multicultural peer mediation program in two Melbourne high schools.
12/97-6/98
MS Student, Dept. of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Collaborated with staff at a Catholic K-8 elementary school to train a group of 30 third graders in conflict resolution. Researched the impact of intervention and development of curriculum.
Presentations
“Applied Community Psychology in Higher Education Settings”, session organizer/presenter, Midwest Psychological Association, Division 27. May 2008.
“Dialogue with Policy-Makers: The Role of Community Psychology in Community-University-Political Partnerships”, panelist, Midwest Psychological Association, Div. 27. May 2008.
“Understanding Educational Contexts and Social Justice: Race, ethnicity, and disability”, presenter, 2007 SCRA biennial. June 2007.
“Using Mixed-Methods: Case Illustrations in Community Research”, panelist on high school students with disabilities, Midwest Psychological Association, Div. 27. May 2007.
“Parent Collaboration in School-Based Research and Intervention”, Midwest ECO Conference, Saugatuck, MI. October 2006.
“Anger Management with Adolescents”, community seminar, First United Methodist Church of LaGrange, LaGrange, IL. April 2003.
“Peer Mediation from a Multicultural Perspective”, Conflict Studies Seminar lecture, International Conflict Resolution Center, University of Melbourne. October 1998.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Graham, B.C., Jason, L.A., & Ferrari, J.F. (in press). Sense of community within recovery housing: Impact of resident age and income. Jnl. of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, 4.
Porter, N., Rzepka, L. Benton, M., Graham, B, & Jason, L. (2008). “Evaluating Community Center Values and Interventions”, The Community Psychologist, 40(3), 6-7.
Graham, B.C. & Pulvino, C. (2000). “Multicultural Conflict Resolution: Development, Implementation and Assessment of a Program for Third Graders”, Professional School Counselor, 3, 172-181.
Porter, N. & Graham, B. (accepted-publication scheduled for 2009). The Role of Centers in Community Psychology, The American Journal of Community Psychology.
Technical Reports
Graham, B. (2008). A Two-year Assessment of Alcohol & Drug Use among Residence Hall Students: Trends and Interventions. Technical report for DePaul Dept. of Residential Education and DePaul University Alcohol & Drug Taskforce.
Graham, B. & Harper, G. (2007). Alcohol & Drug Use among Residence Hall Students:
Assessing Trends and Exploring Interventions. Technical report for DePaul Dept. of Residential Education and DePaul University Alcohol & Drug Taskforce.
Honors and Awards
SCRA Graduate Student Research Award (2007), Human Rights Fellow—Midwest Coalition for Human Rights (2007), Richard J. Meister Scholarship (DePaul University 2006-7), Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship (University of Melbourne), Graduation with highest distinction (UNL), Superior Scholar Award (UNL), Phi Beta Kappa member.
Professional Licensures and Certifications
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, State of Illinois. 2003-present
Certified Mediator, International Conflict Resolution Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Professional Memberships
2005-Present
Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA), APA Div. 27.
2007
Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
2007
Community-Campus Partnerships for Health
2005-Present
American Psychological Association
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