UROP Project

Developing a parent advocacy and child welfare training for therapists (PATT-T)

Child Welfare, Therapist, Intervention
Research Mentor: Katherine Spurling, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Human development and family studies, Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Contact Email: kgs24@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Marisa Luciano she/her
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: mml17@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable

Project Description

This project is a mixed methods intervention study focused on mental health care and the child welfare system (CWS). We are utilizing data from parents who are involved with the CWS and collecting interviews and surveys from mental health practitioners (MHP) and CWS caseworkers. Our goal is to create a training for MHP to help them feel better prepared to take parents who are involved with the CWS as clients.

Research Tasks: recruitment, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, coding, transcribing interviews

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended: basic statistical research knowledge

Mentoring Philosophy

As a mentor I hope to help fellow researchers curate their skills and interests while also contributing to the larger research project. I believe that research is most engaging when students see its relevance to their own academic and professional interests. While they are assisting with my project, I want to encourage them to explore aspects that align with their strengths and aspirations, helping them connect their work to broader research questions and methodologies. I strive to create a collaborative and supportive environment where students feel confident engaging with research tasks, asking questions, and developing their skills. Feedback is an essential part of this process, and I emphasize open, constructive dialogue. I will provide guidance and critical insight while also welcoming student input on how I can better support their learning and engagement. Ultimately, my aim is to help students build confidence as researchers, refine their analytical and problem-solving abilities, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the research process. Through this experience, I hope they will gain skills that extend beyond this project and into their future academic and professional pursuits.

Additional Information


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