Joy Osofsky - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Joy Osofsky

Infant Programs is the only national non profit organization dedicated solely to improving the ch... more Infant Programs is the only national non profit organization dedicated solely to improving the chances for healthy physical. cognitive and social development of infants, toddlers, and their hmilies.

Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 2021

Although parental compliance with court orders in child welfare cases is key to achieving physica... more Although parental compliance with court orders in child welfare cases is key to achieving physical parent‐child reunification and successful case closure, little research has examined how parent‐child relationship‐focused rehabilitative services uniquely influence case outcomes. This project fills this gap by investigating links between court ordering of and parental participation in Child‐Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) with court outcomes. Data were obtained from court records of 448 court‐involved parents. Hierarchical regressions revealed that greater participation in CPP led to reunification and successful case closure but not faster case closure. Courtroom professionals should consider parent‐child relationship‐based therapies as tools for achieving child welfare goals.

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1970

Data is presented which demonstrates that poor and/or nonwhite pregnant adolescents are high risk... more Data is presented which demonstrates that poor and/or nonwhite pregnant adolescents are high risk individuals from medical, educational and social points of view. Specific problems in all three areas are described and the results of a program, initiated to offer meaningful solutions, are discussed. The Young Mothers Educational Development (YMED) program was set up to provide intensive medical, psychological services for low income, pregnant adolescents and their infants. All services were combined under one roof in an effort to provide a comprehensive, meaningful, yet non-clinic type, program. Obstetrical, sc,ial and educational data was collected. An effort was made to assess infants' behavioral style and mother-child interaction. General results in all areas were encouraging: (1) incidence of premature and small-for-dates infants was reduced; (2) the educational success rate was high; and (3) social service data, were favorable. The infant and mother-infant interaction data were viewed as baselines for future investigations into developmental problems. The report concluded that much of the previously discussed risk of low-income, teenage pregnancies can be removed when appropriate professional services are made available.

American Psychologist, 2021

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study (Felitti et al., 1998) has led to an understanding... more The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study (Felitti et al., 1998) has led to an understanding of how exposure to abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction in childhood are related to subsequent physical and mental health problems. These issues are important to consider during the perinatal period, with studies indicating that pregnant women who report adverse experiences in childhood may be at risk of experiencing mental health and substance use problems. This study examined the association of pregnant women's ACEs with symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and substance use, and examined the potential buffering effect of women's resilience against the deleterious effects of ACES on mental health and substance use. Women reported on ACES, mental health symptoms, substance use, and resilience when they were screened for participation in a perinatal psychosocial support intervention, which was integrated into obstetrical clinics in a Southern academic medical center. Almost a quarter of the 303 women in this sample reported four or more ACEs, indicating significant risk. Those reporting more overall ACEs also reported more symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress, and increased risk of tobacco use. Unique effects of specific ACEs subtypes were also found. Women exposed to child maltreatment reported more anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress symptoms, and were at risk for tobacco, cannabis, or opioid use during pregnancy. Women exposed to household dysfunction reported more posttraumatic stress symptoms and were at increased risk of tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy. Women's resilience attenuated effects of household dysfunction on posttraumatic stress symptoms. Public Significance Statement This study demonstrates the importance of including adverse childhood experiences in evaluating and treating mental health symptoms and substance use during pregnancy.

The Future of Children, 2013

Because most research on military families has focused on children who are old enough to go to sc... more Because most research on military families has focused on children who are old enough to go to school, we know the least about the youngest and perhaps most vulnerable children in these families. Some of what we do know, however, is worrisome-for example, multiple deployments, which many families have experienced during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, may increase the risk that young children will be maltreated. Where the research on young military children is thin, Joy Osofsky and Lieutenant Colonel Molinda Chartrand extrapolate from theories and research in other contexts-especially attachment theory and research on families who have experienced disasters. They describe the circumstances that are most likely to put young children in military families at risk, and they point to ways that families, communities, the military, and policy makers can help these children overcome such risks and thrive. They also review a number of promising programs to build resilience in young military children. Deployment, Osofsky and Chartrand write, is particularly stressful for the youngest children, who depend on their parents for nearly everything. Not only does deployment separate young children from one of the central figures in their lives, it can also take a psychological toll on the parent who remains at home, potentially weakening the parenting relationship. Thus one fundamental way to help young military children become resilient is to help their parents cope with the stress of deployment. Parents and caregivers themselves, Osofsky and Chartrand write, can be taught ways to support their young children's resilience during deployment, for example, by keeping routines consistent and predictable and by finding innovative ways to help the child connect with the absent parent. The authors conclude by presenting 10 themes, grounded in research and theory, that can guide policies and programs designed to help young military children.

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings, 2014

ABSTRACTThis presentation will focus on the importance of addressing mental health in the overall... more ABSTRACTThis presentation will focus on the importance of addressing mental health in the overall response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Emphasis will be placed on evidence based, integrated mental and behavioral health services in primary care clinics as an essential component of physical and mental health care. Community surveillance data collected by LSUHSC Department of Psychiatry in the fall of 2010 and one year post spill revealed increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress compared to national norms. Symptoms were higher for individuals directly impacted by the spill. The Mental and Behavioral Health Capacity Project (MBHCP), part of the Gulf Region Health Outreach Program (GRHOP), was developed across the four impacted states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.In collaboration with the Primary Care Capacity Project (PCCP) and other GRHOP projects, it is designed to decrease disparities in care and develop an evidence-based system of...

Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2014

Objective To examine the interactive effects of stress related to the Gulf oil spill on mental he... more Objective To examine the interactive effects of stress related to the Gulf oil spill on mental health of children and adolescents on the Gulf Coast who were also affected by previous hurricanes. Methods A prospective design, with n ¼ 1,577 youth (aged 3-18 years), evaluated pre-oil spill and again post-oil spill for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, previous hurricane exposure, and amount of oil spill stress. Results Stressors related to the spill were common and were associated with PTSD symptoms. Moreover, there was an interactive effect such that those with high preexisting PTSD symptoms, high previous hurricane exposure, and high oil spill stress had the most elevated post-oil spill PTSD symptoms. Conclusions This study provides initial evidence linking stress related to the Gulf oil spill to youth mental health symptoms. The effects of the oil spill on youth mental health were most evident among those with cumulative risk.

Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 2014

This column describes an integrated behavioral health initiative in primary care clinics in Louis... more This column describes an integrated behavioral health initiative in primary care clinics in Louisiana parishes affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Louisiana Mental and Behavioral Health Capacity Project is an integral part of the Gulf Region Health Outreach Program and is funded from the Deepwater Horizon Medical Benefits Class Action Settlement. Using a public health approach, the Department of Psychiatry of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center developed an interprofessional collaboration model of care to provide culturally tailored and time-sensitive on-site and telemedicine services to adults and children affected by the disaster. Results indicate a high level of acceptance of the services and reductions in both mental health symptoms and general medical symptoms. Primary care clinic staff also report increased confidence and resilience to meet future disasters. The approach could be used by communities at risk of disasters and by rural communities w...

Psychiatric Annals, 2008

Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005. The storm surge caused multiple levee breache... more Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005. The storm surge caused multiple levee breaches and left 80% of New Orleans and most of St. Bernard Parish underwater. Metropolitan New Orleans was in a state of chaos. First responders worked in the streets and at shelters of last resort to provide care for the remaining citizens. They engaged in crowd control, dealt with looting and gunfire incidents, and focused on rescue and recovery. During this time, all communication systems failed. First responders had no radio or telephone contact and were left isolated without backup. Multiple first responders described New Orleans and St. Bernard as war zone(s). Several first responders, who were also military veterans, reflected that the experience was worse than that which they had endured in Vietnam or Iraq. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Mindy Kronenberg, PhD; Howard J. Osofsky, MD, PhD; Michele Many, LCSW; and Melissa Hardy, GSW, are with the Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University...

Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 2006

Research Center surveys indicate that rural adolescents are equally or more likely than both urba... more Research Center surveys indicate that rural adolescents are equally or more likely than both urban and suburban adolescents to be exposed to violence and drug activities. Data collected on 15 different measures of violence exposure examined in the Human Resources and Services Administration-funded Violence and Rural Teens Project

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2010

Objective-To examine patterns and predictors of trends in DSM-IV serious emotional disturbance (S... more Objective-To examine patterns and predictors of trends in DSM-IV serious emotional disturbance (SED) among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina. Method-A probability sample of adult pre-hurricane residents of the areas affected by Katrina completed baseline and follow-up telephone surveys 18-27 months post-hurricane and 12-18 months later. Baseline adult respondents residing with children (ages 4-17) provided informant reports about the emotional functioning of these youths (n = 576) with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The surveys also assessed hurricane-related stressors and ongoing stressors experienced by respondent families. Results-SED prevalence decreased significantly across survey waves from 15.1% to 11.5%, although even the latter prevalence was considerably higher than the pre-hurricane prevalence of 4.2% estimated in the US National Health Interview Survey. Trends in hurricane-related SED were predicted by both stressors experienced in the hurricane and ongoing stressors, with SED prevalence decreasing significantly only among youths with moderate stress exposure (16.8% vs. 6.5%). SED prevalence did not change significantly between waves among youths with either high stress exposure (30.0% vs. 41.9%) or low stress exposure (3.5% vs. 3.4%). Pre-hurricane functioning did not predict SED persistence among youths with high stress exposure, but did predict SED persistence among youth with low-moderate stress exposure. Conclusions-The prevalence of SED among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina remains significantly elevated several years after the storm despite meaningful decrease since baseline.

American Psychologist, 2011

PsycEXTRA Dataset

Hurricane Katrina resulted in a disaster of proportions not previously known in the United States... more Hurricane Katrina resulted in a disaster of proportions not previously known in the United States. The traumatic experiences of children and families during Hurricane Katrina, the fl ooding that resulted from the breach of the levees, the evacuation, and the aftermath are unprecedented. In responding to the enormous mental health needs of children post-Katrina, the Trauma Team of skilled mental health professionals from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) Department of Psychiatry provided crisis intervention and services. This paper discusses the work of the LSUHSC Trauma Team and provides a snapshot of the current mental health status of several thousand children and adolescents in post-Katrina New Orleans (not including those who were still displaced). Almost one half of the 4th to 12th grade students and over one quarter of younger children (based on parental report) met criteria for mental health services, based on the number and severity of their behavioral symptoms. Children who were separated from their parents or who had experienced previous trauma or loss were most likely to meet criteria. Ongoing risk relates to poverty, slowness of recovery, job loss, and family problems. Recommendations for rapid deployment of mental health services to children are provided, based on the Trauma Team's experiences. Educational efforts, school-based services, after-school care, resilience-enhancing programs, and community-building strategies are also discussed. Most important, a clearly articulated national disaster plan for children and families is urgently needed. This plan should be trauma-focused and based on developmental principles, research, and lessons learned from this and prior disasters. Knowledge gained from this disaster can aid in understanding and meeting the needs of children and families impacted by disasters, promoting resilience and self-effi cacy, and providing evidencebased therapeutic services.

Journal of family strengths, 2019

Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 2018

How children respond after such catastrophic events depends on many factors, including their dire... more How children respond after such catastrophic events depends on many factors, including their direct experience with the disaster, exposure to multiple traumas, preexisting behavioral health problems, family and community support, and recovery-related experiences. 4-8 Masten and colleagues 9 have elaborated that recent theory and research suggest vulnerability factors may also be indicators of

Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry, Oct 25, 2016

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 2015

Mental health issues are a significant concern after technological disasters such as the 2010 Gul... more Mental health issues are a significant concern after technological disasters such as the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill; however, there is limited knowledge about the long-term effects of oil spills. The study was part of a larger research effort to improve understanding of the mental and behavioral health effects of the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill. Data were collected immediately following the spill and the same individuals were resampled again after the second anniversary (n = 314). The results show that mental health symptoms of depression, serious mental illness and posttraumatic stress have not statistically decreased, and anxiety symptoms were statistically equivalent to immediate symptoms. Results also showed that the greatest effect on anxiety is related to the extent of disruption to participants' lives, work, family, and social engagement. This study supports lessons learned following the Exxon Valdez spill suggesting that mental health effects are long term and recovery is slow. Elevated symptoms indicate the continued need for mental health services, especially for individuals with high levels of disruption resulting in increased anxiety. Findings also suggest that the longer-term recovery trajectories following the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill do not fall within traditional disaster recovery timelines.

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 2008

Professional psychologists are called upon to deal with a broad array of crises and traumatic eve... more Professional psychologists are called upon to deal with a broad array of crises and traumatic events. However, training and expertise in crisis response varies widely among practitioners, and there has been considerable controversy about the value of widely disseminated mental health crisis intervention protocols that include "debriefing" as an essential feature. This article gives an overview of the developmental process, guiding principles, and core actions of the Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide (PFA Guide), which provides guidance for practitioners in responding to immediate mental health needs of children, adults, and families who have recently experienced a disaster or terrorist event. Issues in training, provider self-care, and evaluation research are also presented. The PFA Guide presents approaches thought to be most consistently supported by current research and practice so that they can be taught, used, and evaluated in field settings. Although we expect further refinement as more systematic research becomes available, the PFA Guide represents a sustained collaborative effort to define current evidence-informed best practices that can be utilized now by practitioners involved in disaster mental health responses.

Helping families and communities recover from disaster: Lessons learned from hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

Hurricane Katrina struck the United States Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005 with wind and water surg... more Hurricane Katrina struck the United States Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005 with wind and water surges that resulted in much destruction. Metropolitan New Orleans was then dealt a devastating blow with the breach of the levees and subsequent flooding, placing vast areas of the city underwater. Despite the lessons learned from experiences during and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Oklahoma City bombing, and recent destructive hurricanes in Florida, the response to Hurricane Katrina was grossly inadequate. Neither the City of New Orleans, the State of Louisiana, nor the federal government was prepared to respond to the disaster and the extent of the damage caused by the hurricane and the flooding. The inadequate response continued in the immediate aftermath, and the nation watched as the crisis deepened. Unlike most disasters with a circumscribed period of crisis, followed by gradual recovery, progress and recovery remain slow. Factors contributing to problems with the recovery relate to the extent of devastation, displacement of families and other supports, job loss, lack of clarity about rebuilding, and questions about federal commitment to supporting adequate levee and coastal protection. Reflecting both limited economic resources and the typical response to hurricanes in the Gulf South, many people chose not to evacuate and were then trapped in their homes. Others sought refuge in the Superdome, previously a secure and safe shelter. However, due to the strong winds caused by Katrina, power was lost at the Dome, the roof was ripped off in pieces, and rather than being a safe refuge, it became a chaotic, traumatizing shelter. Chaos further reigned at the Convention Center, where people also sought safety or were sent to be transported out of the city. Patients, doctors, nurses and other staff and family members were stranded at hospitals without power and without adequate food and supplies. First responders including police officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical technicians, often not knowing the whereabouts of