• First social work student awarded the Sister M. Eva Connors Peace Medal at Marywood University
• Led the development of a children's advocacy center providing community-based services in rural North Georgia
• Outstanding Woman Scholar at University of Connecticut

Using on-line survey methodology, I research how organizational factors are associated with burnout and job satisfaction. My current populations of interest are forensic interviewers and social work educators. Through this research I hope to provide a better understanding of the ways organizations can support employees as a means to preventing burnout and increasing job satisfaction.

Presentations

• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2015, October). Longevity in the workplace... Job satisfaction and burnout among forensic interviewers. Society for Social Work and Research. New Orleans, LA.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2015, July). I love my job, but... Job satisfaction and burnout Among forensic interviewers. American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. Boston, MA.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2014, February). Organizational factors affecting burnout among forensic interviewers. University of Connecticut Human Rights Institute. Storrs, CT.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2012, November). Compassion fatigue and the social worker. Professional Development, University of Connecticut School of Social Work. West Hartford, CT.

Through exploratory, qualitative research, I investigate social work educators’ efforts to incorporate human rights perspectives into the curriculum. Thus far, my colleagues and I have found there are challenges to integrating a human rights framework in to social work curriculum. The research provides insight to how social work educators are adapting to CSWE Educational Policies and what areas of social work education can be expanded to address the educational mandates.

Presentations

• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Libal, K., & Eggers, M. (2014, October). Advancing social work education through the integration of human rights [Poster]. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting. Tampa, FL.
• McPherson, J., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Libal, K., & Harding, S. (2013, November). Applying human rights principles to U.S. social work practice through interdisciplinary collaboration. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting. Dallas, TX.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. & Egger, M. (2012, November). Integrating Human Rights into Social Work Curriculum [Roundtable]. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting. Washington, DC.

Publications

• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., Libal, K., & Eggers, M. (Manuscript in preparation). Advancing social work education through the integration of human rights.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. & Jackson, R. (Manuscript in preparation). Human rights internships capstone experience.
• Thomas, R., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., & Ferraj, B. (2014). A case study in immigrant civic engagement research: Linking human rights to social work education. In K. Libal, M. Berthold, R.L. Thomas, & L. Healy (Eds.), Advancing Human Rights in Social Work Education (pp. 215-230). Alexandria, VA: CSWE Press.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2012). Social work 40 feet in the air (pp. 53-57). In L. Grobman & J. Clements (Eds.). Riding the mutual aid bus and other adventures in group work. Harrisburg, PA: White Hat Communications.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2010). In K. Haynes & J. Mickelson (Eds.). Affecting change: Social workers in the political arena (7^th ed.) (pp. 79-80). New York: Pearson.

As part of a multi-year mixed methods program evaluation of the Hartford Public Library’s Immigrant Civic Engagement Project, my colleagues and I investigated how social capital can build community capacity, solidarity, and integration of immigrant and receiving community members. Through this research, we hope to further the understanding of social capital within the context of community building and how libraries and community-based organizations can deliberately and systematically create and sustain partnerships to foster an integrative approach to immigrant civic engagement.

Presentations

• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2014, November). Building relationships and bridging social capital through the immigrant civic engagement project: A program evaluation. (2014). Program Evaluation Course, Graduate Social Work Department, West Chester University, West Chester, PA.
• Thomas, R., & Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2014, October). Social capital: A tool for practice with immigrants and refugees. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting. Tampa, FL.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Thomas, R., & Ferraj, B. (2013, November). Immigrant civic engagement research: Linking human rights to social work education. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting. Dallas, TX.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Tigner, J., & Comaduran, R. (2012, April). Building Relationships and Bridging Social Capital: An Inclusive Approach to Immigrant Civic Engagement within Libraries, Process and Outcome Evaluation Year 1. (Accepted, Not Presented). National Association of Social Workers - CT Chapter Annual Statewide Conference. Waterbury, CT.

Publications

• Thomas, R., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Ferraj, B., & Barrette, K. (Manuscript in preparation). Social capital and civic engagement: An integrative approach to practice with immigrants and refugees.

My interest in Women's and Children's Rights stems from my practical experience in the fields of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. The United States has been resistant to defining violence against women and children as human rights violations, limiting the realization that all individuals have the right to be free from abuse.

Presentations

• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2012, September). Child Welfare: Past and Present. Exploration in Social Work Undergraduate Course, Central Connecticut State University. New Britain, CT.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2011, July). Long Term Child Welfare Workers: Suggestions for Leadership and Supervision (Poster). American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Annual Colloquium. Philadelphia, PA.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2012, June). Working with the Sexually Abused Pre-Adolescent/ Adolescent Male. Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Holyoke, MA.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2011, March). Women and oppression. Human Oppression: The African American & Puerto Rican Perspective Graduate Course, University of Connecticut School of Social Work. West Hartford, CT.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2010, March). Supporting Abused Children through Action. University of Connecticut Women's Studies Conference on Women & Gender. Storrs, CT.

Publications

• Clements, J. & Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. Retention and resiliency in child welfare workers. (Manuscript in preparation).
• Anyikwa, V., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., Hodge, D., and Wells-Wilbon, R. (Manuscript under review). Women empowering women.
• Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2013). Children's rights versus what is good for children. In M. C. Hokenstad, L. M. Healy, & U.A. Segal (Eds.). Teaching human rights: Curriculum resources for social work educators. (pp. 197). Alexandria, VA: CSWE Press.

• Member of the Council on the Role and Status of Women in Social Work Education, an organization within the Council on Social Work Education