Christina Chiarelli-Helminiak

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APPLYVISIT

Christina Chiarelli-Helminiak, MSW, PhD

Professor
Anderson Hall, Room 427
610-436-3615
cchiarelli-helminiak@wcupa.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Degrees

BA, Social Work: Shippensburg University
MSW: Marywood University
PhD, Social Work: University of Connecticut

Main areas of interest

Organizational factors that affect job satisfaction and burnout
Integration of human rights in social work curricula
Immigrant civic engagement
Children's and women's rights

Inspiration

Beginning at a young age, I questioned many things that still perplex me today. How can children be abused by people who should be caring for and loving them? Why can't people around the globe put differences aside and work toward ensuring respect and dignity for all? Why are my fellow citizens not willing to talk to or learn about people of different cultures and backgrounds?

I believe the best way to answer such questions is to look within myself. Gandhi believed one must become the change he or she wishes to see in the world. Within my personal and professional self, I have applied this belief. As a social worker, one must create a balance between two selves. In order to live together as a global society that appreciates peace, we must become aware of what limits peace. It is through dialogue and understanding that we must work together as a global society so that each individual recognizes him or herself as a part of the encompassing whole.

Organizational factors that affect job satisfaction and burnout

Using online 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., & Young, T. (2016, January). A tale of two studies: Multidisciplinary teams in child abuse investigations. Presentation at meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2015, July). I love my job, but ... Job satisfaction and burnout among forensic interviewers. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Boston, MA.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2015, March). I love my job, but ... Job satisfaction and burnout among forensic interviewers. Poster session presented at WCU Research Day, West Chester, PA.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2015, January). Longevity in the workplace ... Job satisfaction and burnout among forensic interviewers. Paper presented at the meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research, New Orleans, LA.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2014, October). I love my job, but ... Job satisfaction and burnout among forensic interviewers. Poster session presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Tampa, FL.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2014, February). Organizational factors affecting burnout among forensic interviewers. Presentation at University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2012, November). Compassion fatigue and the social worker. Continuing education program presented at University of Connecticut, West Hartford, CT.

Integration of human rights in social work curricula

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 the Council on Social Work Education's educational policies and what areas of social work education can be expanded to address these educational mandates.

Presentations

Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2016, May). Human-rights based approach to advising. Presentation at the Committee for Excellence in Learning and Teaching Summer Workshop, West Chester, PA.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., & Iaquinto, O. (2016, April). Advancing social work education through the integration of human rights. Poster session presented at WCU Research Day, West Chester, PA.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2015, December). Human-rights based social work practice with attention to working with immigrants. Roundtable discussion at Widener University, Chester, PA.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2015, November). Advancing human rights through local social work education. Presentation at Conference on Social Work in the Global Environment, Kutztown, PA.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., & Libal, K. (2015, November). Integrating human rights and social justice into advising and teaching. Presentation at West Chester University, West Chester, PA.
Bohrman, C., Lewis, T., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., & Lane, T. (2015, October). The social work response to police brutality. Presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., McPherson, J., & Berthold, S.M. (2015, October). Taking a human rights-based approach to teaching micro-level social work. Presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO.
Johnson, D., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., & Osayande, E. (2015, February). Nonviolent strategy workshop. Presentation at West Chester University, West Chester, PA.
Schmitz, C., Hamilton-Mason, J., Balestrery, J.E., Fisher-Borne, M., Maurer, M., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., & Terrell, B. (2014, October). Challenges and strengths of studying abroad for students from traditionally marginalized communities. Presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Tampa, FL.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., Libal, K., & Eggers, M. (2014, October). Advancing social work education through the integration of human rights. Poster session presented at the 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. Presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Dallas, TX.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., & Eggers, M. (2012, November). Integrating human rights into social work curriculum. Roundtable discussion at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Washington, DC.

Publications

Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., & Cicerelle, P. (2016, May 2). Teaching human rights outside the classroom. [Web log content].
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.

Immigrant civic engagement

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

Thomas, R., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., & Barrette, K. (2015, October). Cultural navigator program: A process and outcome evaluation. Paper presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO.
Thomas, R., & Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2014, October). Social capital: A tool for practice with immigrants and refugees. Presentation at the 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. Presentation at the 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. Paper accepted but not presented at meeting of the National Association of Social Workers - Connecticut Chapter, Waterbury, CT.

Publications

Thomas, R.L., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., Ferraj, B., & Barrette, K. (2016). Engaging MSW students in faculty research: Students' perspectives of involvement in a program evaluation.Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 36(3), 275-288.
Thomas, R.L., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., Barrette, K., & Ferraj, B. (2015). Building relationships and facilitating immigrant community integration: An evaluation of a Cultural Navigator Program. Evaluation and Program Planning, 55, 77-84.
Thomas, R., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Comaduran, R., Ferraj, B., & Barrette, K. (2013). Building relationships and bridging social capital: An inclusive approach to immigrant civic engagement within libraries, process and outcome evaluation. University of Connecticut.
Thomas, R., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Tigner, J., Comaduran, R., & Ferraj, B. (2012). Building relationships and bridging social capital: An inclusive approach to immigrant civic engagement within libraries, process and outcome evaluation, Year 2. University of Connecticut.
Thomas, R., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Cahill, E., & Tigner, J. (2011). Building relationships and bridging social capital: An inclusive approach to immigrant civic engagement within libraries, process and outcome evaluation, Year 1. University of Connecticut.

Children's and women's rights

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

Deepak, A.C., Tower, L.E., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Anyikwa, V.A., Hamilton-Mason, J., Kominkiewicz, F.B., & McClerklin-Motley, S. (2016, November). Women's rights are human rights: The price paid by women for caregiving. Presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2015, November). Women empowering women. Presentation at Your Leadership Story: Women's Leadership Conference, West Chester, PA.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2012, June). Working with the sexually abused pre-adolescent / adolescent male. Presentation to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Holyoke, MA.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2011, July). Long term child welfare workers: Suggestions for leadership and supervision. Poster session presented at the meeting of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Philadelphia, PA.

Publications

Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., Blake, M., Hamilton-Mason, J., Hodge, D., Kominkiewicz, F., Lane, S.R., Silva-Martinez, E., & Simmons, C.A. (2016). Multiple faces of feminism. [Online teaching module, Council on Social Work Education Learning Academy].
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, a resource manual. (pp. 197). Alexandria, VA: CSWE Press.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2013). Empowerment. In J.L. Postmus (Ed.), Sexual violence and abuse: An encyclopedia of prevention, impacts, and recovery. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., & Bradshaw, J.M. (2011). Victims of interpersonal abuse in rural communities. In L. Ginsberg (Ed.), Social work in rural communities (5th ed.). Alexandria, VA: CSWE Press.
Lyon, E., Bradshaw, J., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Morneault, J., & Menard, A. (2011). Non-residential domestic violence services: Survivors' experiences. The domestic violence non-residential services and supports study. University of Connecticut.

Additional areas of research

Presentations

Gilliam, C.C., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., & Lane, T.Y. (2016, November). Moving forward after the election. Presentation at the Women's Leadership Conference, West Chester, PA.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Tower, L.E., Faul, A.C., & Hodge, D. (2016, November). Social work educators: Gendered differences. Panel discussion at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
Hodge, D., Wells-Wilbon, R., Anyikwa, V.A., & Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2016, November). Women empowering women to advance leadership in social work education. Panel discussion at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.

Publications

Anyikwa, V., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M., Hodge, D., & Wells-Wilbon, R. (2015). Women empowering women. Journal of Social Work Education, 51(4), 723-737.
Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2012). Social work 40 feet in the air. In L. Grobman & J. Clements (Eds.). Riding the mutual aid bus and other adventures in group work (pp. 53-57). Harrisburg, PA: White Hat Communications.

Master of Social Work