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UK College of Social Work’s Julie Cerel on Suicide Rates

This article was originally published by NBC News.

The number of people who died by suicide rose from 2020 to 2021 following a brief period of decline, according to provisional data released Friday from the National Center for Health Statistics.

It’s a sign, experts say, that suicide rates are inching back up to levels seen before the pandemic.

In 2021, 47,646 people in the United States died by suicide, up from 45,979 in 2020. That’s an increase of nearly 4%.

There had been hope among experts that suicide rates had perhaps peaked in 2018, after steadily rising for nearly two decades. Numbers fell slightly in both 2019 and 2020.

The reasons for those declines are unclear, said Julie Cerel, director of the Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab at the University of Kentucky.

“In 2019, something changed,” she said. “We’ll never know if it’s because we were doing something right or not.”

Despite the stresses associated with the pandemic, suicide rates did not increase in 2020. Cerel said she was not surprised.

“People were looking after each other” early on in the pandemic, she said. Families were also largely gathered together in their homes, working and studying remotely. People tend to die by suicide when others aren’t around, Cerel said.

The 2021 increases may reflect, in part, a return to normalcy.

The report found that males ages 15 to 24 continue to be at higher risk than other groups. In 2021, there were 24.1 suicides per 100,000 people in this group, up from 22.4 per 100,000 in 2020, an increase of 8%.

The higher rates among younger men may be because they are more likely to engage in high risk-taking behaviors and tend to have greater access to the most lethal means in terms of suicide attempts, said Michael Lindsey, dean of the New York University Silver School of Social Work. Lindsey’s research focuses on preventing suicides in young people, especially Black youth.

The new report did not provide a racial and ethnic breakdown of recent suicides. However, previous research has indicated a worrisome rise among young Black men.

Suicide rates also increased for men ages 24 through 44, as well as 65 through 74.

While men have historically been more likely to die by suicide than women, the report zeroed in on another alarming trend: suicides in middle school-age girls.

In 2020, 204 girls ages 10 to 14 died by suicide. In 2021, that number rose to 237 — an increase of 16%. The overall numbers are so low in this age group, however, that they’re not considered statistically significant.

“We can’t jump to any conclusions,” Cerel said. “But we need to be looking out for younger girls, as well.”

Lindsey said all of the increases cited in the new report reflect a demand for more mental health professionals to address the growing problem.

“There’s not the requisite numbers of providers to be able to meet the sheer need,” he said.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

UK College of Social Work

UK College of Social Work Celebrates 1 Year of the KY-KINS Program As It Continues to Break Down Barriers for Kinship Families

One year after launching, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work’s Kentucky Kinship Information, Navigation, and Support (KY-KINS) program has made tremendous strides with initiatives designed to meet the needs of the kinship caregiving community, by helping families access critical resources and connect in peer groups.

Why Kinship is Different

Estella “Nikki” Allen is a foster parent with years of experience and was familiar with the cadence of connecting regularly with social workers, going through training courses and keeping up with documents for the children in her care.

Then, she received a call. “A little girl was born in December of 2020, and she had gone to a friend of the family at first and it just didn’t work out. It wasn’t a good fit. So, they called us,” Allen said.  

She was glad to welcome that little girl into her family—but realized that doing so as a kinship caregiver would be a much different experience than fostering. Allen said moving into a kinship role was a bit daunting given the lack of structure and guidance, but participating in the UK College of Social Work KY-KINS peer support program helped her grow into it.

“I’ve been a foster parent, but I’d never been in kinship. Foster parenting and kin are two totally different things.” Allen said. “That is what led me to the program because I was completely lost. I was used to…all the things that we had to do as foster parents and then with kin, it was like I had to relearn my role.”

“The biggest impact was just to not feel alone, or that I was thrown into this role with nothing and had no idea what to do or how to do it…(KY-KINS) was like talking to an old friend,” Allen said.

A New Standard

Stepping into a parenting role can be difficult regardless of the circumstances—from caregiving to budgeting to juggling multiple priorities. For those who do so as friends or family of a child who is suddenly without a parent, acting as “kinship” caregivers creates a unique set of pressures and community resources often fall short of meeting their needs.

The KY-KINS peer support program, which is part of the Kentucky Kinship Resource Center, has taken innovative steps to solve these issues, bridging the gap by connecting new kinship caregivers with mentors who have similar lived experiences and are trained to provide support and resources, ensuring there is someone for families to turn to for guidance and help.

“There is a lot of info out there regarding foster care but very little info regarding kinship care,” Regina Henderson, a KY-KINS program peer support mentor said. “This program offers experienced employees to help get the info and resources to the kinship caregivers that they and the children deserve and are entitled to. I always say that raising a child costs the same whether you are a biological parent, foster parent, or kinship caregiver. Through our program we can help the kinship caregiver get the most out of the resources offered to them.”

Jessica Adkins is also a peer supporter and was thrilled to join a program that was acting to solve the very problems she faced as a kinship caregiver to two girls. “I was a kinship mom!” Adkins said. “I had no one to talk to or anywhere to turn to try and find help and resources…I think that the best part for families is knowing that they are not alone. “

Building the Future of Kinship Support

In the coming year, the UK College of Social Work (CoSW) plans to build on the program’s success and will recruit, hire, and train new kinship caregivers to provide peer support services. Additionally, the college is working with community partners to promote and advertise the program so that all eligible kinship families have the opportunity to participate. As the program continues to grow, UK CoSW will be working with the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) to identify new methods for supporting kinship families.

This year, KY-KINS expanded from the original 35 counties in the Cumberland and Salt River Trail regions to add 27 counties in the Southern Bluegrass and Two Rivers regions. The program is planned to continue expansion until it is available in all areas of the state.

After just one year, the program’s positive impact is already being felt and leaders are looking forward to more success down the road.

“We work cooperatively with the Department for Community Based Services through the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in an effort to better support the kinship families in the state who are caring for children they did not give birth to but have a loving connection with-whether by family relationship or as a family friend,” Sheila Rentfrow, Kinship Program Coordinator at UK CoSW said.

“Many of these families assume the care, and in many cases, the custody of children during difficult family circumstances, often with little time to prepare educationally or financially. These children come to kinship homes with emotional and behavioral struggles that caregivers must understand and learn to parent through all while caring for the family unit as a whole. It is our intention to continue to provide supportive services that can assist these caregivers in finding resources and programs that can meet their needs and offer stability to the family itself.”

UK College of Social Work

UK College of Social Work Alumna Shines, from the Classroom to the Policy Arena  

If there is one thing Brenda Rosen has learned from her career, it is how valuable a social worker’s versatile skill set is to any organization or business.

“Social work is a professional degree, and we are trained to work in so many different fields and disciplines.  We can work in big business. We can work in nonprofits. We can work in schools, healthcare, politics, criminal justice and crisis response to name just a few.  We have the knowledge and education to be leaders in every multi-disciplinary setting,” Rosen said.

Rosen is the executive director of the Kentucky Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, or NASW, a division of the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world. As part of her role, Rosen has advocated to increase social worker salaries and develop better working conditions. She also serves as an instructor at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work where she teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses. Most recently, she was named to The Kentucky Gazette’s 2022 Notable Women in Kentucky Politics and Government list.

Leading an organization like NASW and advocating for policy change was not Rosen’s initial career plan—that inspiration arrived later.

Life is Not a Dress Rehearsal

Rosen began her social work journey as an undergraduate at the University of Kentucky in 1978.

“I always wanted to be a social worker. I always wanted to work with people,” Rosen said of her decision to join the field. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in social work, she continued her education at the University of Alabama, earning a master’s degree in social work in 1985, and later worked at a hospital in the state. There, she made a pivot to an area of social work she never imagined pursuing.

“All the things that you think you will never do in your world of social work, you might end up doing. The one thing I said I never, ever wanted to do was work with people that were dying, especially dying children. And sure enough, that became my life’s passion as a social worker,” Rosen said.

That willingness to change direction and follow her curiosity became a signature of Rosen’s career, and a central theme for how she encourages students and professionals interested in social work. She credits her experience working in hospice and connecting with clients with helping her put fears aside and develop the courage to try new things.

“I have held the hands of thousands of people as they left their journey here in life. And you know what? You realize that life is not a dress rehearsal,” Rosen said.

Rosen met her husband during her time in Birmingham, and they eventually moved to Pennsylvania where they lived for 23 years.  In 2009, Rosen and her husband decided to move back to Lexington with their two children so they could grow up in her favorite college town.  Plus, they were tired of the snowy winters. “We need to be ready to kind of explore other areas …I did love the medical field. But I was ready for something new,” Rosen said.

Evolving with the Times and the Technology

That something new included stepping into the classroom to begin teaching at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work in 2012.

Rosen was approached by a colleague who mentioned the school was looking to hire an instructor with significant field experience. She submitted her resume and was selected. “I loved every single minute of it.”

A major shift happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as classes moved to a virtual setting and teachers and students adapted to the environment. But, Rosen explained, the technology opened an entirely new network and allowed people across the globe to interact in a virtual classroom, discussing their different regional experiences and sharing information more easily.

One of her favorite parts of teaching has been interacting with students, sharing her expertise in social work while also showcasing the opportunity to utilize these skills across industries.

“I would love to see, you know, more [social work] students take a law class or a business class or, you know, international policy class, because I think that the gift of our profession is that we can work within all interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary fields. You look at policy, we need more social workers,” Rosen said.

It’s a track she knows well, having made another career pivot to become a policy advocate for social workers.

Serving the Workforce of the Future

Rosen’s next act brought her into the public policy sphere, advocating on the front lines for social workers at the National Association of Social Workers. She has been a member of the organization since 1986 and became the executive director of the Kentucky Chapter in 2016, after serving on the board of directors for a few years. She credits her love of working with college students and her social work peers as the reason for taking the position and encourages every social worker to get involved on a board that speaks to their passion.  “For me, policy was just not what I wanted to do,” Rosen said of her career path. “But then I was in my 50s…I had kids and a life and experience behind me, and I was like, you know what? I really need to be proactive, and I really need to be involved.”

“Everybody should be able to live their own authentic lives. So, it’s about not making judgment or telling people what to do, but really engaging and making sure that policies reflect that and are safe and fair.”

Those policy initiatives include ensuring social workers are paid equitably and that there is a pipeline to serve the needs of the community, with a robust and resilient workforce.

After more than four decades in the profession, Rosen has a unique understanding of its rewards and the challenges. She credits her ability to set boundaries and focus on self-care as key tools for her professional success, and she encourages her students and colleagues to establish routines that will bolster them during stressful times.

“Social workers need to set, learn, embrace your inner toddler and learn the word ‘no.’ Rosen said. “I always say to my students, if you can’t find half an hour a day for yourself and with nothing else going on, then you really need to take a step back because there are 24 hours in a day.”

“We’re not here to fix everybody’s problem. We’re here to engage, educate and empower our clients and our coworkers. But, you know, we need to remember that that all those skills that we’ve learned, we need to apply to our own lives and not shortchange our family and friends, and the free time or the ‘me’ time that we need.”

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As she looks to her next chapter, Rosen has a message for all social workers, whether they are current practitioners or former professionals who have made their own career and life pivots.

“We need to celebrate and not be afraid to validate our profession. This is a professional degree, and this is not an easy degree to get. I think the more we do that, the more people understand the power of our profession.”

UK College of Social Work

UK College of Social Work Research Shows Vital Role Family Socioeconomic Status, Environment Play in Childhood, Teen Mental Health

Research from the University of Kentucky College of Social Work underscores the impact family environments, economic status, and adverse experiences have on children’s mental health. The study was recently published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.

The collaborative study, which examined complex relationships between socioeconomic status (SES), adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), youth psychopathology, and family environment, found that children and teens from families with increasing economic strains have a greater risk for adverse mental health outcomes. Data used in the study was collected from more than 5,000 participants with an average age of ten, and their caretakers, annually for three years.

Results of the study showed that lower levels of family socioeconomic status were associated with higher levels of adverse childhood experiences, which, in turn, were associated with increased adverse mental health symptoms, such as sadness, anxiety, excessive crying, acting out, and being disobedient in school. Conflict within the family environment further exacerbated these outcomes.

“We know that low-socioeconomic status can put children and youth at risk for poorer mental health outcomes. However, understanding the ways in which it does so is complicated because it shapes access to multiple resources and conditions needed for healthy outcomes. When we conduct research aimed at building an understanding of these healthy relationships, we need to be able to consider not just each individual risk, but also how risks could interact with one another,” said lead researcher Sheila Barnhart, Ph.D., of the University of Kentucky College of Social Work. “Implementing research-based policies and interventions which aim to reduce adverse childhood experiences and difficult family environments, in addition to those that support families in meeting their basic financial needs, may lessen the negative impact of lower socioeconomic status on children and teens.”

Other authors in this study included Antonio Garcia, Ph.D., of the College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky and Nicole Karcher, Ph.D., of the School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.

UK College of Social Work

UK College of Social Work Study Examines Navigating Grief and Pregnancy Loss Through Online Story Telling

New analysis from the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky highlights the need for more training in social work practice regarding the intersection of reproductive and mental health surrounding pregnancy loss. The paper is published in the journal of Qualitative Social Work.

Using blog posts authored by six women who experienced miscarriages, researchers found women who experience miscarriage often lack resources to understand what is happening to their bodies, and more support and information are needed to successfully navigate the grieving process. When combined with other external factors, grief from a miscarriage loss can develop into complicated grief, a condition that has negative mental health implications for the bereaved mother.

“Because of the general lack of discussion and research on miscarriage, many women feel isolated and alone as they struggle to face this loss. Bloggers use their platforms to process, educate and connect, and most of the bloggers in our analysis shared their stories as part of their grieving process,” said lead researcher Aubrey Jones, Ph.D., of the University of Kentucky College of Social Work. “These stories demonstrate how women experiencing miscarriage grief transition from accepting the reality of the loss, work through pain and grief, and adjust to an environment without the baby.”

“The findings of this study present an opportunity for healthcare providers to understand the complexity of pregnancy loss, including the emotional toll on the patient, and assess the need to provide treatment through therapy or other means acceptable to each individual,” Dr. Jones said.

Other authors on the study include Chinh Duong, DSW, LCSW and Kristel Scoresby, LCSW, of the College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.

UK College of Social Work

Academic Year Wrap-Up 2022

Greetings!

I hope this message finds you WELL.

Needless to say – this has been quite a year. We continue to grapple with the impacts of an ever-evolving pandemic. Humanitarian crises, inflation, and justice issues persist. Indeed, the societal impact of these inimical conditions, and others, cannot be overstated.

Against this backdrop, the College of Social Work (CoSW) has continued to actualize our mission. Despite challenges, I cannot say enough about our outstanding faculty, staff, and alumni. Over the past academic year, these individuals worked tirelessly to provide students with impactful educational and research experiences. I am – and will remain – grateful for their creativity, collegial spirit, and commitment to CoSW.

Though the true impact of the work of our faculty, staff, and students is immeasurable in many ways, these efforts have yielded noteworthy metrics. Compared to the 2020-2021 academic year, student enrollment across the college increased 63%. CoSW continued the pursuit of research excellence, with extramural funding growing 53.4% and our grant proposal award rate climbing to an amazing 76%. Faculty received several national and international awards and recognition for their work and the CoSW Centers and Labs enterprise served over 50,000 individuals via direct program and training services. These achievements, and others, crystalize our enduring commitment to advancing the CoSW mission. 

You can read about these, and other pieces of news, in our 2021-2022 Academic Year Wrap-Up.

View Our Academic Year Wrap-Up

In the coming academic year, we will continue to examine new ways to work towards a more just society. We recognize that as social problems become increasingly complex and multifarious, so too must our response. We will resolutely adhere to our core principles. 

  • We will continue to focus on conceptualizing and delivering an accessible, world-class social work education.
  • We will continue to actively foster a culture of diversity and expansion.
  • We will continue to show appreciation for our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters, specifically, and for social work professionals, more broadly. 
  • We will continue to conduct and strategically disseminate research aimed at improving the well-being of individuals, groups, and communities. 

Without question, adeptly actualizing these priorities will be challenging. We will undoubtedly need your help. I look forward to connecting with you about several exciting announcements and new ways for you to be involved with CoSW.

As always, I welcome your input and offer my support. If there is anything that I can do for you, please email me at Justin.Miller1@uky.edu (with copy to Xana.Plum@uky.edu). Or, you can reach me by phone at (859) 257-5740.

Be well, diligent with your self-care, and always remember: SOCIAL WORK WAS BUILT FOR THIS.

J. Jay Miller
Twitter: @DrJayMiller1
Dean and Dorothy A. Miller Research Professor in Social Work Education, College of Social Work
Acting Director, UK Online
University of Kentucky

UK College of Social Work

UK College of Social Work Doctoral Student Receives Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) Fellowship

Rujeko Machinga, a Ph.D. student in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky, has been recognized as a pre-dissertation fellow of the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW).

The AGESW pre-dissertation fellowship program provides students with a range of professional development opportunities, including working with nationally recognized faculty experts in Gerontological Social Work.

“I am honored and excited for this opportunity,” Rujeko said. “As an aspiring gerontology scholar, my future will significantly benefit from this fellowship.”

Rujeko credits her upbringing in Zimbabwe for her interest in social work. Having been raised in the philosophy of Ubuntu—which Rujeko says emphasizes compassion, human dignity, and collective unity—she was inspired to make a difference in her community through a career in human services.

Rujeko’s research explores the often-invisible relationship between intimate partner violence and older adults. She has previously collaborated on research, manuscripts, and conference presentations on topics ranging from HIV risk predictors among older adults to the sexual health of Black women.

“It is such an exciting time for gerontological social work,” said Rujeko. “I intend to place gerontology perspectives on the map and adequately prepare the next generation of gerontology social work leaders.”

Dr. Jay Miller, dean of the College of Social Work, said the college is proud of Rujeko’s accomplishments.

“Her work serves as an example of the impact our students can have,” Dean Miller said. “We look forward to seeing how Rujeko progresses and the contributions she will make to AGESW via this amazing opportunity.”

Rujeko currently serves as a Student Board Member for AGESW and is a Chapter Parliamentarian for the Association of Black Social Workers. She is an ad-hoc reviewer for the Journal of Gerontological Social Work and serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Psychotherapy, Counselling, and Care Services in Zimbabwe.

UK College of Social Work to Host Retreat for Long-Term Survivors of Suicide Loss

The Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work will host a two-day retreat for Kentuckians that lost someone close to them to suicide more than three years ago. The retreat, which is being offered in collaboration with the Kentucky Interagency Council on Suicide Prevention, Eastern Kentucky University Psychology Clinic, and Brother’s Run, will take place at the University of Kentucky campus June 25-26, 2022.

“Suicide loss survivors often receive services in the days and weeks after their loss, but not in the years that follow,” said Dr. Julie Cerel, Director of the Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab. “This retreat is specifically designed to help long-term survivors integrate their grief into the life they continue to build. Suicide loss can be felt by anyone close to the person that died, regardless of their actual relationship.”

Participants in the retreat will create a timeline of their loss and determine what’s next; explore growth after loss and planting a seed of hope; and craft a personal metaphor for their loss and their life after that loss. Suicide prevention resources available across the Commonwealth will also be discussed. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to support future suicide loss survivors by helping guide the focus of future research, prevention, and service effects.

The retreat will be led by prominent experts, including three past presidents of the American Association of Suicidology.

Suicide loss survivors interested in participating in the retreat can register online at https://ceu.uky.edu/product/suicidesurvivorretreat/. Registration is free, but space is limited.

About the Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab

UK Social Work’s Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab (SPEL) is dedicated to examining suicide and its impact. The lab focuses on research related to exposure, prevention, and the understanding of suicide as a phenomenon. Additionally, the lab is involved in broad-ranging outreach initiatives designed to better educate communities about suicide. To learn more about SPEL, visit https://socialwork.uky.edu/portal/sw/centers-labs/suicide-prevention-exposure-lab/.

UK College of Social Work

UK, FCPS Partnership to Help School Social Workers Address Unique Challenges

This article was originally published by UKNow.

From social withdrawal to aggressive behaviors, school social workers are often called upon to help students, families and teachers address unique challenges.

They strive to strengthen students’ academic progress by removing barriers to learning and meeting basic physical and emotional needs. And now, more than ever, there is an increased need for school social workers to help prevent violence and support students in moments of crisis.

A new partnership between the University of Kentucky and Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) will work to meet that need.

This summer, the College of Social Work (CoSW), in collaboration with UK Online and the College of Education, will offer a fully online program to help a cohort of FCPS social workers become certified School Social Workers.

“We are truly grateful to the University of Kentucky and Dean Jay Miller for providing this amazing opportunity that opens a path for our team members to obtain their certification in school social work,” Demetrus Liggins, Ph.D., FCPS superintendent, said. “As part of our commitment to serving the whole child, Fayette County Public Schools is actively seeking to build the number of employees who hold this endorsement.”

A new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) study, published in the American Medical Association’s journal JAMA Pediatrics, reports significant increases in the number of children diagnosed with mental health conditions.

The study, conducted by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), finds from 2016-2020, the number of children ages 3-17 years diagnosed with anxiety grew by 29%, and those with depression grew by 27%. The findings also suggest troubling changes in child and family well-being after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The results also highlight that a sense of being cared for and supported at school — called “school connectedness” — had an important effect on students during a time of severe disruption.

The School Social Work Certificate focuses on a specialized field of practice designed to prepare social workers to better respond to the distinctive behavioral and mental health needs of elementary, middle and high school students. The graduate level program also meets the Kentucky mandated requirements for school social work certification.

“We are delighted to be able to engage with UK Online, the College of Education and FCPS to make this certification more accessible to practitioners working in our schools,” Jay Miller, Ph.D., dean of the College of Social Work, said. “Given the needs of students and families across Fayette County, I find solace in Dr. Liggins’ and Dean Julian Vasquez Heilig’s commitment to developing our education professionals in a way that is meaningful and impactful.”

“Partnering with the college is the cornerstone of our ‘grow your own’ program to advance the profession and expand the number of individuals in our district helping sustain a supportive, caring and nurturing learning environment where our students can thrive,” Liggins added.  

This online certification builds upon the COSW’s LifeLong Learning (L3) Initiative.  

Whether you’re in pursuit of an academic degree, in need of credentials for professional advancements or simply want to stimulate your intellectual curiosity, the university offers an array of learning experiences to meet students where they are.

Additionally, the initiative is strategically designed to be responsive to contemporary workforce demands. Through an array of online, virtual, hybrid and face-to-face offerings, the initiative helps to build the knowledge, skills and values necessary for personal and professional growth.  

Online education master’s programs in the College of Education are ranked No. 14 in the nation and No. 1 in Kentucky, excelling in student-instructor access, graduation rates and instructor credentials, among other key indicators of program quality. The college’s Professional Learning Series offers digital badges, as well as continuing education credit. And the college’s Center for Next Generation Leadership creates opportunities for students, teachers, leaders and communities committed to upgrading educational systems to reimagine the learner experience of every student.

“When employees reach a high level of professional competence and are fulfilled in their roles, they are more likely to stay in their careers long-term and leave a legacy,” Julian Vasquez Heilig, Ph.D., dean of the College of Education, said. “We are glad to work with partners across the university to help meet the educational needs of school professionals so they can be successful and make a difference.” 

You can learn more about the College of Social Work here, the College of Education here or UK Online here.

UK College of Social Work

UK College of Social Work’s Kotomi Yokokura Recognized as 2022-23 Newman Civic Fellow

This story was originally published in UKNow.

Kotomi Yokokura, a student in the College of Social Work and Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentucky, has been recognized as the 2022-23 Newman Civic Fellow.

Sponsored by Campus Compact, the fellowship recognizes students who engage in collaborative campus and community action to create social change, as well as address inequality and political polarization through civic engagement.

The yearlong fellowship program provides students with opportunities that emphasize personal, professional and civic growth. “I’m honored to represent UK and be able to work with other service-oriented students across the nation,” Kotomi said. “I’m also excited to grow through future collaborations.”

Kotomi, an Otis A. Singletary Scholar, is recognized as a leader on campus, and in the greater community, on the issue of “period poverty,” which describes the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products and education in the United States and abroad.

Last year, Kotomi founded the “Take a Tampon” initiative — hosting a donation drive to ensure ample supply of hygiene products across campus.

Kotomi also sought collaborative partnerships with other institutions, including the University of Louisville, to address this issue on higher education campuses, in low-income middle and high schools, and at homeless shelters across the state.

Additionally, she has participated in advocacy efforts with Kentucky legislators, as well as planned awareness-raising events in Frankfort.

“I’m passionate about my research, because there are many stigmas in our society that affect service provision and policies,” Kotomi said. “I’m hoping, through research, we can work to better assist underserved communities.”

Kotomi’s work in the community also includes research on two other important issues. She assisted with research on the migration of the homeless in relation to community services available with Andrew Sullivan, Ph.D. (Martin School of Public Policy and Administration). She also focused on the perceptions and utilization of social support among chronically homeless men with Natalie Pope, Ph.D. (College of Social Work). 

“We are extremely proud of the work Kotomi has done,” Jay Miller, dean of the College of Social Work, said. “She serves as an example of the impact that our students can have, and we look forward to seeing how her work progresses.” 

Additionally, Kotomi is working on a survey research project through the UK Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment that explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted college students’ psychosocial health, formal and informal support utilization, employment, food insecurity, and social behaviors.

Kotomi has a published peer-reviewed journal article on homelessness (in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “Cityscape”) and has contributed to the development of a manuscript on college students’ psychosocial health, employment and food insecurity that has been approved by the Georgia Journal of College Student Affairs.