Center for Research on Women :: Research Initiatives - Spring 2008

Current Research Agenda - Fall 2009

Families First and Tennessee's Single Female-Headed Households
Research to assess Tennessee's TANF program, Families First, and its effectiveness in serving the state's single female-headed households. Sponsored by the Women's Foundation of Greater Memphis.
Sexual Harassment of Teens in Memphis Middle and High Schools
An investigation of the frequency, types, and long-term impact of sexual harassment experienced by teenagers in Memphis middle and high schools. Supported in part by The Urban Child Institute and the University of Memphis Faculty Research Grant Program.
Campus Safety for Women
Project to assess, reduce and prevent violence against women on University of Memphis campuses.
Infant Mortality in Memphis
Evaluation of Community Voice, a new intervention to reduce infant mortality. Supported in part by the Tennessee Governor’s Office of Children’s Care Coordination.
Preconception Health
Project in development that would address pregnancy planning, timing, and preparation for healthy pregnancy among urban adolescent girls, with goals to prevent unintended pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes.
Strategic Plan to Reduce and Prevent Adolescent and Unintended Pregnancies in Shelby County
Project in development to use an Action-driven Community-based Transformation (ACT) protocol to 1) assess the scope and segmentation of adolescent sexual behavior in Shelby County; 2) conduct asset inventory and gap analyses with respect to services related to adolescent reproductive health; 3) document the extent to which current programming adhere to best practices established at the national level, and 4) develop benchmarks, recommendations, and a strategic plan for use by the community.
Supporting Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Project in development to systematically increase the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women faculty in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines at the University of Memphis.