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MARCH/APRIL 2026
The McSilver Brief is a comprehensive newsletter released every other month, providing updates on the wide-ranging and impactful research, policy, and technical assistance work we are engaged in at the NYU McSilver Institute. We appreciate your continued support.
For more information about NYU McSilver, please visit mcsilver.nyu.edu.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2026 ▪ 12:00 PM
Immigration-Related Trauma and Resilience: Highlighting Clinical Perspectives and Community Support
Dr. Leslie Peña-Sullivan
The McSilver-affiliated NYC Resilience Collaborative is a collective of advocates and champions of trauma-informed care around New York City and the tristate area. On March 31, the Collaborative’s next quarterly meeting will feature Dr. Leslie Peña-Sullivan, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in trauma-informed care with first- and second-generation immigrant clients. Her presentation will cover clinical insights and practical ways to support people facing immigration-related trauma.
FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2026 ▪ 11:00 AM
Work that Wounds: The Long Shadow of Precarious Employment
Dr. Wen-Jui Han
Join us this Friday for the latest McSilver Speaker Series event, “Work that Wounds: The Long Shadow of Precarious Employment.” We are honored to host Dr. Wen-Jui Han, Professor at the NYU Silver School of Social Work, for a critical discussion on how unstable and unpredictable work schedules shape long-term health and economic outcomes for families.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026
Global Child Mental Health Symposium at the University of Chicago
The University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice is convening leading scholars, international practitioners, and policymakers for a half-day symposium to advance approaches to global child mental health. McSilver Institute Faculty Director Dr. Fred M. Ssewamala will give the first research presentation, “From Evidence to Scale: The Cost-Effectiveness of Asset-based Economic Empowerment Interventions for Child Development and Mental Health.”
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026 ▪ 4:00 PM
Dr. Theresa Betancourt on the Powerful Resilience of Children Facing Concentrated Adversity
Dr. Theresa Betancourt
The McSilver Institute invites you to a special event on April 23 featuring Dr. Theresa S. Betancourt. As the Salem Professor in Global Practice at the Boston College School of Social Work, Dr. Betancourt will discuss her latest book, Shadows into Light: A Generation of Former Child Soldiers Comes of Age. Drawing on over two decades of longitudinal research, she will examine how the legacy of conflict continues to shape the lives of youth and families in Sierra Leone today.
Her study reveals a remarkable story of resilience, as former child soldiers navigate their personal journeys in the aftermath of the civil war. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session moderated by McSilver Faculty Director Dr. Fred M. Ssewamala.
MONDAY, MAY 4, 2026
SAVE THE DATE: After Birth, Aftercare, Afterthought: The 4th Trimester Live Video Podcast
Join the McSilver Institute, AmeriHealth Caritas, and the Greater New York Chapter of the Links on May 4th at BRIC Arts Media for a live podcast recording: “After Birth, Aftercare, Afterthought: The Fourth Trimester.” This podcast dives into the vital months following childbirth — a time often overlooked but crucial for both baby and parent. We’re bringing together health experts, advocates, and those with lived experience to discuss the future of maternal health. Registration and speaker info coming soon!
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
From Service to Social Change: A Conversation on the Settlement House
On March 5th, McSilver Executive Director Rose Pierre-Louis joined a pivotal panel discussion hosted by Greenwich House titled “From Service to Social Change: A Conversation on the Settlement House.”
Inspired by the book Slumless America: Mary K. Simkhovitch and the Dream of Affordable Housing, the conversation examined how the settlement house movement pioneered public housing reform and established the foundation for the modern social safety net.
Darren Bloch, CEO and Executive Director of Greenwich House, moderated the panel after opening remarks by Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. In addition to Rose Pierre-Louis, the panel also featured:
▪ Betty Boyd Caroli, Author and Historian
▪ Dr. Roderick L. Jones, President of Goddard Riverside
▪ Susan Stamler, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses
Strengthening Collaboration to Address Global Health Inequities
Dr. Fred M. Ssewamala
McSilver Faculty Director Dr. Fred Ssewamala was awarded funding through the NYU Provost’s Faculty Initiatives Grant program to organize a conference titled Multidirectional Learning to Address Inequities in Global Health: Strengthening Research Collaborations and Learning between Global North and Global South. In June 2026, the conference will bring NYU’s global network of scholars together in Uganda to reflect on pressing global challenges, including environmental health, the impact of war and conflict, maternal and child health, and the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
McSilver Fellow Shares Op-Ed on Homeless Outreach in Daily News
Dr. Jeffrey Ginsburg
In a February 9 New York Daily News op-ed, Dr. Jeffrey R. Ginsburg of the NYU McSilver Institute argues that encampment sweeps during extreme cold fail to protect individuals experiencing homelessness, instead displacing them from essential services. The piece advocates for prioritizing trust-building outreach, accessible shelter, and permanent housing over enforcement actions.
McSilver Research Presents Work Showing How Machine Learning Can Improve HIV Care
Dr. Samuel S. Kizito
On February 26, NYU’s C+M Center hosted a one-day conference on the “human future” in the AI era, a special look at how new digital tools come to terms with social responsibility. Dr. Samuel Kizito shared his team’s work using machine learning models to improve HIV care in Uganda. Assessing the many complex barriers to lifesaving treatment and prevention, Dr. Kizito’s predictive models enable resources and interventions to be targeted to the youth who need them most.
McSilver Speaker Series Events Disseminate Valuable Research Insights
The first two McSilver Speaker Series events provided attendees with specialized insights into research and practices for supporting communities impacted by poverty. In January, the discussion focused on the New York City Perinatal and Early Childhood Mental Health Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC). Dr. Andrew F. Cleek, McSilver’s Deputy Executive Director, and Meaghan Baier, Director of Healthcare Innovation, highlighted how TTAC has expanded its training initiatives and partnerships to better serve New York City’s young children and families.
In February, the series addressed the intersecting inequities of the global HIV crisis. NYU-based clinical experts Dr. Marya Gwadz, Dr. Farzana Kapadia, and Dr. Ronald S. Braithwaite shared evidence-based strategies to reduce disparities in vulnerable populations. The session concluded with a Q&A moderated by the McSilver Institute’s Dr. Samuel Kizito. We invite you to join us as the series continues to share innovative research aimed at advancing health equity.
CTAC Launches Partnering with Youth Training Series
The "Partnering with Youth" team
Looking to deploy trauma-informed practices? CTAC has launched “Partnering with Youth,” a new two-part training series dedicated to authentic youth partnership. From foundational concepts (Part 1) to actionable strategies (Part 2), this series equips providers with the tools needed for meaningful engagement.
This curriculum was co-created by McSilver experts Dr. Kara Dean-Assael and Diana M. Arias, alongside Youth Peer Advocates Muhammad Irtaza and Meghann Simpson
Access the recorded webinars and resources for free by registering at the McSilver Training and Technical Assistance portal:
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
Boateng, A., Sensoy Bahar, O., Ibrahim, A., Addo-Lartey, A. A., Kumbelim, K., & Nartey, P. (2026). Impact of COVID-19 on Social Support among Caregivers: A Qualitative Study. Global Social Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-026-00441-w
Sensoy Bahar, O., Byansi, W., Ibrahim, A., Boateng, A., Kumbelim, K., Nartey, P. B., Amissah, F., Nabunya, P., Ssewamala, F. M., & McKay, M. M. (2025). Preliminary impact of a combination intervention on intention to migrate and school absence among adolescent girls: Results from a pilot cluster-randomized clinical trial in Northern Ghana. Children and Youth Services Review, 171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.10820
Kabarambi, A., Girma, A. Z., Nartey, P., Nabbosa, I., Jamiru, S., Nabunya, P., & Ssewamala, F. M. (2026). Correlates of willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among young people impacted by HIV in Uganda. AIDS Care, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2026.2627518
Ssentumbwe, V., Matovu, F., Namatovu, P., Najjuuko, C., Kizito, S., Nabayinda, J., Nartey, P., Namuwonge, F., Nabunya, P., Lu, C., Mutumba, M., & Ssewamala, F. M. (2026). Using Machine Learning to Predict Depression among Adolescents Living with HIV in Uganda. Global Social Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-026-00456-3
Frempong, M. R. K., Ssentumbwe, V., Nabayinda, J., Namuwonge, F., Kizito, S., Nabunya, P., & Ssewamala, F. M. (2026). The Impact of Child Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties on Caregivers’ Mental Health: Insights from Families of Children Orphaned by HIV in Southern Uganda. Global Social Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-026-00453-6
Namuwonge, F., Girma, A. Z., Kizito, S., Kalulu, P., Ssentumbwe, V., Nabunya, P., McKay, M., & Ssewamala, F. M. (2026). Adapting a U.S.-based micro-savings program for Uganda: implementation process and lessons learned. Children and Youth Services Review, 183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.108792
Nabayinda, J., Kizito, S., Nattabi, J., Nabunya, P., & Ssewamala, F. M. (2026). Gendered Impact of Economic Empowerment Interventions on Savings Behaviors Among HIV-Orphaned Adolescents in Uganda. Global Social Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-026-00436-7
