Social Work/ Trabajo Social Rehabilitation Counseling/ Consejería de rehabilitación
Useful Links
Dr. Emre Umucu
Dr. Umucu's research focuses predominantly on psychosocial adaptation to chronic illnesses and disabilities. Currently, Dr. Umucu is working on evaluating and validating PERMA (i.e., Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment) model of well-being individuals with chronic conditions. He is also interested in developing culturally-sensitive positive psychology interventions to improve well-being among individuals with chronic health conditions. He has published several scientific articles and book chapters on psychosocial adjustment, employment, quality of life, well-being, and mental health among individuals with chronic illnesses. Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment The Goal of Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment (VRTAC-QE) is to upgrade and increase the competencies, skills, and knowledge of state VR agencies to enhance their capacity to implement and sustain employment strategies and supporting practices to enable individuals with disabilities to achieve quality employment and career advancement, particularly competitive integrated employment. My team here at UTEP responsible for outreach and engagement of Veterans and Hispanics with disabilities and chronic conditions.
African Americans Fighting Alzheimer’s in Midlife
In collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW), this project examines malleable positive psychological factors (e.g., positive emotion, resilience) and modifiable psychological risk factors (e.g., apathy) for the African Americans Fighting Alzheimer's in Midlife (AA- FAiM) project.
Serving Student Veterans with PTSD
My lab aims to develop strategies to improve college adjustment and well-being in student veterans with PTSD.
College Life Adjustment and Well-Being in Student Veterans with Disabilities
My lab aims to develop strategies to improve college adjustment and well-being in student veterans with disabilities.
Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy Among College Students with Disabilities
This study aims to examine potential reasons for vaccine hesitancy among college students with disabilities.
Understanding Well-Being and Community Participation in Veterans with Mental Illnesses
This study aims to examine modifiable protective and risk factors in well-being among veterans with mental illnesses.
Understanding Well-Being and Community Participation in Hispanic Individuals with T2 Diabetes
This study aims to examine modifiable protective and risk factors in well-being among Hispanic Individuals with T2 Diabetes.
COVID-19 Stress in Individuals with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions
This study aims to understand how the pandemic has affected mental health in individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities.
Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment.
The Goal of Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment (VRTAC-QE) is to upgrade and increase the competencies, skills, and knowledge of state VR agencies to enhance their capacity to implement and sustain employment strategies and supporting practices to enable individuals with disabilities to achieve quality employment and career advancement, particularly competitive integrated employment.
Dr. Eva M. Moya
Dr. Eva M. Moya is a current professor and researcher at The University of Texas at El Paso. Her research is focused on homelessness in El Paso and health disparities within minority communites. She maintains a strong presence in the El Paso community through her involvement with various boards and community engagements. Her goal of creating meaningful impact and change in the community is carried into the classroom; where she encourages her students to take an active role through various projects. Dr. Moya has been the author of many published works associated with her research. A list of some of her current projects can be found below.
Chronic Disease Risks and Access to Care of Adults Experiencing Homelessness in El Paso Texas Study
This is an exploratory study researching homeless individuals in El Paso from the ages of 18-75, male and female, and their perspectives on cancer, chronic disease, and experiences in health care services. Participants are all either at a shelter or transitional living center.
Cancer Knowledge Attitudes and Practices in Youth and Young Adults
The project is focused on two targets neighbor rural areas (Socorro, TX and San Elizario, TX) and seeks to gather the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of individuals from 18-39 years of age. This data will ultimately lead us to develop better cancer education programs that apply to those in similar locations and ages.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Mitigation & Cancer Prevention in Hispanics Project
This is an interdisciplinary behavioral study designed to normalize HPV vaccination, increase
HPV screening and improving health literacy reduce cancer health disparities among Hispanics between ages 18-65. The study results will be used to create educational messages tailored to the population and improve access to preventative services.
Use of Photovoice to make visible the mental health of transmigrants in El Paso, Texas
To document trans-migrant individuals' mental health (i.e., transgender, transsexual, drag queen/king, non-binary gender, among other gender spectrum identities) during the COVID-19 pandemic in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez border region using the Photovoice method. The photovoice method can enable people to reflect on their surroundings' strengths and concerns, particularly of the most vulnerable populations. Photovoice is a photographic technique that helps people identify, characterize, and improve their surroundings; it also promotes a participatory means of sharing experience and knowledge.
Food and Housing Insecurity (FHI) Project at UTEP
The purpose of the FHI study is to assess the extent to which UTEP students are impacted. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the students were surveyed to know how COVID impacted food and housing securities. The study results will be presented to the UTEP administration in the hope of starting a discussion of what the university can do to assist students who have housing, food and transportation insecurities.
100 dollar solution and photovoice manuscript
This project is based on the social determinants of health, an elective course Dr. Moya and Jessica taught during Fall 2020 for the social work department. These classes incorporated the elements of photovoice and the 100 dollar solution project. All our students created projects using these two elements to help identify and advocate an issue in their community. In the Spring 2021 semester, they will be using the 100 dollar solution project to write a manuscript to discuss the research and final products of class and why incorporating these community learning practices into the course is beneficial to social work students.
