Psychosocial outcomes of parents of Children with Disabilities

The aim of the PRO-Salud project was to assess the health needs of low-income Bolivian caregivers of children with disabilities and to investigate the ways COVID-19 impacted such needs and experiences.

Collaborators: Universidad de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca (USFX)

Destined for Greatness

The aim of the Destined for Greatness Program was to improve health outcomes by empowering mothers and their children with positive coping resources. Mothers participate in a culturally-tailored stress management program while their children participate in a kindness curriculum program that promotes prosocial behavior.

Collaborators: Black Infant Health Program

Funding: March of Dimes Foundation (PI: Manning; Co-Investigator: Urizar)

Publications: Thornburgh, G., Dunne, L., Brown, C., & Urizar, G. (2017). The effects of a stress management program on self-efficacy, stress, and mood among low-income African-American mothers. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 51(1), S343.

Smart Moms Program

The SMART Moms (Stress Management And Relaxation Training for Moms) Program was a prenatal stress management program designed to regulate the stress hormone cortisol among low-income women and their infants.

Collaborators: Local prenatal clinics in Long Beach, as well as faculty at UCLA and UCI

Funding: National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (PI: Urizar; SC2 HD068878).

Active Moms Program

The Active Moms Program was a community-based exercise program designed to promote physical activity and reduce cardiovascular disease risk among low-income mothers.

Collaborators: Kinesiology and the Center for Latino Community Health at CSULB, as well as local parks and recreation, schools, and churches in Long Beach

Funding: The National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (PI: Urizar; SC2 HD068878)

Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies

The goal of the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Project was to identify women at high imminent risk for depression during pregnancy and to determine biological and psychosocial factors associated with increased depression risk.

Collaborators: UCI collaborators, and local prenatal organizations in Los Angeles County

Funding: The National Institute on Mental Health (PI: Urizar; M-RISP Subproject Award, R24 MH073882).

Cortisol Sensor Project

The Cortisol Sensor Technology Project tested an electrochemical sensor designed to monitor salivary cortisol levels in real-time to improve the diagnosis and prevention of stress-related disorders among clinically at-risk populations.

Collaboration: Engineering Faculty at Florida International University

Funding: The National Institute on General Medical Sciences (PI: Urizar; 8UL1GM118979-02).

CSULB BUILD Initiative

The CSULB BUILD (BUilding Infrastructure Leading to Diversity) Initiative is designed to develop a research infrastructure that engages and retains traditionally underrepresented students on the research career path by providing them with the research training and skills needed to make them highly competitive for doctoral programs, while promoting the cultural capital that they bring to their career path.

This initiative brings together local (e.g., high school, community college, doctoral research institutions) and national (e.g., National Research Mentoring Network) collaborative partners to alter how we identify, develop, and implement resources to enhance student and faculty research. (BUILD Website)

Collaboration: This program is one of only 10 BUILD sites in the United States

Funding: National Institute on General Medical Sciences (PI: Urizar; U54; 8UL1GM118979; 8TL4GM118980; 8RL5GM118978).

AHORA Program

The AHORA (Alliance for Health Opportunities Research Advancement) Program was a campus-wide initiative aimed at assessing CSULB’s collective research infrastructure to support the advancement of underrepresented students pursuing doctoral degrees in health research.

Collaboration: The Center for Latino Community Health

Funding: The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (PI: Urizar; P20 MD008778)