Bio:

Dr. Kjellstrand worked as a licensed social worker for 16 years where she developed and coordinated a variety of individual, group, and community interventions for children and families in high-risk circumstances.  Her worked has involved:

• Developing and coordinating a collaborative, multi-system, countywide program to strengthen and support families.
• Training community leaders nationwide on curricula focused on the prevention of substance abuse and the promotion of school success among youth.
• Developing and running a “life skills” program for foster teens aging out of the foster care system.
• Providing pre- and post adoption services and counseling.
• Developing and managing programs for newly resettled refugee youth.
• Developed and implemented an HIV and AIDS education program for newly resettled Asian refugees.

This work has informed and guided her research which focuses on positive youth development and the prevention of youth antisocial behavior among children in vulnerable situations.  Her most recent work focuses on interventions for children and families of incarcerated parents, comprehensive community strategies to support and empower children and families in high poverty neighborhoods, and cross-national analyses of effective community and system level interventions. 


Research Interests:

• Positive youth development and the prevention of youth antisocial behavior
• Development of interventions for children and families with incarcerated parents
• Development of effective community/system level interventions in high poverty neighborhoods
• International social welfare policy

Current Grants & Projects:

• Promise Neighborhood Research Consortium
• National Neighborhood Alliance

Selected Publications:

Books & Chapters
Eddy, J. M., Kjellstrand, J., Martinez, C. R., Jr., & Newton, R. (2010). Theory-based multimodal parenting intervention for incarcerated parents and their families. In J. M. Eddy & J. Poehlmann (Eds.), Children of incarcerated parents: Multidisciplinary perspectives on research, intervention, and policy. Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press.

Journal Articles
DeGruy, J., Kjellstrand, J., Briggs, H.E., & Brennan, E.M. (in press). Racial respect and racial socialization as protective factors for African American youth. Journal of Black Psychology.

Kjellstrand, J. & Eddy, J. M. (2011). Parental incarceration during childhood, family context, and youth problem behavior across adolescence. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation.               

Last updated January 26, 2012.