Dr. Bibhuti K. Sar
Professor
Applying multiple perspectives and methodologies to study best practices to improve the quality of life of vulnerable children, youth, and families.
Dr. Sar’s research focus is on identification of factors and practices for the improvement of quality of life of vulnerable families and children. The emphasis is on community-based research utilizing multiple perspectives and methodologies to better understand child and family functioning and wellbeing in the context of the broader community and societal conditions and circumstances. Some specific topics of interest are trauma, services impact and effectiveness, workforce training and development, and curriculum development, implementation and evaluation.
Currently, Dr. Sar is the Principal Investigator of the 1) SAMHSA funded and National Child Traumatic Stress Network NCTSN partnered Center for Promoting Recovery and Resilience (CPRR) (2012-present) which partners with community based child serving organizations to provide evidence-based trauma informed interventions to traumatized children and adolescents, 2) the SAMHSA funded Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) for Allied Professionals (2018-present) who provide services to children and youth in settings other than mental health, 3) the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) funded Survivors of Torture Recovery Center (STRC) (2019- present) which focuses on trauma informed care of refugees and immigrants with past history of being victimized by torture, and 4) the Director of the Credit for Learning Program (CFL) (2002-present), which aims to professionalize the child welfare workforce through teaching and coaching new and tenured child welfare workers on critical elements of delivering.
Dr. Sar has been previously funded by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau to develop and evaluate Culturally Specific Trauma Services for Spanish Speaking Refugees and Immigrant Families Impacted by Domestic Violence (2013- 2017), by the Administration for Children & Families, Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) to implement a demonstration project that promoted academic stability and success of foster youth in 6th thru 8th grade at risk for dropping out of school (2012-2014), by the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), to investigation of the effectiveness of a developmental mentoring model as an intervention/ prevention strategy for juveniles of varying levels of risk among middle school youth (2011-2013) and Training and Evaluation of Preventing child maltreatment and juvenile delinquency through evidence based community education and intervention (2007-2009) , and by the U.S. Children’s Bureau to implement and evaluate the strengthening marital relationships and post adoption services through community of care teams (2006- 2011).