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MICHELLE MUNSON

 
 
  • * Michelle R. Munson
    		•

    Michelle R. Munson

    Assistant Professor

    Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis
    M.S.W., University of Minnesota
    B.A., University of Wisconsin

    Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
    Case Western Reserve University
    10900 Euclid Avenue
    Cleveland, OH 44106-7164
    michelle.munson@case.edu

    Office Phone: (216) 368-5878

    Curriculum Vitae   (PDF Format)

    Research Interests:

    • Mental Health Services Research
    • The Transition to Adulthood among Vulnerable Populations
    • Supportive Relationships
    • Positive Youth Development

    Current Research:

    My research centers on the behavioral health and well being of older adolescents and emerging adults, particularly those involved with public systems of care. My aim is to build understanding of the illness and service experiences of emerging adults living with mental disorders.

    One area of inquiry is how, or through what mechanisms, do supportive relationships influence the illness perceptions and/or attitudes toward services of emerging adults living with mental disorders and ultimately their service use.

    My research has focused on the mental health, mental health service use, and natural mentoring relationships among older youth in foster care, many of whom met criteria for mental disorders.

    We are in the second year of the "got moods" study (see icon and link to recent write-up above right).  We have talked at length with over thirty young adults about their moods, relationships, mental health service use transitions, and ideas for improving services during and after the developmental transition to increased independence, illness self-management and adult roles.    

    Select Publications:

    Munson, M.R. & McMillen, J.C. (in press).  Trajectories of depression symptoms among older youth exiting foster care.  Social Work Research.

    Munson, M.R., Smalling, S., Spencer, R., Scott, L.D. Jr., & Tracy, E.M. (in press).  A steady presence in the midst of change: Nonkin natural mentoring relationships among older youth exiting foster care.  Children and Youth Services Review.

    Munson, M.R., Floersch, J.E., & Townsend, L. (in press).  Are health beliefs related to adherence among adolescents living with mood disorders?  Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research.

    Munson, M.R., Hussey, D., Stormann, C., & King, T. (2009).  Voices of parent advocates within the systems of care model of service delivery.  Children and Youth Services Review, 31 (8), 879-884.

    Munson, M.R., Floersch, J.E., & Townsend, L. (2009).  Attitudes toward mental health services and illness perceptions among adolescents with mood disorders.  Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 26(5), 447-466.

    Munson, M.R. & McMillen, J.C. (2009). Natural mentoring and psychosocial outcomes among older youth transitioning from foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 31(1), 104-111.

    Scott, L.D., Jr., Munson, M.R., & White, T. (2009).  Satisfaction with mental health services among Black males transitioning from the foster care system. Children and Youth Services Review, 31 (1), 161-168.

    Munson, M.R. & McMillen, J.C. (2008). Nonkin natural mentors in the lives of older youths in foster care.  Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 35(4), 454-468.

    Munson, M.R. (2008).  How connections heal: Stories of the Relational-Cultural Model. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 25, 443-446. 

    Munson, M.R., Proctor, E.K., Morrow-Howell, N., Fedoravicius, N., & Ware, N. (2007). Case manager's speak: Responding to depression in the community long-term care system.  Psychiatric Services , 58(8), 1124-1127.

    Scott, L.D., Jr., Munson, M.R., McMillen, J.C., & Snowden, L.R. (2007).  Predisposition to seek mental health care among Black males transitioning from foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 29(7), 870-882.

    Munson, M.R. (2007).  The role of qualitative inquiry in understanding the transition to adulthood.  Qualitative Social Work, 6, 243-245.

    Lee, B., Munson, M.R., Ware, N., Ollie, M., Scott, L., & McMillen, J.C (2006).  Voices of foster care youths: Consumer views of mental health services.  Psychiatric Services, 57(4), 487-492.

    McMillen, J.C., Scott, L., Zima, B., Auslander, W., Munson, M.R., Ollie, M., & Spitznagel, E.  (2005).  Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among older youths in the foster care system. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44(1), 88-95.

    McMillen, J.C., Zima, B., Scott, L., Ollie, M., Munson, M.R., & Spitznagel, E. (2004).  The mental health service use of older youth in foster care. Psychiatric Services, 55(7), 811-817.

    mmunson

    Got Moods?

    "got moods" Write-up (pdf)