Assistant Professor
Department of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Tech
Department of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Tech
Dr. Russon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech. She is a translational scientist contributing to family therapy and suicidology. Her line of research focuses on the adaptation, dissemination and implementation (AD&I) of suicide interventions and prevention strategies. Dr. Russon has two, overlapping areas of research that inform her AD&I efforts to address suicidality and associated mental health symptoms among youth vulnerable to suicide. Her first research area is centered on adapting and testing empirically-supported, suicide intervention models. One model, attachment-based family therapy (ABFT), is among the few empirically supported approaches designed for youth with depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior (STB). To date, ABFT is also the only youth suicide treatment modified for sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth and the community centers that serve them. Dr. Russon aims to further adapt and test ABFT for SGM youth and disseminate the model in community-based services. In order to promote success in these AD&I efforts, Dr. Russon's second research area is centered on understanding the needs of systems interfacing with youth with STB. As such, Dr. Russon conducts systems-level research to prevent suicide by a) identifying youth at risk, b) understanding help-seeking and service utilization, and c) examining the effectiveness of screening and triage approaches in the context of health and educational systems. Dr. Russon is an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Approved Supervisor and a certified trainer and supervisor in ABFT.
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Sunday, September 18, 2022
3:30 PM – 4:45 PM CT