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Christine A. Helfrich, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

11-3217-SARFACULTY-0110

Assistant Professor

Phone: 617-353-8947/7521
helfrich@bu.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Education

Ph.D., Public Health Sciences – Community Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Dissertation Title: Homeless mothers experience of transitional housing: An ethnographic study, 1997
M.S., Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. 1992
B.S., Occupational Therapy, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, graduated Cum Laude. 1987
B.A., Spanish, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, graduated Cum Laude. 1987

Courses Taught

SAR-HP151 Introduction to the Health and Rehabilitation Professions
This Freshman course provides a survey of health and rehabilitation topics. It also considers health care systems and their impact on society. In a small group format, students discuss issues that arise from their careful reading of three books that cover important health and rehabilitation topics. In doing so, students achieve a better understanding of health care access, the challenges faced by health care practitioners in diagnostics and intervention, and the effect of health/disability factors on individuals in society. Frequent writing assignments of varying lengths facilitate students’ critical thinking and written expression skills.

SAR-OT562 Learning and Behavior Change
This first course in a five-course sequence examines interdisciplinary theories and methods of skill learning and behavior change that underlie current practice and the impact of specific clinical conditions and cognitive function on learning and behavior change.

SAR-OT501 Integrative Seminar II and LIFW
This is the second in a four-seminar sequence designed to develop and enhance clinical reasoning processes by integrating knowledge and skills from previous educational and work experiences and from concurrent OT courses with weekly fieldwork experiences. This seminar focuses on reasoning related to therapeutic rapport and communication; theories of learning and behavior change; the assessment, intervention, and documentation process; use of theory and research evidence in practice; and other professional topics and issues as they relate to working with persons and populations of all ages in a variety of OT practice contexts. Self-directed and collaborative learning, class participation, reflective journaling, problem-based case studies, and ongoing development of a professional portfolio are essential aspects of this seminar.

SAR-OT530 Occupation-Based Practice with Groups
This is a capstone course in the integrative seminar sequence. Students engage in an intensive group leadership practicum by co-leading an occupational therapy group in a community setting. Students practice documentation of assessments, plans, interventions, and outcomes of their co-led group. Current group theories, intervention methods, and leadership considerations for occupational therapy practice are examined. Small group supervision sections provide a forum for integrating occupational therapy philosophy, theory, and practice with various client populations in a variety of service delivery settings.

SAR-OT562 Learning and Behavior Change
This first course in a five-course sequence examines theories of skill learning and behavior change that underlie current practice and the impact of specific clinical conditions on learning.

SAR-OT563 Context and Occupational Performance
This graduate course in occupational therapy is designed to be taken concurrently with two other complementary courses: OT 564 (PAC III: Skills) and OT 503 (Integrative Seminar/LIFW III). As one of the components of the PAC course series, this course focuses on knowledge and resources needed for effective clinical reasoning about occupation-based evaluation and intervention. Topics covered include diagnostic conditions and disorders, practice contexts/environments, models and theories of practice, research evidence, healthcare/education regulations and policies, and interdisciplinary practitioner roles. Content is applied particularly to individuals living with long-term conditions who are most likely to benefit from compensatory and adaptive interventions to enable performance of meaningful occupations such as ADL/IADLs, work, education, play, leisure, and social participation. Classes consist primarily of lectures, group discussions, audiovisual presentations, and case study discussions. A high level of self-directed learning is expected.

SAR-OT570-H1 Special Topics: Homelessness
This seminar course addresses issues related to homelessness and explores subgroups of the homeless population. Students complete readings and investigate issues related to people functioning with mental illness who are homeless through hands on data analysis using the instructor’s ongoing work with this population. The ethics, practicalities and policies related to providing services and conducting research is explored. For the final project students have the opportunity to complete in depth study of a specific aspect or subpopulation of homelessness (e.g., children, women experiencing domestic violence, people with physical disabilities).

SAR-OT930-OL Doctoral Project:

The purpose of the doctoral project is to actualize the program’s mission by engaging the student in the preparation of a detailed plan for clinical practice improvement. The process begins at application with the student identifying a short-coming, gap, or specific need in his or her area of practice that the project will address. Subsequent tasks provide the rationale, design, and methods for the proposed response to this need. The project outcomes include:

  1. Description of a short-coming, gap or specific need in the student’s area of practice and the impact of this short-coming for the relevant client population.
  2. Implementation of a thorough literature review of existing methods and programs to address the identified gap. The literature review forms the justification for and foundation of the development of a new program or approach.
  3. Description of the proposed program, including the population for whom it is appropriate and criteria for identifying appropriate clients. The program must be congruent with the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and Scope of Practice.
  4. Analysis of relevant policy and systems factors (e.g., payment methods; regulations) that must be considered in the design of the proposed innovation. The student must identify the specific factors that are relevant and describe how these will be addressed or adhered to in the program.
  5. Theoretical basis of the proposed program. The student will articulate the theoretical basis of the proposed program along with evidence to support its relevance and scientific soundness.
  6. Evaluation Plan for the program. The proposal must include methods to evaluate outcomes at the individual and group level. These methods must be suited to regular implementation in the practice environment. In addition, the proposal must describe how the outcomes data gathered would be analyzed to guide future program revision and decision-making.

Scholarly, Research, and/or Practice Interests

Dr. Christine Helfrich’s interests are in the areas of developing and evaluating interventions in mental health and community practice. She practices engaged scholarship in the community where her research focuses on the impact of domestic violence and homelessness on function across the lifespan, service provision in underserved areas and the experiences of occupational therapy consumers. She has developed a series of life skills interventions which are undergoing efficacy studies. She is a member of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Editorial Boards, a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Foundation and a recipient of the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association’s Award of Merit.

Scholarship – Recent Presentations

  • Helfrich, C., Simpson, E.K. & Sabol, P.S. (2009, April). A Case Study Examining The Application Of The Transtheoretical Model Of Change And Social Learning Theory In A Life Skills Intervention For Homeless Adults With Mental Illness Workshop conducted at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Houston, TX.
  • Helfrich, C., Simpson, E.K. & Sabol, P.S. (2009, April). Cognitive Functioning In Adults With Mental Illness At Risk For Homelessness Using Social Learning Based Life Skill Interventions. Workshop conducted at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Houston, TX.
  • Simpson, E.K & Helfrich, C. (2009, April). Lesbian Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of Occupational Therapy Practitioners in Providing Culturally Competent Services to Underserved Populations. Workshop conducted at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Houston, TX.
  • Helfrich, C., Simpson, E.K. & Sabol, P.S. (2009, April). Stage Of Change As The Determinant Of Outcomes on A Life Skills Intervention For Adults With Mental Illness At Risk For Homelessness. Workshop conducted at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Houston, TX.
  • Helfrich, C. (2008, November). Cognitive Functioning in Adults with Mental Illness at Risk for Homelessness Using Social Learning Based Life Skill Interventions. Workshop conducted at the Seventh Annual Cognitive Symposium, Natick Massachusetts.
  • Allen, T., Helfrich, C., Sabol, P. & Simpson, E. (2008, October). Homeless Adults with Mental Illness: Findings from a Life Skills Intervention. Workshop conducted at the 60th Institute on Psychiatric Services, Chicago, Illinois.
  • Helfrich, C. A. (2008, September). Homelessness and Mental Illness: Life Skill Intervention Needs. Workshop conducted at the Massachusetts Association of Occupational Therapy Conference, Westford, Massachusetts.
  • Helfrich, C., Agustin, Y., Goldfinger, M., Kim, T., & Rothberg, J. (2007, November). Perspectives on homelessness: A Multi-disciplinary approach. Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Schweitzer Fellows Program, Boston, MA.
  • Helfrich, C., Walens, D., Simpson, E., Levin, M. & Sabol, P. (2007, April). Life-Skills Intervention for Homeless Adults with Mental Illness: Practical Training and Application. All Day Institute conducted at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO.
  • Allen, T., Helfrich, C.A., Sabol, P.S., & Simpson, E.K. (2007, February). Homeless mentally ill adults: Findings from living skills interventions. Psychiatry Grand Rounds, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
  • Helfrich, C.A. & Allen, T. (2007, February). How do life skills and residential stability support recovery? Roundtable conducted at Habits and Rehabilitation: Promoting Participation, Pacific Grove, CA.
  • Helfrich, C.A., Simpson, E., Sabol, P., Levin, M. & Walens, D. (2006, September). Practical training and application of life skills interventions. Workshop conducted at the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Springfield, Il.
  • Helfrich, C.A. (2006, April). Ethical issues in conducting research with domestic violence victims. Panel presentation on Ethics in Violence Research with Vulnerable Populations with Sarah Ullman, Larry Bennett, Carl Bell, Charles Hoehne & Margaret Luft. University of Illinois at Chicago, Institutional Review Board Continuing Education Course, Chicago, IL.
  • Helfrich, C.A. (2005, September). Psychosocial Rehabilitation: Principles and Practices, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. Chicago, IL

Scholarship – Recent Publications

Peer-reviewed Books and Book chapters

  • Hammel, J., Finlayson, M., Kielhofner, G., Helfrich, C.A., & Peterson, E. (2002). Educating scholars of practice: An approach to preparing tomorrow’s researchers. In P. Christ & M. Scaffa (Editors): Education for Occupational therapy in Health Care: Strategies for the New Millenium (pp. 157-176). Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, Inc.
  • Kielhofner, G., Borell, L., Friedheim, L., Goldstein, K., Helfrich, C.A., Jonsson, H., Josephsson, S., Mallinson, T. & Nygard, L. (2002). Crafting occupational life. In G. Kielhofner (Ed.), A model of human occupation: Theory and application (pp. 124-144). Baltimore: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
  • Helfrich, C.A. (Ed.). (2001). Domestic violence across the lifespan: The role of occupational therapy. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, Inc.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

  • Helfrich, C.A., Fujuira, G, & Rutkowski, V. (2008). Mental health characteristics of women in domestic violence shelters. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23, 437-453.
  • Helfrich, C.A., Fogg, L, (2007). Outcomes of a life skills intervention for homeless adults with mental illness. Journal of Primary Prevention, 28, 313-326.
  • Helfrich, C.A. & Beer, D. (2007) Use of the FirstSTEp Screening Tool with Children Exposed to Domestic Violence and Homelessness: A Group Case Study. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 27(2), 63-76.
  • Helfrich, C.A., Aviles, A., Walens, D., Badiani,C., Sabol, P. (2006). Life skill interventions with homeless people: Youth, domestic violence and mental illness. Homelessness in America: Perspectives, Characterizations, and Considerations for Occupational Therapy. (Special Issue of Occupational Therapy in Health Care), 20, (3/4), 189-207.
  • Aviles A. & Helfrich, C.A. (2006). Homeless Youth: Causes, Consequences and the Role of Occupational Therapy. Homelessness in America: Perspectives, Characterizations, and Considerations for Occupational Therapy. (Special Issue of Occupational Therapy in Health Care), 20 (3/4), 99-114.
  • Braveman, B., Kielhofner, G., Albrecht, G., and Helfrich, C.A. (2006) Experiences of twelve men during a one year period following completion of a vocational rehabilitation program for people with AIDS, Work, 27 (3), 267-276.
  • Helfrich, C.A., Badiani, C. & Simpson, E. (2006). Worker role identity development of women with disabilities who experience domestic violence, Work, 27 (3), 319-329.
  • Helfrich, C.A. & Simpson, E. (2006) Improving services for lesbian clients: What do domestic violence agencies need to do? Health Care for Women International, 27, 344-361.
  • Helfrich, C.A. & Rivera, Y. (2006). Employment skills and domestic violence survivors: A shelter-based intervention. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. 22 (1), 33-48.
  • Simpson, E. & Helfrich, C.A. (2005). Lesbian survivors of intimate partner violence: Provider perspectives on barriers to accessing services. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services,18(2), 39-59.
  • Helfrich, C.A., Finlayson, M., & Lysack, C. (2005). Using a mentoring community to build programs of research: Lessons learned and recommendations from the CORE experience. Journal of Allied Health, 34(2), e35-e54. Retrieved from http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asahp/jah
  • Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Hammel, J., Helfrich, C.A., Thomas, J., Wilson, T., & Head-Ball, D. (2005). A model of university-community partnerships for occupational therapy scholarship and practice. Occupational Therapy in Health Care. 19, 47-70.
  • Braveman, B., Helfrich, C.A., Kielhofner, G., & Albrecht, G. (2004). The Experiences of 12 Men with AIDS Who Attempted to Return to Work. The Israeli Journal of Occupational Therapy, 13(3), 69-83.
  • Levin, M. & Helfrich, C. A. (2004). Mothering role identity and competence among parenting and pregnant homeless adolescents. Journal of Occupational Science, 11(3), 95-104.
  • Aviles, A.M. & Helfrich, C.A. (2004). Life skill service needs: Perspectives of homeless youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence , 33(2), 101-112.
  • Gorde, M., Helfrich, C.A. & Finlayson, M. (2004). Trauma symptoms and life skill needs of domestic violence victims. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19 (6), 691-708.
  • Dalmonte, J., Finlayson, M. & Helfrich, C.A. (2004). In their own words: Coping Processes Among Women Aging with Multiple Sclerosis. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 17 (3/4), 115-137.
  • Kielhofner, G., Hammel, J., Finlayson, M., Helfrich, C.A., Taylor, R. (2004). Documenting outcomes of occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 58(1), 15-23
  • Braveman, B., Helfrich, C.A., Kielhofner, G., & Albrecht, G. (2003). The narratives of 12 men living with AIDS. The Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 13 (3), 143-157.
  • Abelenda, J. & Helfrich, C.A. (2003). Family resilience and mental illness: The role of occupational therapy. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 19 (1), 25-39.
  • Braveman, B., Helfrich, C.A., & Fisher, G. (2002). Developing and maintaining community partnerships within a scholarship of practice. Occupational Therapy in Healthcare, 15(1/2), 109-125.
  • Copolillo, A., Peterson, E.W., & Helfrich, C.A. (2002). Being an academic instructor and a clinician in occupational therapy: Benefits, challenges, and strategies for success. Occupational Therapy in Healthcare, 15(1/2), 127-143.

Scholarship – Recent Activities

  • 2004-2007 Helfrich, C.A. (Principle Investigator), Homeless Mentally Ill: Strategies to Maintain Residential Stability, U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research $449,968. (Grant # H133G060180)The goal of this project is to implement, evaluate and disseminate a life skills intervention to increase skills necessary for maintaining housing for 230 homeless adults with psychiatric disabilities living in emergency housing or single-room-occupancy (SRO) housing to prevent their return to the streets, reinstitutionalization, hospitalization, or jail. The objective of this intervention is to increase the time an individual remains housed and decrease the evictions that occur secondary to his/her inability to perform the skills and behaviors necessary to maintain housing. Life skills include room and self care management, food management, financial management and safe community participation. The intervention incorporates empowerment theory and social learning theory with occupational therapy in the form of group and individual sessions.
  • 2009-2012 Helfrich, C.A. (Principle Investigator), Life Skills: Transitioning from homelessness and isolation to housing stability and community integration, U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research $600,000. (Grant # H133G090046)This project will implement, evaluate and disseminate a life skills intervention to increase skills necessary for achieving housing stability and community integration for 150 homeless adults with disabilities who have been living on the streets. These skills include home and self care management, food management, financial management and safe community participation. This three-year project will constitute a partnership between Boston University, HomeStart, the Pine Street Inn and the National Center for Family Homelessness. These Boston area partner agencies offer Housing Search, Housing Stabilization and Housing First programs which each require a slightly different iteration of the intervention and provide a diverse set of conditions to evaluate the implementation feasibility. The manualized intervention was developed for a previous project with homeless adults with mental illness and is based on Empowerment Theory, the Transtheoretical Model of Change, Social Learning Theory using a skills training approach and the Model of Human Occupation. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the ability of the intervention to improve housing stability and increase participants’ level of community integration, including the steps they take toward job placement and self sufficiency as well as identify the feasibility issues inherent in delivering interventions to this highly vulnerable population. Finally, the project will train agency staff and peer mentors to deliver the intervention to allow for project sustainability.

Professional Activities

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

  • Faculty, Member and Project Collaborator: Mental Health Partnership Project Advisory Board: (1998 – 2001)
  • Vice-Chair: Speaker’s Lounge for Local Conference Committee of the National Conference (1995 – 1996)
  • Clinical Fieldwork Delegate: Commission on Education, American Occupational Therapy Association, Seattle, Washington. (1993)
  • Elected Chair : ASCOTA for Future Interest, Recruitment, and Membership (AFFIRM) Task Force (1986 – 1987)
  • Elected student representative: American Student Committee of the Occupational Therapy Association (ASCOTA). (1985 – 1987)
  • Mental Health Special Interest Section Nominating Committee (2008)

Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (IOTA)

  • Co-Chair: Mental Health Special Interest Section (1999 – 2002)
  • Chair: Research Committee (1997 – 2000)
  • Chair: Bylaws/Policies/Procedures Committee (1990-1997)

Editorial Boards

  • American Journal of Occupational Therapy (2009-Present)
  • Occupational Therapy in Mental Health (2002 – Present)
  • Occupational Therapy Journal of Research (1999-2002)
  • Guest Editor: Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: Special Issue on Domestic Violence (2001)
  • Ad hoc Reviewer: American Behavioral Scientist: “Homelessness, Children and Youth”
  • Ad hoc Reviewer: Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy
  • Ad hoc reviewer: Journal of Adolescence
  • Ad hoc reviewer: Vulnerable Children & Youth
  • Ad hoc reviewer: Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal

Public Service

  • Elected President: Family Rescue Board of Directors (2006-present)
  • Elected Vice President: Family Rescue Board of Directors (2003-2006)
  • Technical Assistance: Illinois Council on Long Term Care, Evaluating Life Skills (August-September 2005)
  • Elected Chair: Family Rescue Board of Directors Program Committee (2001-2003), Member (2004-Present)
  • Member: Family Rescue Board of Directors (2000-2001)
  • Appointed Member: Domestic Violence Coordinating Council of the Circuit Court of Cook County (1999- 2005)

Grant Reviews

  • National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Research Projects Competition, August 24-27, 2004.

Awards and Honors

2006 Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Award of Merit
2003 Teaching Recognition Program Award, Awarded by the UIC Council for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Office of the Provost, University of Illinois at Chicago
2002 Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association, for “Advancing the Psychosocial Practice of Occupational Therapy”
1999 – 2004 Fellow of the Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) AOTA/AOTF-University of Illinois at Chicago

Licenses and Certifications

2009 – Present Massachusetts Registered Occupational Therapist Licensed
2007 – Present United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
1998 – Present National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
June 1993 Domestic Violence 40-Hour Certification, Family Rescue, Chicago, IL.
1988 – Present Illinois Occupational Therapy Association License No. 056-001857
1985 – Present American Occupational Therapy Association Certification No. 914949, Membership No. 605709