3 BUSSW Faculty Awarded Small Research Grants

Three faculty from Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) have been awarded small research grants to investigate critical social issues affecting marginalized communities. The funding is part of the school’s small grants program, an initiative launched by Prof. Ellen Devoe in 2022 and supported by then Dean Jorge Delva, to provide direct financial support for innovative proposals by BUSSW faculty members.  

The Impact of Wage Theft on the Wellbeing of Brazilian Immigrant Workers and Their Families 

Cristina Araujo Brinkerhoff (PhD’23), a lecturer at BU School of Social Work, is studying how wage theft harms the health and well-being of Brazilian immigrant workers and their families in Massachusetts. Wage theft—when workers are denied fair pay through unpaid overtime, stolen tips, or being misclassified as independent contractors—hits immigrant workers especially hard. 

With funding from the new grant, Brinkerhoff will analyze wage theft complaints and partner with the Brazilian Worker Center to document immigrant workers’ experiences through photovoice. This project will also support advocacy efforts to strengthen worker protections in Massachusetts. 

Learn More About Brinkerhoff’s Research

Nuestras Historias: Narratives and Impact of the Migratory Experience for Women in the US Texas Border of Reynosa and Matamoros, Mexico 

Prof. Luz López will study the experiences of migrant women at the U.S.-Mexico border with Fabiola Peña, PhD, a researcher in Mexico. Their study will explore the challenges faced by women waiting in shelters and tent camps in Matamoros and Reynosa, Mexico, as they seek to enter the U.S. 

Despite a recent drop in border crossings, thousands of migrants—many of them women and children—are still stuck in limbo, waiting for immigration hearings. Living in informal camps, they face high risks of violence, trauma, and a severe lack of mental health support. Through interviews with 75 migrant women, the research will highlight the need for better mental health services, especially as U.S. immigration policies grow stricter. The findings will help shine a light on the hardships these women endure and the support they need. 

Learn More About Prof. López’s Research

Exploring the Life Histories of Latinx Foster Youth Alumni Who Experienced Child Sexual Abuse 

Many Latinx youth in the U.S. foster care system face serious challenges when they transition to adulthood, including struggles with housing, education, and reconnecting with family. They are also at higher risk of experiencing childhood sexual abuse (CSA), which can have long-term effects on their lives as adults. However, their voices are often missing from conversations about how to improve foster care and prevent abuse.  

Prof. Alicia Mendez is partnering with Remarkably Us, a nonprofit led by Latinas with foster care experience, to change that. Her research will collect oral histories from Latinx foster care alumni who have experienced CSA. These interviews will help identify ways to make foster care safer and inform new policies that better support youth. The project will also work with participants to create a book or magazine to share their insights with the public. 

Learn More About Prof. Mendez’s Research