The UMN Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility has awarded a Global Engagement Grant to Ana Mireya Diaz's research project, "Resilience In Adversity: A Study Of Risk And Protective Factors Affecting The Mental Health And Academic Motivation Of Children And Youth In Informal Settlements In Panama," Diaz is a PhD graduate student in Family Social Science and is also pursuing a Master of Social Work degree in the School of Social Work.
She is leading a team conducting a community-based participatory research project with families who live in informal settlements in Panama. Her research focuses on identifying risk, protective and resilience factors for youth mental health and educational trajectories. Her advisor, Armeda Wojciak, associate professor and Couple and Family Therapy program director, supports and provides indirect supervision for the project. The project is also supported by the Panamanian Center for Educational Research (CIEDU).
"This funding holds a lot of value for our research team as it will facilitate my travel from Minnesota to Panamá, making it possible to be together for our first data collection events," says Diaz. "This will not only strengthen our collaboration but will also support a more seamless research process."
More about Global Engagement Grants
According to the Center's website, the grants "offer funding for innovative projects by faculty, researchers, and students that blend work in research, education, and capacity-building. Through these grants, CGHSR supports creative, novel approaches to global engagement through funding designed to advance sustainable, equitable health globally."
More about Family Social Science Graduate programs
Learn more about FSOS graduate programs on the Graduate Overview page.