Saltanat Childress

Saltanat Childress is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work, specializing in family wellbeing, prevention of violence, and global health. She holds a PhD in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and has extensive research experience funded by organizations like the NIH, U.S. Department of State, and Qatar Foundation International. Her work focuses on reducing childhood trauma exposure, particularly in Central Asia and immigrant communities in the U.S., combining qualitative and mixed-methods approaches.

Education:

• PhD in Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore (2016)
• MSW, Washington University in St. Louis (2004)
• BA in English Literature, Kyrgyz National University (1998)

Research Interests: Family dynamics, prevention of intimate partner violence, acculturation challenges of immigrants, and global social work interventions. Her studies emphasize community-based participatory research and policy guidance.

Recent Article Trends: Focus on refugee integration, IPV prevention strategies, and systemic barriers to help-seeking in diverse populations. Highlights include studies on Ukrainian refugees, Central Asian immigrants, and HIV/AIDS stigma in Kyrgyzstan.

Scientific Awards: Multiple peer-review recognition awards (2023–2025), grants from NIH and U.S. State Department, and the 2022 Feminist Manuscript Award from the Council on Social Work Education.

Grants & Advising: Leads over $1.5M in grants, including a NIH-funded project on family wellbeing. Advises doctoral students on trauma interventions and acculturation studies.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Life Course Intervention Research Network and the Global Health & Migration Interest Group. Active in interprofessional education initiatives for IPV safety planning.