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Cindy Crusto, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry; Associate Dean for Gender Equity, Yale School of Medicine; Director, Office for Women in Medicine and Science, Yale School of Medicine; Deputy Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Psychiatry; Director, Program Evaluation and Child Trauma Research at The Consultation Center

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Cindy Crusto, PhD
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Research Summary

Dr. Crusto has extensive experience in the development, implementation, and evaluation of child and family prevention and intervention programs and initiatives. She has 20 years of experience providing training and technical assistance to staff of community-based organizations in program evaluation design and implementation. She has directed several statewide and community-based initiatives and programs focused in the areas of family violence, education, youth substance use/abuse, child protective services, early literacy, service system development, and host of other children’s mental health related issues.

Dr. Crusto’s research interests are focused on understanding the impact of family violence exposure on young children’s well-being and on identifying the factors that serve to place young children at risk and protect against negative developmental outcomes through basic and intervention research.

Specialized Terms: Social determinants of health; Children's exposure to trauma; Family violence; Program and service system evaluation; School-based mental health; Community-academic partnerships; Prevention and health promotion

Coauthors

Research Interests

Family; Mental Health; Minority Groups; Social Conditions; Social Problems; Violence; Global Health; Domestic Violence; Cultural Diversity; Substance-Related Disorders; Risk Reduction Behavior; Psychiatry and Psychology; Anthropology, Education, Sociology and Social Phenomena

Public Health Interests

Mental Health; Child/Adolescent Health; Health Equity, Disparities, Social Determinants and Justice

Selected Publications

  • Latent Class Analysis of Depressive Symptom Phenotypes Among Black/African American MothersPerez N, Melkus G, Wright F, Yu G, Vorderstrasse A, Sun Y, Crusto C, Taylor J. Latent Class Analysis of Depressive Symptom Phenotypes Among Black/African American Mothers Nursing Research 2022, 72: 93-102. PMID: 36729771, DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000635.
  • Epigenome‐wide association study of BMI in Black populations from InterGEN and GENOATaylor J, Huang Y, Zhao W, Wright M, Wang Z, Hui Q, Potts‐Thompson S, Barcelona V, Prescott L, Yao Y, Crusto C, Kardia S, Smith J, Sun Y. Epigenome‐wide association study of BMI in Black populations from InterGEN and GENOA Obesity 2022, 31: 243-255. PMID: 36479596, DOI: 10.1002/oby.23589.
  • The Interaction of Trauma Exposure and DNA Methylation on Blood Pressure Among Black Women in the InterGEN StudyCaceres B, Huang Y, Barcelona V, Wang Z, Newhall K, Cerdeña J, Crusto C, Sun Y, Taylor J. The Interaction of Trauma Exposure and DNA Methylation on Blood Pressure Among Black Women in the InterGEN Study Epigenetics Insights 2022, 15: 25168657221138510. PMID: 36466626, PMCID: PMC9716582, DOI: 10.1177/25168657221138510.
  • Macrointervention processes and strategies for leaders, changemakers, advocates, allies, and targets: A new framework to address macroaggressions in systemsAwad M, Crusto C, Hooper L. Macrointervention processes and strategies for leaders, changemakers, advocates, allies, and targets: A new framework to address macroaggressions in systems New Ideas In Psychology 2021, 62: 100858. DOI: 10.1016/j.newideapsych.2021.100858.
  • Abstract P327: Stress Overload and Methylation of Hypertension Related GenesBrown K, Hui Q, Crusto C, Taylor J, Sun Y. Abstract P327: Stress Overload and Methylation of Hypertension Related Genes Circulation 2018, 137 DOI: 10.1161/circ.137.suppl_1.p327.
  • The assessment of early trauma exposure on social-emotional health of young childrenCampbell C, Roberts Y, Synder F, Papp J, Strambler M, Crusto C. The assessment of early trauma exposure on social-emotional health of young children Children And Youth Services Review 2016, 71: 308-314. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.11.004.
  • If We Build It, Will They Come? A Qualitative Study of Key Stakeholder Opinions on the Implementation of a Videogame Intervention for Risk Reduction in AdolescentsPendergrass T, Hieftje K, Fiellin L, Montanaro E, Crusto C. If We Build It, Will They Come? A Qualitative Study of Key Stakeholder Opinions on the Implementation of a Videogame Intervention for Risk Reduction in Adolescents Journal Of Adolescent Health 2016, 58: s88-s89. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.10.189.
  • Psychometric Evaluation of Data From the Race-Related Events ScaleCrusto C, Dantzler J, Roberts Y, Hooper L. Psychometric Evaluation of Data From the Race-Related Events Scale Measurement And Evaluation In Counseling And Development 2015, 48: 285-296. DOI: 10.1177/0748175615578735.
  • Evaluation in Primary Prevention and Health PromotionTebes J, Kaufman J, Connell C, Crusto C, Thai N. Evaluation in Primary Prevention and Health Promotion 2014, 69-101. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-5999-6_95.
  • Ecological SystemsHooper L, Crusto C. Ecological Systems 2013, 456-460. DOI: 10.1002/9781118339893.wbeccp184.
  • Children Exposed to the Arrest of a Family Member: Associations with Mental HealthRoberts YH, Snyder FJ, Kaufman JS, Finley MK, Griffin A, Anderson J, Marshall T, Radway S, Stack V, Crusto CA. Children Exposed to the Arrest of a Family Member: Associations with Mental Health Journal Of Child And Family Studies 2013, 23: 214-224. PMID: 24829537, PMCID: PMC4016966, DOI: 10.1007/s10826-013-9717-2.
  • Evaluation of a mental health consultation intervention in preschool settingsCrusto, C.A., Melissa L. Whitson, M.L., Feinn, R., Gargiulo, J., Holt, C., Paulicin, B., Simmons, W., & Lowell, D.I. Evaluation of a mental health consultation intervention in preschool settings. Best Practices in Mental Health: An International Journal, in press.
  • Exposure to traumatic events and health-related quality of life in preschool-aged childrenRoberts YH, Ferguson M, Crusto CA. Exposure to traumatic events and health-related quality of life in preschool-aged children Quality Of Life Research 2012, 22: 2159-2168. PMID: 23224614, PMCID: PMC3616160, DOI: 10.1007/s11136-012-0330-4.
  • Exposure to Traumatic Events and the Behavioral Health of Children Enrolled in an Early Childhood System of CareSnyder FJ, Roberts YH, Crusto CA, Connell CM, Griffin A, Finley MK, Radway S, Marshall T, Kaufman JS. Exposure to Traumatic Events and the Behavioral Health of Children Enrolled in an Early Childhood System of Care Journal Of Traumatic Stress 2012, 25: 700-704. PMID: 23225035, PMCID: PMC3526816, DOI: 10.1002/jts.21756.
  • Understanding the Ecology and Development of Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness: Implications for Practice, Supportive Services, and PolicyKilmer RP, Cook JR, Crusto C, Strater KP, Haber MG. Understanding the Ecology and Development of Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness: Implications for Practice, Supportive Services, and Policy American Journal Of Orthopsychiatry 2012, 82: 389-401. PMID: 22880977, DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-0025.2012.01160.x.
  • Scalar equivalence in self-rated depressive symptomatology as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II: Do racial and gender differences in college students exist?Hooper, L. M., Qu, L., Crusto, C., & Huffman, L. Scalar equivalence in self-rated depressive symptomatology as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II: Do racial and gender differences in college students exist? Psychology. [Special Issue on Depression], 2012(3), 762-774.
  • Traumatic Impact of Familial Arrest on Young ChildrenRoberts YH, Crusto CA, Kaufman JS. Traumatic Impact of Familial Arrest on Young Children Journal Of Trauma & Treatment 2012, 1 PMID: 25411650, PMCID: PMC4233657, DOI: 10.4172/2167-1222.1000e108.
  • Scalar Equivalence in Self-Rated Depressive Symptomatology as Measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II: Do Racial and Gender Differences in College Students Exist?Hooper L, Qu L, Crusto C, Huffman L. Scalar Equivalence in Self-Rated Depressive Symptomatology as Measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II: Do Racial and Gender Differences in College Students Exist? Psychology 2012, 03: 762-774. DOI: 10.4236/psych.2012.329116.
  • Posttraumatic stress among young urban children exposed to family violence and other potentially traumatic eventsCrusto CA, Whitson ML, Walling SM, Feinn R, Friedman SR, Reynolds J, Amer M, Kaufman JS. Posttraumatic stress among young urban children exposed to family violence and other potentially traumatic events Journal Of Traumatic Stress 2010, 23: 716-724. PMID: 21171132, PMCID: PMC4098710, DOI: 10.1002/jts.20590.
  • Evaluation of wraparound services for children exposed to violence. Best Practices in Mental Health: An International JournalCrusto, C.A., Lowell, D., Paulicin, B., Reynolds, J., Feinn, R., Friedman, S.R. and Kaufman, J.S. Evaluation of wraparound services for children exposed to violence. Best Practices in Mental Health: An International Journal, 2008, 4(1):1-18.
  • Development and psychometric refinement of a screening tool for young children exposed to violenceBerent, R., Crusto, C.A., Hightower, D., Epstein, M. and Kaufman, J.S. Development and psychometric refinement of a screening tool for young children exposed to violence, Best Practices in Mental Health: An International Journal, 2008, 4(1):19-30.
  • Measuring changes in interagency collaboration: An examination of the Bridgeport Safe Start InitiativeFriedman SR, Reynolds J, Quan MA, Call S, Crusto CA, Kaufman JS. Measuring changes in interagency collaboration: An examination of the Bridgeport Safe Start Initiative Evaluation And Program Planning 2007, 30: 294-306. PMID: 17689334, DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2007.04.001.
  • Utilizing Program Evaluation as a Strategy to Promote Community Change: Evaluation of a Comprehensive, Community‐Based, Family Violence InitiativeKaufman JS, Crusto CA, Quan M, Ross E, Friedman SR, O'Rielly K, Call S. Utilizing Program Evaluation as a Strategy to Promote Community Change: Evaluation of a Comprehensive, Community‐Based, Family Violence Initiative American Journal Of Community Psychology 2006, 38: 311-311. PMID: 17086485, DOI: 10.1007/s10464-006-9086-8.
  • A Practitioners’ Guide to Evaluating Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment ProgramsCrusto, C.A., Ross, E., Kaufman, J.S. & The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County, Inc. (2006) A Practitioners’ Guide to Evaluating Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Programs
  • A Practitioners’ Guide to Evaluating Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment ProgramsThe Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County, Inc., Crusto C, Ross E, Kaufman J. A Practitioners’ Guide to Evaluating Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Programs 2006, 165-203. DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-29598-5_8.
  • PIE à la Mode: Mainstreaming Evaluation and Accountability in Each Program in Every County of a Statewide School Readiness InitiativeWandersman A, Flaspohler P, Ace A, Ford L, Imm P, Chinman M, Sheldon J, Andrews A, Crusto C, Kaufman J. PIE à la Mode: Mainstreaming Evaluation and Accountability in Each Program in Every County of a Statewide School Readiness Initiative New Directions For Evaluation 2003, 2003: 33-49. DOI: 10.1002/ev.92.
  • Comprehensive Quality Programming and Accountability: Eight Essential Strategies for Implementing Successful Prevention ProgramsWandersman A, Morrissey E, Davino K, Seybolt D, Crusto C, Nation M, Goodman R, Imm P. Comprehensive Quality Programming and Accountability: Eight Essential Strategies for Implementing Successful Prevention Programs Journal Of Prevention 1998, 19: 3-30. DOI: 10.1023/a:1022681407618.
  • Toward a framework for bridging the gap between science and practice in prevention: A focus on evaluator and practitioner perspectivesMorrissey E, Wandersman A, Seybolt D, Nation M, Crusto C, Davino K. Toward a framework for bridging the gap between science and practice in prevention: A focus on evaluator and practitioner perspectives Evaluation And Program Planning 1997, 20: 367-377. DOI: 10.1016/s0149-7189(97)00016-5.
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