2. Profile
  3. Dana Rusch

Dana Rusch PhD

Dana Rusch
Designation
  • Associate Professor in Clinical Psychiatry
  • University of Illinois Chicago
  • Institute for Juvenile Research, Department of Psychiatry
  • Director, Immigrant Family Mental Health Advocacy Program
Contact Information
  • drusch1 [at] uic.edu
  • (312) 413-1708

Dr. Rusch is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Director of the Immigrant Family Mental Health Advocacy Program at the Institute for Juvenile Research. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois Chicago and completed her pre-doctoral clinical training at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago and post-doctoral training at the Institute for Juvenile Research at UIC.  She founded the Immigrant Family Mental Health Advocacy Program to focus on research-practice-policy partnerships that address the mental health needs of immigrant and refugee children and families through: (a) direct clinical services for immigrant children and families, UIC students coping with immigration-related stressors, and unaccompanied youth and asylum seekers; (b) undergraduate teaching and clinical education for trainees in child psychology, psychiatry, and social work; (c) community-engaged research that supports the work and mission of community-based organizations, and (d) active involvement in local and national advocacy and policy work. Her work is guided by an ecological public health framework to develop models of mental health promotion that elevate the unique contributions of non-specialty service settings and the critical role of non-traditional providers. Dr. Rusch actively participates in local advocacy efforts via several committee appointments and collaborative coalition work in support of immigrant communities. She is also a member of the Community Engagement and Collaboration Core for UIC’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science.

  • psychiatry
    • Children’s mental health services research 
    • Research-practice-policy connections to advance mental health equity 
    • Community-based organizational models of mental health promotion for immigrant families 
    • Impacts of local, state, and federal policies on the mental health and well-being of immigrant children, families, and communities
    • Integration of policy advocacy within clinical psychology training

  • Galvan, T., Rusch, D., Domenech Rodriguez, M.M., & Garcini, L.M. (2022). Familias Divididas [Divided families]: The impacts of transnational family separation on the health of undocumented Latinx immigrants. Journal of Family Psychology, 36(4), 513-522. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000975<https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/fam0000975> 

    Ford-Paz, R. E., DeCarlo Santiago, C., Bustos, Y., Uriarte, J. J., Distel, L. M. L., Ros, A. M., Coyne, C. A., Rivera, C., Guo, S., Rusch, D., St Jean, N., Hilado, A., Zarzour, H., Gomez, R., & Cicchetti, C. (2023). Acceptability and initial promise of trainings for community stakeholders serving refugee and immigrant families. Psychological Services, 20(1), 188–201. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000457

    Buckingham, A., Langhout, R., Rusch, D., Mehta, T.M., Chavez, N., Ferreira van Leer, K., Oberoi, A., Indart, M., Castro, V.P., King, E., & Olson, B. (2021). Statement on the roles of settings in supporting immigrants’ resistance to injustice and oppression: A Policy Statement by the Society for Community Research and Action: Division 27 of the American Psychological Association. American Journal of Community Psychology, 68(3-4), 269-291. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12515 [Companion guides for stakeholders: https://www.communitypsychology.com/supporting-immigrants-resistance-to-injustice/]

    Gustafson, E.L., Lakind, D., Walden, A.L., Rusch, D. & Atkins, M.S. (2021). Engaging parents in mental health services: A qualitative study of community health workers’ strategies in high poverty urban communities. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 48, 1019-1033.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-021-01124-8

    Rusch, D., Walden, A.L., & DeCarlo Santiago, C. (2020). A community-based organization model to promote Latinx immigrant mental health through advocacy skills and universal parenting supports. American Journal of Community Psychology [Special Issue: Applying Community-Based Participatory Approaches to Addressing Health Disparities and Promoting Health Equity], 66(3-4), 337-346. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12458

    Towfighi, A., Orechwa, A., Aragón, T., Atkins, M., Brown, A., Brown, J., Carrasquillo, O., Carson, S., Fleisher, P., Gustafson, E., Herman, D., Inkela, M., Liu, W., Meeker, D., Mehta, T., Miller, D., Paul-Brutus, R., Potter, M., Ritner, S., Rodriguez, B., Rusch, D., Skinner, A., & Yee, H. (2020). Bridging the gap between research, policy, and practice: Lessons learned from academic-public partnerships in the CTSA network. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 4(3), 201-208. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2020

    Frazier, S.L., Rusch, D., Coxe, S., Stout, T.J., Helseth, S.A., Dirks, M., Bustamante, E.E., Atkins, M.S., Glisson, C., Green, P.D., Bhaumik, D., & Bhaumik, R. (2020). After-school programs and children’s mental health: Organizational social context, program quality, and children’s social behavior. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 50(2), 215-228. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2019.1683849

    Lakind, D., Cua, G., Mehta, T., Rusch, D., & Atkins, M.S. (2019). Trajectories of parent participation in early/prevention Services: The case for flexible paraprofessional-led services in high poverty urban communities. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Advance online publication 20 Dec 2019. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2019.1689823

    Rusch, D., Walden, A.L., Gustafson, E., Lakind, D., & Atkins, M.S. (2019). A qualitative study to explore paraprofessionals’ role in school-based mental health prevention and early intervention services. Journal of Community Psychology, 47(2),272-290. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22120

    Mehta, T., Lakind, D., Rusch, D., Walden, A., Cua, G., & Atkins, M.S. (2019). Collaboration with urban community stakeholders: Revising paraprofessional-led services to promote positive parenting. American Journal of Community Psychology [Special issue: Understanding and Strengthening the Child- and Youth-Serving Workforce in Low-Resource Communities], 63(3-4), 444-458. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12316

    Ford-Paz, R.E., DeCarlo Santiago, C., Coyne, C.A., Rivera, C., Guo. S., Rusch, D., St. Jean, N., Hilado, A., & Cicchetti, C. (2019). You Are Not Alone: A public health response to immigrant/refugee distress in the current sociopolitical context. Psychiatric Services, 17(S1), 128–138. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser000038.1

    Gustafson, E., Atkins, M.S., & Rusch, D. (2018). Community health workers and social proximity: Implementation of a parenting program in urban poverty. American Journal of Community Psychology, 62 (3-4), 449-463. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12274

    Langhout, R.D., Buckingham, S.L., Oberoi, A.K., Chávez, N.R., Rusch, D., Esposito, F. & Suarez-Balcazar, Y. (2018). Statement on the effects of deportation and forced separations on immigrants, their families, and communities. A Policy Statement by the Society for Community Research and Action: Division 27 of the American Psychological Association. American Journal of Community Psychology, 62, 3-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12256 [Companion guides: https://www.communitypsychology.com/effects-of-deportation-on-families-communities/]

    Affrunti, N., Mehta, T.M., Rusch, D., & Frazier, S.L. (2018). Job demands, resources, and stress among staff in after school programs: Neighborhood characteristics influence the association between job demands and job stress. Children and Youth Services Review, 88, 366-374.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.03.031

    Jacobs, R.H., Guo, S., Kaundinya, P., Lakind, D., Klein, J., Rusch, D., Walden, A., Mehta, T., & Atkins, M.S. (2017). A pilot study of mindfulness skills to reduce stress among a diverse paraprofessional workforce. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26(9), 2579–2588. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0771-z

    Atkins, M.S., Rusch, D., Mehta, T., & Lakind, D. (2016). Future directions for dissemination and implementation science: Aligning ecological theory and public health to close the research to practice gap. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 45(2),215-226. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2015.1050724

    Bustamante, E.E., Davis, C.L., Frazier, S.L., Rusch, D., Fogg, L., Atkins, M.S., Hellison, D.R., & Marquez, D.X. (2016). Randomized controlled trial of exercise for ADHD and disruptive behavior disorders. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48(7), 139-1407. https://doi.org/10.1246/MSS.0000000000000891

    Rusch, D., Frazier, S.L, & Atkins, M.S. (2015). Building capacity within community-based organizations: New directions for mental health promotion for Latino immigrant families in urban poverty.  Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-014-0549-1

    Frazier, S. L., Dinizulu, S., Rusch, D., Boustani, M., Mehta, T., & Reitz, K. (2015). Building resilience in after school for early adolescents in urban poverty: Open trial of Leaders @ Play. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42, 723-736. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-014-0608-7

    Dirks, M. A., Suor, J. H, Rusch, D., & Frazier, S. L. (2014). Children’s responses to hypothetical provocation by peers: Coordination of assertive and aggressive strategies. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 42(7), 1077-1087. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-014-9862-0

    Rusch, D., & Reyes, K. (2013). Examining the effects of Mexican serial migration and family separations on acculturative stress, depression, and family functioning. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 35(2), 139-158. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739986312467292

    Frazier, S.L., Mehta, T., Hur, K., Atkins, M., & Rusch, D. (2013). Not just a walk in the park: Efficacy to effectiveness for after school programs in communities of concentrated urban poverty. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 40(5), 406-418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-012-0432-x

    Alegría, M., Canino, G., Lai, S., Ramirez, R., Chavez, L., Rusch, D., & Shrout, P. (2004). Understanding caregivers’ help-seeking for Latino children’s mental health care use. Medical Care, 42, 447-455. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mlr.0000124248.64190.56

    Alegría, M., Vera, M., Shrout, P., Canino, G., Lai, S., Albizu, C., Marín, H., Peña, M., & Rusch, D. (2004). Understanding hard-core drug use among urban Puerto Rican women in high-risk neighborhoods.  Addictive Behaviors, 29, 643-664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2003.08.009

    Alegría, M., Canino, G., Rios, R., Vera, M., Calderon, J., Rusch, D., & Ortega, A.N. (2002). Inequalities in use of specialty mental health services among Latinos, African Americans, and non-Latino whites.  Psychiatric Services, 53, 1547-1555. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.53.12.1547

    Selected Other Publications

    Atkins, M., Rusch, D., Mehta, T., & Lakind, D. (2017). Future directions for dissemination and implementation science: Aligning ecological theory and public health to close the research to practice gap. In M.J. Prinstein (Ed.), Future Work in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology: A Research Agenda.New York, NY: Routledge.

    Álvarez, I., Ortega, P., & Rusch, D.(9 May 2021). Vaccinate Our Undocumented: This Vulnerable Population is Facing a Host of Barriers [Editorial]. MedPage Today: Medical News. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19vaccine/92492

    Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Rusch, D., Mehta, T.G., Charvonia, A., Ford-Paz, R., Meza-Perez, C., & Buckingham, S.L. (2021). Atrocities committed against women on U.S. soil: A call to action. The Community Psychologist, 54(1), 14-18. http://scra27.org/publications/tcp/        

    Rusch, D., Walden, A.L., & DeCarlo Santiago, C. (2020). CBOs can address health disparities in Latinx communities. Community Psychology: Social Justice Through Collaborative Research and Action. https://www.communitypsychology.com/cbos-can-address-health-disparities-in-latinx-communities/

    Langhout, R.D., Buckingham, S.L., Oberoi, A.K., Chávez, N.R., Rusch, D., Esposito, F. & Suarez-Balcazar, Y. (2018). Declaración sobre los efectos de la deportación y la separación forzada en los inmigrantes, sus familias y las comunidades. Declaración de Pólítica de la Sociedad para la Investigación y Acción Comunitaria: División 27 de la Asociación Americana de Psicología. Community Psychology: Social Justice Through Collaborative Research and Action. https://www.communitypsychology.com/efectos-de-la-deportacion/

    Rusch, D. (2013). Building on the capacity of community-based organizations to meet the SEL needs of youth from Latino immigrant families. AERA Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Special Interest Group Fall Newsletter.

Title Description Investigator(s) Category Status
Patient Navigators for Children's Community Mental Health Services in High Poverty Urban Communities This study is a NIMH-funded R01 that examines the effectiveness of paraprofessionals as navigators for children’s mental health services, in contrast with case managers and waitlist without navigation. This study is in collaboration with three social service agencies serving children and families from high poverty Chicago neighborhoods. ACCESS for Mental Health On-going
Leaders @ Play Our team has been collaborating with the Chicago Park District for the past decade to develop and implement strategies that capitalize on the inherent opportunities present in recreation to support and promote children’s mental health. Leaders @ Play was a program designed to promote mental health for participating adolescents and support healthy behavioral, social, and emotional funct Community Based Children and Family Mental Health Services Research Program Completed
Partners Achieving School Success (PASS) PASS was a school based mental health prevention and early intervention program for children in pre-kindergarten through third grade.  Our team collaborated with four social service agencies on a school-based prevention and early intervention program for youth in K-3rd grade living in impoverished communities in Chicago (approximately n=700). Community Based Children and Family Mental Health Services Research Program Completed

*System-generated list from psychiatry research website.

Date Released Title Source
11/12/2024 In September 2024, Dr. Dana Rusch was awarded grant funding from NIH for a clinical intervention trial.
04/04/2024 In February 2024, Dr. Rusch was invited by the Undocumented Student Resources Committee at University of Wisconsin-Parkside to present to staff, faculty, and students on how to support the mental health of undocumented students.
12/15/2023 Dr. Rusch served as a panelist at the November 7th UIC Child Migration Across the Americas Symposium UIC Child Migration Across the Americas Symposium
03/28/2023 Dr. Dana Rusch will provide virtual bi-monthly Reflective Consultation in Spanish for community navigators working directly with migrant arrivals to Chicago. Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health
08/24/2022 Dr. Dana Rusch was an invited online presenter at the June 30th Illinois Mexican and Mexican-American Students Initiative (I-MMÁS) I-MMÁS Latino/Latina Mental Health Symposium
04/20/2022 Dr. Dana Rusch’s first authored article was acknowledged as one of the top cited articles between Jan-Dec2021 from the American Journal of Community Psychology American Journal of Community Psychology - Wiley Online Library
04/20/2022 In January, Dr. Dana Rusch submitted a public comment to the Federal Registrar with data-driven policy recommendations
11/22/2021 Dr. Dana Rusch. (2021, October). The Intersection of Research, Practice and Policy Advocacy in Immigrant Mental Health Justice (2-day seminar)
11/22/2021 Dr. Dana Rusch presenter at the National Latinx Psychological Association Virtual Conference National Latinx Psychological Association
11/22/2021 Dr. Dana Rusch is the Invited Panelist, Disparities in Research and Practice Special Plenary. (2021, November)
11/22/2021 Dr. Dana Rusch, was the invited presenter at Navigating Higher Education in Illinois - Undocumented Immigrants & Mixed Status Households. (2021, October)
11/22/2021 Drs Dana Rusch and Tara Mehta presented at the APA Discussion: Giving Psychology Away. Considering Tensions in Public Interest Policy Advocacy
05/26/2021 Tara Mehta (Co-PI), Marc Atkins (Co-PI), and Dana Rusch (Co-PI) recently received a 5-year, NIMH R01 grant. National Institute of Mental Health
03/15/2021 Dr. Dana Rusch provided three guest lectures (Jan-March 2020) at non-UIC graduate training programs
03/15/2021 Dr. Dana Rusch was invited to serve on Executive Advisory Board for the Immigrant and Refugee-Led Capacity Development Network of Illinois.
12/18/2018 Immigration Edition Radio Bilingüe
09/18/2018 ‘Paraprofessionals’ An Important Mental Health Resource For U.S. School Children Living In Poverty Theravive
08/01/2018 Effects of deportation, forced separation extend beyond individuals, families UIC Today
06/27/2018 Cook County Board of Commissioners Press Release