Dr. Susana Mariscal (she/her/hers) is a community-engaged scholar with an active research agenda centered on the prevention of child maltreatment and promotion of resilience among children and families, particularly those who identify as Latin@.  She has led several federally-funded projects that evaluate evidence-based services in community settings, and her work continues to explore the intersections between child maltreatment, domestic violence, and substance use.

Her current project “Strengthening Indiana Families”(SIF), in collaboration with Dr. Bryan Victor, focuses on the implementation and evaluation of a continuum of community-based services and supports designed to improve the safety and well-being of families in East Central Indiana. Intended to prevent formal entry of children into foster care, SIF is being carried out in collaboration with a number of community partners including the Indiana Department of Child Services, Indiana State Department of Health, Children’s Bureau, Inc., Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, and local municipalities and agencies.  Families and youth with experience in the foster care system will also be integral to SIF’s design and implementation. The project is funded by a five-year, $2.74 million award from the Children’s Bureau in the U.S. Administration for Children & Families. Dr. Mariscal is also collaborating with these partners, the Indiana Commission on the Status of Children, the Indiana Child Fatalities Review Board, and multiple municipalities and local agencies on the project, “Child Safety Forward.” This is a National Initiative to Reduce Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities and Injuries through a Collaborative, Community-Based Approach funded by a three-year, $750,000 award from the Office for Victims of Crime in the U.S. Department of Justice. Dr. Susana Mariscal is also the evaluator of Marion County Family Recovery Court, a five-year service enhancement project, funded by a $2M SAMHSA grant.