2012 Scholarship Excellence Award Recipient

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Jim Henry

School of Social Work Professor Dr. Jim Henry is the inaugural recipient of the College of Health and Human Services Scholarship Excellence Award. Since 1999, Dr. Henry has served as project director of the Southwest Michigan Children's Trauma Assessment Center, where he has developed and implemented a trauma assessment center for abused/neglected children utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach that includes a pediatrician, social worker, occupational therapist and speech-language therapist.

Dr. Henry has completed numerous research, evaluation and training grants related to child trauma assessment and treatment and competed successfully for millions of dollars to support Southwest Michigan Children's Trauma Assessment Center's work. His scholarship and research have directly contributed to his activities and status as a noted scholar (invited conference presentations, peer reviewed publications and workshops) and trainer in child focused trauma intervention in Michigan and nationally. 
 
His training and workshop presentations include over 500 community, state and national trainings on child trauma, as well as interventions with traumatized children and their families for child welfare, juvenile justice, judges, schools and a myriad of mental health professionals. Dr. Henry also serves in leadership roles with several committees of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

In recognition of the great need for improved child trauma services, many of his recent efforts have focused on conducting workshops and consultations that support other communities in their efforts to improve services in this critical area. For example, he recently received a large federal grant that will permit his team-based care model to be implemented in the greater Detroit area.

In sum, wrote his nominator, "Dr. Henry is a major participant in advancing the state of knowledge and practice regarding children and trauma. He has integrated his scholarship into a robust program of funded research and program evaluation, professional training, and knowledge dissemination that positively impacts the profession and, in turn, individuals and society."