Christina Chiarelli-Helminiak, MSW, PhD

Christina Chiarelli-Helminiak, MSW, PhD

Professor 
Anderson Hall, Room 427
610-436-3615
cchiarelli-helminiak@wcupa.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Degrees

  • BA, Social Work: Shippensburg University
  • MSW: Marywood University
  • PhD, Social Work: University of Connecticut

Main areas of interest

  • Organizational factors that affect job satisfaction and burnout
  • Integration of human rights in social work curricula
  • Civic engagement and social capital
  • Critical feminisms

Inspiration

Beginning at a young age, I questioned many things that still perplex me today. How can children be abused by people who should be caring for and loving them? Why can't people around the globe put differences aside and work toward ensuring respect and dignity for all? Why are my fellow citizens not willing to talk to or learn about people of different cultures and backgrounds?

I believe the best way to answer such questions is to look within myself. Gandhi believed one must become the change they wish to see in the world. Within my personal and professional self, I have applied this belief. As a social worker, one must create a balance between the two selves. To live together as a global society that appreciates peace, we must become aware of what limits peace. It is through dialogue and understanding that we must work together as a global society so that everyone recognizes themself as a part of the encompassing whole.

Organizational factors that affect job satisfaction and burnout

Using online survey methodology, I research organizational factors associated with burnout and job satisfaction. My current population of interest is social work educators, and have conducted similar research on forensic interviewers, as well as social work and public health professionals. Through this research my goal is to provide understanding of the ways organizations can better support employees as a means to preventing burnout and increasing job satisfaction.

Publications

  • Ventura, L., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Frankel, A. S., Hipple, E., Ibrahim, J., Sharma, S., Wolcott, J., &, Metz, S. M. (2022). Unprecedented times: Experiences of social work and public health professionals in times of public crises. Journal of Social Work in Public Health [Advanced online publication]. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2022.2097973. 
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., McDonald, K. M., Tower, L. E., Hodge, D. M., & Faul, A. C. (2021). Burnout among social work educators: An eco-logical systems perspective. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2021.1977209. 
  • Tower, L., Faul, A. C., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., & Hodge, D. M. (2019). The status of women in social work education in the USA: A follow-up study. Affilia: Journal of Women & Social Work, 34(3), 346-368.
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2016). Organizational factors affecting job satisfaction and burnout among forensic interviewers. In Vicarious trauma toolkit [Online repository]. Retrieved from http://www.northeastern.edu/iuhrp/projects/current/vicarious-trauma-toolkit-vtt/.    
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2016). I love my job, but… Job satisfaction and burnout among forensic interviewers. In Vicarious trauma toolkit [Online repository]. Retrieved from http://www.northeastern.edu/iuhrp/projects/current/vicarious-trauma-toolkit-vtt/. 
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2014). Job satisfaction and burnout among forensic interviewers. Doctoral Dissertations. 397. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertations/397. 

Integration of human rights in social work curricula

Through exploratory, qualitative research, I investigate social work educators’ efforts to incorporate human rights perspectives into the curriculum. I am also intentional about publishing practical examples of how human rights is integrated into social work education.

Publications

  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (in press). Human rights-based approaches. In J. C. Báez (Ed.), Issues of equity: Key concepts in qualitative research. Routledge. [Invited]
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., & Eggers, M. (2023). Human rights praxis approach to group work. In J. Currin-McCullouch & G. Tully (Eds.), Group work: Building global connections to restore hope in a fragmented world. Proceedings of the 41st and 42nd International symposia on social work with groups (pp. 77-94). Whiting & Birch.
  • Johnson, K. L., & Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2021). Human rights in Philadelphia. Urban Social Work, 5(3), 213-226. doi: 10.1891/USW-D-20-00030.
  • Quzack, L.E., Picard, G., Metz, S. M., & Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2021). A social work education grounded in human rights. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 6(1), 32-40. doi: 10.1007/s41134-020-00159-5 (in congruence with feminist theory, authors listed alphabetically reversed)
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., & Eggers, M. (2019). Global issues. In C. Dente (Ed.), Social work practice with LGBTQIA populations: An interactional perspective (pp. 266-282). Routledge.
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Eggers, M., & Libal, K. (2018). The integration of human rights in US social work education: Insights from a qualitative study. Journal of Human Rights & Social Work, 3(2), 99-107. (in congruence with feminist theory, authors listed alphabetically)
  • Thomas, R., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., & Ferraj, B. (2014). A case study in immigrant civic engagement research: Linking human rights to social work education. In K. Libal, M. Berthold, R. L. Thomas, & L. Healy (Eds.), Advancing human rights in social work education (pp. 215-230). CSWE Press.
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2013). Children's rights versus what is good for children. In M. C. Hokenstad, L. M. Healy, & U. A. Segal (Eds.). Teaching human rights: Curriculum resources for social work educators, a resource manual (pp. 197). CSWE Press.

Civic engagement and social capital

My research in this area stems from a multi-year mixed methods program evaluation of the Hartford Public Library’s Immigrant Civic Engagement Project. Our research team investigated how social capital can build community capacity, solidarity, and integration of immigrant and receiving community members, especially in partnership with libraries and community-based organizations. This area of research has extended into social capital for college students within the context of community building that deliberately and systematically fosters inclusion and belongingness.

Publications

  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., & Lewis, T. (2018). Sustainable development goal 4: When access to education is not enough. Journal of Access, Retention & Inclusion in Higher Education, 1, 17-27. 
  • Williams, Y., Akbar, G., & Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2018). Interrogating racism, politics, and silence through the use of constructive culturally responsive pedagogies during the 2016 election season. Journal of Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education, 19, 51-59.
  • Lane, T., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Bohrman, C., & Lewis, T. (2017). The teachable moment: Engaging students in social justice movements. Social Work Education: An International Journal, 4, 359-372.
  • Thomas, R. L., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Ferraj, B., & Barrette, K. (2016). Engaging MSW students in faculty research: Benefits of student involvement in a program evaluation. Journal of Teaching Social Work, 36(3), 275-288.
  • Thomas, R. L., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Barrette, K., & Ferraj, B. (2015). Building relationships and facilitating immigrant community integration: An evaluation of a cultural navigator program. Evaluation and Program Planning, 55, 77-84.
  • Thomas, R., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Comaduran, R., Ferraj, B., & Barrette, K. (2013). Building relationships and bridging social capital: An inclusive approach to immigrant civic engagement within libraries, process and outcome evaluation. Funded by National Leadership Grants Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    • Three Year Summary
    • Year 3 Report
  • Thomas, R., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Tigner, J., Comaduran, R., & Ferraj, B. (2012). Building relationships and bridging social capital: An inclusive approach to immigrant civic engagement within libraries, process and outcome evaluation year 2. Funded by National Leadership Grants Institute of Museum and Library Services.
  • Thomas, R., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Cahill, E.*, & Tigner, J.* (2011). Building relationships and bridging social capital: An inclusive approach to immigrant civic engagement within libraries, process and outcome evaluation year 1. Funded by National Leadership Grants Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Critical feminisms

My interest in critical feminisms stems from my practical experience in response to and prevention of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. The United States has been resistant to define violence, especially against women and children, as human rights violations, limiting the realization that all individuals have the right to be free from abuse.

Publications

  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Elias-Lambert, N., Lane, S., & Papanikolaou, M. (in press). Social work education leadership: Insights from faculty and staff. Advances in Social Work.
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Harrell, S., Mountz, S., Singh, S., & Zelnick, J. R. (Eds.). (2023, November). Critical feminist scholarship as a roadmap towards a just future. Special Issue in Affilia: Feminist Inquiry in Social Work, 38(4). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08861099231203476 (in congruence with feminist theory, authors listed alphabetically)
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Blake, M., Hamilton-Mason, J., Hodge, D., Kominkiewcz, F., Lane, S. R., Silva-Martinez, E., & Simmons, C. (2016). Multiple faces of feminism. In CSWE learning academy, teaching social justice series [Online teaching module]. Retrieved from https://learningacademy.cswe.org/ (in congruence with feminist theory, committee chair listed first with remaining authors listed alphabetically)
  • Anyikwa, V., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Hodge, D., & Wells-Wilbon, R. (2015). Women empowering women. Journal of Social Work Education, 51(4), 723-737. (in congruence with feminist theory, authors listed alphabetically)
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2013). Empowerment. In J. Postmus (Ed.). Sexual violence and abuse: An encyclopedia of prevention, impacts, and recovery. ABC-CLIO.
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M. (2012). Social work 40 feet in the air. In L. Grobman & J. Clements (Eds.). Riding the mutual aid bus and other adventures in group work: A days in the lives of social workers collection (pp. 53-57). White Hat Communications.
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., & Bradshaw, J. M. (2011). Victims of interpersonal abuse in rural communities. In L. Ginsberg (Ed.). Social work in rural communities (5th ed.) (pp. 327-346). CSWE Press.
  • Lyon, E., Bradshaw, J., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C., Morneault, J.*, & Menard, A. (2011). Non-residential domestic violence services: Survivors’ experiences. The domestic violence non-residential services & supports study. Funded by Department of Health and Human Services Family Violence Prevention and Services Administration and administered by the National Institute of Justice.
    • Washington Overview
    • Massachusetts Overview
    • Illinois Overview
    • Casa de Esperanza Overview
    • Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence Overview
    • Alabama Overview
  • Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. (2010). Case vignette. In K. Haynes & J. Mickelson (Eds.). Affecting change: Social workers in the political  arena (7th ed.) (pp. 79-80). Allyn & Bacon.

Higher education leadership

As a first generation, low income, ACT 101 student who failed out of my first major, serving in higher education leadership position aligns with my mission to make higher education accessible and supportive for all students.

Awards and recognition

  • 2021           Social Work Educator of the Year, National Association of Social Workers-PA
  • 2020           WCU Representative, Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Leadership Institute (postponed to Summer 2022 due to COVID)
  • 2020           Academic Scholarship Sabbatical, West Chester University
  • 2018           Recognition of Service to Council on Social Work Education Council on the Role and Status of Women in Social Work Education
  • 2016           Graduate Faculty Appreciation Award, West Chester University
  • 2015           Delegate, WCU-Turkey Initiative
  • 2014           Mark Moses Distinguished Fellowship, Network for Social Work Management
  • 2014           Outstanding Woman Scholar, University of Connecticut Provost’s Office, Alumni Association, and Women’s Center
  • 2008           Group Study Exchange to Germany, Rotary Foundation
  • 2002           Sister M. Eva Connors Peace Medal, Marywood University

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