Melissa D. Grady

Catholic University of America

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i-10 index

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Document Type

Co-Authors

James W. Drisko

Smith College

Eileen A. Dombo

Catholic University of America

Jill S. Levenson

Barry University

Jamie Yoder

Colorado State University

Adam Brown

Hunter College

Traci L. Wike

Virginia Commonwealth University

Jennifer L. Bellamy

University of Denver

Roderick A. Rose

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Carrie Pettus‐Davis

Center for Health and Gender Equity

Sarah E. Bledsoe

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Cooperative Institutions

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Catholic University of America

Virginia Commonwealth University

University of Maryland, Baltimore

National Cancer Institute

University of America

National Institutes of Health

Fordham University

Washington University in St. Louis

University of Maryland, College Park

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Research Field

The influence of childhood trauma on sexual violence and sexual deviance in adulthood.

Traumatology An International Journal (2016)

Jill S. Levenson Melissa D. Grady

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of various types of childhood adversity on later sexual deviance and sexually violent behavior. Data were collected from more than 700 convicted sexual offenders in outpatient and confinement-based treatment programs throughout the U.S. Using the 10-item Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Scale, participants were surveyed about childhood maltreatment and family dysfunction. For male sex offenders, factors that significantly predicted sexual deviance included childhood sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and having unmarried parents. Factors that significantly predicted violent sexual offending included child physical abuse, substance abuse in the childhood home, mental illness in the home, and having an incarcerated family member. ACE scores were significantly higher for generalist offenders than for those specializing in sexual crime. The results underscore the need for clinicians to assess the existence of early adversity, to understand the role of traumatic events in the development of criminality and abusive behaviors, and to utilize trauma-informed counseling practices. In terms of policy, investing in prevention services for maltreated children and at-risk families is an important step in disrupting the cycle of interpersonal violence and crime in our communities. Language: en

Sexual Violence

Deviance

10.1037/trm0000067

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Citations (67)

Sex Offenders Part I: Theories and Models of Etiology, Assessment, and Intervention

Social Work in Mental Health (2009)

Melissa D. Grady

ABSTRACT Sex offenders are a growing population within both the prison system and the community mental health system. Social workers provide the majority of mental health services in this country, and therefore the profession needs to better understand this population, including the theories of etiology, methods of assessment, treatment options, evaluation strategies, and demographic characteristics for this group. This article is the first of a two-part series on sex offenders focusing primarily on the clinical issues of this population so that their needs are more accessible to social workers. KEYWORDS: Sex offendersetiologyassessmenttreatmentsocial workerssexualized behaviorsdeviant behaviorsprison populations

Etiology

10.1080/15332980802052456

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Citations (7)

Agency-University Partnerships for Evidence-Based Practice: A National Survey of Schools of Social Work

Social Work Research (2013)

Sarah E. Bledsoe-Mansori Jennifer L. Bellamy Traci L. Wike Melissa D. Grady Erna Dinata

Efforts to disseminate and implement evidence-based practice (EBP) and empirically supported interventions (ESI) have been rapidly increasing in social work education, research, and practice. Nevertheless, the gap between research and practice remains substantial, reducing the opportunity for social work clients to benefit from the best available practices. Partnerships between schools of social work and community agencies to promote EBP, ESI, or both offer a promising solution to this problem. However, little is known about these partnership efforts. This article presents the results of a national, Web-based survey conducted with Council on Social Work Education-accredited schools of social work (N = 126) designed to explore partnership efforts between schools of social work and community agencies to promote EBP in social work practice. Results indicate that the majority of respondents perceive EBP as beneficial. The most common EBP partnership efforts included individual faculty members conducting EBP research in partnership with agencies, partnerships with field placement agencies for student training, and provision of EBP-related resources such as library access to agencies. Obstacles to agency–university EBP partnerships included time, funding, and limited agency resources. Addressing these barriers and building from schools' current limited partnership efforts to develop more comprehensive partnership models may help to narrow the gap between research and practice.

Best practice

Evidence-Based Practice

10.1093/swr/svt015

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Citations (37)

Increasing Retention Rates in Sex Offender Treatment: Learning from Expert Clinicians

Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity The Journal of Treatment and Prevention (2013)

Melissa D. Grady Adrienne Rose Sheard Howe Emma L. Beneke

Sex offenders who do not complete treatment have been shown to have a higher rate of reoffending compared to those who do complete treatment. A previously conducted meta-analysis concluded that only anti-social personality disorder is a reliable and consistent predictor of non-completion. Clinician expertise is a vehicle through which to expand current knowledge of what might influence being selected for and completing treatment. This study is a qualitative study utilizing a focus group of 4 clinicians with 78 years of combined expertise in sex offender treatment. Grounded theory was used to analyze the results and a 90% inter-rater reliability level was achieved. Eight themes emerged that influenced the clinicians’ selection process that addressed individual, logistical, and contextual factors including the number of infractions incurred over the previous year, logistical factors affecting admission, such as release dates, outside support from other individuals, and overt signs of interest. Several facto...

De facto

Recidivism

10.1080/10720162.2013.786660

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Citations (2)

Final Thoughts

Oxford University Press eBooks (2025)

Melissa D. Grady Eileen A. Dombo

Abstract This concluding chapter provides some final thoughts from each of the authors about longevity in the field. The authors pass along advice that they wish they had received as they entered the field of social work. Many issues are discussed. Among them are engaging in self-care, finding change motivation, cultivating peer support, practicing humility and personal honesty, embracing curiosity, continuing with ongoing lifelong learning, setting boundaries, celebrating difference, finding a niche, pursuing postgraduate and doctoral training, specializing in particular aspects of social work, maintaining diverse work roles to avoid burnout, maintaining a work–life balance, celebrating achievements, and showing pride in the profession of social work.

10.1093/oso/9780197747940.003.0021

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Asking the Difficult Questions

Oxford University Press eBooks (2025)

Melissa D. Grady Eileen A. Dombo

Abstract Many times the questions that practitioners need to ask their clients can feel intrusive or the practitioner might worry that they themselves are not prepared to respond to the answers that they might receive. This chapter’s aim is to help new practitioners prepare for and be more confident in asking difficult questions. First, it debunks some myths about asking difficult questions and then it reviews specific topic areas that might feel challenging for some new practitioners to explore, such as substance use, religion/spirituality, sexuality, self-harming behaviors, and suicidality. It also provides some important resources that are aimed at addressing such challenging topics.

10.1093/oso/9780197747940.003.0009

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The Steps of Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Practice: An Overview

Essential clinical social work series (2019)

James W. Drisko Melissa D. Grady

Relevance

Clinical Practice

Best practice

Evidence-Based Practice

10.1007/978-3-030-15224-6_3

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Citations (1)

Are Curriculum Decisions Based on the Evidence? How Social Work Faculty Members Make Choices in Curriculum Decisions

Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work (2010)

Melissa D. Grady Lisa Werkmeister Rozas Sarah E. Bledsoe

An important step in translating evidence-based practice and empirically supported interventions into large-scale service improvements is to develop an understanding of practitioners' education and training in these practices. This understanding begins with discovering the factors that influence the decision-making process by social work faculty regarding curriculum content for master's level social work programs. This exploratory study uses quantitative and qualitative survey data to examine the decision-making process used by 42 master's level social work programs to select the models of direct practice taught in their master's level social work programs, and whether evidence-based practice and research evidence influences those decisions. We investigate faculty perceptions of curriculum effectiveness and discuss implications of our findings for social work educators making content and organization decisions regarding master's level social work curriculum.

Exploratory research

10.1080/15433714.2010.494976

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Citations (19)

The Empathy Index

Journal of Interpersonal Violence (2011)

Melissa D. Grady Roderick A. Rose

This article examines the analysis of the psychometric properties, including the validity and reliability, of the Empathy Index (EI), a new instrument designed to measure empathy deficits of sex offenders. The EI was tested with a sample of 158 sex offenders incarcerated in North Carolina prisons. An exploratory factor analysis yielded three subscales: social aggression; instrumental (proactive) aggression; and justification. Social aggression was an unexpected finding, given this type of aggression is more commonly found in young females rather than adult male sex offenders. The instrument demonstrates promising construct and concurrent validity as well as strong internal reliability. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Exploratory factor analysis

10.1177/0886260511403755

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Citations (12)

Using CBT to Reduce Risk Factors Linked to Recidivism in Sex Offenders

Society for Social Work and Research 19th Annual Conference: The Social and Behavioral Importance of Increased Longevity (2015)

Melissa D. Grady

Recidivism

Sex offender

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