Kristen Gilmore Powell

Kristen Gilmore Powell, Ph.D., L.S.W., is an Associate Research Professor with the Rutgers University School of Social Work and Associate Director of the Center for Prevention Science. Dr. Powell is the Director (and PI) of the Northeast and Caribbean Prevention Technology Transfer Center, covering New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Dr. Powell earned her Ph.D. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Social Work, in 2013. 

Dr. Powell’s scholarship is focused on building the capacity of community-based organizations to mobilize, intervene, create systemic change, and, consequently, overcome social problems through effective prevention approaches within an empowerment framework. She has been conducting research and evaluation on topics relevant to prevention science, environmental strategies, empowerment theory, sustainability, and health disparities for close to 15 years. Her work is grounded in empowerment theory, team science, and models that help enhance the prevention workforce in their efforts to create community change that supports individuals to towards wellness and health. Dr. Powell currently serves as Principal Investigator and Investigator on multiple externally funded research projects. Much of this work focuses on how individual and environmental strategies can prevent the harmful consequences of substance use, particularly in communities identified with high need and existing health disparities. She has held several volunteer leadership positions, including her current role as Vice Chair (outgoing Chair) of the Board of Trustees of Triple C Housing, Inc.

Lardier, D.T., Powell, K.G., Peterson, N.A., Borys, S., & Hallcom, D.K. (2022). Polysubstance use latent profiles in New Jersey: Asssocation with prior overdoses, prior emergency department peer recovery engagement, and mental health diagnosis. Substance Abuse, 43(1) 1011-1022. https://doi.org/10.1080/08897077.2022.2060436 

Treitler, P., Powell, K.G., Morton, C.M., Peterson, N.A., Borys, S. & Hallcom, D. (2022). Locational and contextual attributes of opioid overdoses in New Jersey. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 22(20), 108 - 119. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533256X.2021.1901203

Cross-Technology Transfer Center (TTC) Workgroup on Virtual Learning. (2021). Providing behavioral workforce development technical assistance during COVID-19: Adjustments and needs. Translational Behavioral Medicine. [Advanced online publication, 6 pages].  https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibab097

Powell, K.G., Peterson, N.A., Treitler, P.C., Lardier, D.T., Rashid, M., & Reid, R.J. (2021). Measuring youth empowerment: An item response theory analysis of the Sociopolitical Control Scale for Youth. American Journal of Community Psychology. [Advanced online publication, 15 pages].  https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12540

Peterson, N.A., Lardier, D.T., Powell, K.G., Mankopf, E., Morton, C., & Borys, S. (2021). Psychometric properties of a recovery empowerment scale: Testing emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and relational domains. Journal of Social Work in the Addictions. [Advanced online publication, 18 pages].  https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22592

Cross-Technology Transfer Center (TTC) Workgroup on Virtual Learning. (2020). Virtual Reality of Behavioral Health Workforce Development in the Era of COVID-19. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108157

McGuire, A.B., Powell, K.G., Treitler, P., Wagner, K., Smith, K., Cooperman, N.A…Watson, D.P. (2020). Emergency Department-based Peers for Medication Assisted Treatment Linkage Post Opioid Overdose: Models and Factors Affecting Implementation. Journal for Substance Abuse Treatment, 108, 82-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2019.06.013

Peterson, N.A., Powell, K.G., Treitler, P., Litterer, D., Borys, S. & Hallcom, D. (2019). The strategic prevention framework in community-based coalitions: Internal processes and associated impacts on policies affecting adolescent substance abuse. Children and Youth Services Review, 101, 352-362. doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.04.004

Farmer, A.Y., Powell, K.G., Trietler, P., Peterson, N.A., & Borys, S. (2019). A case study of SBIRT on a college campus: Challenges, adaptations, and improved outcomes. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 19, 1-19. DOI: 10.1080/1533256X.2019.1590703

Powell, K.G., Treitler, P., Peterson, N.A., Borys, S. & Hallcom, D. (2019). Promoting opioid overdose prevention and recovery: An exploratory study of an innovative intervention model to decrease opioid-related deaths. International Journal of Drug Policy, 64, 21-29. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.12.004

Treitler, P., Peterson, N.A., *Howell, T. H., & Powell, K. G. (2018). Measuring sense of community responsibility in community-based prevention coalitions: An Item Response Theory analysis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 62(1-2), 110-120. doi: 10.1002/ajcp.12269

Powell, K. G., Gold, S. Peterson, N. A., Borys, S., & Hallcom, D. (2017). Empowerment in coalitions targeting underage drinking: Differential effects of organizational characteristics for volunteers and staff. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, Special Edition, 17(1-2), 75-94. doi: 10.1080/1533256X.2017.1304947