Jeff Jenson, PhD, Philip D. and Eleanor G. Winn Professor of Children and Youth at Risk, was chosen to deliver the keynote address at the 21st National Symposium on Doctoral Research in Social Work at Ohio State University on April 18, 2009. His presentation was entitled "Prevention Science and Adolescent Problem Behavior: Advances and Opportunities."
Prof. Jenson serves as Associate Dean for Research at the Graduate School of Social Work. He received the University of Denver Distinguished Scholar Award in 2003 and the University Lecturer Award in 2007. Earlier this year, Prof. Jenson delivered the Aaron Rosen Endowed Lecture at the annual meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research.
Prof. Jenson is currently principal investigator of the Youth Empowerment Project, an investigation aimed at improving academic and behavioral outcomes among youth in three Denver public housing communities. He was recently principal investigator of the Youth Matters Denver Public Schools Prevention Project, which assessed the effects of a structured curriculum on aggression and substance use among students in 28 elementary schools.
"The individual and social costs of adolescent problem behaviors like aggression, substance abuse and school failure are too high in our country," notes Prof. Jenson. "I have a personal goal to see more social work practitioners and researchers involved in efforts to promote healthy behaviors and prevent problems among young people."
Prof. Jenson's publications include two books and numerous articles on adolescent
problem behavior.
Social Policy for Children and Families: A Risk and Resilience Perspective, which he co-edited, received the 2006-08 Social Policy Award for Best Edited Volume
from the Society for Research on Adolescence.
