Rachel R Smith , MHSc

As a Program Manager, Ms. Smith serves as both lead and co-lead of several evaluation and research projects for the Evaluation Services Center.  She supports the center in all its Institutional Review Board (IRB) submission, data management, and hiring efforts. Methodologically, she is trained in both quantitative and qualitative research. She is experienced in designing evaluations, collecting, managing, analyzing, and visualizing data. She has extensive experience in program management and has a passion to work on projects that empowers vulnerable populations and enjoys the collaborative process working with clients and their with diverse communities they serve. Her background includes working with vulnerable populations in both rural and urban communities, creating training initiatives, implementing population and preventive health programs, and assessing systems of care using a variety of research and evaluation methodologies, approaches, and best practices (e.g., implementation science, community-based participatory research, needs assessments, etc.).  Her evaluation portfolio includes both education and public health initiatives such as longitudinal state-wide literacy research, STEM education and training projects, and substance abuse prevention and treatment, mental and behavioral health. She has extensive experience working with several federally funded projects including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Women's and Adolescents' Reproductive Health, Infertility Prevention and Surveillance, and Emergency Preparedness), National Science Foundation (RET site, MSP, REU, and ATE) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (System of Care, SBIRT, CCBHC-E and CCBHC-IA, and Mental Health Awareness Training).

Master's Degree: University of Toronto (Health Science: Health Promotion)

Bachelor's Degree: University of Cincinnati (Community Health Education)

Peer Reviewed Publications

McCarthy M.J., Schellinger J., Smith R., Hargraves, D., Behimer, G. & Scherra, K. (2015. ) Youth, Caregiver, and Family (2015). Comparison of Service Effectiveness for Youth with Depressed Versus Nondepressed Caregivers.Research on Social Work Practice, , More Information

McCarthy M.J., Smith R., Schellinger J., Behimer, G., Hargraves, D., Sutter, J., Lindroth, L., & Scherra, K. (2016. ) Impact of Youth Strengths and Objective Strain on the Experiences of Subjective Strain Among Caregivers of Youth with Behavioral Health Conditions.Journal of Child and Family Studies, , 25 (11 ) ,3192 More Information

Acquavita, S.P., Van Loon R A, Smith R., Brehm B., Diers T., Kim, K., Baker A. (2019. ) The SBIRT Interprofessional Curriculum and Field Model.Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, , 19 (1-2 ) ,10 More Information

Richardson, G. B. Smith, R., Lowe, L., Acquavita, S.P., (2020). Structure and longitudinal invariance of the Short Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire (2020. ) Structure and longitudinal invariance of the Short Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire.Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, , 115 (2020 ) , More Information

Acquavita, S. P., Smith, R., Van Loon, R. A., Brehm, B., Kim, K., Diers, T. (2021. ) Training health professional students in adolescent SBIRT using an online module.Journal of Research & Practice in College Teaching, , 6 (1 ) ,67-79 More Information

Acquavita, S.P., Richardson, G.B., Smith, R., Van Loon R. A., Brehm, B., Kim, K., & Diers, T., (2021. ) Outcomes of an interprofessional SBIRT training program: Knowledge attainment and perceived competence for practice.Substance Abuse, , More Information

2017 -2017 CCTST Academic-Community Research Partnership Award Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST) bestowed this award to the Shelterhouse and the UC School of Social Work, Cincinnati, Ohio. This award honors an academic-community partnership that works collaboratively to facilitate innovation in research or quality improvement to impact the health of children, adults and/or communities for their interprofessional SBIRT training partnership and research Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Recognition

-2021: UCHR Academy Graduate. The UCHR Academy is a 6 month, 12 class, in-house certification program that is required for all UC employees who handle Human Resource functions within their units. Each topic covered utilizes core adult learning methods to provide a blended approach to teaching through a combination of classroom events, e-learning modules, interactive activities, participant guides, and job aids. The UCHR Academy is focused on providing targeted learning to help cultivate HR skills and knowledge necessary for success. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

-2022: Equal Opportunity Academy Graduate. The goal of the EO ACADEMY is to increase participants’ knowledge and skills in the field of affirmative action and equal opportunity University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

-2024: Aspiring Leadership Academy Graduate. The purpose of this academy is to provide foundational knowledge, skills, and abilities for leading and inspiring others. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Research - Evaluation Services Center
2220 Victory Parkway, Rm. 417
Cincinnati  Ohio, 45206
Phone: 513-556-5018
smithrr@ucmail.uc.edu