Michele A. Kelley, ScD, MSW, MA
Associate Professor Emerita of Maternal and Child Health
Faculty Affiliate, UIC Office of Health Literacy; Faculty Affiliate, UIC Great Cities Institute
Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health
Pronouns: She/Hers/They
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About
It is both a privilege and significant responsibility to be part of UIC SPH, now as Emerita faculty. As a public health social scientist, and a public health social worker, I specialize in adolescent and young adult (AYA) health and well-being, from a prevention and strengths-based perspective. I am interested in strengthening systems of care for AYAs; and leveraging local and cultural assets for interventions and policy to improve health equity. Enhancing the health and life chances of non-dominant racial-ethnic youth and their families is a major focus of this work.
WHY PUBLIC HEALTH?
Growing up in the Midwest, I was curious and at the same time disturbed by observation of and lived experience with health and social inequities in my kin network, school, and community. As a teen, I was considered "at risk" even though I excelled at school, and sought to understand human rights issues concerning race, gender and international peace. Sociology was a great undergraduate major for me, and that led to studies in graduate social work and public policy. I had a traditional multisystem practice background in community mental health, child welfare and juvenile justice, and hospital based emergency and disaster services, which led to prevention oriented program development in a state health department, and eventually to a public health doctoral degree, with a focus on family, child and adolescent health. I am forever grateful to my family and mentors for support in facilitating my career, and for my teachers and professors who believed in me. They taught me that “success” is not about merit alone. I became an advocate for universal access to quality, culturally responsive education and healthcare as basic human rights. Public health is about ensuring these rights by changing conditions such as the social determinants of health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1 to promote health and social equity. In our society and in the world at large, it is the larger social system that exercises the greatest influence on health, and structural inequities demand structural responses, beyond lifestyle and individual behaviors and even access to healthcare. See N. Krieger: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nancy-krieger/media/
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
Public health is rooted in and informed by real world practice; and for me that means participatory learning, inquiry and action with community partners and youth serving organizations to address health and social inequities.
I have been principal investigator on federal grants from CDC, HRSA, and NIH. My current scholarship primarily addresses policy and multilevel action to mitigate health inequities using evidence informed best practices, and developmental and cultural assets. With my amazing multidisciplinary colleagues in the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM), we focus on youth ages 10-24 (adolescents and young adults or AYAs), nationally and globally. Topics include: food justice, gender-based violence, critical multicultural education, anti-racism healing approaches with AYAs, and anti-racism toolkits for health professionals. I also present and publish on action for addressing Social Determinants of Health with social work colleagues and other health disciplines. [See research interests section below.]
I was an early adopter of community-based participatory research (CBPR) and collaborated to develop and test the ecological validity of a national model of CBPR, from process to outcomes. I utilize a related research paradigm with youth, Youth Participatory Action Research, (Y-PAR) to address health equity issues in neighborhoods and schools; for the dual-purpose of preventing and combating chronic diseases and attracting young, diverse, local talent to our health professions colleges. I have published on youth collaborative inquiry methods in general and specifically on tobacco control, racism and gentrification (place attachment), and food access.
An emerging interest is food justice/ food sovereignty which is at the intersection of environmental and health justice; implicating the food system from production to consumption as driving environmental degradation, food insecurity, worker harm, and population chronic disease.
TEACHING
I developed and co-taught the required MPH Social-Environmental Determinants of Health course; and also developed the Public Health Approaches with Adolescents and Young Adults course, and a professional practice course on leadership, communication, and grantspersonship. These courses were developed as online, asynchronous courses using best practices and multiple technologies to ensure student participation, connectedness and support. I enjoy working with our MPH and MSW students as they are our future public health leaders.
I also took the lead on developing our MSW/MPH program, which is thriving now with many talented students and dedicated faculty at our SPH and also at JACSW, our school of social work. I was an original developer of the baccalaureate degree program in public health, which had strong community participation from the beginning, to assure readiness for practice for community health equity. Throughout my teaching, I emphasize a curricular approach of participatory, active learning connected to practice, while addressing the personal identity and ontological work that must be done in social justice and change-oriented professions. Practice based collaborative knowledge from community and indigenous sources is important for epistemic justice and cultural renewal, which are important considerations for intervention.
Please see my partnerships, specific research interests, honors and leadership, and change oriented service below.
Selected Publications
Barral, R., Svetaz, M. V., Kelley, M. A., Kanbur, N., Thruston, W., Coyne-Beasley, T., Mihaly, L., Raymond-Flesch, M. The role of critical consciousness and inclusive curricula in adolescents and young adults’ wellbeing: A call for multicultural education. Journal of Adolescent Health. IN PRESS 2022.
Barral, R.; Kelley, M.A. Harrison, M,; Svetaz, M.V., Efevbera,Y., Bhave, S., Kanbur, N. (2022). Dismantling inequities in adolescent and young adult health through a sexual and reproductive health justice approach. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine. DOI https://doi.org/ 10.1055/s-0042-1742347.
Kanbur, N., Barral, R., Efevbera, Y., Kelley, M. A., Svetaz, M. V., Miller, E., Bhave, S., Coyne-Beasley, T., & Raymond-Flesch, M. (2021). Call to Action Against Femicide: Illuminating a Shadow Pandemic as a Global Public Health Emergency. The Journal of adolescent health: official publication of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, S1054-139X(20)30691-1. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.11.022
Svetaz, M. V., Barral, R., Kelley, M. A., Simpson, T., Chulani, V., Raymond-Flesch, M., … & Kanbur, N. (2020). Inaction Is Not an Option: Using Antiracism Approaches to Address Health Inequities and Racism and Respond to Current Challenges Affecting Youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 67(3), 323-325. PMID: 32829758; DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.06.017
Dombrowski, R. D., & Kelley, M. A. (2019). Corner Store Owners as Health Promotion Agents in Low-Income Communities. Health Education & Behavior, 46(6), 905-915. PMID: 31789075; DOI: 10.1177/1090198119867735
Sommer, P.A.; Kelley, M.A.; Norr, K.F.; Patil, C.L.; Vonderheid, S. (2019). Mexican American Adolescent Mothers’ Lived Experience: Grounded Ethnicity and Authentic Mothering. Global Qualitative Nursing Research. 6:1-15. PMID: 31192272; DOI: 10.1177/2333393619850775
Svetaz, M. V., Chulani, V., West, K. J., Voss, R., Kelley, M. A., Raymond-Flesch, M., Thruston, W.; Coyne-Beasley, T.; Kang, M.; Leung, E. & Barkley, L. (2018). Racism and Its Harmful Effects on Nondominant Racial–Ethnic Youth and Youth-Serving Providers: A Call to Action for Organizational Change: Journal of Adolescent Health, 63(2), 257-261. A Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine position paper. PMID: 30149927 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.06.003
Kelley, M.A. and Dombrowski, R. Community-Based Action for Food Justice (2018). Chapter 29 in The Handbook of Community Movements and Local Organizations. Eds: Ram Cnaan, and Carl Milofsky. Second Edition: Springer. pp 405-422. DOI link: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77416-9_25 Peer reviewed.
Belone,L,.Lucero, J.E.,, Duran, B, Tafoya, G., Baker, E.A., Chan, D.,Chang, C., Greene-Moton, E., Kelley, M.A., Wallerstein, N. (2016) Community-Based Participatory Research Conceptual Model: Community Partner Consultation and Face Validity. Qual Health Res, January 26 (1): 117-135, doi: 10.1177/1049732314557084. Epub 2014 Oct 31; PMID: 25361792.
Bozlak, C.T., and Kelley, M.A. (2015). Participatory Action Research with Youth. Chapter 3 in Participatory Action Research (Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods), Eds: Lawson, H.A., Caringi, J. Pyles, L., Jurkowski, J. and Bozlak, C. Oxford University Press, pp, 67-90. Peer reviewed.
Service to Community
CHANGE ORIENTED SERVICE
One of the things I am most proud of is my participation in the development of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which expanded health insurance coverage for young adults. In 2013, I had the honor to be invited to the White House to discuss ACA implementation issues with Obama administration DHHS staff.
I also developed a multipronged approach with behavioral change indicators to student leadership development including strategic planning, student orientation and socialization, and a graduate course for leadership education across diverse contexts for public health.
I am forever grateful to long term, Chicago partners especially The Puerto Rican Cultural Center and the Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos and Roberto Clemente High Schools. I owe my understanding of public health and education, including critical pedagogy, to this community of engaged, caring teachers and scholar-activists. I consulted with leadership of Community as a Campus initiative to build capacity and provide resources such as culturally responsive Mindfulness for youth trainings to enhance youth resilience. I also facilitated development of a dual credit public health introductory course in the public high school, in collaboration with the School of Public Health.
I have several high impact projects with the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM), centered on improving systems of care for adolescents and young adults with an anti-oppressive, community and youth asset-based focus. My colleagues in SAHM and I have an ambitious, ongoing agenda for addressing racism and other intersectional forms of oppression through leadership, organizational, community, and social policy change strategies. We developed an evolving Anti-Racism Toolkit for health professionals, which is available here: https://www.adolescenthealth.org/Resources/Anti-Racism-Toolkit.aspx
Professional Leadership
Appointed to the Diversity Committee and on 2020 program committee, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM)
Consulting editor, methods in healthcare and health promotion research., Social Work, the premiere NASW professional journal, 2014 - present.
Editorial board , 2013-present., Qualitative Health Research
Editorial board, 2004-17, Journal of Community Practice
UIC University liaison and planner for the QUAL Health Research Day. 2015-2019, International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (ICQI)
Invited to Obama White House for consultation with DHHS officials on implementation of the Affordable Care Act, 2013, The White House; the Council on Social Work Education.
Co-chiar and co-developer of the Adolescent and Young Adult Health Committee, Maternal and Child Health Section, 209-15, American Public Health Association
Federal Advisory Committee, Healthy People 2020; years 2010-19., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Leadership for preventive services implementation in the Affordable Care Act. Consulted with DHHS and private service sector leadership, organized conference; 2012-14., American Public Health Association
Notable Honors
2015, American Public Health Association, Public Health Social Work Section. Insley-Evans Public Health Social Worker of the Year., American Public Health Association
1996, National Institute of Nursing Research 10th Anniversary scholar award recipient, at symposium “Advancing Health Through Science: The Human Dimension.", National Institute of Nursing Research
2007-08 and 1995-96, UIC Great Cities Scholar, College of Urban Planning and Public Administration., UIC Great Cities Institute https://greatcities.uic.edu/
1997, Delta Omega, National Public Health Honor Society, elected to membership in the Lambda chapter (UIC)., Delta Omega https://deltaomega.org/
1973, Alpha Kappa Delta (International Sociology Honor Society)., Alpha Kappa Delta https://alphakappadelta.org/
Education
Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health.
Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs, Columbus, Ohio. Emphasis: Policy and program analysis.
Master of Social Work The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Emphasis: Program Planning and Administration; Clinical Interventions with Families and Children.
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio. Emphasis: Urban Sociology and Community Organization. Minor in biology and health sciences.
Professional Memberships
I am active with the American Public Health Association (APHA), the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM), the International Federation of Social Work (with United Nations consultancy status), and the American Educational Research Association (Paulo Freire SIG). I serve on Editorial Boards of the premiere journal, Social Work, Qualitative Health Research, and formerly the ACOSA Journal of Community Practice.
Selected Presentations
Svetaz, M.V., (organizer and presenter), Kanbur, N., Barral, R., Ginsburg, K., Raymond-Flesch, M., Kelley, M.A., Shramko, M. The Post Viral Unequal world that the Pandemic exposed: Addressing the deleterious effects of racism through radical healing with our youth. Institute Presented Virtually LIVE at the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) 2022 Annual Meeting, March 11, 2022.
Kelley, M.A. (organizer and presenter), Barral, R., Raymond-Flesch, M., López, J.E., Svetaz, M.V., & Thruston, W.D.: "Push-Outs not Drop-Outs”: Transforming health by dismantling systemic racism in education. Workshop Presented Virtually LIVE at the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) 2021 Annual Meeting, March 11, 2021.
Kanbur, N. (organizer and presenter), Barral, R., Bhave, S., Efevbera, Y., Kelley, M. A., Miller, E., Svetaz, M. V., & Raymond-Flesch, M. Transforming adolescent health through knowledge of and action on the pandemic behind the pandemic: Femicide and gender-based violence. Workshop Presented via on demand video recording at the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) 2021 Annual Meeting, March 10-12.
Muralles, S.; Kelley, M.A. Public Health Approaches to Developing Sustainable Urban Agriculture in Humboldt Park, Chicago. Presented at the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement Urban Public Policy Fellows’ forum. Online. April 2020.
Dombrowski, R.D. and M.A. Kelley. Small Stores as Community-Based Enterprises to Advance Health Equity. Oral Presentation at the 23rd International Union for Health Promotion and Education World Conference on Health Promotion, Rotorua, New Zealand. April 10, 2019.
Kelley, M.A. The Significance of Qualitative Research to Advance Collaborative Inquiry and Promote Health Equity. 15th International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (QI2019), Urbana, IL. May 15, 2019.
Kelley, MA. Preparing the next generation of social workers to address health equity at the population level. SWSD 2018, Social Work, Education and Social Development International Biennial Conference. Theme: Environmental and Community Sustainability -Human Solutions in Evolving Society. July 5th, 2018, Dublin, Ireland.
Kelley, MA. Youth action for food justice: Applying participatory epidemiology with community health development. SWSD 2018, Social Work, Education and Social Development International Biennial Conference. Theme: Environmental and Community Sustainability -Human Solutions in Evolving Society. July 4th, 2018, Dublin, Ireland.
Estrella ML, Kelley MA, Durazo-Arvizu RA,Gallo LC, Giachello AL, Perreira K, Isasi, CR, Chambers EC, Zeng D, Carrion VD, Lash JP, Daviglus ML. Volunteering and Favorable Cardiovascular Health in Hispanic/Latinos: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sociocultural Ancillary Study. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health 2017. Portland, Oregon, March 7-10, 2017. [Poster presentation March 9th, 2nd author. Oral presentation March 8th, 3rd author.]
Kelley MA. The U.S. National Prevention Strategy: Beyond Healthcare and into the Neighborhood for Health Equity. The University of Utah College of Social Work, Salt Lake City, UT, 8/23/16. (Invited).
Research Currently in Progress
My research interests include: (1) AYA* citizen science/ popular epidemiology and inquiry projects for civic engagement and community health equity; (2) Utilizing action-learning and YPAR** to build locally and developmentally relevant knowledge, and to engage AYAs in health sciences careers; (3) Exploring the effects of social marginalization and oppression on non-dominant racial/ ethnic AYAs with evidence for system-level mitigation and prevention; (4) Promoting health equity and preventing chronic disease in AYAs through strengthening local community food systems from a food justice/ food sovereignty/perspective.
*AYA - Adolescents and Young Adults
**YPAR- Youth participatory action research
Guiding Inspiration: "Any society based on domination supports and condones violence." -bell hooks