Community Reinforcement And Family Training (CRAFT) 

This study is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse through a grant to Kimberly C. Kirby, Ph.D., Director of Behavioral Intervention Section at Treatment Research Institute. This study is designed for family members and significant others inquiring about treatment for an individual who is dependent on alcohol or drugs.These family members or concerned significant others are randomly assigned to one of the three family training models and results evaluated for change in rates of treatment seeking and retention. View Publications

Dr. Kerwin is a co-investigator on this grant. In her role as Co-Investigator, Dr. Kerwin translated two of the interventions into treatment manuals, trained the family trainors to deliver the intervention, and supervises the delivery of the intervention.

Health And Behavior Integrative Treatments (HABIT) Research Unit

Ongoing Projects

• Behavioral Economic Interventions for Opioid Use Disorder
• Evaluating Demand for:
  • Physical Activity
  • Non-prescription Stimulant Misuse
  • Opioids
• Technology-Based Behavioral Interventions for:
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Physical Activity
  • Alcohol Abstinence

Please visit the HABIT Lab Webiste for more information.

Sequencing for Maximizing Acquisition and Response to Treatment (SMART)

Treatment Outcomes Research in Behavioral Interventions for Children with Autism

MaryLouise Kerwin, PhD BCBA-D, Principal Investigator
Michelle Ennis Soreth, PhD, BCBA-D, Co-Investigator

SMART is a grant-funded project examining center-based ABA intervention for preschool children diagnosed with autism.

This clinical research is funded in part by the New Jersey Governor’s Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism, New Jersey Department of Health.

We are currently recruiting participants for SMART.

Children between the ages of 2-5 years with a co‑firmed diagnosis of autism are eligible for this project. If your child is eligible to participate in this study, your child will receive:

• 90 minute treatment sessions, at least 3 times each week for 4 months
• All sessions are held on Rowan University’s main campus in Glassboro, New Jersey.
• All sessions are free of charge
• Children will participate in 3 assessments over the time span of 4 months at Rowan University in addition to treatment sessions.
• Parents will be compensated for time and effort completing the 3 assessments.
• Sessions are offered in addition to any other services your child currently receives.
• Sessions are scheduled at your convenience and availability.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at:
856-256-4846
abacenter@rowan.edu

We are also seeking dedicated undergraduate and graduate student research assistants for this project. Please email abacenter@rowan.edu if you are interested.

Videogame-based smoking cessation

Principal Investigator: Bethany R. Raiff, PhD, BCBA-D and Darion Rapoza, PhD (Entertainment Sciences, Inc)

These two NIH funded projects involve developing video games that incorporate evidence-based contingency management interventions in to the context of fun and engaging video games to promote smoking cessation. Contingency management involves delivering incentives contingent on objective evidence of smoking abstinence. To verify abstinence, we have participants submit videos of themselves breathing in to a carbon monoxide monitor. If the participant has not been smoking, s/he will be given a video game-based reward. One of the games, Up from the Ashes, consists of a post-apocalyptic environment where players are trying to rejuvinate their city  and world by building housing, water purification plants, research plants, theaters, and so on. One way to earn the resources to do this is by submitting videos showing that they have not been smoking, and the longer a person is abstinent, the better the rewards for their game. Players are also organized in to groups so that they can support other people who are trying to quit by giving them special gifts that are based on the person’s success with not smoking, and they can earn group rewards by working together on special tasks. The second game that we are developing is called Breath Free and it is for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. Although the game is different, the same general principles are applied to both. If you or someone you know is interested in participating in this study, please email the Principal Investigator at raiff@rowan.edu.

Social Acceptability and Functional Evaluation of Behavior Lab (SAFE)

PI: Dr. Christina Simmons

My work focuses on the assessment and treatment of severe behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. My overarching research interest is the promotion of socially valid outcomes for children and adolescents who engage in severe behavior (e.g., aggression, self-injury, property destruction). Toward that goal, I am exploring how to best facilitate caregiver involvement in the assessment, treatment, and maintenance of treatment effects through research comprising three areas: (a) refinements to the assessment of problem behavior, (b) parent and teacher training in behavioral interventions, and (c) implementation of evidence-based practice across settings. Current research projects focus on developing novel indirect and direct assessment measures to identify tasks that evoke problem behavior, evaluating alternative instructional methods that do not rely on physical guidance, and examining how to most effectively increase the amount of time children can appropriately wait to access functional reinforcers (e.g., attention, tangible items). 

My approach to research is behavior analytic in nature and combines my unique training in psychology and applied behavior analysis. Students in my lab receive intensive training in personal protective procedures to safely manage challenging behavior and work in the Severe Behavior Disorders Clinic as part of the Center for Applied Behavior Analysis. If you would like more information about my research or if you are interested in getting involved with any related projects, please contact me at simmonsc@rowan.edu or visit my office in Robinson 117S.