Wayne State University

AIM HIGHER

Institute of Gerontology

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Olivia Washington


577-2297
o.washington@wayne.edu
226 Knapp

Dr. Olivia G. M. Washington is an associate professor of Gerontology and Nursing. In addition to her various assignments, she is also a licensed professional counselor and is credientialed as a Clinical Specialist and Nurse Pratitioner in Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.

Research Focus

Dr. Washington's research is focused on developing and testing the effectiveness of innovative methods and interventions designed to improve the health and well-being of three vulnerable minority populations: chemically dependent women, hypertensive African Americans and older homeless women. Dr. Washington is one of few investigators focusing on homelessness in older adults. She has major roles as co-principal investigator (PI) and co-investigator of three major National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded projects. Her work and publications advance gerontology and the interdisciplinary health sciences.

She is a training and mentoring faculty for the IOG's pre-doctoral training program, which provides direction and support for doctoral students preparing for research careers in aging and urban health. She is also co-leader of the Community Liaison core and co-director of the Healthier Black Elders Center (HBEC) - an outreach program of the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR). HBEC is a diverse group of educators, community members, national advisors, and researchers who work to improve the health of older adults living in the Metropolitan Detroit area. It is located near WSUs main campus at 87 E. Ferry in the Institute of Gerontology .

The immediate goal of the Center is to reduce differences in the health status of elderly minorities by focusing research on health promotion, disease and disability prevention, allowing African American seniors and their families to have better health now and in the future. In comparison with other groups, the incidence of hypertension, cancer, heart disease, and stroke is much higher among African Americans. Dr. Washington believes that empowering people works. She believes that empowering people is critical to assisting and supporting their efforts and abilities to intervene and improve their health and well-being. Therefore, in addition to designing research to answer important questions, when possible, Dr. Washington designs research that also involves reaching out to vulnerable populations in order to provide education and interventions that can benefit them immediately as well as long-term.

Dr. Washington also chairs an annual conference that grew out of the community's desire to bring more awareness to the Center and to the health of those participating in research completed under the Center's funding. The Center's Mission is to create a healthier Detroit. It has been found that combining high quality celebrations of life and community while at the same time teaching about health and health behaviors leaves a lasting impression. This arrangement has helped draw extensive crowds (700) to these annual health/reception events and inspired exceptional enthusiasm.

 


Areas of Expertise

  • Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 
  • Professional Counseling/Mental Health  
  • Gerontology

CV

washington_feb06.pdf

Grants

Extramural

• 2002-2007: "Aging Health-Related Research Core Faculty of the Investigator Development & Community Liaison Core." Funded by National Institute on Aging, P01 AG-02-004, 9/30/2002-6/30/2007. Jackson, J. S. & Lichtenberg, P.A. (PIs). Washington, O. G. M. (Co-investigator), 20% time). Michigan Center for Urban American Aging Research. Total budget, $3,200,000.
• 2003-2005: "Relationships of Caregiving Stressors to Hypertension Treatment Adherence at 3 months Follow-up Among Elders Caring for Children and/or Grandchildren." Funded by NINR (Minority Supplement), 3/2003-3/2005. Artinian, N. (PI). Washington, O. G. M. (Co-PI). Total budget, $78,115.
• 2001-2005: "Effects of Nurse-Managed Transtelephonic BP Monitoring." Funded by NIH/National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the National Institute of Nursing Research, RO1 NR07682-01, 9/1/01-9/1/05. Artinian, N. (PI). Washington, O. G. M. (Co-PI). Total budget, $1,341,000.
• 2001-2003: "Reducing Effects of Homelessness on Older African American Women." Funded by National Institute on Aging, R03 AG20300-01, 9/30/01-9/29/03. Washington , O.G.M. (PI). Total budget $74,500. 2001-2002: "SONG: A Healing Collage: Journey of Breast Cancer Survivors, Nurses and Florence Nightingale Through Poetry and Music." Funded by Wayne State University , Humanities Center Innovative Proposal Competition. 12/19/2001-5/31/2002. Mark Lieber (PI). Washington , O.G.M. (Co-PI). Total budget, $500.


Intramural

• 2006. Career Development Chair. Washington, O.G.M. Funded by Wayne State University Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Total budget $19,000.
• 2003-2006: "Telling My Story: Using Humanistic Social Science to Illuminate First Person Accounts of Women Surviving Homelessness in Late Life." Funded by Humanities Center Innovative Proposal Competition, 12/2003-2004. Washington , O.G.M. (PI). Budget $4,000 + $4,000 IOG match. Total budget, $8,000.
• 2001-2002: "SONG: A Healing Collage: Journey of Breast Cancer Survivors, Nurses and Florence Nightingale Through Poetry and Music." Funded by Wayne State University , Humanities Center Innovative Proposal Competition. 12/19/2001-5/31/2002. Mark Lieber (PI). Washington , O.G.M. (Co-PI). Total budget, $500.
• 1999-2000: "Factors That Contribute to Homelessness in Older African American Women." Funded by National Institute of Aging & Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research/RCMAR. University of Michigan and Wayne State University . 7/06/99 -7/06/2000. Washington , O.G.M. (PI). Total budget, $20,000.
• 1999-2000: "Seniors of Substance: Determining Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependence in Elderly African American Homeless Women." Funded by Wayne State University , Women of Wayne Alumni Association. 10/19/99-10/18/00. Washington , O.G.M. (PI). Total budget, $500.
• 1999-2000: "The Effects of Transtelephonic Blood Pressure Monitoring on Blood Pressure Control and Hypertension Self-Management." Funded by Wayne State University , Center for Health Research. 6/02/1999-8/26/1999. Artinian, N.T. (PI). Washington , O.G.M. (Co-PI). Total budget, $10,000.
• 1999-2000: "Community Health Needs Assessment as Perceived by Key Community Leaders." Funded by Wayne State University , Center for Health Research. 6/07/99-8/18/99. Jacox, A. (PI). Washington , O.G.M. (Co-Investigator). Total budget, $4,528.
• 1998-2000: "Improving Chemically Dependent Women's Perception of Freedom, Self-Efficacy, and Employability Using Cognitive/Didactic and Experiential Group Therapy." Funded by Wayne State University , Humanities Center . 6/20/98-8/15/2000. Washington, O. G. M. (PI). Total budget, $3,940.
• 1998-1999: "The Effects of Cognitive/Didactic and Experiential Group Therapy on the Self-Efficacy and Perceptions of Employability of Chemically Dependent Women." Funded by Wayne State University , Faculty Research Award. 4/01/98-3/31/99. Washington , O.G.M. (PI). Total budget, $7,000.
• 1998-1998: "The Effects of Cognitive/Didactic and Experiential Group Therapy on the Self-Efficacy and Perceptions of Employability of Chemically Dependent Women." Funded by Wayne State University , Minority/Women Summer Grant Program Award. 3/16/98-12/14/98. Washington, O. G. M. (PI). Total budget, $9,300.
• 1997-1998: "The Effects of Cognitive/Didactic and Experimental Group Therapy on the Self-Efficacy and Perceptions of Employability of Chemically Dependent Women." Funded by Wayne State University , Harriet H. Werley Faculty Research Award. 12/19/97-8/15/98. Washington , O.G.M. (PI). Total budget, $2,500.


Professional Service


University Committee Assignments in Last Six Years
  • Academic Senate-2001-present
  • Academic Senate Research Committee-2001-present  
  • Selection Committee for the President's Excellence in Teaching Award. January-April 2000
College/Department Committee Membership (elected and appointed positions)
  • 1999-200: Member of Wayne State University College of Nursing Urban Health Research Consortium. Creates partnerships and provides direction and support for conducting Community Urban Health Research to improve the health status of the citizens of the Greater Detroit area.  
  • 1996-present: Scholastic Policy and Admission Review Committee (elected).  
  • 1999-2000: College of Nursing Multi-cultural Committee (elected).
  • 1997-1998: Critical Thinking Task Force. 
  • 1996-1998: CHN BSN Curriculum Task Force and Workshops/preparation for revision and implementation of new undergraduate curriculum
  • 1997-1998: Graduate Council. 
  • 1996: Community Health Nursing Graduate Curriculum Revision Task Force Planning Committee for FCMH Area Workshop. 
  • 1996: Clinical Facilities Committee for NLN Self-Study for Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing.
Other
  • 2003-2004: Chair of the MCUAAAR Healthier Black Elders Annual Reception. 2002-2003: Program Planning Committee for Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research, Institute of Gerontology , Wayne State University College of Nursing, Center for Health Research, Summer Workshop.
  • 2002-2003: Chair of the MCUAAAR Healthier Black Elders Reception and Kick-off event.  
  • 2002-present: Co-director of the Healthier Black Elders Center , Institute of Gerontology.
  • 2002-present: Co-leader of the Community Liaison Core for the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR).
  • 2000-2001: Search Committee for Institute of Gerontology Associate Director of Research and Training

Publications


Journal Articles Published

  • Washington, O. G. M. (1999). Effects of cognitive and experiential group therapy on self-efficacy and perceptions of employability of chemically dependent women. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 20(3), 181-198.
  • Washington, O. G. M. (2000). Four key characteristics of chemically dependent women. African American Research Perspectives, 6(3), 24-34.
  • Washington, O. G. M. (2000). Effects of group therapy on chemically dependent women's self-efficacy. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 32(4), 343-348.
  • Washington, O. G. M., & Moxley, D. (2001). The use of prayer in group work with African American women recovering from chemical dependency. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 82(1), 49-59.
  • Washington, O. G. M. (2001). Using brief therapeutic interventions to create change in self-efficacy and personal control of chemically dependent women. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 25(1),32-40.
  • Moxley, D., & Washington, O. G. M. (2001). Strength-based recovery practice in chemical dependency: A transpersonal perspective. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 82(3), 251-262.
  • Artinian, N. T., Washington, O. G. M., & Templin, T. N. (2001). Effects of home telemonitoring and community-based monitoring on blood pressure control in urban African Americans: A pilot study. American Heart and Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 30(3), 191-199.
  • Washington, O. G. M., & Moxley, D. (2001). A model of group treatment to facilitate recovery from chemical dependency. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 39(7), 30-41.
  • Washington, O. G. M., & Moxley, D. (2003). Group interventions with low-income African American women recovering from chemical dependency. Journal of Health and Social Work, 28(2), 146-156.
  • Washington, O. G. M., & Moxley, D. (2003). Developing psychological readiness for employment rehabilitation among chemical dependent women. Journal of Social Work Research and Evaluation: An International Publication, 4(1), 67-81.
  • Washington, O. G. M., & Moxley, D. (2003). Promising group practices to empower low-income women coping with chemical dependency. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 73(1), 109-116.
  • Washington, O. G. M., & Moxley, D. (2004). Using scrapbooks & portfolios in group work with women who are chemically dependent. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 42(6), 42-53.

In Press

  • Lichtenberg, P. A., Brown, D. R., Jackson, J. S., & Washington, O. G. M. (in press). Normative health experiences among African American elders. Journal of Aging and Health.
  • Artinian, N. T., Washington, O. G. M., Klymko, K.W., Marbury, C. M., Miller, W. M., Powell, J. L. (in press). What you need to know about home blood pressure telemonitoring but may not know to ask. Home Healthcare Nurse.
  • Washington, O. G. M. (in press). Identification and characteristics of older homeless African American women. Issues in Mental Health Nursing.

In Review

  • Washington, O. G. M., Moxley, D. P., Benton, J. D., & Spence, D. L. Social work and nursing as collaborative partners in recovery-based practice. Manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Washington, O. G. M. Older homeless women and substance abuse. Manuscript submitted for publication.

For more information on Dr. Washington 's extensive list of publications and proceedings, please see her Curriculum Vitae.