overview

• Natasha Smith is currently finishing her dissertation titled, "Helping Professionals' Decision-Making Practices with Intervening in Cases of Minor Sex Trafficking: A Qualitative Pragmatic Inquiry" at The University of Alabama. Natasha's research focuses on helping professionals' decision-making while working with children and youth who experienced maltreatment, including those who are involved with the child welfare system and the juvenile justice system. Natasha served as a Co-PI on an externally funded project assessing healthcare access among Alabama youth transitioning from foster care with disabilities. Natasha served as a research assistant on several projects based in AL, such as the Title IV-E Stipend Training Progam Evaluation, Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking: A Jurisdiction-Wide Approach Program, and A Mindfulness and Peer Mentoring Program to Improve Adherence to Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders. Her future research plans involve further exploring the role protective family members play in reducing risk for sex trafficking among children and youth engaging in risky behaviors, and the needs of trafficking survivors transitioning from pediatric to adult system of care. Additionally, Natasha served as a teaching assistant and an instructor to several undergraduate social work practice and research courses. Finally, Natasha is a trained and licensed clinical social worker, supervisor, and a private practitioner with 10 years of public and private sector practice experience working with children and youth in the child welfare system and adults with mental health and substance use needs. Natasha is experienced with providing traditional and telehealth therapy services in an effort to bridge gaps in service accessibility in rural areas of AL.