Curriculum Vitae
Education
July 2024
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
PhD in Social Welfare
Dissertation: Social Worker Perceptions of Trauma-Informed Schools: A Multistudy, Mixed-Method Analysis of School Practices, Policies, and Climate
Committee: Ron Avi Astor (Chair), Laura Abrams, Todd Franke, Tyrone Howard
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2017 - 2019
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Master of Social Welfare
Concentration: Social and Economic Justice
Research Interests
Trauma-informed and healing organizations; child welfare-involved adolescents and transition-age youth; adoption and foster care; trauma and well-being in children and adolescents
Teaching Interests
Child and Adolescent Trauma; Child Welfare Practice and Policy; Human Behavior in the Social Environment; Macro Social Work; Mixed Methods Research; Nonprofit Management; Organizations and Systems; Qualitative Research Methods; Social Welfare Policy; Social Welfare Research Methods
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Watson, K. R., Astor, R. A., Capp, G., & Benbenishty, R. (2024). School social workers’ reports of differences in policies and practices in trauma-informed and non-trauma-informed schools. Behavioral Sciences, 14(11), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14110991
Astor, R. A., Benbenishty, R., Capp, G. P. , Watson, K. R., Wu, C., McMahon, S. D., Worrell, F. C., Reddy, L. A., Martinez, A., Espelage, D. L., & Anderman, E. M. (2023). How school policies, strategies, and relational factors contribute to teacher victimization and school safety. Journal of Community Psychology.
Watson, K.R., Capp, G., Astor, R.A., Kelly, M.S., & Benbenishty, R. (2022). “We need to address the trauma”: School social workers’ views about student and staff mental health during COVID-19. School Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-022-09512-7
Watson, K. R., Astor, R. A., Benbenishty, R., Capp, G., & Kelly, M. S. (2022). Needs of children and families during spring 2020 COVID-19 school closures: Findings from a national survey. Social Work, 67(1), 17-27.
Kelly, M. S., Benbenishty, R., Capp, G., Watson, K., & Astor, R. (2021). Practice in a pandemic: School social workers’ adaptations and experiences during the 2020 COVID-19 school disruptions. Families in Society, 102(3), 400-413.
Capp, G., Watson, K., Astor, R. A., Kelly, M. S., & Benbenishty, R. (2021). School social worker voice during COVID-19 school disruptions: A national qualitative analysis. Children & Schools, 43(2), 79-88.
Astor, R. A., Benbenishty, R., & Watson, K. R. (2021). A conceptual and large-scale empirical examination of the Welcoming Empowerment Monitoring Approach (WEMA) for school safety and substance use reduction. Research on Social Work Practice, 31(5), 454-468.
Pickens, I.B., Howard, M.L., Halladay‐Goldman, J., Cruise, K.R., & Watson, K.R. (2019). Development and pilot of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Trauma‐Informed Juvenile Court Self‐Assessment. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 70(2), 31-54.
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Under Review and In Preparation
Watson, K.R. & Astor, R. A. (revised and resubmitted). A call for conceptual, empirical, and practice integration of trauma-informed approaches in schools. UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Department of Social Work.
Watson, K. R., Camacho Torres, Y., Nunez, J. J., & Garcia, A. A. (under review). The need for and measurement of trauma-informed climate in child welfare organizations.
Watson, K. R., Camacho Torres, Y., Solis, A. J., Henderson, A. R., Mogy, N., Wright, Z., Sac Tzep, A., & Talavera, J. (under review). Foster youth perceptions of the system’s impact on themselves and their families: A photovoice project.
Watson, K. R., Astor, R. A., Capp, G., & Benbenishty, R. (in preparation). Social workers’ perceptions of trauma-informed culture and climate in schools.
Watson, K. R. & Astor, R. A. (in preparation). Social workers’ understanding of trauma-informed schools, required components, and expected outcomes: A qualitative analysis.
Fensterstock, N., Watson, K. R., Warri, V., Garcia, A. A., Wu, C., Robinson, L. R., Hogenkamp, S., Xu, Y., Garner, H., Dunn, D., McMahon, S., Astor, R. A., Espelage, D. L., Martinez, A., Reddy, L. A., Anderman, E., & Worrell, F. (in preparation). Violence in schools: Social workers report on the biggest threats and needs.
Watson, K. R., Camacho Torres, Y., Rubtsova, A., & Solis, A. (in preparation). Youth voices: How to mitigate harm caused by the child welfare system on youth and their family and sibling relationships.
Watson, K. R., Nunez, J. J., Camacho Torres, Y., & Garcia, A. A. (in preparation). A pilot study to validate an equity-focused trauma-informed climate scale.
Garcia, A. A., Camacho Torres, Y., Nunez, J. J., & Watson, K. R. (in preparation). A comprehensive policy framework for integrating trauma-informed practices into child welfare systems.
Robinson, L. R., Watson, K. R., Fensterstock, N., Hogenkamp, S., Xu, Y., Garner, H., Dunn, D., Wu, C., Warri, V., Garcia, A. A., McMahon, S., Astor, R. A., Espelage, D. L., Martinez, A., Reddy, L. A., Anderman, E., & Worrell, F. (in preparation). School psychologists' understanding of the biggest safety threats and possible solutions: A qualitative analysis.
Watson, K. R., Fensterstock, N., Robinson, L. R., Hogenkamp, S., Wu, C., Warri, V., Dunn, D., Garcia, A. A., McMahon, S., Astor, R. A., Espelage, D. L., Martinez, A., Reddy, L. A., Anderman, E., & Worrell, F. (analyses completed). A comparison of views of social workers and psychologists’ perspectives on school violence: Findings from a national study.
Camacho Torres, Y., Watson, K. R., Nunez, J. J., & Garcia, A. A. (analyses completed). Changes in nonprofit volunteerism and organizational and recruitment innovations since 2020: A statewide study.
Camacho Torres, Y., Watson, K. R., Solis, A., & Rubtsova, A. (data collected). Photovoice as a method to process trauma: Voices of youth with foster care experience.
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Congressional Policy Briefs and Supporting Technical Reports
Watson, K.R. (Collaborator) in McMahon, S.D., Anderman, E.M., Astor, R.A., Espelage, D.L., Martinez, A., Reddy, L.A., & Worrell, F. (2022). Violence Against Educators and School Personnel: Crisis During COVID. Technical Report. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/education-career/k12/violence-educators-technical-report.pdf.
Watson, K.R. (Collaborator) in McMahon, S.D., Anderman, E.M., Astor, R.A., Espelage, D.L., Martinez, A., Reddy, L.A., & Worrell, F. (2022). Violence Against Educators and School Personnel: Crisis During COVID. Policy Brief. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/education-career/k12/violence-educators.pdf.
Kelly, M.S., Astor, R.A., Benbenishty, R., Capp, G., & Watson, K.R. (2020a). Opening Schools Safely in the COVID-19 Era: School Social Workers’ Experiences and Recommendations Technical Report. UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Department of Social Work. https://ucla.app.box.com/s/mpzda5zzksv4sf1nodhv3ygay96gkc1e.
Kelly, M.S., Astor, R.A., Benbenishty, R., Capp, G., & Watson, K.R. (2020b). Opening Schools Safely in the COVID-19 Era: School Social Workers’ Experiences and Recommendations Policy Brief. UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Department of Social Work. https://ucla.app.box.com/s/53cxfh6fwecjmutx7b5jkfmecchx4im2.
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Peer-Reviewed Chapters
Reynolds, H.M., Astor, R.A., Watson, K.R., & Marachi, R. (2024). Current approaches to school safety: Integrating resources, capacity, and programs. In Harris, M.B., The School Services Sourcebook: A Guide for School-Based Professionals (3rd Ed.). Oxford University Press.
Presentations
Conference Presentations
Watson, K. R., & Astor, R. A. (2025, January 15-19). Social workers' understanding of trauma-informed approaches in schools, their required components, and expected outcomes [Oral presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research. https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2025/webprogram/Paper56081.html
Watson, K. R., Camacho Torres, Y., Nunez, J. J. & Garcia, A. A. (2025, January 15-19). The need for measurement of trauma-informed climate across multiple constituent roles in volunteer organizations [Poster presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research. https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2025/webprogram/Paper56327.html
Camacho Torres, Y. (presenter), Watson, K.R., Rubtsova, A., & Solis, A. (2025, January 15-19). Fostering Photovoice: Understanding the impact of the foster care system on youth and their familial relationships [Flash talk]. Society for Social Work and Research. https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2025/webprogram/Paper56710.html
Watson, K. R., Camacho Torres, Y., Nunez, J. J. & Garcia, A. A. (2024, November 21-23). Is there need for trauma-informed climate in volunteer organizations and how can it be measured? [Oral presentation]. Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action. Link
Watson, K. R., Astor, R. A., Benbenishty, R., & Capp, G. (2024, January 10-14). Social workers’ assessments of differences in practices and policies in trauma-informed and non-trauma-informed schools [Oral presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research. https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2024/webprogram/Paper52436.html
Astor, R. A., Benbenishty, R., & Capp, G., Watson, K., & Wu, C. (2024, January 10-14). Teacher victimization and safety: Exploring policies, strategies, and school relational variables that social workers can leverage to enhance school safety for all [Oral presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research. https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2024/webprogram/Paper53397.html
Watson, K. R., Astor, R. A., Benbenishty, R., & Capp, G. (2023, November 1-4). Social workers’ assessments of differences in practices and policies in trauma-informed and non-trauma-informed schools [Flash talk]. International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
Watson, K.R., Capp, G., Astor, R.A., Kelly, M.S., & Benbenishty, R. (2022, April 21-26). School Social Workers’ Views About Trauma and Mental Health During COVID-19. [Oral presentation converted to e-poster due to COVID]. American Educational Research Association. https://tinyurl.com/y3mhh5v7.
Watson, K.R., Capp, G., Astor, R.A., Benbenishty, R., & Kelly, M.S. (2022, January 12-16). "We ALL need additional training in trauma": School social workers respond to the COVID-19 pandemic [Oral presentation converted to e-poster due to COVID]. Society for Social Work and Research. https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2022/webprogram/Paper45469.html.
Capp, G., Astor, R.A., Watson, K.R. (Presenter), Benbenishty, R. & Kelly, M.S. (2022, January 12-16). School social workers' views and reports of the needs of students, families, and schools during the COVID-19 pandemic [Oral presentation converted to e-poster due to COVID]. Society for Social Work and Research. https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2022/webprogram/Paper45534.html.
Capp, G., Watson, K.R. (Presenter), Benbenishty, R. & Kelly, M.S. (2022, January 12-16). School social workers during COVID-19 school closures: Meet basic needs and increase capacity [Oral presentation withdrawn due to COVID]. Society for Social Work and Research. https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2022/webprogram/Paper45528.html.
Watson, K.R. & Wray-Lake, L. (2021, January 19-22). Extrafamilial support and positive expectations as protective factors for maltreated youth [Poster presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research, Virtual Conference.
Astor, R.A., Benbenishty, R., & Watson, K.R. (2021, January 19-22). A monitoring-systems approach to school violence prevention and substance use reduction in middle and high schools [Poster presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research, Virtual Conference.
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Invited Talks
Astor, R.A., Lucio, R. & Watson, K.R. (2023, January 23). School Social Worker Voices: Trauma Informed Schools, Softening and Hardening of Schools, and School Shootings. School Social Work Association of America. https://www.sswaa.org/webinars.
Astor, R.A., Benbenishty, R., & Watson, K.R. (2021, July 13). Supporting school social work in K-12 settings globally during the COVID-19 worldwide shutdown. International Summer University in Social Work. https://www.isusw.org/.
Kelly, M.S., Capp, G., & Watson, K.R. (2020, August 17). Opening schools safely this fall: School social workers' experiences & recommendations. The American Council for School Social Work. https://www.acssw.com/event-3931147.
Teaching Experience
Spring & Fall 2021
Course Co-Creator/Teaching Assistant — Creating Safe and Welcoming Schools (Education 177/Public Affairs 125)
University of California, Los Angeles - Instructor: Ron Avi Astor, PhD - Online course for upper division undergraduates via Zoom
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Winter 2022
Teaching Assistant — People, Organizations, and Systems (Public Affairs 114)
University of California, Los Angeles - Instructor: Jorja Leap, PhD - Online course for upper division undergraduates via Zoom
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Fall 2023
Teaching Fellow — Using Qualitative Methods to Understand Social Problems and their Potential Solutions (Public Affairs 116)
University of California, Los Angeles - Instructor: Amada Armenta, PhD - In-person course for upper division undergraduates
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Spring 2024
Special Reader — Trauma-Informed Approaches to Policy Design and Implementation (Public Policy 291B)
University of California, Los Angeles - Instructor: Emily Williams - In-person course for graduate students in public policy
Social Welfare Experience
UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, Los Angeles, CA
Research Analyst, June 2019-September 2019; MSW Intern, September 2018-June 2019
Reviewed literature on trauma experiences in juvenile justice populations in support of article development.
Edited training and evaluation materials for Department of Defense Academy on Child Traumatic Stress.
Coordinated with members of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network to develop trauma-informed products and training.
Thomas Safran & Associates, Brentwood, CA
Social Work Intern, 2017-2018
Developed and facilitated weekly English-language practice group for adults living in supportive housing.
Connected community residents to needed services, including legal support, meal delivery, and furniture donations.
Coordinated with local organizations to provide health and lifestyle programming for low-income families and seniors.
Identified service providers and compiled >100-page social-services resource guide for low-income seniors.
Kate Watson Creative, Redwood City, CA
Coach/Consultant, 2006 – 2016
Coached individual clients on relationships, career, and self-trust, using humanistic approach.
Developed and facilitated personal growth and mindfulness programs for creative women. Authored 25K-word book.
Led remote team of 22 to develop, design, and deploy inspirational living project, including digital guide and website.
Scouted and recruited social enterprises leveraging people to solve societal problems, including $50K winner, to accelerator.
Doubled funds raised for documentary filmmaker, realizing 158% of $55K funding target, by advising on fundraising strategy.
Advised leadership team of national wardrobe-stylist agency. Tripled sales conversions from 4.2% to 14.7% and grew licensee pool by 75% in 6 months, by transforming licensing model and revising sales and marketing strategies.
Thurlow/Associates, Lawndale, CA
Associate Consultant, 2004 – 2006
Partnered with social-service agencies with $60K-$450M budgets to raise $9M+, by analyzing fund-development needs, developing approach strategies and budgets, and writing impactful private and public grant proposals and donor solicitations.
Interviewed diverse nonprofit executives, clients, and donors to develop promotional collateral, including magazine articles, newsletters, and press releases. Coordinated publication design and printing with external vendors.
Advised struggling client on foundation-approach strategy, annual-giving program, and event sponsorships, enabling client to raise $106K in gifts/grants and reach 100% board participation the same year.
Service
Reiss-Davis Graduate School
Member, Institutional Review Board, July 2024-present
UCLA
Grad STRIVE Mentor, 2023-2024
Foster Nation
Career X Mentor, 2023
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Student Representative, Child and Family Well-Being Area of Concentration Committee, 2017-2019
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, Milpitas, CA
Court Appointed Special Advocate, 2011-2018
Vice Chair of the Board, 2016-2017
Board Member, 2014-2017
Chair, Community Development Committee, 2014-2015
Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles, CA
Board Member, 2004-2005
Chair, LAJCC Foundation, 2004-2005
Member, Scholarship Committee, 2004-2005
Member, Finance Committee, 2002-2005
Member, Strategic Planning Committee, 2003-2004
Honors & Recognition
Hal E. Martin Fellowship in Health and Social Policy ($15k), 2023-2024
Graduate Research Mentorship Award ($20k stipend plus tuition), 2022-2023
UCLA Luskin Fellowship, 2021-2022
Shapiro Family Fellowship, 2019
UCLA Luskin Senior Fellows Leadership Program, 2017-2019
Riordan Volunteer Leadership Development Program, 2003