About

Janet M. Liechty is an Associate Professor in Biomedical and Translational Sciences at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Her research and practice interests focus on exploring the psychosocial dimensions of health, wellness, chronic conditions, and disability, as well as processes of growth and healing that lead to greater quality of life. She is particularly interested in how family processes influence health beliefs and behaviors in young children through young adulthood, and examines the interplay between individual, family, culture, and social determinants of health. Additionally, Professor Liechty is engaged in healthcare professional education aimed at enhancing cultural competency, family systems awareness, interdisciplinary team care, and integrated behavioral and primary care. Her teaching includes courses such as Heals Seminar, Integrated Behavioral Health & Healthcare, BHWELL Field Seminar, and HEALS Seminar, reflecting her commitment to advancing education in these areas.

Research topics

• Social psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Medicine

Selected publications

• Learning by Leading

  Advances in Social Work · 2026-04-07

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Leadership development is integral to the social work profession and competencies, yet classroom teaching of leadership skills remains elusive. The purpose of this article is to describe a promising approach to developing student leadership skills through a 1-credit seminar using project-based learning and student-faculty collaboration. In two consecutive years, students and faculty collaborated to design and lead a student-driven social work health policy and practice conference attended by over 220 learners. Student planners co-led all aspects of the project including selecting themes, inviting speakers, marketing, leading workshops, moderating panels, emceeing, and evaluation. A novel, fast-paced “360 Roundtable” event engaged over 30 students in leading multi-faceted mini-workshops. The planning team evaluated the impact of their efforts by collecting post-conference feedback in which attendees self-reported high satisfaction. Conference planning and implementation served as a pedagogical context for students to demonstrate learning by leading. They successfully solicited the expertise of policymakers, recruited peers, collaboratively handled conference logistics, and led confidently in public venues. Overall, this collaborative, pedagogical approach to conference planning illustrates how engaging students as leaders and co-designers in their own education can produce impactful real-world outcomes and build student leadership capacity. We describe each stage of project implementation and discuss its rationale to enable other educators to adapt and modify this promising leadership teaching strategy for their own contexts.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Associations Between Trauma and Health Behaviors and Outcomes Among Sexual Minoritized Adults: A Scoping Review

  Trauma Violence & Abuse · 2024-02-28

  review

  Sexual minoritized (SM) adults experience health disparities and report higher rates of trauma history compared to heterosexual adults. This scoping review synthesizes the extant literature that investigates associations between trauma and physical health among SM adults. It also describes research instruments utilized to assess trauma in relation to health outcomes among SM adults. We searched CINAHL, LGBT+ Life, PsycINFO, and PubMed to identify studies meeting inclusion criteria: peer-reviewed, English, assessed trauma as an independent variable, and assessed health behaviors or outcomes among SM adults. From 587 nonduplicate articles, 69 full texts were reviewed; 18 met criteria and were included in this review. To enhance rigor, we utilized the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Scoping Reviews checklist. Most ( n = 12) of the included studies were cross-sectional. Trauma was assessed 16 different ways, including 9 validated measures, in relation to 5 health behaviors and 17 health conditions. Trauma was operationalized by history of childhood sexual abuse, adverse childhood experiences, lifetime rape, current symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and lifetime victimization among SM adults. All but one study found associations between trauma and one or more unfavorable health behaviors or outcomes. Studies used widely heterogeneous instruments to assess trauma, health, and SM identity. Greater specification and standardization of measurement is needed, along with contextualized assessments of trauma and its impact on health such as sexual minority stress-related victimization and resilience, and post-traumatic growth and recovery processes.

  PublisherDOI

• Feasibility and acceptability pilot study of an online weight loss program in rural, underserved communities

  PeerJ · 2024-10-03 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background The purpose of this intervention was to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of an online weight loss program, EMPOWER, in rural, underserved communities. Methods Adults with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m 2 living in rural counties were recruited through collaboration with University of Illinois Extension. The intervention lasted 1 year including online educations sessions, nutrition and lifestyle coaching, and diet and weight monitoring via a novel web application, MealPlot. Feasibility was measured by enrollment attainment, participant retention, online education session completion, and completion of anthropometric and dietary measures. Acceptability was measured by survey using Likert scales of satisfaction for all program components. Anthropometric measurements, 24-h dietary records, and food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) were measures of program efficacy. Additionally, two interviews were collected for program feedback. Results Enrollment of 16 participants was attained, however due to higher than anticipated dropout (retention 62.5%, N = 10) at 3-months, 62.5% of the education sessions were completed and 75.0% of anthropometric and dietary measures. The average satisfaction rating for the comprehensive program was 4.2/5 with lowest satisfaction being the MealPlot web application 2.7/5 ( N = 11). On average a clinically significant (≥5% baseline weight) weight loss of 6.2 ± 6.0% body weight or 5.7 ± 5.3 kg and improvements to protein and fiber intake at 12 months ( N = 10) were observed. Conclusions A novel online weight loss program showed adequate to strong feasibility and acceptability and preliminary results indicating efficacy among a pilot sample of rural residents. Future studies are required to investigate means of improving retention and reducing the burden on program collaborators.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Simulations in Teaching Interprofessional Collaboration to Address Social Determinants of Health

  2024-11-20

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract This chapter explores the integration of simulation and interprofessional education to address social determinants of health (SDOH) in healthcare and with community partners. The chapter emphasizes the need to train social work and other health professions students and disciplines together to address social–structural determinants of health and to incorporate these efforts into the routine delivery of team-based healthcare and social care to improve health equity. The careful use of immersive poverty simulations to teach about SDOH builds empathy and greater understanding of how financial challenges influence health outcomes. Interprofessional education simulations enhance teamwork and recognition of patient perspectives and clarify roles across health professions and community agencies. Drawing from more than a decade of experience, insights and recommendations are shared on leading poverty simulations and interprofessional education. While this engaged learning approach holds promise for improving health equity and outcomes, further research is warranted.

  PublisherDOI

• Enhancing MSW Field Education Using Rapid Cycle Quality Improvement: Feasibility and Acceptability of an Online Weekly Feedback Tool and Process

  Journal of Teaching in Social Work · 2022-08-08 · 1 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Rapid Cycle Quality Improvement (RCQI) is often required for behavioral health work force training and evaluation projects supported by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The RCQI process is well established within healthcare but under-utilized in academia to improve teaching and learning. We created and piloted the Friday Feedback (FF) survey tool as part of a HRSA funded training program for weekly completion by MSW interns. Across two semesters of full-time field education, a cohort of 15 MSW students completed 281 weekly FF surveys. Students reported activities such as number of patients seen, observations about integration of behavioral and physical health, patient successes and challenges, and time spent working on interdisciplinary teams. Cumulatively, students reported working with 2,425 patients/clients and in frequent close collaboration with other health professions. A review team comprised of faculty and staff met weekly to discuss students’ FF data and create response plans to promote student learning. The RCQI process was feasible and acceptable to students and the team. It created a feedback loop to improve students’ field experiences, enhanced the curriculum, and enabled effective monitoring and rapid response from team to students. Benefits and challenges of this RCQI approach to enhance field education along with lessons learned for wider adoption are discussed.

  PublisherDOI

• Assessing Transdisciplinary Scholarly Development: A Longitudinal Mixed Method Graduate Program Evaluation

  Innovative Higher Education · 2022-04-07 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract Transdisciplinary (TD) graduate training programs are growing in number, yet little is known about their effectiveness or the development of TD attitudes and behaviors among students over time. This prospective longitudinal mixed methods study compares graduate students participating in a federally funded TD training program with non-participating students from the same disciplines and degree programs (n = 26). The Interdisciplinary Perspectives Index (IPI) and Behavior Change Collaborative Activity Index (BCCAI) were used to assess TD attitudes and behaviors at beginning, middle, and end of an MPH/PhD program. Additionally, a multiple case-based approach was used to further analyze changes among the TD students at three time points (n = 10), including a novel sketch protocol to elicit TD student conceptualizations (mental maps) of TD teams. Four assessments were used to construct an overall TD orientation score. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests showed TD behaviors increased over time only among TD students, and favorable TD attitudes were high at baseline and did not change for any group. Generalized Estimating Equations showed that TD behaviors were higher among TD students than traditional students at both mid and endpoint, with no difference at baseline. Visual assessments showed TD students’ mental maps of TD research and team science, elicited under a novel sketch protocol, reflected greater integration and organization by endpoint. Two developmental patterns of increasing overall TD orientation emerged among the TD students. This article reports findings and insights applicable to TD graduate education and curriculum design and introduces a novel visual assessment tool.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Their Association with Breastfeeding and Child Weight Outcomes

  Children · 2021-03-17 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Children of mothers with depressive symptoms are at a higher risk for psychosocial, behavioral, and developmental problems. However, the effects of maternal depression on children's physical growth are not well understood. To address the gaps in the literature, this study examined the association between maternal depressive symptoms, breastfeeding behaviors, and child weight outcomes. Data from 204 mother-child dyads who participated in the STRONG Kids 1 Study were used. Mothers and children were assessed twice when the children were 3 and 4 years old. Height and weight measurements of children and mothers were collected by trained researchers during both assessments. Multiple linear regression and analysis of covariance tests were used to examine the associations between maternal depressive symptoms, breastfeeding, and age and sex-adjusted child body mass index percentile. Recurrent maternal depressive symptoms when the child was 3 and 4 years old were not associated with child body mass index percentiles (BMI-P) at age 4. Mothers who breastfed for at least 6 months had significantly lower depressive symptoms when their children were 3 years of age, but the differences did not persist at age 4. In this community sample, maternal depressive symptoms were not associated with child BMI-P, regardless of breastfeeding duration.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Changing Cannabis Policies and Social Work: Implications for Students, Families, and Schools

  School social work journal · 2021-01-01

  article

  State laws governing recreational and medicinal cannabis use are trending toward legalization, which has implications for school social workers and the students, families, and communities they serve. The patchwork of policies and conflicting public opinion sends mixed messages to youth and families who may lack sufficient information regarding risks of adolescent cannabis use. This article will explore topics relevant to legalization of cannabis including medical versus recreational use, racial overtones in marijuana policy, effects on student cognitive development and mental health, child welfare involvement, disparities in school discipline, criminal record expungement, and school-based cannabis prevention programs. The article will conclude with a summary of recommendations for schools. This article is a product of the research conducted by the Health Education and Leadership Scholars planning team at the University of Illinois for a policy-practice conference that was cancelled due to COVID-19.

  Publisher

• Interventions to reduce shame: A systematic review

  Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy · 2020 · 58 citations

  • Clinical psychology
  • Psychology
  • Medicine
  PublisherDOI

• Feeding decision-making among first generation Latinas living in non-metropolitan and small metro areas

  PLoS ONE · 2019-03-18 · 26 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Worldwide, overweight and obesity rates have more than tripled over the past three decades. Overweight and obesity rates are particularly high among Latinos. In order to determine some of the potential reasons, it is imperative to investigate how first-generation Latina mothers living in non-metropolitan and small metro areas decide how and what to feed their children. Using the Socio-Ecological Model, this study aimed to understand how Latina immigrant mothers make feeding decisions for their children. METHODS: A total of 29 semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of immigrant mothers from Latin American countries whose preschoolers were enrolled in a Women, Infant, and Children supplemental nutrition program located in non-metropolitan and small metro areas. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim in Spanish, and analyzed by a bilingual team. RESULTS: Multi-stage qualitative analysis was employed to analyze the data. Nineteen participants originated from Mexico, four from Central America, and six from South America. Five themes emerged that helped illuminate mother's decision-making around feeding choices: 1) culture as all-encompassing, 2) location and access to fresh and traditional foods, 3) disjunction between health provider advice and cultural knowledge 4) responsiveness to family needs and wants as determinants of food choices, 5) intrapersonal conflict stemming from childhood poverty and food insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that Latina immigrant mothers engage in a difficult and even conflicting process when deciding how to feed their children. Future interventions should focus on implementing hands-on activities that can help consolidate, promote, and encourage healthy feeding choices.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Barbara H. Fiese

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  14 shared

• María Piñeros-Leaño

  Boston College

  14 shared

• Sharon M. Donovan

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  13 shared

• Kelly K. Bost

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  11 shared

• Jaclyn A. Saltzman

  9 shared

• Anna-Sigrid Keck

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  9 shared

• Brent A. McBride

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  8 shared

• Kristen Harrison

  7 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Department of Family Studies

  University of Maryland

  2007

• M.S.W., School of Social Work

  University of Maryland Baltimore

  1990