 Biography
Dr. Cheryl Waites, associate professor and associate dean, joined the School of Social Work, at Wayne State University in August, 2007. Dr. Waites is a Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar Cohort VII. Her research areas include healthy aging, health promotion, intergenerational relationships, and culturally appropriate and responsive practice. She has also studied promising practices for enhancing gerontological social work education, and training.
» Click here to view Curriculum Vitae
Degrees and Certifications
- EdD, Counselor Education, North Carolina State University
- MSW, Fordham University, School of Social Services
- BA, Sociology, Hunter College
- Fellow, Institute on Aging and Social Work Research, St. Scholastica College and the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health
Methods Expertise
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Community-based Participatory Research
- Focus Groups
Target Population Expertise
- Older Adults
- African American Families
Substantive Area Expertise
- Healthy Aging and Health Promotion
- Intergenerational Relationships and Intergenerational Practice
- Culturally Appropriate and Responsive Practice
- Social Work Education
- Gerontological Social Work Education and Training
Research Projects
Determining Strategies and Interventions for Health Promotion with African American Elders
African American elders disproportionately experience the ill affects of chronic illnesses and health disparities. With the growing number of aging African Americans it is vital that health professionals and researchers identify culturally compatible health promotion strategies and interventions. Generally we understand a great deal about the relationship between individual behavior and healthy aging. But much less is known about the impact of the environment and context on the aging process – especially among African Americans. Using a social ecological framework, this study examines the environment and the geographic accessibility of parks, walking trails, health supporting services, senior centers, aggregate meal programs, transportation resources and other aging services in Raleigh and Zebulon North Carolina, and Eastside and Westside of Detroit as well as Southfield Michigan. The study also examines the values, attitudes and traditions, regarding healthy aging and health promotion of the elders who live in these communities. A community-based participatory research approach was used to guide the study. Geographic information system analysis (GIS), focus groups and surveys were conducted and the data is being analyzed. The results obtained from this study will inform the development of strategies and interventions that promote healthy aging for African American older adults and enhance health promotion environments.
Health Promotion Activities in African American Churches in the Detroit Area
As part of a long term goal to identify strategies to enhance community infrastructure to enhance or maintain health, this proposed study explores the health promotion resources in predominantly African American churches in the Detroit metropolitan area. The study seeks to examine how the faith community is involved in health promotion activities for elders and their commitment to eliminating health disparities and promoting healthy aging. A qualitative, social constructionist approach will be utilized, and will consist of a content analysis of health-promotion activities and programs in the Detroit Metropolitan area and interviews with church leaders. A list of churches has been prepared using the following inclusion criteria: (1) Geography: east side & west side (2) Historic, fairly new & relatively new, (3) Congregation/church size: Large, medium & small, (4) Denomination.
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