|  |  Benjamin E. Saunders, Ph.D. 
[NCVC rotation]
Dr. Ben Saunders is a Professor and Director of the Family and Child Program at the NCVC. He received his Ph.D. in clinical social work from the Florida State University in 1982, a M.S. degree in marriage and family therapy from Virginia Tech in 1979, and a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of South Florida in 1977. Dr. Saunders is a Licensed Independent Social Worker; a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, a Diplomat in Clinical Social Work. He is also a clinical member of both the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. Dr. Saunders has published numerous scientific papers and made many scientific and training presentations concerning child traumatic stress, child abuse, sexual abuse, sexual offenders, and family relationships. Dr. Saunders' research, training, and clinical interests include the initial and long-term impact of violence and abuse on children and adolescents, the epidemiology of trauma, violence, and abuse, treatment approaches for abused children and their families, and effective methods for disseminating evidence-based practices. His work has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Justice, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, and the U.S. Department of the Navy. In addition to his research and teaching activities, Dr. Saunders maintains a clinical and consulting practice, and is often called as an expert witness in legal cases. Research Interests: epidemiology of abuse, victimization, and trauma in childhood and
adolescents; initial and long-term mental health impact of abuse, victimization, and
trauma on children and adolescents; risk and protective factors for mental health problems among abused and traumatized children; treatment approaches for PTSD with children and adolescents; and dissemination and training approaches for evidence-based practices
Honors/Awards: 2004 | Psychology Internship Mentorship Award - Clinical Psychology Internship Program at MUSC | 2001 | APSAC Research Career Achievement Award - American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children | 1999 | Best Article of 1999 - the Editorial Board of Child Maltreatment | 1999 | President's Honor Roll - American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children |
Select Publications: McCart, M.R., Smith, D.W., Saunders, B.E., Kilpatrick, D.G., Resnick, H.S., & Ruggiero, K.J. (in press). Do urban adolescents become desensitized to interpersonal violence? Data from a national survey. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. Hanson, R.F., Self-Brown, S., Fricker-Elhai, A., Kilpatrick, D.G., Saunders, B.E., & Resnick, H.S. (in press). Relations among parental substance use, violence exposure and mental health: The National Survey of Adolescents. Addictive Behaviors. Broman-Fulks, J.J., Ruggiero, K.J., Hanson, R.F., Smith, D.W., Resnick, H.S., & Saunders, B.E. (in press). Disclosure of sexual assault in relation to adolescent mental health: Results from the National Survey of Adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Fitzgerald, M., Danielson, C.K., Saunders, B.E., & Kilpatrick, D>G. (2007). Youth victimization: Implications for prevention, intervention, & public policy. The Prevention Researcher, 14(1), 3-7. Acierno, R.E., Lawyer, S>R, Rheingold, A., Kilpatrick, D.G., Resnick, H.S, & Saunders, B.E. (2007). Current Psychopathology in Previously Assaulted Older Adults. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2(22), 250-258.
Select Presentations: - Saunders, B.E. (2007, February). Evidence Supported Treatment Planning for Abused and Traumatized Children. Presentation sponsored by the Center for Child & Family Studies, College of Social Work, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
- Saunders, B.E. (2007, February). Childhood Trauma as a Risk Factor: Evidence-Based Approaches to Intervention. Keynote address at "Transforming Promotion, Prevention, and Early Intervention Across the Lifespan," sponsored by the California Mental Health Policy Forum and the California Institute for Mental Health, San Diego, CA.
- Saunders, B.E. (2007, February). Evidence-Based Practice: What is it, Why do it? Keynote address at the Setting the Standard for Best Practices for Children & Youth in Charlotte-Mecklenberg conference sponsored by the Institute for Social Capital, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC.
- Landsverk, J., Saunders, B.E., & Wilson, C. (2007, January). Evidence-based practice for child welfare: What is it and why is it helpful? Presentation at the 21st annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment, San Diego, CA.
- Saunders, B.E. & Ralston, M.E. (2006, November). Evidence supported mental health treatment for abused and traumatized children: What works for CAC's. National video teleconference presentation sponsored by NCA n.e.t. and the Midwest Children's Resource Center, Charleston, SC.
Curriculum Vitae (2007) (Requires Adobe® Reader to view)
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