Camilo Ortiz, Ph.D.


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The C. W. Post Parenting Research Lab My graduate students and I are working on several research projects that involve training parents to better manage the behavior of their children. The overarching research goal of the lab is to improve outcomes from parent-training interventions in several ways. • Maximizing the Effects of Parent-Training Interventions By experimentally manipulating parent-training treatment parameters, we are learning more about the best way to deliiver parent-training interventions to parents. For example, study #3 below is looking at, among other things, whether reversing the order of topics taught in parent training (starting with discipline and ending with praise and other positive strategies) reduces parent drop out and improves parent and child outcomes. • Using Parent Training With New Populations By using parent-training interventions with underserved and understudied populations, we are broadening the research database supporting the effectiveness of parent-training interventions. For example, study #1 below is a randomized clinical trial of a well validated parent training intervention (The Incredible Years) with groups of fathers. • Using Parent Training in Novel Ways By using parent training in new ways, we are gathering evidence that will allow clinicians to more flexibly use this intervention. For example, study #2 below examined the efficacy of group parent training for child sleep problems. Surprisingly, there is little research examining group interventions for bedtime noncompliance, even though there are many good arguments for using a group approach. • Making Parent Training Easier for Parents to Use We know that if parents attend many sessions of an empirically supported parent-training intervention and consistently use the skills they are taught, a high percentage of children will demonstrate large improvements in their behavior. However, we live in the real world, where it is often unrealistic to expect that type of commitment from parents. By examining parent-training interventions that are altered to be much easier for parents to benefit from, we are laying a research groundwork for clinicians to use approaches that a higher percentage of parents will be willing to commit to. For example, study #3 is examining a three session intervention that focuses on possibly the most important parenting skill that we teach; time-out. We expect much higher compliance from a three session intervention than from a traditional 20 session intervention. Current Projects
	Name of Study	Type of Study	Description	Status
1	The effect of parent training topic sequencing on intervention engagement, parenting skill, and child behavior	Mentored K Award from NIMH	Examining theory that reversing the sequence of parent training topics to begin discipline will be more attractive to parents and make for a more effective intervention.	Recruiting research participants now.
2	Group parent training for child sleep disturbances in Head Start children	Dissertation	Examining effects on child sleep and family functioing of a 1-session group parent-training intervention that teaches parents how to institute positive routines at bedtime.	Submitted for publication
3	A time-out only parent-training intervention with Hispanic parents of Head Start children	Dissertation	Examining the efficacy of a very short parent-training intervention that seeks to provide parents with mastery of a key skill, time out.	In preparation for submission.
4	Group parent training for child sleep problems with Spanish-speaking parents of Head Start children	Dissertation	Examining the effectiveness of a one-session parent training intervention, held in a group setting, for preschool children displaying bedtime non-compliance.	Analyzing results
5	Parental Evaluations of Positive Routines and Graduated Extinction in Treating Bedtime Resistance: A Pre-treatment Acceptability	Dissertation	Examining parent opinions on two popular treatments for bedtime resistance in preschoolers.	Recruiting research participants
6	Workplace parent training	Privately Funded Research	Examining the feasability of parent-training interventions delivered at work/online	In planning stages

People

Below are the hardworking members of my research team. All are doctoral students in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University, C. W. Post campus.

Name	Picture	Year in Program	Career Goals
Sara Elnahal		3rd	My goal is to work with underserved populations as a clinical psychologist specializing in child, adolescent and family therapy. I am particularly interested in working with preschool age children and conducting parent-training with individuals and groups.
Sherin Talebian		1st	My career interests include the psychology of children and adolescents in long term foster care and externalizing behaviors. I would like to do further research about the trauma associated with foster care and adoption and they effects it may have on children.
Kristina Belanus		1st	My primary goal is to work with families and children. I have experience working with children and adults with Asperger's Syndrome and my experience with them has inspired me to continue learning about individuals with developmental disabilities. I hope to eventually have my own practice working with families and children. I would like the focus of my work to be on testing and assessment of school-aged children.