Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
Biosketch
Amy Damashek, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and an associate professor for the Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She earned her doctorate at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Damashek's research focuses on the promotion of young children’s safety and well-being via prevention of unintentional child injuries and child maltreatment. Specifically, her work focuses on: the role of parenting behaviors in preventing unintentional child injuries; interventions to reduce injuries; and examination of ways to improve services for at-risk families and children. She is particularly interested in interventions that support low-income families. Clinically, Dr. Damashek is well-versed in evidence-based psychotherapies for children and families. She teaches courses in abnormal child psychology, child behavior therapy, lifespan development, and psychological assessment.
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Education and Training
- Postdoctoral Fellowship 2009, Child Maltreatment, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
- Internship 2007, Clinical Psychology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
- PhD 2007, Clinical Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia
- BS 1996, Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Research
- evidence-based psychotherapy
- Parenting behaviors
- Injury-reduction interventions
- At-Risk Children or Youth
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Publications
Dukes C., Richardson H., Damashek A. A Brief Online Intervention to Increase Use of Nonphysical Discipline Approaches: A Randomized Controlled Trial Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2025
Belachew B., Damashek A., Presberry J., O’Rourke B., Bautista T.M., Kothari C. A Qualitative Analysis of the Effects of COVID-19 on Home Visiting Service Provision Child Maltreatment. 2024;29:508-515.
Gates K., Chahin S., Damashek A., Dickson C., Lubwama G., Lenz D., Bautista T., Kothari C. The Relation of Maternal Psychosocial Risk Factors to Infant Safe Sleep Practices Maternal and Child Health Journal. 2024;28:1061-1071.
Damashek A., Berman A., Belachew B., Kothari C. Pilot test of a measure to assess clients’ perceptions of their home visitors Infant Mental Health Journal. 2023;44:117-124.
Prokos S., Damashek A., Morrongiello B., Arbour E., Belachew B., Zafreen F. Conducting a child injury prevention RCT in the wake of COVID-19: lessons learned for virtual human subjects research Frontiers in Digital Health. 2023;5
Chahin S., Damashek A., Ospina F., Dickson C. Evaluation of a Safe Sleep Training for Home Visitors and Their Clients Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. 2022;29:477-488.
Cosottile M., Damashek A. Effects of Cell Phone Use on Caregiver Supervision and Child Injury Risk Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2022;47:86-93.
Damashek A., Morrongiello B., Diaz F., Prokos S., Arbour E. Tailoring a Child Injury Prevention Program for Low-Income U.S. Families Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. 2022;10:284-294.
Damashek A., Ross D., Corlis M., Uwayo M., Westine C. Treatment and prevention approaches for economically disadvantaged young children: challenges and opportunities Early Child Development and Care. 2022;192:679-696.
Gates K.A., Damashek A., Alderman K., Babcock B.E., Skinner B. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Access to Mental Health Services for African and Arab American Youth: An Audit Study Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 2022;7:260-274.
Richardson H.L., Damashek A. Examining the Use of a Brief Online Intervention in Primary Care for Changing Low-Income Caregivers’ Attitudes Toward Spanking Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2022;37:NP20409-NP20427.
Corlis M., Damashek A. Examining Parental Factors as Moderators Between Maltreatment and Adolescent Delinquency Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2021;36(17-18):NP9391-NP9415.
Corlis M., Damashek A., Meister K., Richardson H., Bonner B. Sibling Child Protective Services Involvement Following a Child Maltreatment Fatality Child Maltreatment. 2020;25(1):43-50.
Damashek A., Borduin C. The Moderating Role of Maternal Supervision in the Relation of Social–Ecological Risk Factors to Children’s Minor Injuries Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. 2020;27(3):507-517.
Damashek A., Kothari C., Berman A., Chahin S., Lutzker J.R., Guastaferro K., Whitaker D.J., Shanley J., Self-Brown S. Engagement in Home Visiting Services during the Transition from Pregnancy to Postpartum: A Prospective Mixed Methods Pilot Study Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2020;29:11-28.
Damashek A., Corlis M. The Role of Proximal Maternal Supervision in Children's Risk for Injury in a Low-Income Sample Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2017;42(7):727-737.
Kuhn J., Corlis M., Damashek A. Assessment, early intervention and evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder in children following motor vehicle accidents Children and Youth: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Motor Vehicle Crashes. 2017:135-152.
Rostad W., McFry E., Self-Brown S., Damashek A., Whitaker D. Reducing Safety Hazards in the Home through the Use of an Evidence-Based Parenting Program Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2017;26(9):2602-2609.
Kuhn J., Damashek A. The role of proximal circumstances and child behaviour in toddlers’ risk for minor unintentional injuries Injury Prevention. 2015;21(1):30-34.
Riebschleger J., Day A., Damashek A. Foster care youth share stories of trauma before, during, and after placement: Youth voices for building trauma-informed systems of care Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma. 2015;24(4):339-360.
Damashek A., Borduin C., Ronis S. The role of environmental hazard in mothers' beliefs about appropriate supervision Journal of Early Childhood Research. 2014;12(1):50-63.
Damashek A., Drass S., Bonner B.L. Child maltreatment fatalities related to inadequate caregiver supervision Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2014;29(11):1987-2001.
Damashek A., Kuhn J. Promise and challenges: Interventions for the prevention of unintentional injuries among young children Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. 2014;2(3):250-262.
Damashek A., Kuhn J. Toddlers' unintentional injuries: The role of maternal-reported paternal and maternal supervision Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2013;38(3):265-275.
Damashek A., Nelson M.M.D., Bonner B.L. Fatal child maltreatment: Characteristics of deaths from physical abuse versus neglect Child Abuse and Neglect. 2013;37(10):735-744.
Damashek A., Bard D., Hecht D. Provider Cultural Competency, Client Satisfaction, and Engagement in Home-Based Programs to Treat Child Abuse and Neglect Child Maltreatment. 2012;17(1):56-66.
Day A., Riebschleger J., Dworsky A., Damashek A., Fogarty K. Maximizing educational opportunities for youth aging out of foster care by engaging youth voices in a partnership for social change Children and Youth Services Review. 2012;34(5):1007-1014.
Damashek A., Balachova T., Bonner B. Training competent psychologists in the field of child maltreatment Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2011;67(7):752-757.
Damashek A., Doughty D., Ware L., Silovsky J. Predictors of client engagement and attrition in home-based child maltreatment prevention services Child Maltreatment. 2011;16(1):9-20.
Day A., Dworsky A., Fogarty K., Damashek A. An examination of post-secondary retention and graduation among foster care youth enrolled in a four-year university Children and Youth Services Review. 2011;33(11):2335-2341.
Damashek A., Bonner B. Factors related to sibling removal after a child maltreatment fatality Child Abuse and Neglect. 2010;34(8):563-569.
Damashek A., Williams N.A., Sher K., Peterson L. Relation of caregiver alcohol use to unintentional childhood injury Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2009;34(4):344-353.
Damashek A.L., Williams N.A., Sher K.J., Peterson L., Lewis T., Schweinle W. Risk for minor childhood injury: An investigation of maternal and child factors Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2005;30(6):469-480.
DiLillo D., Damashek A. Parenting Characteristics of Women Reporting a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse Child Maltreatment. 2003;8(4):319-333.
Damashek A., Peterson L. Unintentional injury prevention efforts for young children: Levels, methods, types, and targets Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. 2002;23(6):443-455.
DiLillo D., Damashek A., Peterson L. Maternal use of baby walkers with young children: Recent trends and possible alternatives Injury Prevention. 2001;7(3):223-227.
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Presentations
- Role of psychosocial risk factors in mothers' engagement in safe sleep practices. Chahin S, Gates K, Damashek A, Dickson C, Lenz D, Lubwama G, Bautista T, Kothari C, 38th Annual Kalamazoo Community Medical and Health Sciences Research Day, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 04/2021
- Examination of Medical Resident Communication with Patients Related to Infant Safe Sleep. Chahin S, Damashek A, 4th Annual Diversifying Scholarship Research Conference, Online, Virtual, 04/2021
- Mother's reported knowledge of, practices, and barriers to engaging in infant safe sleep. Damashek A, Dickson C, Lenz D, Lubwama G, Baustista T, Kothari C, 37th Annual Kalamazoo Community Medical and Health Sciences Research Day, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 04/2019