Current Projects
Easily navigate our active studies by browsing the project names and summaries below.
Regarding the impact of COVID-19 on current studies: The Latino Research Institute remains committed to its active research studies, which are currently in progress in various parts of central and south Texas. All in-person research activities have been suspended, but data collection and other research activities will continue to take place online and via telephone and video conference. The work of our dedicated researchers will remain important to the health and well-being of the Latino community long after this pandemic makes its way across the globe. The virus’ path is indiscriminate, but communities of color will arguably bear the greatest burden as society continues to function on the backs of those who have no option but to continue working. The research we produce today will be there for these communities tomorrow, as we continue to challenge systemic inequities that leave the Latino community most vulnerable during global crises.
Easily navigate our active studies by browsing the project names and summaries below.
Regarding the impact of COVID-19 on current studies: The Latino Research Institute remains committed to its active research studies, which are currently in progress in various parts of central and south Texas. All in-person research activities have been suspended, but data collection and other research activities will continue to take place online and via telephone and video conference. The work of our dedicated researchers will remain important to the health and well-being of the Latino community long after this pandemic makes its way across the globe. The virus’ path is indiscriminate, but communities of color will arguably bear the greatest burden as society continues to function on the backs of those who have no option but to continue working. The research we produce today will be there for these communities tomorrow, as we continue to challenge systemic inequities that leave the Latino community most vulnerable during global crises.
CAPAS Youth Project: Implementing a Church-Based Parenting Intervention to Promote NIDA Prevention Science among Hispanics
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Healthy Rural TX: A Rural Community Partnership to Advance Latino Obesity Research
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Mexican Consulate Project: Mental Health Access to Immigrant Latinx Emerging Adults
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Miranos!: Obesity Prevention in Head Start
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PODER: Promoting obesity prevention among children with developmental disabilities and families through engaged research
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Refugee Children & Detention: Psychological Well-being of Rufugee Children after Release from Family Immigration Detention
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Socio-Cultural Stress Profiles, Stress Responses, and Health in Mexican American Adolescents
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NIDA Parent Training Study
Implementing prevention interventions in faith-based organizations constitutes a key alternative to address service barriers.
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Healthy Rural TX
A family-based program designed to counter the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases in rural Latino populations in South Texas.
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Mexican Consulate Project
The goal of this program is to build a sustainable mental health model and intervention for Latinx emerging adults of immigrant families.
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Miranos!
A participatory project, tailored to Latino preschool children and their parents, to promote the healthy development of predominantly Latino children in Head Start in San Antonio.
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PODER
Three studies to examine health, obesity, and health behaviors among children and adolescents with IDD and their maternal caregivers. The study develops an intervention for Latino children to promote healthy lifestyles.
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¡Salud, Salud!
This study develops and tests a 12-week bilingual (English and Spanish) type 2 diabetes self-management program that includes the whole family.
Learn More¡Salud, Salud!
This study develops and tests a 12-week bilingual (English and Spanish) type 2 diabetes self-management program that includes the whole family.
Learn More¡Salud, Salud!
This study develops and tests a 12-week bilingual (English and Spanish) type 2 diabetes self-management program that includes the whole family.
Learn More
Explore LRI’s current projects to learn more about ongoing studies and collaborative research advancing knowledge across our key areas of inquiry. These projects reflect the broad scope of work in process across UT Austin and highlight how faculty, students, and community partners are addressing urgent issues affecting Latino communities in Texas and beyond.
Public Safety
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Justice System Involvement and Language Accessibility
The project aims to assess how early justice system decisions shape later outcomes across subgroups and to support the development of a framework for effective language accessibility.
P.I.: Nancy Rodriguez
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The Community Oversight Lab
Our research draws from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with officials, volunteers, and other members of the community who participate in community oversight of police and sheriff’s departments in California, Oregon, Texas, and elsewhere.
P.I.: Michael Roy Hames-García
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Undergraduate Research Program for Future Leaders in Criminology, Law, and Justice
The project provides undergraduate students with hands-on research experience, mentoring, and professional development opportunities designed to prepare them for graduate study and careers in criminology, law, and justice-related fields.
P.I.: Nancy Rodriguez
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Evaluating Team-Based Correctional Staffing in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The study is an evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of team-based staffing models within TDCJ facilities and examines their impact on institutional operations, staff performance, and workplace outcomes.
P.I.: Nancy Rodriguez
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Enhancing Housing Placement Decision to Improve Prison Safety
The project seeks to reduce serious violence in the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) by developing and implementing research-informed housing policies that improve institutional safety and reduce violence across prison settings.
P.I.s: Melinda Tasca (UTEP) and Nancy Rodriguez
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AI Correctional Safety Initiative
In partnership with AI and Justice Consortium, Dr. Nancy Rodriguez is leading an initiative that leverages AI to transform correctional management, including identifying patterns of violence, risk assessment, and support decision-making within correctional systems.
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Climate
Climate Preparedness & Response Project
Drawing on expertise in environmental policy, planning, and resilience, the project examines innovative approaches to climate adaptation and the governance frameworks that shape accessibility, effectiveness, and equity in climate resilience efforts.
P.I.: Nancy Rodriguez
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Civic Engagement
Proyecto Latino: Politics & Policy
Proyecto Latino is a research collaborative that focuses on the implementation and dissemination of social science evidence-based research on the growing Texas Latino community and its most pressing needs.
P.I.s: Danielle Clealand; Angie Guitierrez; and Angela Ocampo
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The Community Oversight Lab
Our research draws from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with officials, volunteers, and other members of the community who participate in community oversight of police and sheriff’s departments in California, Oregon, Texas, and elsewhere.
P.I.: Michael Roy Hames-García
Enhancing Housing Placement Decision to Improve Prison Safety
The project seeks to reduce serious violence in the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) by developing and implementing research-informed housing policies that improve institutional safety and reduce violence across prison settings.
P.I.s: Melinda Tasca (UTEP) and Nancy Rodriguez
Justice System Involvement and Language Accessibility
The project aims to assess how early justice system decisions shape later outcomes across subgroups and to support the development of a framework for effective language accessibility.
P.I.: Nancy Rodriguez
Undergraduate Research Program for Future Leaders in Criminology, Law, and Justice
The project provides undergraduate students with hands-on research experience, mentoring, and professional development opportunities designed to prepare them for graduate study and careers in criminology, law, and justice-related fields.
P.I.: Nancy Rodriguez
Evaluating Team-Based Correctional Staffing in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The study is an evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of team-based staffing models within TDCJ facilities and examines their impact on institutional operations, staff performance, and workplace outcomes.
P.I.: Nancy Rodriguez
Proyecto Latino: Politics & Policy
Proyecto Latino is a research collaborative that focuses on the implementation and dissemination of social science evidence-based research on the growing Texas Latino community and its most pressing needs.
P.I.s: Danielle Clealand; Angie Guitierrez; and Angela Ocampo
Climate Preparedness & Response Project
Drawing on expertise in environmental policy, planning, and resilience, the project examines innovative approaches to climate adaptation and the governance frameworks that shape accessibility, effectiveness, and equity in climate resilience efforts.
Learn More about the Climate Preparedness & Response Project
AI Correctional Safety Initiative
In partnership with AI and Justice Consortium, Dr. Nancy Rodriguez is leading an initiative that leverages AI to transform correctional management, including identifying patterns of violence, risk assessment, and support decision-making within correctional systems.
Learn More about AI Correctional Safety Initiative