Alayna is currently a sixth year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Training Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is completing her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Alayna's primary research and clinical interests focus on the development and dissemination of effective intervention and prevention programs for at risk and maltreated children and families. In particular, Alayna is interested in the inclusion of maltreatment prevention within existing early childhood intervention programs. Additionally, she is interested in the impact of child sexual abuse on family relationships, with a particular focus on non-abused, non-offending siblings. Alayna is also interested in policy related to child welfare and access to mental health services.
Alayna's dissertation is funded by a Head Start graduate student research grant from the Administration for Children and Families and a Doris Duke Fellowship for the Promotion of Child Well-Being through Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. Alayna also serves on the Executive Board of the Nebraska Psychological Association and is the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students' State Advocacy Coordinator for Nebraska.
Alayna graduated from the University of Michigan in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Women's Studies. As an undergraduate, Alayna was the coordinator of a volunteer program focusing on the prevention of sexual and intimate partner violence on college campuses. She also worked as an advocate on a Sexual Assault Response Team and a Domestic Violence Response Team. Prior to attending UNL, Alayna was a research associate on early diagnosis and intervention projects for young children with autism spectrum disorders at the University of Michigan.
Research Support
Schreier, A. & Hansen, D. J.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
Head Start Graduate Student Research Grant
Early Head Start Home Visitor's Identification of Risk for Maltreatment
Total Award: $49,991
Funding Period: 9/14 - 9/16
Awards and Fellowships
Doris Duke Fellowship for the Promotion of Child Well-Being
Chapin Hall, University of Chicago
Total Award: $56,666.66
Funding Period: 08/14-08/16
Publications
Pittenger, S. L., Schreier, A., Meidlinger, K., Pogue, J. K., Theimer, K., Flood, M. F., … Hansen, D. J. (In press). Psychological distress and revictimization risk in youth victims of sexual abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
Jaffe, A. E., Schreier, A., & DiLillo, D. (In press.) Feasibility and initial evaluation of Project PEACE: An intervention for college students at risk for dating violence. Partner Abuse.
Pittenger, S. L., Van Dyk, T., Schreier, A., Haikalis, M., Flood, M. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2015). Strengthening mental health consultation in Early Head Start: Recommendations for maximizing effectiveness and supporting home visitors. NHSA Dialog: The Research-to-Practice Journal for the Early Childhood Field, 18.
Hubel, G. S., Campbell, C., West, T., Friedenberg, S., Schreier, A., Flood, M. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2014). Child advocacy center based group treatment for child sexual abuse: Initial symptom presentation, outcomes, and social validity. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 23, 3.
Hubel, G. S., Schreier, A., Hansen, D. J., & Wilcox, B. (2013). A case study of the effects of privatization of child welfare on services for children and families: The Nebraska experience. Children and Youth Services Review, 35, 2049-2058.
Book Chapters
West, T., Schreier, A., & Hansen, D. J. (2016). Relaxation training. In D. W. Nangle, D. J. Hansen, R. L. Grover, J. N. Kingery, & C. Suveg. Core Elements of Evidence Based Treatments for Internalizing Disorders in Children and Adolescents (pp. 114-138). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Colombi, C., Kim, S., Schreier, A., & Lord, C. (2011). Identification and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders. In D. Zagar, M. Wehmeyer, & R. Simpson (Eds). Educating Students with Autism. New York, NY: Routledge.
Professional Presentations
Schreier, A., Pittenger, S. L., & Hansen, D. J. (2016, June). Identification of risk for maltreatment in Early Head Start: A mixed-methods study. Poster presented at the 24th Annual Colloquium for the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, New Orleans, LA.
Schreier, A., Meidlinger, K., Steel, A. L., Flood, M. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2015, November). Early Head Start home visitor’s identification of risk for maltreatment: Implications for engaging families and supporting behavior change. Poster presented at the 49th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, IL.
Schreier, A., Flood, M. F., Wilcox, B., & Hansen, D. J. (2015, May). Early Head Start home visitor’s perceptions of working with families at risk for maltreatment. Organized poster forum presented at the 23rd Annual Meeting Integrating Prevention, Science, and Public Policy of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Schreier, A., Hubel, G. S., Flood, M. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2014, November). Relationship between participation in Early Head Start program components and family risk for maltreatment. Poster presented at the 48th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.
Jaffe, A. E., Schreier, A., Tafuri, S., Steel, A. L., & DiLillo, D. (2014, November). Initial evaluation of Project PEACE: A dating violence prevention program for college students. Poster presented at the 48th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.
Meidlinger, K., West, T., Pittenger, S. L., Schreier, A., Pogue, J. K., Flood, M. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2014, November). Assessing children's expectations post sexual abuse: Initial psychometric evaluation of a self-report measure. Poster presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA.
Pittenger, S. L., Brungardt, K., West, T., Schreier, A., Meidlinger, K., Pogue, J. K., Flood, M. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2014, November). Relationship between family environment and child distress following sexual abuse: Initial symptom presentation and response to treatment. Poster presented at the 48th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.
Pogue, J. K., Schreier, A., West, T., Pittenger, S. L., Meidlinger, K., Flood, M. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2014, November). Non-abused siblings of sexually abused youth: Symptom presentation and relationship with victim distress and family functioning. Poster presented at the 48th Annual Convention of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.
Friedenberg, S. L., Meidlinger, K. M., Hubel, G. S., West, T., Schreier, A., Flood, M. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2013, November). Effectiveness of a manualized group treatment for child sexual abuse in addressing risk factors for sexual revictimization. Poster presented at the 47th Annual Convention of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Nashville, TN.
Jaffe, A. E., Schreier, A., Maldonado, R. C., & DiLillo, D. (2013, November). Predicting dating violence in college men and women: Roles of psychological aggression, anger, and alcohol use. Poster presented at the 47th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Nashville, TN.
Schreier, A., Hubel, G. S., Flood, M. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2013, November). Psychometric Evaluation of the Behavioral, Emotional, and Social Screener (BESS): Assessing Risk to Healthy Development in Early ChildhoodPoster presented at the 47th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Nashville, TN.
West, T., Pogue, J. K., Friedenberg, S., Hubel, G., Schreier, A., Meidlinger, K., Steel, A., & Hansen, D. J. (2013, November). Heterogeneity of symptom presentation of adolescent sexual abuse victims presenting to treatment: Influence of child, family, and abuse characteristics. Poster presented at the 47th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Nashville, TN.
Campbell, C., West, T., Junghans, A., Schreier, A., Silovsky, J. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2012, November). Both Sides of the Coin: Symptoms and Treatment of Children with Sexual Behavior Problems and Youth Who Experienced Sexual Abuse. Poster presented at the 46th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, National Harbor, MD.
Hubel, G. S., Schreier, A., Flood, M. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2012, November). The Relationship Between Early Head Start Participation and Maltreatment: Implications for Early Intervention and Prevention. Poster presented at the 46th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, National Harbor, MD.
Schreier, A., Meidlinger, K. M., Martin, E. K., Hubel, G. S., West, T., Friedenberg, S. L., Brungardt, K. L., Flood, M. F., & Hansen, D. J. (2012, November). Development and Initial Examination of a Group Treatment for Non-Offending, Non-Abused Siblings of Sexually Abused Youth. Poster presented at the 46th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, National Harbor, MD.
West, T., Friedenberg, S., Martin, E. K., Hubel, G. S., Schreier, A., & Hansen, D. J. (2012, November). Impact of Sexual Abuse on Maternal Caregivers: Differential Effects of Sexual Abuse by Paternal Caregivers and Siblings. Poster presented at the 46th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, National Harbor, MD.
West, T., Schreier, A., Martin, E. K., Campbell, C., Wachholtz, A., & Hansen, D. J. (2011, November). Brief family intervention for childhood sexual abuse: An examination of factors associated with treatment completion and outcomes. Poster presented at the 45th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Toronto, Canada.