Christina A Cutshaw

Interests

Research

Early childhood development and school readinessEarly care and educationParenting, health and child developmentMental healthSocial determinants of health

Teaching

Mental health from a public health perspectiveWomen and children's health policyHistory of infectious disease and intersection with public health and culture

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Journals/Publications

• Neiling, S. L., & Cutshaw, C. A. (2023). In Support of a Public Health Approach to Late Talking. American journal of speech-language pathology, 32(3), 1376-1382.
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  This article aims to support and extend Di Sante and Potvin's (2022) viewpoint, "We Need to Talk About Social Inequalities in Language Development," by providing additional detail on a proposed public health approach to language development and late talking specifically. A public health approach can be a model for the field of speech-language pathology to improve child language across social gradients and reduce inequities in late talking.
• Root, A. D., Pedersen, L. A., Cutshaw, C. A., Farland, L. V., & Taren, D. L. (2023). Health Characteristics and Birth Outcomes for "Starting Out Right," a Teen Pregnancy Program. Maternal and child health journal, 27(10), 1689-1696.
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  To evaluate differences in health characteristics and birth outcomes for participants of a prenatal education and support program for pregnant teens, "Starting Out Right" (SOR) compared to nonparticipant pregnant teens in Pima, Maricopa, and Gila counties in Arizona to gauge benefits of program participation.
• Root, A. D., Pedersen, L., Cutshaw, C. A., Farland, L. V., & Taren, D. (2023).

  Health Characteristics and Birth Outcomes for “Starting Out Right,” a Teen Pregnancy Program

  . Matern Child Health J, 27. doi:10.1007/s10995-023-03687-4
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  To evaluate differences in health characteristics and birth outcomes for participants of a prenatal education and support program for pregnant teens, "Starting Out Right" (SOR) compared to nonparticipant pregnant teens in Pima, Maricopa, and Gila counties in Arizona to gauge benefits of program participation.
• Riggs, S. L., Thomson, C. A., Jacobs, E., Cutshaw, C. A., & Ehiri, J. E. (2021). Hispanic Ethnicity and Cervical Cancer Precursors Among Low-Income Women in Arizona. International journal of women's health, 13, 929-937.
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  In the United States, Hispanics are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. Annually, 250,000 to 1 million women are diagnosed with a precursor to CC. The aim of this study was to assess whether Hispanics have a higher prevalence of cervical dysplasia compared to Non-Hispanics Whites among a population of low-income women.
• Yaden, D. B., Marx, R. W., Cutshaw, C. A., Cimetta, A. D., Yaden, D. B., Marx, R. W., Cutshaw, C. A., Cimetta, A. D., & Alkhadim, G. S. (2021). Validating the Research-Based Early Math Assessment (REMA) among rural children in Southwest United States. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 68. doi:10.1016/j.stueduc.2020.100944
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  Abstract Children attending rural schools start kindergarten with lower mathematics achievement than their peers in urban schools and the gap increases during the later academic years. A valid theory and research-based measure is needed to identify the weakness of kindergarteners attending rural schools, so early interventions in mathematics can be designed. The purposes of this study are to: (1) validate a Research-Based Early Math Assessment (REMA) among 249 first-time kindergarteners attending rural schools using the Rasch model (Rasch, 1980); and (2) use the Rasch estimated ability scores to investigate differences in rural kindergarteners’ performance on the REMA across several subgroups (gender, ethnicity, poverty, guardian’s education, preschool attendance, and age). Findings showed that the REMA items fit within the mathematics competence of kindergarteners attending rural schools. Further, findings indicated that ethnicity, poverty, guardian’s education, preschool attendance, and age are factors affecting rural kindergarteners’ ability to perform on the REMA.
• Barnett, M. A., Paschall, K., Mastergeorge, A. M., Cutshaw, C. A., & Warren, S. M. (2020).

  Influences of Parent Engagement in Early Childhood Education Centers and the Home on Kindergarten School Readiness

  . Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 53, 260-273. doi:10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.05.005
• Cimetta, A., Sulkowski, M. L., Cutshaw, C. A., Yaden, D. B., & Marx, R. W. (2020).

  Are Young Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Risk Factors Associated with Household Firearm Ownership and Storage?

  . Journal of Education and Human Development, 9(4), 28-39. doi:10.15640/jehd.v9n3a3
• Cimetta, A. D., Marx, R. W., Yaden, D. B., Cutshaw, C. A., Yaden, D. B., Marx, R. W., Cutshaw, C. A., Cimetta, A. D., & Alkhadim, G. S. (2018). Latent variable structure and measurement invariance of a modified early literacy assessment. International journal of school and educational psychology, 6(3), 208-222. doi:10.1080/21683603.2017.1322016
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  ABSTRACTThis study reports the dimensionality and measurement invariance of a modified version of the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening for Preschoolers (PALS PreK). Practical constraints o...
• Alkhadim, G. S., Cutshaw, C. A., Cimetta, A. D., Marx, R. W., & Yaden, D. B. (2017). Assessing Early Literacy with Hispanic Preschoolers: The Factor Structure of the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening-Español. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 39(2), 193-210. doi:DOI: 10.1177/0739986316688877
• Cutshaw, C. A., Woolhandler, S., Himmelstein, D. U., & Robertson, C. (2016). Medical Causes and Consequences of Home Foreclosures. International journal of health services : planning, administration, evaluation, 46(1), 36-47.
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  The objective of this study was to elucidate the medical causes and consequences of foreclosure. We surveyed 90 households undergoing foreclosure in 2013-2014 in Maricopa County, Arizona on two occasions approximately five months apart. At baseline, median monthly household income was $3,000, and median mortgage payment $1,350. Only 10% of respondents lacked health insurance when surveyed, although 28% had experienced a gap in coverage within the past two years. Fifty-seven percent identified a medical debt or another medical cause of their foreclosure, and 54% had taken on new debt to pay medical bills; 10% had mortgaged their home for this reason. Although 57% of respondents had a chronic condition requiring ongoing care, more than half reported delaying or skipping a needed medical visit. At follow-up, one-third of respondents had been unable to afford food, and 3 respondents reported becoming homeless; 46% said foreclosure had worsened their health; and 63% had already incurred new medical debts. Medical debt and medical problems frequently contribute to foreclosure, even among insured families. Foreclosure compromises access to care and basic necessities like food and shelter, and worsens self-reported health.
• Cutshaw, C. A., Woolhandler, S., Himmelstein, D. U., & Robertson, C. T. (2015).

  Medical Causes and Consequences of Home Foreclosures

  . International Journal of Social Determinants of Health and Health Services, 46(`). doi:10.1177/0020731415614249
• Holliday, M. R., Cimetta, A., Cutshaw, C. A., Marx, R. W., & Yaden, D. B. (2013).

  Protective Factors for School Readiness Among Children in Poverty

  . Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR), 19(3), 125-147. doi:10.1080/10824669.2014.971692
• Staten, L. K., Cutshaw, C. A., Davidson, C., Reinschmidt, K., Stewart, R., & Roe, D. J. (2012). Effectiveness of the Pasos Adelante chronic disease prevention and control program in a US-Mexico border community, 2005-2008. Preventing chronic disease, 9.
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  Pasos Adelante is a lifestyle intervention program facilitated by community health workers (promotores) targeting chronic disease prevention and control in Mexican Americans. Initial studies of Pasos Adelante indicated significant improvements in self-reported nutrition and physical activity. This study examined whether Pasos Adelante participants living in a US border community showed improvements in selected physiological measures after participating in the program and whether changes were maintained at 3-month follow-up.
• Cutshaw, C. A., Stewart, R., Staten, L. K., Roe, D. J., Reinschmidt, K. M., Davidson, C. L., & Cutshaw, C. A. (2011). Effectiveness of the Pasos Adelante chronic disease prevention and control program in a US-Mexico border community, 2005-2008.. Preventing Chronic Disease, 9(1). doi:10.5888/pcd9.100301
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  INTRODUCTION Pasos Adelante is a lifestyle intervention program facilitated by community health workers (promotores) targeting chronic disease prevention and control in Mexican Americans. Initial studies of Pasos Adelante indicated significant improvements in self-reported nutrition and physical activity. This study examined whether Pasos Adelante participants living in a US border community showed improvements in selected physiological measures after participating in the program and whether changes were maintained at 3-month follow-up. METHODS The program took place in 12-week sessions from January 2005 to May 2008 and included walking groups and education targeting nutrition and physical activity. Questionnaires, anthropometric measures, and laboratory tests were conducted at baseline (n = 305), conclusion of program (n = 254), and 3-month follow-up (n = 221). RESULTS Participants demonstrated decreases in body mass index (P = .04), waist and hip circumference (P < .001), diastolic and systolic blood pressure (P < .001), and total cholesterol (P = .008) from baseline to program conclusion. No values worsened significantly between program conclusion and follow-up, except systolic blood pressure. Glucose levels improved between conclusion and follow-up (P = .01). CONCLUSION These results support the initial findings of improvements in participants' self-reported physical activity and nutrition patterns through changes in objective measures. This evidence-based program demonstrates the potential for a promotores-facilitated chronic disease prevention and control program to improve physical health and targets both primary and secondary prevention in Hispanic communities and organizations.

Proceedings Publications

• Cutshaw, C. A., Affronti, M., Elliott, S. A., & Beyer, M. (2012).

  Family Visit Coaching for Children in Foster Care: Setting and Diving into a Research Agenda

  . In 26th Zero to Three National Training Institute.

Presentations

• Cutshaw, C. A. (2022, Jan.). Maternal and Child Mental Health: The “Basics”.. National Conference of State Legislators Maternal and Child Health Fellows Meeting. Online: National Conference of State Legislators.
• Medina, M., Cimetta, A., Yaden, D., Cheng, K., Cutshaw, C. A., & Marx, R. (2021, August). The role of older siblings and a child’s literacy and language development. American Psychological Association Annual Convention. online: American Psychological Association.
• Dai, C., Cimetta, A., Marx, R., & Cutshaw, C. A. (2021, Spring). Executive function and family engagement mediate the relation between family SES and math performance in early childhood: A strength-based analysis. American Education Research Association Annual Conference. Online: American Education Research Association.
• Anbar, J., Pope, B., Cutshaw, C. A., & Pettygrove, S. D. (2018, November). Racial and ethnic disparities in patterns of practice and recognition of Autism Spectrum Disorder. 2018 American Public Health Association Annual Conference. San Diego, CA.
• Clough, L. T., Cimetta, A. D., Cutshaw, C. A., Yaden, D. B., & Marx, R. W. (2018, April). Executive Functioning of Young Children through Cluster Analysis. American Educational Research Association Annual Conference 2018. New York, NY.
• Cutshaw, C. A., Cimetta, A., Taren, D. L., Yaden, D. B., & Marx, R. W. (2014, Fall). Health Risks and School Readiness in Early Childhood. Pamela Turbeville Speaker Series, Frances McClelland Institute. University of Arizona: Frances McClelland Institute, Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences.
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  https://mcclellandinstitute.arizona.edu/speakerSeries
• Cutshaw, C. A., Reinschmidt, K., Davidson, C., Stewart, R. E., & Staten, L. K. (2010, Fall). Exploring the impact of Pasos Adelante on depressive symptoms and mental health-related quality of life in a border population. American Public Health Association Annual Conference. Denver, CO: American Public Health Association.

Poster Presentations

• Anbar, J., Cutshaw, C. A., Haynes, P. L., Barnett, M. A., Glider, P., Schalewski, L., & Pettygrove, S. D. (2021, May). Use and Intention to Use Mental Health Services Among College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.. International Society for Autism Research annual meeting. virtual.
• Alkhadim, G. S., Cimetta, A. D., Cutshaw, C. A., Marx, R. W., & Yaden, D. B. (2018, Oct.). Generalizability of the Research- Based Early Math Assessment from Urban NY Children to Rural AZ Children Using IRT.. American Evaluation Association Annual Conference. Cleveland, OH..
• Anbar, J., Pope, B., Cutshaw, C. A., & Pettygrove, S. D. (2018, April). Sex disparities in patterns of practice and recognition of Autism from surveillance years 2000 – 2010.. 2018 Public Health Research Poster Forum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ,. Tucson, AZ.
• Cimetta, A. D., Cutshaw, C. A., Yaden, D. B., Marx, R. W., & Hollander, J. (2018, November). Firearm Ownership and Storage Practices Among Families with Young Children: Family and Neighborhood Characteristics.. 2018 American Public Health Association Annual Conference. San Diego, CA.
• Cimetta, A. D., Marx, R. W., Yaden, D. B., Alkhadim, G. S., & Cutshaw, C. A. (2017, August). Dimensionality and Measurement Invariance of a Modified Early Literacy Assessment. American Psychological Association Annual Conference 2017. Washington, DC.
• Cutshaw, C. A., Alkhadim, G. S., Cimetta, A. D., Marx, R. W., & Yaden, D. B. (2017, April). Assessing Early Literacy with Hispanic Preschoolers: The Factor Structure of the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening-Español. American Educational Research Association Annual Conference 2017. San Antonio, TX.
• Cutshaw, C. A., Mastergeorge, A. M., Barnett, M. A., & Paschall, K. W. (2017, May). Promoting kindergartener’s social-emotional skills: The role of parental engagement in children’s preschool education.. Society for Prevention Research.
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  RC2
• Marx, R. W., Yaden, D. B., Cutshaw, C. A., Cimetta, A. D., & Clough, L. T. (2017, August). Examining the Influences of Home Environment on the Executive Function of Young Children. American Psychological Association Annual Conference 2017. Washington, DC.
• Cutshaw, C. A., & Robertson, C. T. (2013, Fall). Housing Insecurity, Foreclosures and Public Health. Annual Public Health Law Research Annual Meeting. New Orleans: Robert Wood Johnson.
• Cutshaw, C. A., Cimetta, A. D., Taren, D. L., Yaden, D. B., & Marx, R. W. (2013, Fall). Health Risks and School Readiness in Early Childhood. AHSC Frontiers in Biomedical Research Poster Forum. Tucson, AZ: AZ Health Sciences Center.
• Holliday, M. R., Cimetta, A. D., Cutshaw, C. A., Yaden, D. B., & Marx, R. W. (2013, Summer). Protective Factors for School Readiness Among Children in Poverty.. American Psychological Association Annual Conference. Honolulu, Hawaii: American Psychological Association.

Others

• Walsh, M. E., Cutshaw, C. A., Tanoue, K. H., & deBlois, M. (2019, Jan). Women’s Work: Realities and Possibilities for Arizona [RC2]. Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona Research Briefs (on-line). https://www.womengiving.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/WFSA-2019-research_Womens-Work.pdf
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  Research brief commissioned by the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona.