Elaine Zahnd, PhD, MA
Elaine Zahnd, PhD, is a sociologist and senior research scientist at PHI. Zahnd has conducted health policy-related research and evaluations for over 40 years. Her expertise includes adolescent and women's health, substance abuse, violence and mental health.
Zahnd was the principal investigator of a women's health policy brief project and an intimate partner violence study. She works with University of California at Los Angeles and state partners on the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), which has fostered her strong interest in survey research methodology, specifically cross-cultural comparability, behavior coding and cognitive work. She has evaluated a Mental Health Association of San Francisco program aimed at increasing mental health consumer involvement in policy and advocacy efforts and decreasing mental health stigma. She was the principal investigator for a California youth gun violence intervention evaluation.
Zahnd worked on many projects with the American Indian community, and was the principal investigator of a National Institutes of Health-funded study of substance-related violence affecting American Indian women.
She consults with local government agencies on women's health issues, including perinatal substance abuse and depression.
Zahnd has taught at the University of Oregon, Contra Costa Community College and the University of Minnesota. She received her doctorate from the University of Oregon.
CHIS 2009 Violence Module: Planning, Analysis and Dissemination
For the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) for 2009, a violence victimization module has been added to the Adult Survey to provide information on trends of violence among the adult population of California. PHI is providing CHIS study analysis develop a policy brief or brief report for the project.
Re-Entry Women and Employment Initiative
The goal of this project will be to conduct research that identifies the physical and mental health challenges facing formerly incarcerated women in California, and how their physical and mental health status can hinder ease of societal re-entry and gainful employment. In order to meet this goal, the first objective is to identify the extent and impact of the physical and mental health challenges on the employment and re-entry opportunities and outcomes for formerly incarcerated women in California, and to describe the extent to which current and model programs and services can serve to minimize or eliminate health disparities that present barriers to re-entry, job skill acquisition, or employment. The second objective is to ensure that the information gathered, analyzed and produced for the first objective is informed by the goals, activities, and outputs of the Initiative’s lead organization and TCWF to assist in their plans for crafting the future TCWF long-term Initiative.
Women's Health in California: Findings from CHIS
PHI is producing and dissmeinating three policy briefs on topics related to women's health, drawing on data collected from the California Health Interview Survey. These briefs will be disseminated to California to policymakers, opinion leaders and advocates.
Women’s Health in California: A Time for Change
The project will provide timely information on selected health issues affecting underserved women and women of color in California. Three policy briefs on women’s health issues will be produced based on the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey data and previous years for comparisons.