Dr. Doris Houston
Director, Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies
School of Social Work
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Research
Biography
Dr. Doris Houston serves jointly as Director of the Center for Adoption Studies and Associate Professor of Social Work at Illinois State University (ISU) in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. Prior to her 12-year tenure at ISU, Dr. Houston served as a program evaluator for the Center for Prevention Research and Development at the University of Illinois, and a Child Welfare Administrator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Teaching Interests & Areas
Child and Family Policy; Diversity and Social Justice;Organizational Systems Change; Evaluation.
Research Interests & Areas
Higher education access and outcomes for underserved populations; foster and adopted youth; diversity and social justice.
Ph D Human Development and Family Studies
University of Illinois
Urbana- Champaign
MS Human Development and Family Studies
University of Illinois
Urbana- Champaign
BS Social Work
University of Illinois
Urbana- Champaign
Illinois State University Team Excellence Award
Illinois State University Office of the President
2017
Outstanding College Service Award
ISU College of Arts and Science
2016
Summer Faculty Fellows Award: (2015-present)
Illinois State University College of Arts and Sciences
2015
ISU Faulty Impact Award Recipient: Illinois State University (April, 2014).
Office of the Provost
2014
ISU Provost Leadership Initiative Appointee
Illinois State University Office of the Provost
2013
Chairman’s Award: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
African American Advisory Council
2011
Book, Authored
Geiger, J., Gholson, T., & Houston, D. (2016). Foster Care Alumni and Higher Education: Recommendations to Improve Higher Education Access, Enrollment, and Success in Illinois. Chicago, IL: Jane Adams College of Social Work.
Houston, D., Gjesfjeld, C., Miller-Ott, C., Gholson, T., Schaeffer, L., & Brown, M. (2016). Higher Education as the Lifeline to Social Mobility for Former Foster Youth: A Comprehensive Needs and Assets Assessment. Normal, IL: Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies.
Book, Chapter
Avant, D., Houston, D., & Nesbitt, L. Educators as the Gatekeepers: Promoting a Race Informed, Culturally Competent Pedagogy for Human Service Professionals. T. Puckett and N. Lind (EDs), Cultural Competence in Higher Education. Emerald (2020)
Avant, D., Houston, D., & Nesbitt, L. Educators as the Gatekeepers: Promoting a Race Informed, Culturally Competent Pedagogy for Human Service Professionals. Cultural Competence in Higher Education. Emerald
Journal Article
Avant, D., Miller-Ott, A. E. & Houston, D. (2021). “I needed to aim higher:” Former foster youths’ pathways to college success. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(4), 1043-1058.
doi:10.1007/s10826-020-01892-1
doi:10.1007/s10826-020-01892-1
Technical Report
Avant, D., & Houston, D. First Star Academy FY19 Annual Report Q1-Q4. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies (2019)
Avant, D., & Houston, D. First Star Academy FY18 Annual Report Q1-Q4. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies (2018)
Avant, D., & Houston, D. First Star Academy FY17 Annual Report Q1-Q4. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies
Avant, D., & Houston, D. First Star Academy FY17 Quarter 3 Report. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies
Avant, D., & Houston, D. First Star Academy FY18 Quarter 1 Report. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies
Presentations
Beating the Odds: African American Foster Youth Pathways to College. American Association of Blacks in Higher Education Conference. American Association of Blacks in Higher Education. (2019)
2016-2017 Climate Assessment Task Force: Pre-Meeting Report to the Board of Trustees.. Pre-Meeting Report to the Board of Trustees.. Illinois State University. (2017)
Former Foster Youth in College: A Needs and Assets Assessment and First Star ISU Academy. Student Affairs Council Meeting. Illinois State University. (2017)
Gjesfjeld, C.D., Houston, D., Miller-Ott, A., & Gholson, T. (April 2017). Former foster youth in college: A needs and assets assessment. Roundtable session at American Educational Research Association – San Antonio, TX
Gjesfjeld, C., Houston, D., Miller-Ott, A., & Gholson, T. (2016). Former Foster Youth in College: A Needs and Assets Assessment. American Educational Research Association (AERA), Unit: Division J - Postsecondary Education; Section: Division J - Section 2b: College Student Success and Outcomes.
Houston, D., & Thomas, E. (2017). Data Informed Decision Making: EAF 463 guest lecture.
Houston, D., (2017). Permanency and Well-Being in the Context of Community. Champaign Saving Our Families Together Today (SOFTT).
Houston, D., (2017). Permanency and Well-Being in the Context of Community: Rock Island Immersion Site. DCFS Central Region CQI Collaborative Meeting.
Improving Educational and Employment Outcomes for Youth in Care.. IDCFS 2016 Inaugural Transformation Summit.. IDCFS. (2016)
Leadership, Diversity, and Inclusive Excellence at Illinois State University- Part I.. ISU Provost's Leadership Initiative. Office of the Provost. (2016)
Grants & Contracts
First Star Academy. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Private donor. Other. (2019)
First Star Academy. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Private donor. Other. (2018)
First Star Academy. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Private donor. Other. (2017)
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services: Permanency Enhancement Project. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. State. (2017)
First Star Academy. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Private donor. Other. (2016)