Suzanne L. Wenzel

Photo of Suzanne Wenzel
Senior Behavioral Scientist (Adjunct)
Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in community psychology, University of Texas at Austin; B.A. in geography and urban/regional planning, Texas State University

Overview

Research Focus

Concurrent Non-RAND Positions

Professor, University of Southern California, School of Social Work

Recent Projects

  • Prevalence, co-occurrence, and experiences of victimization by violence, substance use and abuse, and HIV risk among low-income women in Los Angeles County
  • Quality of care in substance abuse treatment
  • Prevention and treatment services for homeless women
  • Social context of substance use and HIV risk among homeless women
  • Social context of HIV risk among homeless men

Selected Publications

S. L. Wenzel et al., "Toward a More Comprehensive Understanding of Violence Against Impoverished Women," Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21(6), 2006

S. Wenzel et al., "Victimization and Health Among Indigent Young Women in the Transition to Adulthood: A Portrait of Need," Journal of Adolescent Health, 38(5), 2006

N. R. Rayburn et al., "Trauma, Depression, Coping, and Mental Health Service Seeking Among Impoverished Women," Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(4), 2005

S. Wenzel et al., "Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Violence, Substance Use and Disorder, and HIV Risk Behavior: A Comparison of Sheltered vs. Low-Income Housed Women in Los Angeles County," Preventive Medicine, 39(3), 2004

S. L. Wenzel et al., "Sexual Risk Among Impoverished Women: Understanding the Role of Housing Status," AIDS and Behavior

Honors & Awards

  • President's Award 2007, RAND
  • Merit Bonus Award 2008, RAND

Commentary

Help for Homeless Women — Jun 16, 2006

  • Washingtonpost.com

Publications

Association of Childhood Abuse with Homeless Women's Social Networks - 2012

Masculinity and HIV Risk Among Homeless Men in Los Angeles - 2012

Social Network and Individual Correlates of Sexual Risk Behavior Among Homeless Young Men Who Have Sex with Men - 2012

Understanding Heterosexual Condom Use Among Homeless Men - 2012

Behavioral Health and Social Normative Influence: Correlates of Concurrent Sexual Partnering Among Heterosexually-Active Homeless Men - 2011

Increased Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Migratory Homeless Youth: Exploring the Role of Social Network Composition - 2011

Sex and Relationships on the Street: How Homeless Men Judge Partner Risk on Skid Row - 2011

Social Networks of Homeless Youth in Emerging Adulthood - 2011

Substance Use and Other Risk Factors for Unprotected Sex: Results from an Event-Based Study of Homeless Youth - 2011

The Social Context of Homeless Men's Substance Use - 2011

Personal Network Correlates of Alcohol, Cigarette, and Marijuana Use Among Homeless Youth - 2010

Predictors of Substance Abuse Treatment Need and Receipt Among Homeless Women - 2010

Sampling to Reduce Respondent Burden in Personal Network Studies and Its Effect on Estimates of Structural Measures - 2010

Unprotected Sex of Homeless Women Living in Los Angeles County: An Investigation of the Multiple Levels of Risk - 2010

A Pilot of a Tripartite Prevention Program for Homeless Young Women in the Transition to Adulthood - 2009

Developing a Tripartite Prevention Program for Impoverished Young Women Transitioning to Young Adulthood: Addressing Substance Use, HIV Risk, and Victimization By Intimate Partners - 2009

Homeless Women's Personal Networks: Implications for Understanding Risk Behavior - 2009

Substance Use and Intimate Partner Violence: Clarifying the Relevance of Women's Use and Partners' Use - 2009

The Social Context of Homeless Women's Alcohol and Drug Use - 2009

When, Where, Why and with Whom Homeless Women Engage in Risky Sexual Behaviors: A Framework for Understanding Complex and Varied Decision-Making Processes - 2009

Do Dimensions of Therapeutic Community Treatment Predict Retention and Outcomes? - 2008

Further Validity Evidence for the Dimensions of Change in Therapeutic Community Treatment Instrument - 2008

The Relationship Between the Dimensions of Change Instrument and Retention in Therapeutic Community Treatment: The Moderating Influence of Time in Treatment - 2008

Are Prisoner Characteristics Associated with Therapeutic Community Treatment Process? - 2007

Measuring Changes in Client-Level Treatment Process in the Therapeutic Community (TC) with the Dimensions of Change Instrument (DCI) - 2007

Pattern-Mixture Models for Addressing Nonignorable Nonresponse in Longitudinal Substance Abuse Treatment Studies - 2007

Processes and Outcomes of Substance Abuse Treatment Between Two Programs for Clients Insured Under Managed Care - 2007

Relationship Commitment and Its Implications for Unprotected Sex Among Impoverished Women Living in Shelters and Low-Income Housing in Los Angeles County - 2007

Sexual Risk Among Impoverished Women: Understanding the Role of Housing Status - 2007

Treatment Process in the Therapeutic Community: Associations with Retention and Outcomes Among Adolescent Residential Clients - 2007

A Collaboration Between Researchers and Practitioners to Improve Care for Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders in Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment - 2006

Predictors of Unprotected Sex with Non-Cohabitating Primary Partners Among Sheltered and Low-Income Housed Women in Los Angeles County - 2006

Sampling with Field Burden Constraints: An Application to Sheltered Homeless and Low-Income Housed Women - 2006

The Dimensions of Change in Therapeutic Community Treatment Instrument - 2006

Toward a More Comprehensive Understanding of Violence Against Impoverished Women - 2006

Victimization and Health Among Indigent Young Women in the Transition to Adulthood: A Portrait of Need - 2006

A Prospective Study of Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Use Among Impoverished Women Living in Temporary Shelter Settings in Los Angeles County - 2005

Experiencing Interpersonal Violence: Perspectives of Sexually Active, Substance-Using Women Living in Shelters and Low-Income Housing - 2005

HIV Testing Among Indigent Women: Who Gets Tested? - 2005

Reemphasizing the Context of Women's Risk for HIV/AIDS in the United States - 2005

Research-practice Partners Assess Their First Joint Project - 2005

Training Substance Abuse Treatment Staff to Care for Co-Occurring Disorders - 2005

Trauma, Depression, Coping, and Mental Health Service Seeking Among Impoverished Women - 2005

Collaborations Between Drug Courts and Service Providers: Characteristics and Challenges - 2004

How Important Are Client Characteristics to Understanding Treatment Process in the Therapeutic Community? - 2004

Interpersonal Violence, Substance Use, and HIV-related Behavior and Cognitions: A Prospective Study of Impoverished Women in Los Angeles County - 2004

Physical Violence Against Impoverished Women: A Longitudinal Analysis of Risk and Protective Factors - 2004

Prevalence and Characteristics of Clients with Co-Occurring Disorders in Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment - 2004

Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Violence, Substance Use and Disorder, and HIV Risk Behavior: A Comparison of Sheltered and Low-Income Housed Women in Los Angeles County - 2004

Patterns and Correlates of HIV Testing Among Sheltered and Low-Income Housed Women in Los Angeles County - 2003

Prevalence and Predictors of HIV Testing Among a Probability Sample of Homeless Women in Los Angeles County - 2003

Sampling with Field Burden Constraints: An Application to Sheltered Homeless and Low-Income Housed Women - 2003

A Decade of Drug Treatment Court Research - 2002

Access to Inpatient or Residential Substance Abuse Treatment among Homeless Adults With Alcohol or Other Drug Use Disorders - 2002

Predictors of Contact with Public Service Sectors Among Homeless Adults with and Without Alcohol and Other Drug Disorders - 2002

Providers of Primary Care to Homeless Women in Los Angeles County - 2002

Psychiatric Symptoms, Health Services, and HIV Risk Factors Among Homeless Women - 2002

Comparison of Psychosocial and Behavioral Profiles of Victimized and Nonvictimized Homeless Women and Their Intimate Partners - 2001

Drug Courts, a Bridge Between Criminal Justice and Health Services - 2001

Drug Courts: A Conceptual Framework - 2001

Hepatitis B Among Homeless and Other Impoverished US Military Veterans in Residential Care in Los Angeles - 2001

Homeless Women's Gynecological Symptoms and Use of Medical Care - 2001

Prenatal Cocaine Exposure: Scientific Considerations and Policy Implications - 2001

Risk Factors for Major Violence Among Homeless Women - 2001

Use of Contraceptive Methods Among Homeless Women for Protection Against Unwanted Pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Prior Use and Willingness to Use in the Future - 2001

Utilization of Birth Control Services Among Homeless Women - 2001

Utilization of Birth Control Services Among Homeless Women - 2001

Weighting for Period Perspective in Samples of the Homeless - 2001

Antecedents of Physical and Sexual Victimization Among Homeless Women: A Comparison to Homeless Men - 2000

Health of Homeless Women with Recent Experience of Rape - 2000

Prenatal Cocaine Exposure: Scientific Considerations and Policy Implications - 2000

Associations Between Homeless Women's Intimate Relationships and Their Health and Well-Being - 1999

Utilization of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Among Homeless Adults in Los Angeles - 1999

Improving Block Grant Allocation Formulas: More Refined Measures Would Shift Substance Abuse Funds to Smaller, More Rural States - 1998

Review and Evaluation of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Block Grant Allotment Formula - 1997

Social Networks and Chronic Mental Illness: A Test of Four Perspectives - 1997

Access to Substance Abuse Treatment for Homeless Women of Reproductive Age - 1996

Drug-abusing Homeless Clients in California's Substance Abuse Treatment System - 1996

Dually Diagnosed Homeless Veterans in Residential Treatment: Service Needs and Service Use - 1996

Homeless Veterans' Utilization of Medical, Psychiatric, and Substance Abuse Services - 1995

Predictors of Homeless Veterans' Irregular Discharge Status from a Domiciliary Care Program - 1995