Jennifer M. Twyford, PhD

About

Dr. Jennifer Twyford is an Associate Professor of Graduate Psychology with clinical expertise in child and adolescent assessment and research methodology.  She received combined clinical training in school and clinical psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.  Dr. Twyford has provided individual, family, and group clinical interventions for children and adolescents in variety of settings including: outpatient and community based, residential treatment, all levels of schools, juvenile halls, probation involved youth, and inpatient facilities. Her research interests include identification and prevention of disruptive behavioral problems in child and adolescents, in particular, school and juvenile justice system response to youth’s mental health needs, and the prevention of school violence.  Dr. Twyford has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles, books chapters, and presentations in these areas, with a particular focus on youth from underrepresented backgrounds.    Her work received the Early Career Scholar Award from the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Society for the Study of School Psychology.   

Education

Combined Ph.D. in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara                                                                          

Pre-Doctoral Internship at the Youth Opportunity Center, Inc. in Muncie, Indiana (APA-Approved)

Ed.S. and M.S. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in School Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas                     

B.S. in Social Science, Minor: Psychology, Emphasis: Child Development from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo 

Expertise

California Licensed Psychologist (PSY 28085)

Publications

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Twyford, J. M., Buckley, L., Moffa, K., & Dowdy, E. (2018). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ): Factor structure of the Self-Report form in U.S. Latinx youth. International Journal of School and Educational Psychology. doi:10.1080/21683603.2017.1414005

Twyford, J. M., Dowdy, E., & Sharkey, J. D. (2014). Implications of self-reported levels of hope in Latino and Latina youth on probation. Journal of Juvenile Justice, 3, 72-82.

Dowdy, E. T., Kamphaus, R. W., Shenouda, A., & Twyford, J. M. (2013). Detection of symptoms of prevalent mental health disorders of childhood with the parent form of the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS). Assessment for Effective Intervention, 38(3), 192-198.doi:10.1177/1534508412447009

Dowdy, E. T., Twyford, J. M., Chin, J. K., DiStefano, C., Kamphaus, R. W. & Mays, K. L. (2011). Factor structure of the BASC-2 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System Student Form. Psychological Assessment, 23, 379-387.doi:10.1037/a0021843 

Dowdy, E. T., Chin, J. K., Twyford, J. M., & Dever, B. V. (2011). A factor analytic investigation of the BASC-Behavioral and Emotional Screening System Parent Form: Psychometric properties, practical implications, and future directions. Journal of School Psychology, 49, 265-280. doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2011.03.005

BOOK CHAPTERS

Warner-Cohen, J., Twyford, J. M., & Buckley, L. (2015). Epidemiology and course of disruptive disorders. In G. Kapalka (Ed.), Treating disruptive disorders: A guide to psychological, pharmacological, and combined therapies (pp. 51-69). New York, NY: Routledge. 

Raines, T., Twyford, J. M., & Dowdy, E. T. (2014).  School-based assessment with African American children and adolescents. In L. T. Benuto & B. D. Leany (Eds.), Guide to psychological assessment with African Americans (pp. 275-287). New York, NY: Springer. 

Dowdy, E., Kamphaus, R. W., Twyford, J. M., & Dever, B. V. (2014). Culturally competent behavioral and emotional screening. In M. D. Weist, N. A. Lever, C. P. Bradshaw, & J. Sarno Owens (Eds.), Handbook of School Mental Health, Second Edition (pp. 311-322).  New York, NY: Springer. 

Dowdy, E. T., Twyford, J. M., & Sharkey, J. D. (2013). Methods of assessing behavior I: Observation and rating scales. In D. H. Saklofske, & V. L. Schwean (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Psychological Assessment of Children and Adolescents (pp. 623-650). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 

Sharkey, J. D., Dowdy, E. T., Twyford, J. M., & Furlong, M. J. (2011). An overview of measurement issues in school violence and school safety research. In S. R. Jimerson, A. B. Nickerson, M. J. Mayer, & M. J. Furlong (Eds.), The Handbook of School Violence and School Safety: International Research and Practice, Second Edition (pp. 259-272). New York, NY: Routledge. 

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Twyford, J. M. (March/April 2015). DSM-5 and school psychology: Oppositional Defiant Disorder 313.81 (F91.3). Communiqué, 43(6), pp. 8-10. 

McEnroe, K., Bedics, J., & Twyford, J. (2018, August). The association between DSM diagnoses and suicide ideation and behavior in juvenile delinquents. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) Convention, San Francisco, CA. [peer-reviewed]

Hashtpari, H., & Twyford, J. M. (2017, August). The Hidden: The Queer Iranian Narrative. Poster presentation at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, D.C. [peer-reviewed]

Twyford, J. M., Buckley, L., Moffa, K., & Dowdy, E. (2017, February). Screening Latina/o Students with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Poster presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Convention, San Antonio, TX. [peer-reviewed]

Buckley, L., Howard, D.& Twyford, J. M. (2015, October). The effects of school day structure on school climate. Poster presentation at the California Association of School Psychologists convention, Riverside, CA. 

Minty, S.,& Twyford, J. M. (2015, April). A defense against burnout: Psychology Graduate Students. Poster presentation at the California Psychological Association Conference, San Diego, CA. 

Twyford, J. M., Marsh, S. K., Buckley, L., & Good, S. (2015, March). Interdisciplinary restorative justice implementation: The role of psychologists. Poster presentation at the American Psychology-Law Society Conference, San Diego, CA. 

Harrell-Williams, L. M., Twyford, J. M., & Dowdy, E. (2013, September). Assessing the psychometric characteristics of a child/adolescent behavioral and emotional risk self-report screener across grade levels and school districts. Paper presented at the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness, Washington, D.C. 

Twyford, J. M., & Buckley, L. (2013, August).Latino youth on probation, positive psychology, and protective factors against recidivism: A first look. Paper presentation at the American Psychological Association Convention, Honolulu, HI. 

Eklund, K., & Twyford, J. M. (2013, August).Linking results of screening to improvement treatment utility.  Symposium paper presentation at the American Psychological Association Convention, Honolulu, HI. 

Kamphaus, R. W., Raines, T. C., Dowdy, E., Eklund, K., Twyford, J., & Liu, J (2013, August).Universal screening for behavioral and emotional risk: Theory, research, and practice.  Symposium presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, Honolulu, HI. 

Buckley, L., & Twyford, J. M. (2013, April). Latino youth on probation, positive psychology, and protective factors against recidivism: A first look. Poster presentation at the California Psychological Association Conference, Newport Beach, CA. 

Twyford, J. M., Dowdy, E. T, Sharkey, J. D., & Fox, A. (2011, February).  Describing youth offenders in terms of hope and grit. Paper presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Conference, San Francisco, CA. 

Doane, K., Shenouda, A., Twyford, J. M., Chin, J. K., & Dowdy, E. T. (2011, February).  Identifying behavioral and emotional problems comparing screening and teacher nomination. Paper presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Conference, San Francisco, CA. 

Shenouda, A., Twyford, J. M., & Dowdy, E. T. (2011, February).  Predicting mental health and behavioral outcomes using a parent screener. Paper presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Conference, San Francisco, CA. 

Chin, J. K., Twyford, J. M., & Dowdy, E. T. (2011, February). Contribution of Non-Academic Factors to Standardized Test Scores. Poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Conference, San Francisco, CA. 

Twyford, J. M., Chin, J. K., Dowdy, E. T., & Eklund, K. R. (2010, August). Factor structure of the BASC-2 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System Student Form. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Conference, San Diego, CA. 

Eklund, K.R., Twyford, J. M., Chin, J.K., & Dowdy, E.T. (2010, August). Behavioral RTI model: School-based Universal Screening for Emotional and Behavioral Problems. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Conference, San Diego, CA.

Chin, J. K., Twyford, J. M., Dowdy, E. T., & Eklund, K. R. (2010, August). Factor structure of the BASC-2 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System Teacher Form. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Conference, San Diego, CA. 

Twyford, J. M., Eklund, K.R., Chin, J.K., & Dowdy, E.T. (2010, March). Behavioral RTI model: Implementing screening for emotional and behavioral problems. Mini-skills presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Conference, Chicago, IL. 

Twyford, J. M., Chin, J. K., Eklund, K. R., & Dowdy, E.T. (2010, March). Does the BASC-2 Teacher BESS Have Predictive Validity Across Ethnicities? Poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Conference, Chicago, IL. 

Chin, J. K., Twyford, J. M., Eklund, K. R., & Dowdy, E. T. (2010, March). Gender Differences in Teacher/Parent Screenings for Emotional/Behavioral Risk. Paper presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Conference, Chicago, IL. 

Dowdy, E., Twyford, J. M., & Eklund, K. R. (2009, August). School-Wide Screening for Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Problems. Symposium presentation at the American Psychological Association Conference, Toronto, Canada. 

Twyford. J.M., Chin, J.K., Eklund, K.R., & Dowdy, E.T. (2009, August).  Predictive validity across ethnicities for a teacher behavior rating screener.  Paper presented at the American Psychological Association Conference, Toronto, Canada.    

Loe, S. A., Krach, S. K., Speer, J. M., Jones, H. M., & Rager, R. (2006, August). IQ as a predictor of personality traits and academic achievement.  Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Conference, New Orleans, LA. 

Krach, S. K., Loe, S. A., Rager, R., Jones, H. M., & Speer, J. M. (2006, August). Validity study of the RIAS using the WJ-III Cognitive. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, New Orleans, LA.