Christina Topolewski
Education/Training
Baccalaureate:
| 2005 | B.S. - Special Education | Wayne State University |
Graduate:
| 2006 | MSW - Social Work | University of Michigan |
| 2016 | Ph.D. - Social Work | Wayne State University |
Research
Grant Funded Projects:
Michigan Older Caregivers of Emerging Adults with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (MI-OCEAN)
Funder: Michigan Health Endowment (2019- present)
Role: Co-Investigator
Supporting Older Adults and Caregivers through a Collaborative Home-Based Training program (2020-present)
Funder: Michigan Health Endowment (2019- present)
Role: Principal Investigator
Internal Funded Projects:
GameAbove Faculty First Program Award (2020-2021)
Project Title: Social Media Use among Caregivers of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Dementia
Summer Research/Creative Activity Award (2020)
Project Title: Examination of Rewards of Aging Parental Caregivers of Adult Children with Autism
College of Health and Human Services Research Award (2019-2020)
Project Title: Examination of the Experiences of Parents of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the College Setting
Faculty Research Fellowship Award (2019-2020)
Caregiver Burden, Social Support, and Quality of Life among Caregivers of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia
ORDA Culture of Research Excellence (CoRE) Faculty Fellowship Grant Writing Program (2019)
Provided through the Office of Interprofessional Education, Research and Practice, Eastern Michigan University
Summer Research/Creative Activity Award (2019)
Project Title: State-by-State Policy Analysis of Advance Care Planning for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Faculty Research Fellowship Award (2017-2018)
Project Title: Exploration of the Experiences of Caregivers of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia
Summer Research/Creative Activity Award (2017)
Project Title: Experiences with Formal Support among Older Parents of Adult Children with Autism
Selected Publications:
Marsack-Topolewski, C.N. (2021). Relationship between caregiver burden and instrumental activities of daily living among compound and noncompound caregivers. Journal of Family Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1080/10522158.2020.1861157
Marsack-Topolewski, C.N. (2021). Receipt of social support among aging parental caregivers of adults with autism. Journal of Gerontological Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2020.1834045
Milberger, S., Marsack-Topolewski, C.N., Janks, E., & Samuel, P. (2021). Family caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic. Developmental Disabilities Network Journal.
Wilson, K., Kaminski, A., Tenbus, J., & Marsack-Topolewski, C.N. (2021). Social communication supports and services for adults with ASD: Parental perceptions of use and need. Journal of Family Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044389420913121
Samuel, P.S., Marsack-Topolewski, C.N., & Tarraf, W. (2021). Empirical evaluation of the association between daily living skills of adults with autism and parental caregiving burden. Plos One Publications. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244844
McGinley, J., Marsack-Topolewski, C.N., Church, H. L., & Knoke, V. (2021). Advance care planning for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A state-by-state content analysis of person-centered service plans. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Kelly, A.M., Hershey, L., & Marsack-Topolewski, C.N. (2021). A 50-state review of guardianship laws: Specific concerns for special needs planning. Journal of Financial Service Professionals, 75(1).
Marsack-Topolewski, C.N. (2020). Mediating effects of social support on caregiver burden and quality of life for compound and noncompound caregivers. Families in Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044389420947229
Marsack-Topolewski, C.N., Perry, T.E., & Chan, K.T. (2020). "“I’m glad she chose me as her parent:” Rewards of caregiving for adults with autism". Family Relations. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12515
Marsack-Topolewski, C.N. & Maragakis, A. (2020). Relationship between symptom severity and caregiver burden experienced by parents of adults with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357620956927
Marsack-Topolewski, C.N. (2020). Quality of life among compound caregivers and noncompound caregivers of adults with autism. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 63(5), 379-391. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2020.1765063
Marsack-Topolewski, C.N. & Wilson, K. (2020). Coping strategies used by aging parental caregivers of adults with autism spectrum disorder. Families in Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044389420913121
Marsack-Topolewski, C.N. (2020). A snapshot of social support networks among parental caregivers of adults with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50, 1111-1122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04285-6
Marsack-Topolewski, C.N. (2020). Parental caregivers’ use of support networks for adults with autism by educational status. Journal of Family Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1080/10522158.2020.1777239
Marsack-Topolewski, C.N., & Weisz, A. (2020). Parents’ perceptions of service needs and access of adult children with autism spectrum disorder. Families in Society, 101(2), 190-204. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044389419881273
Professional Memberships & Honors
Professional Memberships:
2019 - present: National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices, Membership Affairs Co-Coordinator
2019 - present: National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices, Board Member (Appointed)
2016 - present: Reviewer for Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
2016 - present: Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation
2020 - present: Reviewer for Autism
2021 - present: Reviewer for Families in Society
Honors:
2021: Everett L. Marshall Research Excellence Award
2015 - Dissertation Research Support Award, Wayne State University
2014 - School of Social Work Tuition Scholarship
2012-2014 - Graduate Professional Scholarship, Wayne State University
2012-2013 - School of Social Work Tuition Scholarship
2012 - Midwest Graduate Research Symposium, poster award
2005-2006 - Aging Fellowship, University of Michigan
Licenses / Certifications:
2010-present - State of Michigan Teacher Consultant Approval
2014-present - Licensed Clincial Social Worker (State of Michigan)
2008-2014: Limited Licensed Clinical Social Worker (State of Michigan)
2005-present: Provisional / Professional Teaching Certificate (State of MIchigan)