IPV in Black Women & Girls

Select Projects

Black Radiance Initiative for Girls’ Holistic Transformation (B.R.I.G.H.T.) Study
Urban Health Institute – Baltimore Impact Grant | Alexander (PI)
In partnership with BMore Empowered, the B.R.I.G.H.T. Study develops an empowerment-based program that supports Black girls’ positive development through education, mindfulness, and skill-building. The project promotes healthy relationships, violence prevention, and sexual and reproductive wellbeing while integrating yoga and mindfulness practices from BMore Empowered’s successful after-school curriculum. The initiative aims to foster resilience, confidence, and holistic wellness among Black adolescent girls in Baltimore City.

Clinic–Community Bridge-to-Care Initiative: Trauma and Violence-Informed Care (TVIC) with Women Survivors of IPV and Living with HIV/AIDS
NIH/NINR (R01NR021528) | Glass (MPI), Jones (MPI), Alexander (Co-I) | $999,088
This project builds partnerships between clinics and community organizations to support women living with HIV who have experienced intimate partner violence. It uses trauma- and violence-informed care to improve engagement in HIV treatment, safety, and overall wellbeing.

Applied IPV Measurement (AIM) Short Course
NIH/NICHD (R25HD116250) | Decker (MPI), Alexander (MPI) | $422,266
The AIM Short Course provides hands-on training for early-career researchers and clinicians to improve how intimate partner violence is measured and studied. It focuses on strengthening skills to conduct ethical, trauma-informed, and community-engaged IPV research.

Wellness for the Whole Black Girl Empowerment Intervention
Baltimore Community Impact Grant – Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute | Alexander (PI) | $20,996 (in-kind effort)
This community-based project empowers Black girls and young women in Baltimore through wellness, mindfulness, and self-advocacy programming. The intervention focuses on promoting resilience, mental health, and positive identity development.

Influences of IPV and Discrimination on Psychosocial Health of Black Queer Adolescent and Young Adult Women in Baltimore
NIH/NIA (DP1AG069874) | McCree (Co-PI), Alexander (Co-PI) | $30,000
This study explores how experiences of violence and discrimination impact the mental and emotional health of Black queer young women in Baltimore. It highlights resilience and community support as key protective factors.

Reimagining HIV Prevention: Strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Cisgender Black Women at Risk for HIV in Maryland
NIH/NIMH (R36MH135791) | Duroseau (PI), Alexander (Sponsor) | $120,000
This project works to make HIV prevention more accessible and responsive to the needs of Black women in Maryland. It focuses on identifying barriers to care and creating strategies that center women’s voices and experiences.

Evaluating the Influence of Culture and Risk Perception on HPV Vaccination Intention among Haitian Immigrant Women Living with HIV
NIH/NINR (F31NR020861) | Guillaume (PI), Alexander (Sponsor) | $150,000
This study examines how culture, beliefs, and risk perceptions shape decisions about HPV vaccination among Haitian immigrant women living with HIV. The goal is to inform culturally sensitive approaches to vaccination and women’s health promotion.

Pilot Trial: Increasing HIV Engagement and Reducing IPV among Black Women Living with HIV
NIH/NIMH (R34MH124586-01A1) | Alexander (Co-PI), Tobin (Co-PI) | $750,000
This pilot program supports Black women living with HIV through trauma-informed interventions that address both intimate partner violence and HIV care engagement. The goal is to improve health, safety, and empowerment.

Development and Evaluation of a PrEP Decision Aid for Women Seeking Domestic Violence Services in Baltimore
NIH/NIMH (R34MH127986) | Willie & Meyer (Co-PIs), Alexander (Co-I) | $750,000
This project develops a user-friendly tool to help women experiencing violence make informed decisions about using PrEP, a medication that prevents HIV. It bridges public health and domestic violence services to expand prevention access.

Place-Based Determinants of Violence Experiences among Black Young Women in Baltimore (2020–2023)
Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation | Alexander (PI) | $450,000
This study examined how neighborhood conditions and systemic inequities influence experiences of violence among young Black women in Baltimore. Findings inform place-based strategies to improve safety and community wellbeing.

Women-Controlled Strategies to Prevent HIV and Unintended Pregnancies among IPV-Exposed Latinas (2019–2021)
JHU Center for AIDS Research | Alexander (PI) | $50,000
This project explored barriers that Latina survivors of intimate partner violence face when trying to use contraception or HIV prevention methods. It emphasized culturally informed and survivor-centered care.

Adapting and Testing the myPlan App to Prevent Dating Violence with Adolescents (2018–2022)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Glass (PI), Alexander (Co-I)
This project adapted the myPlan safety-planning app for teens to help prevent dating violence and promote healthy relationships. The app gives youth personalized strategies to stay safe and seek help.

Social Networks, Risk Behaviors, and IPV among Socially Disadvantaged Black Young Sexual-Minority Women (2018–2020)
NICHD – Building Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health | Alexander (Trainee)
This study explored how friendships, networks, and community contexts shape relationship safety and risk among Black sexual-minority women. It highlighted the importance of affirming spaces and peer support.

Social Norms and Relationship Dynamics among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Black Emerging Adult Men in Baltimore (2018–2019)
Johns Hopkins Office of the Provost | Alexander (PI), Thorpe (Co-I) | $75,000
This project focused on how masculinity norms and relationship expectations influence violence and sexual decision-making among young men in Baltimore. The findings inform gender-equitable relationship education.

Feasibility of a Multi-Sector Collaboration to Increase Contraceptive Use and PrEP Uptake among IPV-Exposed Women (2017–2019)
NICHD – Hopkins Population Center | Alexander (PI), Campbell (Co-I)
This pilot explored ways to coordinate care between reproductive health clinics and IPV services. It tested strategies to help women access both contraception and HIV prevention.

Integrated Risk Reduction Intervention for Abused African-Caribbean Women (2013–2017)
NIMHD | Campbell (PI), Alexander (Co-I) | $957,734
This collaborative project developed a culturally grounded program to help African-Caribbean women reduce HIV risk and improve safety after experiencing partner violence.

Young Women’s Healthy Relationship Study (2013–2014)
NIMH | Alexander (PI) | $19,840
This study explored how young women navigate relationships, reproductive health, and mental wellbeing. It focused on identifying warning signs of coercion and promoting healthy relationship skills.

Project Connect: Evaluation of a Public Health Partnership to Prevent Violence Against Women (2013–2014)
Futures Without Violence / U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | Decker (PI), Alexander (Co-I)
This evaluation assessed how healthcare providers and community organizations can work together to better identify and support survivors of violence.

Abuse Status and Health Consequences for African-American and African-Caribbean Women (2013)
NIMHD | Campbell (PI), Alexander (Co-I) | $1,015,660
This multi-site study examined the health impacts of abuse among Black women in the U.S. and the Caribbean, highlighting the need for culturally tailored healthcare interventions.

Narratives of Sexuality and Sexual Safety among Black Emerging Adult Women (2011–2012)
NINR | Alexander (PI) | $48,300
This project centered the voices of young Black women to understand how they define sexual safety and empowerment. Their stories informed future sexual health education efforts.

Co-Construction of Trusting Relations: Black Women, Well-Being, and Maintaining an Embodied Self (2010–2012)
NINR | Alexander (Co-PI), Laureau (Co-PI)
This foundational study explored how Black women sustain a sense of self, wellbeing, and trust in relationships and healthcare systems.