Dr. Ofonedu is the Director of Training at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Prior to her current position, she was a Research Manager and Clinician and served as the Project Director of an NIH –funded Clinical Trial on Early Parenting Intervention Comparison (EPIC) research study at the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Ofonedu joined Kennedy Krieger in 2004 as a LEND trainee. She received her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland and her doctorate degree in Psychology from the Capella University. Dr. Ofonedu has a broad background in teaching, research and clinical work. She currently holds an Associate Faculty position at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health and at the University of Maryland Baltimore Graduate School and an Adjunct Faculty position at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, where she teaches graduate level Research, Clinical and Macro courses. She is also a Faculty Affiliate of the Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Dr. Ofonedu has many years of teaching, research and clinical experience working with varied population. She continues to contribute to the field through her scholarship and clinical expertise at local, national and international level. She has published a number of peer-reviewed journal articles, both as first author and as co-author and serves on a number of board and committees related to social work, psychology, and her clinical interests. She served as Program Chair for the Society of Child and Family Policy and Practice (Division 37) of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Ofonedu currently sits on the Division 37 executive board as MAL Task Force Coordinator on Diversity Issues and division liaison to the APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology. Her work is inspired by the core ideas of recognizing and building on the strengths and competencies that exist in individual, families and communities for the purpose of creating a more just and equitable society.

Dr. Ofonedu’s research interests include mental health treatment engagement, schools and community outreach interventions, and mental health service delivery for underserved urban families, youth, and children, particularly those who have been exposed to traumatic events. She has a deep commitment to troubled youth and has conducted research on inner-city Black youth and mental health and on treatment engagement of underserved families and young children with behavior problems. She examines the psychosocial and cultural factors that influence urban youth and family mental health treatment engagement and service utilization to inform policy and intervention programs. Dr. Ofonedu combines her macro, clinical and research knowledge in the training of professionals and students in evidence-supported and cultural responsive intervention programs and helping them realize the key role they can play as underserved families, youth and community champions.

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Gross, D., Belcher, H. M. E., Budhathoki, C., Ofonedu, M. E., Dutrow, D., Uveges, M. K., & Slade, E. (2019). Reducing Preschool Behavior Problems in an Urban Mental Health Clinic: A Pragmatic, Non-inferiority Trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 58(6), 572-581. doi. 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.08.013

Gross, D. A., Belcher, H. M. E., Budhathoki, C., Ofonedu, M. E., & Kurtz M. (2017). Does Parent Training Format Affect Treatment Engagement? A Randomized Study of Families at Social Risk. Journal of Child and Family Studies https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0984-1

Ofonedu, M. E., Belcher, H. M. E., Budhathoki, C. & Gross, D. A., (2016). Understanding Barriers to Initial Treatment Engagement among Underserved Families Seeking Mental Health Services.  Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26(3):863-876 DOI: 10.1007/s10826-016-0603-6

Beltran, M., Brown-Elhillali, A. N., Held, A. R., Ryce, P. C., Ofonedu, M. E., Hoover, D. W., & ... Belcher, H. E. (2016). Yoga-based Psychotherapy Groups for Boys Exposed to Trauma in Urban Settings. Alternative Therapies In Health And Medicine, 22(1), 39-46.

Maepa, M.P., Idemudia, E.S. & Ofonedu, M.E. (2015). The relationship between Parenting stylesand childhood trauma: A study of street children in Limpopo Province, South Africa. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, 21(2), 552-565.

Gross, D. A., Belcher, H. M. E., Ofonedu, M. E., Breitenstein, S., Frick, K. D., & Budhathoki, C. (2014). Study protocol for a comparative effectiveness trial of two parent training programs in a fee-for-service mental health clinic: can we improve mental health services to low-income families? Trials 15:70 doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-70  

Ofonedu, M. E., Percy, W. H., Harris-Britt, A., & Belcher, M. E. (2013). Depression in Inner City African American Youth: A Phenomenological Study. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 22(1), 96-106 doi: 10.1007/s10826-012-9583-3

Gross, D. A., Belcher, H. M. E., Budhathoki, C., Ofonedu, M. E., Dutrow D., Kurtz M., & Slade, E. (In Review ). Reducing Preschool Behavior Problems in an Urban Mental Health Clinic Serving Low-Income Families: A Pragmatic, Randomized, Non-Inferiority Comparative Effectiveness Trial. JAMA Pediatrics

INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS, ABSTRACTS, AND PUBLICATIONS

Ofonedu, M.E. (2015). Understanding Mental Health Treatment Engagement in At-Risk Families of Children with Behavior Problems. Poster Presentation at the American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Convention, 08.07. 2015, Toronto Canada

Ofonedu, M. E.(2014). “Social Connectedness as Protective Factors to Depression in African American Youth: A Qualitative Insight. Oral Presentation at the International Congress of Applied Psychology (ICAP), 07.12. 2014, Paris Franc

Ofonedu, M.E. (2013). Attachment and Early Parenting. Invited International Speaker at the Eastern Africa Regional Conference of Psychology (EARCP) Kampala, 11.2.2013, East Africa Uganda

Ofonedu, M.E. (2013). Youth Rebellion and Mental Health.  Invited International Speaker at the Eastern Africa Regional Conference of Psychology (EARCP) Kampala, 11.2.2013, East Africa Uganda

Ofonedu, M.E (2012). A Phenomenological Study: Experiences of Inner city Black Youth living with Depression.  Paper Presentation at the International Congress of Psychology (ICP) 30^th Annual Convention, 08. 2012. Cape Town South Africa

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PRESENTATIONS, ABSTRACT, AND PUBLICATIONS

Ofonedu, M. E., Butler, M. K., Willis, D., Horejes, T., Menon, D., (2019). Cultural Perspectives on Disability: Implications for Health and Human Rights. Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Annual Conference, 11.19.19, Washington, DC.

Ofonedu, M. E (Chair), Butler, M., Azad, G., Reinhardt, J.S., Damashek, A., Thomas, A., Forber-Pratt, A. J., Cullinan, C (2019). Disability Walk a Mile Experience: Families with Children and Young Adults with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities Search for Meaning. Symposium conducted at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, 08.10.2019, Chicago, IL

Ofonedu, M. E (2019). Peer Mentoring for International Students at Convention. Special Interest Program hosted at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, 08.08.2019, Chicago, IL

Kanu, A., Ofonedu, M. E., Stone, J., (2018). Exploring the Factors that Impact the Health, Well-Being, and Independence of Individuals with Disabilities: A Caregiver Perspective. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Ofonedu, M. E (Chair), Dougé, J., Barrueco, S., Garrett-Akinsanya, B. M., Fuentes, M. A., Fu, M., (2018). Treatment Engagement and Intervention Strategies for Underserved Children, Youth, and Families. Symposium conducted at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, 08.09.2018, San Francisco, CA

Ofonedu, M. E (Chair), Powell, W., Dodgen, D., Wylie, L., Lemanek, K. (2018). Health Disparities: Improving Care Outcomes for Underserved Children, Youth and Families. Symposium conducted at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, 08.10.2018, San Francisco, CA

Ofonedu, M. E. (Chair), Moorehead-Slaughter, O., Reinhardt, J.S., Sampilo, M., Litzenburg, C.C., Rubens, S., Thomas, A., Turner, E. A., Ofonedu, I. C (2018). Walk a Mile---Understanding Challenges Faced by Families Struggling to Find Assessment and Treatment. Symposium conducted at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, 08.10.2018, San Francisco, CA

Ofonedu, M. E (Chair), Franklin, A.J., Breland-Nobel, A., Garvin, E., Cook, C., Turner, E.A. (2017). Strategies for Promoting Positive Mental Health Outcomes for Black Youth. Symposium conducted at the American Psychological Association Convention, 08.05.2017, Washington, D.C

Ofonedu, M. E (Chair), Price, L.N., Kuriansky, J.,Khoury, B., Gregerson, M., Bastien, G., Coker-Appiah, D.( 2017). Global Approach to Trauma Prevention and Interventions: Policy and Practice. Symposium conducted at the American Psychological Association Convention,08.04.2017, Washington, D.C

Ofonedu, M. E (Chair), Devereux, E., Marin, M. R., Miller M., Haskett, M., Silva J., Jaimes, L., von