In This Section

Degree Major Emphasis Institution Year
PhD Social Work University of Southern California 2017
MSW Social Work University of Southern California 2008
B.A. Psychology and Social Behavior University of California, Irvine 2006

Introduction to Social Work
Social Work Practice 1
Social Research
Advanced Clinical Practice
Direct Practice with Cultural Humility
Community Engagement and Social Innovation
Research Dissemination and Scholarship
Project Development and Implementation
Community Based Participatory Research Methods

Mental Health Promotion
Church-Based Interventions
African American Health
Health Disparities

University of Southern California

1. Vazquez, V. E., Knabb, J. J., Lee-Johnson, C., & Hays, K. (2023). Healing Conversations on Race: The HEAL Model for Diverse Christian Communities. Journal of Psychology & Christianity, 42(2).

2. Hays, K., & Costello, J. (2023). Churches as agents of community change: An introduction to the issue. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 1-6.

3. Hays, K., Flores-Carter, K., Costello, J., & Ellis, R. (2023). Enhancing supports to children of incarcerated parents: Introducing trauma informed training to church mentors. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 1-17.

4. Ellis, R. T., Hays, K., Hamilton, J., & Reyes, L. J. (2022). Spiritual Outcomes of a Faith-Based Camp Program for Children of Incarcerated Parents. Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies, 7(1), 1.

5. Hays, K., & Costello, J. (2021). Churches as agents of community change: An introduction to the issue. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 1-6.

6. Hays, K., Flores-Carter, K., Costello, J., & Ellis, R. (2021). Enhancing supports to children of incarcerated parents: Introducing trauma informed training to church mentors. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 1-17.

7. Hays, K., & Costello, J. (2021). Exploring the Cultural Appropriateness and Feasibility of Mental Health First Aid in Uganda: A Case Study. Psychological Services

8. Costello, J., Hays, K., & Gamez, A. M. (2020). Using mental health first aid to promote mental health in churches. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 1-12.

9. Hays, K., Shepard-Payne, J. (2020). Lived experience, transparency, help, and humility: Four characteristics of clergy responding to mental and emotional problems. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling

10. Hays, K. (2018). Reconceptualizing church-based mental health promotion with African Americans: A social action theory approach. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 1-22.

11. Hays, K. (2017) A Risk Typology for Depression in African Americans. Issues in Mental Health Nursing.

12. Hays, K. & Lincoln, K. D. (2017) Mental Health Help-seeking Patterns among African Americans: Exploring the Influence of Religion. Race and Social Problems. 9(2), 127-138

13. Hays, K. & Gilreath, T (2017) Profiles of Depression Help Seeking among African Americans: A latent class approach. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.

14. Shepard-Payne, J & Hays, K (2016) A Qualitative Exploration of Pastors' Candid Discussions on Mental Health and Healing, Mental Health, Religion, and Culture. 1-13.

15. Hays, K. (2015) Black Churches’ Capacity to Respond to the Mental Health Needs of African Americans. Social Work and Christianity, 42(3). 296-312.

16. Hays, K. & Aranda, MP (2015) Faith-Based Mental Health Interventions with African Americans: A Review. Research on Social Work Practice. 1-13.

Church Member: Transformation Church (formally Praise Tabernacle Bible Church)
Pre-Academy (preschool) Leader: Transformation Church
Bridge Team Leader (wellness ministry): Transformation Church

Advocates for African American Elders
CBU Social Work Assessment Committee, 2019-present
Journal Reviewer for Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 2019
Journal Reviewer for Advances in Social Work, 2019
Chair of CBU Social Work Curriculum Committee, 2018-present
Journal Reviewer for Religion and Spirituality in Social Work, 2018-presnt
Reviewer for Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 2018-presnt
Journal Reviewer for Public Health Nursing, 2018-present
Journal Reviewer for Race and Social Problems, 2016-present
National Association of Social Workers, 2016-present
American Public Health Association, 2014-2015
Society for Social Work and Research, 2013-2017
Council on Social Work Education, 2013-Present
Pomona Valley Interfaith Collaboration on Mental Health, 2011-2013
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Pomona Valley, 2011-present
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, California, 2010-Present
Mental Health First Aid Certification, 2012
Non-violent Crisis Intervention Training, 2010, 2011
Black Social Work Caucus-University of Southern California, 2006-2008

Camping
Home DIY projects

"God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. [...] God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes" Psalm 18: 20 & 24