Audrey Begun (Ph.D. University of Michigan, 1987) is an Emeritus Professor of Social Work. Dr. Begun's early research career emphasized the development of sibling relationships across the lifespan and development in families of individuals with developmental disabilities. She was engaged in a multi-year collaborative community partnership to prevent intimate partner violence that also involved developing instruments to assess batterer's readiness to change their abusive behaviors. More recently, she has been engaged with community and other university partners in conducting several intervention efficacy and effectiveness studies related to alcohol and other substance problems.  Dr. Begun looked at utilizing Motiviational Interviewing (MI) techniques with women in jail to prepare them to address substance abuse problems at community re-entry. A small study recently completed relates to developing an assessment approach to understanding a lifecourse pattern of change attempts by alcohol studies.

Currently, Dr. Begun is also working on a research project regarding the "Safe at Home" instrument which assesses domestic violence pepetrators' readiness to change intimate partner violence patterns. This research also aims to evaluate the efficacy of domestic violence treatment programs. Also, as a partner with OACBHA (Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities), Dr. Begun and several colleagues are studying the patterns of needs and services received by individuals reentering community living following a period of incarceration in jail, prison, or Community Based Correctional Facilities (CBCFs). Finally, Dr. Begun is currently exploring the development of more responsive parenting education interventions for incarcerated mothers, as well as effective methods of preparing caregivers and child welfare workers to provide support upon mothers' releases.