About Us
With rising smartphone ownership and advances in digital health technologies, mobile Health (mHealth) interventions have demonstrated promising effects on prevention and self-management of health conditions, however, there are limited apps specific to the needs of women on community supervision. Therefore, we developed a mHealth app, JUN, which may be effective in symptom tracking, reporting, and transmitting healthcare resources to women with criminal justice system oversight. JUN is short for the Junonia shell, a native shell to South Texas, which is the region where this research originated and means strength and self-sufficiency. In addition, JUN was informed by women on community supervision to address their healthcare and safety needs. JUN, has the ability to bridge channels of care by giving resources and information in a discreet and non-stigmatizing format around issues such as symptom management, safe health behavior, and strategies to identify violence.
Meet our JUN Team
Allison Crawford PhD, RN
Principle Investigator
Dr. Allison Crawford, PhD, RN is an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health at San Antonio’s School of Nursing, where she conducts health disparity research involving childbearing communities influenced by incarceration. As a registered obstetrical nurse with post-doctoral training in digital health, Dr. Crawford has been engaging in research with women on community supervision since 2016 and is an expert on the barriers women experience who have criminal justice oversight. Her research directly informed two Texas state laws passed in 2019 (HB 1651) and 2021 (HB 1308) to improve healthcare for women in Texas county jails. Crawford co-leads a state network of stakeholders who meet to discuss research, programs, and policies related to the health of people who have criminal justice involvement. The long-term goal of her research is to develop health interventions that enable self-efficacy and access to care discreetly and affordably using technology. Dr. Crawford’s research is currently funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01HD103634-03S2 (PI, Crawford; Parent PI, Rebecca Shlafer, UMN).
Destiny Francis
JUN Team
Destiny is a high school junior in the San Antonio area, with a strong passion for community service and healthcare endeavors. Inspired by a deep desire to uplift others, she currently serves as a co-lead for a school-based initiative focused on establishing connections with unsheltered residents of San Antonio. She is immensely passionate about addressing social disparities and finding ways to catalyze the depletion of such. In the future, she aspires to be a healthcare worker to make more of an impact in her community.
Gregory Quiroz
JUN Team
Gregory is a current undergraduate nursing student with an interest in health disparities, health education, and policy relating to marginalized communities. Also, a recent graduate of Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï receiving a Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences, along with a certification in Emergency Medical Technology. Gregory currently serves as Student Body President, advocating for students across Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï's six schools.
Matelynn Soules
JUN Team
Matelynn is a current undergraduate student at Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï's school of nursing. She is passionate about maternal-child and pediatric healthcare. Her role is assisting with tailoring the content in JUN for the needs of underserved populations.
Richard Powell
JUN Team
Richard is an undergraduate student studying computer science at the University of Texas at San Antonio with experience in data science and cybersecurity. He is assisting with the implementation of the JUN software and with data collection and analysis.
Laura Pavitt
JUN Team
Laura Pavitt is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student at Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï. Throughout her graduate studies, she has focused on community-based research exploring type 2 diabetes lifestyle management programs for people with serious mental illness. With five years of experience in healthcare administration and program coordination, Laura will be providing administrative support to Dr. Crawford’s research initiatives.
Adriana Duran
JUN Team
Adriana is a current undergraduate student at Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï's school of nursing. She has a have a strong passion for nursing and is extremely excited to start this new journey with Dr. Crawford’s Research Team.
Collaborators
Kavita Radhakkrishnan, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAHA
JUN Team
Rebecca Shlafer, PhD
JUN Team
Rocky Slavin, PhD
JUN Team
Min Wang, PHD
JUN Team
Jacqueline McGrath, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN
Personnel and Consultants
Ariadna Forray MD
Yale
Cristina Mendoza LCDC
Yale
Emily Hebert OUHSC
Lifetime Recovery
Past Students
Ashlynn Estrada, BSN, RN
Student Assistant
Farhan Tajwar Romit
JUN Team