GWS Faculty Shout Out: Kate Walsh
July 14, 2025
Congratulations to Professor Kate Walsh on receiving a 2025–26 Romnes Faculty Fellowship! This award recognizes her influential contribution to intervention research that promotes well-being for people affected by sexual and relationship violence. Her work continues to drive innovative approaches to survivor-centered support, equity, and trauma-informed care.
IDS-Funded Research Project Aims to Reduce Barriers to Care for Sexual Assault Survivors with Marginalized Identities
June 24, 2025
This IDS-funded research project, led by Dr. Kate Walsh and Dr. LB Klein, aims to better understand and reduce gaps in access to post-assault care for individuals with marginalized identities. By combining in-depth interviews with sexual assault survivors, nurses, and advocates, the research investigates the complex challenges that keep many from seeking help. Excitingly, a newly developed measure – the Barriers and Facilitators to Sexual Assault Services Scale- is designed to accurately assess the barriers and supports that survivors face when seeking help. By identifying how systems may fail survivors from minoritized groups, the study strives to inform public policy, nurse training standards, and the development of economic support programs for survivors.
Wisconsin sees promise in ‘housing first’ support of domestic violence survivors
Access to safe, stable housing remains a major barrier for survivors of domestic violence. To address this, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families launched the Domestic Violence Housing First (DVHF) Pilot Program, providing immediate housing and tailored support to survivors across the state. By prioritizing rapid placement over temporary shelters, the program helps families gain stability while addressing financial, childcare, transportation, and safety needs.
Now, a new research study will evaluate the program’s effectiveness, examining how housing-focused interventions impact survivors’ long-term well-being. Co-led by Kate Walsh, Professor of Psychology and Gender & Women’s Studies, and Mariel Barnes, Assistant Professor at the La Follette School of Public Affairs, the study will leverage UW Extension’s statewide network to inform community partners and identify policy solutions that reduce domestic violence’s harmful effects.
This evaluation represents a critical step in understanding how housing-first strategies can empower survivors and strengthen Wisconsin communities.
OVCRGE Awards Kate Walsh Funding for Barriers to Care Project
February 1, 2024
Through the Increasing Social and Economic Inclusion (ISEI) initiative, the UW-Madison Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education has chosen Dr. Kate Walsh’s project to be one of six to receive roughly $250,000 of funding and support. The project’s goal is to address the barriers to care for survivors of sexual violence whom are a part of marginalized or minority communities, and will also address the perspectives of those providing such care.
NIDA Awards Kate Walsh Grant for Digital Intervention
Dr. Kate Walsh recently received a $4.2 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to expand research on the intersections of PTSD and opioid misuse among sexual violence survivors, and how to prevent them from occurring. She and her team will be developing and testing a new video and text messaging intervention that can be delivered to sexual assault survivors within the Better Tomorrow Network during the month after the assault.