Robert Walker, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.

(University of Kentucky, 1979)
333 Waller Avenue, Suite 400
Lexington, Kentucky 40504
Phone: (859) 257-6623
Email: Robert.Walker@uky.edu

Research Description

Robert Walker’s research focuses on treatment outcomes of substance abuse treatment among clinical populations as well as partner violence victimization. His research has included a wide range of problems associated with substance abuse including traumatic brain injury, depression, and the ethics of consent processes. He is principal investigator of a statewide treatment outcome study that examines intake level data collected by clinicians in publicly funded treatment programs and follow-up data collected on former clients 12 months after treatment. The follow-up interviews are conducted by UK CDAR. These data now represent ten years of follow-up findings that include a description of avoided costs associated with treatment. He also is principal investigator of two projects that examine treatment outcomes among pregnant women with substance use disorders. These studies involve matching project-specific data collected by clinicians in public treatment programs to large state datasets on birth outcomes and service utilization.

2008 Accomplishments

Mr. Walker, along with Gregory Jicha, M.D., Ph.D. in Neurology and the Sanders-Brown Center, developed new policies and procedures for the University of Kentucky Institutional Review Board for research with subjects who have decisional impairment. This included developing the IRB’s first automated system for matching study risk level and subject level of likely impairment to a matrix of protections. Mr. Walker also released the first KIDS NOW Plus follow-up report that examined pregnant women with substance use disorders including their mental health, health problems specific to pregnancy risk, partner substance use behaviors, and preparedness for child birth among 391 women in Kentucky. This study followed women after they were referred into substance abuse services by prenatal care providers. Mr. Walker has also developed a comprehensive study of treatment outcomes for individuals who receive medication assisted treatment for addiction using opiate agonist/antagonists. Called KORTOS (Kentucky Opiate Replacement Treatment Outcome Study), this project examines substance use characteristics of clients as well as complete ongoing clinic actions and client status (dose levels, co-occurring disorders and medical treatments, urine surveillance results, phase in program, and other health problems such as HIV and Hepatitis). Mr. Walker wrote a grant for the Kentucky Department of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addiction Services to fund a 14-bed residential substance abuse treatment program for pregnant women in Corbin, Kentucky. He is the PI for an evaluation of client outcomes for this project that began in October 2008. He is co-investigator (PI is TK Logan, Ph.D.) on a National Institute of Justice project examining the effects of protective orders in partner violence cases. Mr. Walker presented a plenary session for the annual Kentucky School on Alcohol and Other Drugs in July and he has presented internationally on partner violence victimization and sleep disorders. His work focuses on the translation of research findings into practice in community-based treatment facilities. Mr. Walker is a member of the National Academy of Practice in Social Work.

Research Funding

Principal Investigator, Kentucky Substance Abuse Treatment Outcome Study, 2003 to present. Kentucky Department of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addiction Services.
Principal Investigator, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Outcome Study, 2005 to present. Kentucky Department of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addiction Services.
Principal Investigator, Independence House Project for Pregnant and Postpartum Women. October 2008 – September 2011. This CSAT-funded residential substance abuse treatment project is for long term residential treatment for pregnant and postpartum women in Appalachian Kentucky. Kentucky Department of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addiction Services.
Principal Investigator, Kids Now Project. July 2005 – Present. This is a state-funded program using case management oriented early interventions for pregnant women at risk for substance abuse. The evaluation study examines clinical outcomes using pre-post data on women served. Kentucky Department of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addiction Services.
Principal Investigator, Families in Safe Homes Network. November 2007 – October 2012. This Kentucky River Community Care project is funded by the Administration for Child and Family services (ACF) in the Department for Health and Human Services. This project collects data on parents with substance use disorders whose children have been reported to protective services for child neglect or abuse. Kentucky River Community Care contract.
Principal Investigator, Opiate Replacement Treatment Program data system and outcomes project. January 2005 to present. This state-funded project uses baseline and follow-up measures as well as dose change measures, urinalysis results, and take-home exception request processing. Annual award – is part of the KTOS system and SDI initiative.

Representative Publications

Walker, R. (2009). Retention in treatment - Indicator or illusion: An essay Journal of Substance Use and Misuse, 44, 18-27.

Walker, R. (October, 2009). Translating neurodevelopment to practice: How to go from fMRI to a home visit. Journal of Loss and Trauma.

Walker, R., Cole, J., & Logan, TK. (2008). Identifying client-level indicators of recovery among DUI, criminal justice, and non-criminal justice treatment referrals. Special issue - Substance Use and Misuse,43, 1785-1801.

Walker, R. & Logan, TK (2008). Substance Abuse and Dependence. In H. E. A. Tinsley & S. H. Lease (Eds.). Encyclopedia of Counseling, Volume 2: Personal Counseling and Mental Health Problems (pp. 893-899). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Walker, R., Cole, J.E., Logan, TK. (2007). Screening substance abuse treatment clients for traumatic brain injury: Prevalence and characteristics. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 22, 360-368.

Walker, R., Logan, T., Clark, J.J., & Leukefeld, C. (2005). Informed consent to undergo treatment for substance abuse: a recommended approach. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 29 (4), 241-251.

Walker, R., & Logan, T. (2004). Treating substance abuse clients with co-occurring intimate partner violence. In K. Knight & D. Farabee (Eds.), Treating addicted offenders: A continuum of effective practices. (pp. 23.1-23.11). Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute.

Logan, T.K., Cole, J., Shannon, L., & Walker, R. (2006). Partner Stalking: How Women Respond, Cope, and Survive. Springer Publishers.

Logan, T., Walker, R., Jordan, C.J., & Leukefeld, C. (2006). Women and victimization, contributing factors, interventions, and implications. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press.

Walker, R., & Logan, T. (2004). Setting the stage for treating drug court clients: How to initiate treatment. In B. Sims (Ed.), Substance abuse treatment with correctional clients: Practical implications for institutional and community settings. Binghampton, NY: Hayworth Press.

Walker, R., Hiller, M., Staton-Tindall, M., & Leukefeld, C. (2003). Head injury among drug abusers: An indicator of co-occurring problems. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 35(3).