Kean University Professor’s Raising Families Project Published in Leading National Journal

A faculty-led initiative at Kean University that blends hands-on student learning with meaningful community support has been published in OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, a leading national journal in the field of occupational therapy.

The Raising Families Lab, led by Zahava Friedman, Ph.D., assistant professor in Kean’s Department of Occupational Therapy, provides group therapy for children and their caregivers while serving as a high-impact training experience for Kean graduate students.

“This work reflects Kean’s commitment to community-engaged learning, which provides students with opportunities to create meaningful impact beyond the classroom,” said James Konopack, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Professions and Human Services at Kean. “The Raising Families Project reflects the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration at Kean and our focus on preparing students to serve communities through innovative, responsive care.”

The lab is run by Kean faculty, including Associate Professor Keri Giordano and Clinical Assistant Professor John Lee, DPT, Ph.D., in collaboration with licensed therapy clinicians.

Launched in 2023, Raising Families operates in six to 12-week cycles and brings together graduate students from Kean’s occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology and clinical psychology programs. Each weekly session is designed and facilitated by students under the supervision of licensed clinicians, creating a collaborative, interprofessional model that strengthens children’s developmental skills while supporting caregiver-child relationships.

“This is the first publication in what we hope will be a comprehensive body of work,” Friedman said. “It speaks to the value of the program, our students’ growth and the community we serve.”

Friedman’s research focused on formative evaluation, a process that uses real-time feedback to continuously improve programming. Over three semesters, the project collected nearly 350 weekly surveys from students, caregivers and clinicians. That data informed ongoing adjustments to session length, group structure and clinical planning to ensure the program remained responsive to participants’ needs.

“Not every change has to be earth shattering,” Friedman said. “Sometimes the smallest adjustments make the biggest difference in how kids and caregivers experience the program.”

In addition to its impact on families, the project has provided significant professional benefits for Kean students, including required clinical hours for licensure and practical experience in community-based care. Many former participants have gone on to earn clinical credentials and pursue leadership or faculty roles, building on lessons learned through Raising Families and their Kean education.

The Raising Families Project continues to expand with new cohorts each semester and is designed to offer a safe, inclusive environment where families receive guidance while building lasting community connections.

“This is a Kean-led project with national potential,” Friedman said. “We’re proud to be building something sustainable that supports both our students and the communities we serve.”