Faculty Directory

Rocío Calvo

Professor

Director, Latinx Leadership Initiative (LLI)

Photo of Rocío Calvo

Rocío Calvo

Ph.D.

Contact

McGuinn Hall 304

Telephone: 617-552-0651

Email: rocio.calvo@bc.edu

Education

  • B.A., Salamanca University
  • M.A., Deusto University
  • Ph.D., Boston College

Research Interests

Immigrant incorporation, happiness, Latinx populations, social services

Expertise

  • Immigrants and Refugees
  • Latinx Communities
CV or Resume

Profile

Rocío Calvo is a Professor of Global Practice at the Boston College School of Social Work. She is the Founding Director of the Latinx Leadership Initiative (LLI). The LLI transforms outmoded care systems, practices, and programs in service of Latinx populations. From an asset-framed perspective, bilingual/bicultural social workers learn to develop a nuanced understanding of the barriers that prevent communities from accessing resources for advancement; and a deep knowledge of how best to implement evidence-based interventions that address systemic inequities.

Using a community-centered approach in the design and implementation of interventions that address the needs identified by the community, Professor Calvo's research focuses on understanding how to improve access to social services for diverse Latinx populations (especially in health care and education). She has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Russell Sage Foundation, the Boston Children’s Collaboration Community Health, Massachusetts General Brigham, among other sources.

In 2019, she received the Distinguished Recent Contributions to Social Work Education Award from the Council ofSocial Work Education (CSWE) for her work creating innovative social work practices to improve the well-being of Latinx communities. In 2020, the LLI was selected as a National Example of Excellence in higher education for Latinos. In 2022 Dr. Calvo received the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award for inspiring students to catalyze systemic change in underserved communities.

Selected Publications

Figuereo, V., & Calvo, R. (2022). Racialization and psychological distress among U.S. Latinxs. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 9(3), 865-873. 

Calvo, R., & Waters, M.C. (2023). The Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on older Latinx immigrants.  The Socioeconomic Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences

Hodges, J.C. & Calvo, R. (2023). Teleservices use among Latinx immigrant families during the Covid-19 pandemic. Children & Youth Service Review

Calvo, R., Crutchfield, J., & Delva, J. (2023). Beyond colorism. The impact of racialization on U.S. Latinxs. Social Work and the Grand Challenge of Ending Racism. Concepts, Theory, and Evidence Based Approaches. Edited by Martell L., Teasley, Michael S. Spencer, and Melissa Bartholomew

Selected Appointments & Awards

2019: Distinguished Recent Contributions to Social Work Education Award. Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

2020: National Example of Excellence in Education. Latinx Leadership Initiative

2022: Inspirational Woman Award –Outstanding Professional. Latina Center María. Lynn, MA. 

2022: Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award.

Selected Grants

2023 to 2025: Principal Investigator. BD-24-1022-DMH08-8210C-89673. DMH Behavioral Health Paid Internship Program. Funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Mental Health ($2,500,000)

2022 to 2027: Multi-PI: Calvo, Davison, & Haneuse. 1R01NR020482-01A1. Leveraging Community-based Behavioral Health to Increase Vaccine Uptake in Latinx Adults with Mental Illness. Funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research ($2,800,000; Percentile 4). 

2022 to 2025: Principal Investigator. Implementing an Integrated Supervision Initiative (ISI) at Boston Public Schools (BPS). Funded by the Boston Children’s Collaboration for Community Health ($790,000).

2022 to 2024: Principal Investigator. Developing a Culturally Congruent Supervision Model for Agencies that Serve Latinx Families. Funded by the Accelerate the Future Foundation ($250,000).

2021 to 2024: Principal Investigator. BCSSW/ Mass General Brigham Community Fellows. Funded by Mass General Brigham ($600,000).

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