Engaging in research for more equitable policies and practices.

Supporting our communities through research.

The core mission of The Social Equity Research and Policy Lab (SERP) is to inform policymakers and stakeholders with empirical evidence as well as to advance innovative research methodology to ensure that communities that have been long ignored are given the fair treatment that they deserve as contributing members of U.S. society. SERP is an interdisciplinary research lab led by Director Dr. Lidia Nuño and Co-Director Dr. Veronica Herrera.

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SERP Lab Spotlight

Madalyn Hernandez, CSUF McNair continuing Scholar, presented her thesis “Don’t Upset Your Grandmother: Disclosure Patterns of Latina Childhood Sexual Abuse Victims” at the McNair Scholars Research Symposium.

Maddy’s study focused on the help-seeking behavior of Hispanic women who have been sexually abused as children, with an emphasis on cultural factors that may influence non-disclosure. Using structured and semi-structured interviews with 20 women, this study addresses the lack of information about sexual abuse in Hispanic households and examines the cultural motivators that prevent help-seeking behaviors. Thematic narrative analysis identified themes of religious scapegoating, fear of gossip, and lack of education on sex to be barriers to disclosure.

 

Click here to learn more about the CSUF McNair program

Immigration Policy

Immigration has been at the forefront of many contentious policy debates. Across the country, and across various levels of government, immigration-related policies and programs, such as 287(g) and Secure Communities, have been implemented under the rationale of ensuring the general welfare of the public. However, many of these policies have not been empirically evaluated, and the impacts that these policies have on immigrant communities have not been adequately considered. SERP is dedicated to filling in these gaps in research by empirically evaluating immigration policy. Our research will generate practical tools to enable policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders to grapple more effectively with this timely social issue, and set a benchmark for the study of immigration policy.

Labor trafficking occurs in multiple industries and settings, within households, and sometimes alongside or within legitimate businesses, including domestic work, construction, janitorial services, landscaping industries, and agricultural work. From 2015-2019, as many as 7,300 labor trafficking victims sought help from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. These statistics underrepresent the extent of labor trafficking survivors in California because it is a crime that is not well understood and is difficult to identify. There is currently a lack of empirical data necessary to identify where labor trafficking is occurring to develop strategic, evidence-based responses to the problem. Our research seeks to provide a better understanding of labor trafficking and contribute to the development of effective solutions for identifying and reducing labor trafficking in Southern California and allow for evidence-based policy recommendations.

Labor Trafficking

Immigration, Crime & Victimization

There is a prevalent narrative that undocumented immigrants commit more crimes than U.S. Citizens. This narrative is used as justification for the policy regime that the U.S. has implemented that targets undocumented immigrants in order to limit their ability to access services, work, and live in the U.S. However, this claim has yet to be empirically examined. SERP Director, Dr. Lidia Nuño, sought out and was awarded funding by the National Institute of Justice to do just that. This research project examines the relationship between immigration status and the likelihood of crime, gang involvement, and violent victimization.

Quotes from Our Research Participants

  • "Educators like yourselves are where you're supposed to be. I'm just happier where you are and if you're provoking critical thought and your students, no matter their backgrounds, that's … like, that's all I need. Like, I just need people to be in the community and can think critically about the situation that they're in… and so if people understand that we're trying to raise the quality of life in community and for people here… then we're going to get there”

    — Maricopa County Service Provider discussing what they need from research centers such as SERP

  • " I'm very familiar with that world (Academia) and … I just know that we have to talk to each other, we have to talk to each other like you can't just continue. We are going to burn out. I'm in the field we are like in the in the work with the direct community people, we're going to burn out if we don't have policy change"

    -Maricopa County Service Provider discussing what they need from research centers such as SERP

  • “We are integrating immigrants into our community, and we create welcoming situations, right? Whether it's a church, when it's the school, when it's a potential job, or even in our space, here we need to be welcoming. We need to build community. We need to give people trust. If they don't trust us, they're not going to tell us their story.”

    Organizer, Activist, and Community leader describing the importance of building community.

  • “I define find success in multiple ways; One, giving them a voice, but two understanding their voice.”

    Immigration Attorney in Maricopa County describing what success means when working with undocumented immigrants.

  • “What our main goal is to get people to be more self-sufficient, to take advantage of opportunities to grow and improve, and not just be constantly at need and at risk, and that's why we say empowerment is so important because if we can empower lives and empower communities, then they can move forward in advance.”

    Community Organizer describing the importance of empowering undocumented immigrants.