Bio Page

Jennifer Tiffany

Jennifer Tiffany's work centers on youth participation and community-based HIV/AIDS education, with a particular focus on intergenerational communication. Her HIV/AIDS related research includes a study funded by the National Institutes of Health to examine the relationships among social connectedness, highly engaged program participation, and HIV risk reduction among 13-17 year olds in New York City. Her research and outreach efforts both build upon participatory action research and community-based participatory research methods as well as participatory approaches to planning, program and resource materials design, and evaluation. 

Assets Coming Together (ACT) for Youth. Evaluation efforts within the ACT for Youth initiative track the integration and institutionalization of positive youth development strategies by Collaborations for Community Change and youth-serving programs funded by the New York State Department of Health

Connectedness, youth participation, and HIV risk reduction among marginalized youth. This community-based participatory research partnership includes the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, and eight community-based after-school programs in New York City. It is funded by a research grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research. Our objective is to study the interactions between youth connectedness, characteristics of highly engaged program participation and HIV risk reduction. Conducting community-based participatory research on these relationships will enhance our ability to design interventions that will stem the impact of HIV/AIDS on young people. This study will contribute to promoting the health of young people and to the reduction of health disparities, risk factors, and risk exposures related to HIV/AIDS.

Independent Living Survey. This collaborative study of homelessness and housing insecurity among Tompkins County youth involves Cornell's Family Life Development Center, the Learning Web/Youth Outreach Program, and many currently and formerly homeless youth researchers. During early 2007, youth interviewed Tompkins County young people who were living independently and facing housing insecurity. Cornell students assisted with data entry and analysis, and teams of youth, service providers and university partners conducted numerous presentations throughout the county based on the survey findings and aimed at program and policy improvement.

International participatory action research to mobilize youth responses to HIV/AIDS. Follow-up to UNICEFs global "What Every Adolescent has a Right to Know" initiative.

Youth and Adult Leaders for Program Excellence. Funded by Hatch Grant Program, Cornell University, College of Human Ecology. October 2005 - September 2008.

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Jennifer Tiffany directs the "'Talking with Kids about HIV/AIDS" Parent HIV Education Project, funded by the New York State Department of Health. The project has received numerous awards, including the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute Distinguished Service Award for the Provision of HIV Prevention Services (2000), the United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary's Award for Excellence in Community Health Promotion (1994) and the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute HIV/AIDS Materials Development Award for Merit (1994). Implemented throughout New York State, this adult peer education project has been adapted by community educators in many other states and countries. The project was designated a Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Program of Excellence by the United States Department of Agriculture in 2001. <http://www.twkaha.org>

Jennifer Tiffany serves as the Research and Evaluation Coordinator of the Assets Coming Together (ACT) for Youth Center of Excellence <http://www.actforyouth.net>.

SELECTED ARTICLES 
 
Goto, K., Tiffany, J., Pelto, G. and Pelletier, D. (2008) Use of Q Methodology to Analyze Divergent Perspectives on Participatory Action Research as a Strategy for HIV/AIDS Prevention Among Caribbean Youth.  AIDS Education and Prevention 22: 301-311.

Maglajlic, R. A. and Tiffany, J. S., (2006). Participatory action research with youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Journal of Community Practice special issue on Youth Participation and Community Change, 14(1-2), pp. 163-181.

Powers, J. L. and Tiffany, J. S. (2006). Engaging youth in participatory research and evaluation. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, Supplement, pp. 79-87.

Tiffany, J. S. (2006). Respondent-driven sampling in participatory research contexts: Participant-driven recruitment. Journal of Urban Health, 83(7) pp. 113-124.

Bianchi, A., Bishara, D., Enekwe, P., Frost, B., Kastning, A., Tiffany, J. S. et al. (2003).Friends inviting friends: Participant-driven recruitment in an HIV prevention research project, Community Youth Development Journal 4(1), pp. 26-31.

Tiffany, J. S. (2001). Insights from a plant closing: Dislocated workers and economic development planning. Planners Network Journal. Summer 2001.

Krauss, B. J., Tiffany, J. S. and Goldsamt, L. (1997). Research Notes: Parent and pre-adolescent training for HIV prevention in a high seroprevalence neighborhood. Royal Tropical Institute AIDS/STD Health Promotion Exchange/Sexual Health Exchange. 1, 10-12.

SELECTED EXTENSION PUBLICATIONS AND VIDEOS

Tiffany, J.S. (2007) Participatory learning with the HIV/AIDS Education project, Cornell University Public Service Center 2007 Anthology on Service Learning, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

Tiffany, J. S. and Young, S. (2004). Involving Parents as Partners in Youth Development. Practice Matters Issue #2. Assets Coming Together for Youth Upstate Center of Excellence, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

Cornell University RTK Working Group (2003). Participatory Action Research in the Context of the What Every Adolescent Has a Right to Know (RTK) Initiative: Participatory Action Research Toolkit, Cornell University/UNICEF RTK Initiative, Ithaca, NY. (Also available in CD ROM format: UNICEF (2003). Right to Know: Global Portfolio.)

Cornell University RTK Working Group (2002). Participatory action research in the context of the what every adolescent has a right to know (RTK) Initiative: Core Concepts and Methods, Cornell University/UNICEF RTK Initiative, Ithaca, NY. (Also available in CD ROM format: UNICEF (2003). Right to Know: Global Portfolio.)

Parent HIV/AIDS Education Project (1992). Talking with kids about AIDS: Facilitating key activities. Cornell University Media Services, 58 minute video. Ithaca, NY.

Tiffany, J. S., Tobias, D., Raqib, A. and Ziegler, J. (Second edition 1993, first edition 1991; Spanish edition published 1993). Talking with kids about AIDS resource manual and teaching guide. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

BOOK CHAPTERS

Maglajlic, R. A. and Tiffany, J. S. (2006) with the Bosnia-Herzegovina UNICEF RTK PAR Team participatory action research with youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Chapter in B. Checkoway and L. Guttierez (eds). Youth Participation and Community Change. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press. 

Krauss, B. J., Godfrey, C., Yee, D., Goldsampt, L., Tiffany, J. S., and Almeyda, L., et al, (2000). Saving our children from a silent epidemic: The PATH Program for Parents and Preadolescents. Chapter in W. Pequegnat and J. Szapocznik (Eds.) Working with families in the era of HIV/AIDS. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Tiffany, J. S. (1994). Involving parents and families in HIV education. Chapter in M. Quakenbush and Clark (eds.) The HIV Challenge. Santa Cruz, CA: ETR Associates.

Tiffany, J. S. (1981). The equal opportunity trap. Chapter in W. Chapkis (ed.), Loaded questions: Women in the military. Amsterdam, Netherlands and Washington, DC: Transnational Institute/Institute for Policy Studies.