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Patrice Forrester, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW-C work focuses on child, youth, and social service worker wellbeing. Drawing on her background as a licensed clinical social worker and mixed-methods researcher, she works on applied and translational research projects to support the Illinois child welfare system in promoting child and family well-being.

Her research spans community-engaged research and positive youth development. Prior to joining Northern Illinois University, Forrester completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the PATIENTS Program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, where she collaborated with patients, community organizations, and interdisciplinary research teams to promote health equity through research and community engagement. Her scholarship focuses on the professional development needs of youth development workers to sustain their efforts to promote the healthy development of adolescents and young adults. Her research has been published in journals focused on social work, youth development, health equity and community-engaged research, reflecting her commitment to generating evidence to inform policy, practice, and equitable systems of care.

Forrester earned her Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Maryland-Baltimore, and has over 15 years of experience providing clinical mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults affected by trauma and other chronic mental health concerns. These professional experiences continue to inform her research on translating evidence into practices that improve individual and community well-being. Committed to advocacy and grassroots collaboration, she volunteers with organizations advancing social justice, including initiatives connected to well-being for those experiencing housing and food insecurity, as well as limited economic opportunities, locally and globally. She is also an avid creator who enjoys poetry, singing, collage and jewelry making.

Research Areas of Interest

• Community-engaged research
• Qualitative research
• Positive youth development
• Youth development work

Selected Publications

Forrester, P., Senghor, A. S., Mullins, C. D., Medeiros, M., Baquet, C., Wright, D. L., and Mattingly II, T. J. (2025). . Progress in community health partnerships: research, education, and action, 19(1), 35-43.

Forrester, P., Pfister, M., Benjamin, K. G., and Imboden, R. (2025). . Journal of Child and Youth Care Work, 31.

Harrison, T. M., Xu, Y., Forrester, P., and Lewis, A. (2025). . Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 31(2).

Rose, T., Hope, M. O., Thurman, D., Forrester, P., and Rose, R. (2020). . Journal of Black Psychology, 46(5), 388-422.

Negi, N. J., Forrester, P., Calderon, M., Esser, K., and Parrish, D. (2019). . Health & Social Care in the Community, 27(5), e793-e801.