Christian Porter

Christian A. Porter, MSW, (he/him), is a doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. He earned his Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Eastern Michigan University while interning at Michigan Medicine's HIV/AIDS Treatment Program, followed by a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pittsburgh with an internship at UPMC Hope Team. Christian's professional journey includes working at Michigan Medicine's Psychiatric Emergency Services and a local homeless shelter in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Through these experiences, he observed the interconnectedness of services and the cyclical nature of social issues, motivating him to pursue a PhD. Christian is committed to advancing research in these areas to drive advocacy and policy change.

Areas of Concentration

Involuntary Treatment and Coercion in Mental Health Services; Punitive and Restrictive Interventions to Poverty and Homelessness; Policy Analysis of Housing Disparities, including Criminal History and Mental Health; Anti-Oppressive and Anti-Carceral Praxis

Research Activities

• Statewide Evaluation of the New York State Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Program

Role: Graduate Student Assistant with Dr. Nev Jones & Human Services Research Institute (HSRI)

• Understanding Long-Term Disengagement from Mental Health Care with attention to Homelessness and Alternative Trajectories

             Role: Student PI with Dr. Nev Jones”