Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis
M.S.W., University of Minnesota
B.A., University of Wisconsin
My research centers on the behavioral health and well being of older adolescents and emerging
adults. My aim is to build understanding of the illness and service experiences of emerging adults
living with mental disorders.
One area of inquiry is how, or through what mechanisms, do supportive relationships influence
the illness perceptions and/or attitudes toward services of emerging adults living with mental
disorders and ultimately their service use.
Thus far, the majority of my research has focused on the mental health, mental health service
use, and natural mentoring relationships among older youth in foster care, many of whom met
criteria for mental disorders.
Currently, I am investigating the cognitive representations of illness among a sample of
adolescents taking atypical antipsychotics. This study also examines the relationship between
cognitive processes and adherence to services.
Munson, M. R. & McMillen, J. C. (in press). Nonkin Natural Mentors in the Lives of
Older Youths in Foster Care. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research.
Munson, M. R., Proctor, E.K., Morrow-Howell, N., Fedoravicius, N., & Ware, N.
(2007). Case Manager's Speak: Responding to depression in the community long-term care system,
Psychiatric Services
, 58(8), 1124-1127.
Scott, L.D., Jr., Munson, M.R., McMillen, J.C., & Snowden, L.R. (2007). Predisposition
to seek mental health care among Black males transitioning from foster care, Children and Youth
Service Review, 29(7), 870-882.
Lee, B., Munson, M. R., Ware, N., Ollie, M., Scott, L., & McMillen, J. C (2006).
Voices of Foster Care Youths: Consumer Views of Mental Health Services. Psychiatric
Services, 57(4), 487-492.
McMillen, J. C., Proctor, E. K., Megivern, D., Striley, C., Cabassa, L., Munson, M. R., &
Dickey, B. (2005). Quality of Care in the Social Services: Research Agenda and Methods.
Social Work Research, V. 29(3).
McMillen, J. C., Scott, L., Zima, B., Auslander, W., Munson, M. R., Ollie, M., & Spitznagel,
E. (2005). Rates of mental disorder among 17-year old youth in one state's foster care
system. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44(1), 88-95.
McMillen, J. C., Zima, B., Scott, L., Ollie, M., Munson, M. R., & Spitznagel, E.
(2004). The mental health service use of older youth in foster care. Psychiatric
Services, 55(7), 811-817.
