Jennifer Vargas Pemberton, Ph.D.
Psychologist

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JENNIFER VARGAS PEMBERTON, PH.D.
License No PSY15438
​www.thechildpsychologist.net
818.606.1127

EDUCATION:
San Fernando Valley Child Guidance Clinic, Northridge, CA
Post-Doctoral Fellowship, September 1995- August 1996
Child Psychology, Trauma and Abuse

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Counseling Psychology (APA Accredited)
Ph.D., August 1995
Specialty Area: Child and Family
Supplemental Area: Research Methodology

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Marriage, Family, Child Counseling
M.M.F.C.C., December 1992

University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 
Psychology
B.A., June 1989

LICENSURE: 
Board of Psychology, State of California
Psychologist, November 1997
PSY 15438

GRANTS AND AWARDS:
National Institute of Mental Health - 2004
MH 073453 (Wyatt)
Center for Culture, Trauma and Mental Health
Principal Investigator, Disclosure of CSA: Relationships with Post Traumatic Stress, Depression and Biological Parameters 

National Institute on Drug Abuse - 2001
PO1-DA 01070 (Bentler)
Center for Collaborative Research on Drug Abuse
Co-Principal Investigator, The Latino Project: Drug Use Among Latinos

National Institute of Mental Health - 1999
MH 59496 (Wyatt)
Co-Principal Investigator, Testing a Model of Risk Reduction in HIV-Positive Women

California Community Foundation – 1999
Principal Contributor, Crisis Intervention for Severely Abused Children

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
CHILD & FAMILY GUIDANCE CENTER , NORTH HILLS SITE, North Hills, CA 
 Director of Training                September 2002-present
Coordinator of Crisis Program                                                     September 1998-present 
Coordinator of Bilingual & Offsite Services September 1997-2001

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, Los Angeles, CA 
Semel Institute, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences  
Associate Research Psychologist September 1996-present
Project Director                                                                                 September 1998-2002

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, Los Angeles, CA 
Department of Psychology January 2000 – June 2007
Associate Research Psychologist 
Co-Principal Investigator

DISSERTATION: 
 Vargas, J.H. (1995). Predictors and Consequences of Drug Abuse in Adulthood: Associations with Psychological Distress, Intimacy, Work Adjustment, and Criminal Behavior. Doctoral dissertation, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
   
EDITORIAL EXPERIENCE:
Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology                    January, 2001 - 2006
Consulting Editor

The Society of Behavioral Medicine October, 1997
Reviewer for the SBM 1998 Annual Meeting

PROFESSIONAL  PRESENTATIONS:
Carmona, J.V., Wyatt, G.E., Romero, G.J., Newcomb, M.D., Tucker, M.B. & 
Wayment, H.A. (July, 2002). How do adverse childhood experiences, acculturation,  
 and adult trauma affect HIV risks among Latinas? Poster presented at the International NIMH AIDS Conference, Barcelona, Spain.

Wyatt, G.E., Meyers, H., Longshore, D., Carmona, J.V., Loeb, T.B., & Chin, D. (July, 2002). The Women's Health Project. Poster presented at the International NIMH AIDS Conference, Barcelona, Spain.

Wyatt, G.E., Meyers, H., Williams, J.K., Loeb, T.B., Carmona, J.V., Wyatt, L.E., Ramirez-Kitchen, C., Chin, D., & Presley, N.P. (July, 2002). Why does HIV disproportionately affect women of color?: Implications for prevention and policy. Poster presented at the International NIMH AIDS Conference, Barcelona, Spain.

Carmona, J.V., & Chin, D. (July, 2001). Recruitment and retention among ethnically diverse populations: The Women's Health Project. Workshop presented at the Annual NIMH Research Conference on the Role of Families in Preventing and Adapting to HIV/AIDS, Washington, D.C.

Wyatt, G.E., Carmona, J.V., Loeb, T.B., & Solis, B. (1998). Contraceptive styles: Implications for women's health protection. Poster presented at the 106th American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA. 

Carmona, J.V., & Kelson, M. (1998). Group treatment of sexually abused adolescent girls: Developmental, cultural, and assessment issues. Workshop presented at the annual meeting of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, San Diego, CA.

Wyatt, G.E., Romero, G.J., Tucker, B., Carmona, J.V., Loeb, T.B., Newcomb, M.D., Guthrie, D., Solis, B., Gordon, G. (1997) Epidemiological predictors of sexual risk behavior in African American women. Paper presented at the 105th American Psychological Association Convention, Chicago, IL.

Wyatt, G.E., Carmona, J.V., Romero, G.J., Tucker, M.B., & Newcomb, M.D. (July, 1997). Past and current family and relationship factors that predict HIV-related unwanted sexual outcomes for Latinas. In A. Tse (Chair), HIV and women. Symposium conducted at the Annual NIMH Research Conference on the Role of Families in Prevention and Adapting to HIV/AIDS, Washington, D.C.

Wyatt, G.J., Loeb, T.B., Romero, G.J., Solis, B., & Carmona, J. V. (July, 1997). The effects of child sexual abuse on women's HIV-related unwanted outcomes. Poster session presented at the Annual NIMH Research Conference on the Role of Families in Preventing and Adapting to HIV/AIDS, Washington, D.C.

Romero, G.J., Wyatt, G.E., Tucker, M.B., Newcomb, M.D., Wayment, H.A., Carmona, J. V., Solis, B., & Mitchell-Kernan, C., (May, 1997). Health beliefs, acculturation, and sexual risk taking among Latinas. In G.E. Wyatt (Chair), A continuum of risk: Examining the impact of HIV on women. Symposium conducted at the Annual National Conference on Women and HIV, Pasadena, CA.

Wyatt, G.E., Romero, G.J., Tucker, M.B., Newcomb, M.D., Wayment, H.A., Carmona, J. V., Solis, B., Loeb, T.B., & Mitchell-Kernan, C. (1997). Reexamining predictors of sexual risk taking among a community sample of White women. In G.E. Wyatt (Chair), A continuum of risk: Examining the impact of HIV on women. Symposium conducted at the Annual National Conference on Women and HIV, Pasadena, CA. 

Vargas, J.H. & Newcomb, M.D. (1996, August). Drug abuse and criminal behavior in adulthood. Poster presented at the 104th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.

Wilshire, T.W., Falender, C.A., Vargas, J.H., Lockwood, K., & West, D.L. (1996, August). A brief treatment model for children with parental cancer. In C.A. Falender (Chair), Families coping with cancer. Symposium conducted at the 104th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.

Vargas, J.H., & Newcomb, M.D., (1996, April). Drug abuse and intimacy: Predictors and consequences. Poster presented at the 76th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, San Jose, CA. 

Wilshire, T.W., Vargas, J.H., West, D.L., & Wisnia, C.S. (1996, April). Efficacy of parallel programs using Hugs'N'Kids for Latino parents and children. Poster presented at the 76th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, San Jose, CA.

Vargas, J.H., & Newcomb, M.D. (1995, August). Drug abuse and emotional distress in adulthood. Poster presented at the 103 Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, New York, N.Y.

Newcomb, M.D., & Vargas, J.H. (1995, April). Drug abuse and job characteristics:  Predictors and consequences. Poster presented at the 75th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA.

Newcomb, M.D., Stollman, G.D., & Vargas, J.H. (1994, April). Adult children of alcoholics and treatment-seeking status: Intimacy issues. Poster presented at the 74th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Kona, HI.

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH & CLINICAL EXPERIENCE:
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, Los Angeles, CA 
Neuropsychiatric Institute,
Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences              March 1996-August 1996
Staff Research Associate 

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC, Northridge, CA
Postdoctoral Resident                                                                                       September 1995-August 1996

SAINT JOHN'S CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT CENTER, Santa Monica, CA
Predoctoral Internship (APA Accredited)      September 1994 - August 1995
Psychology Intern  

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC
FAMILY STRESS CENTER, Panorama City, CA     August 1993-August 1994
Counselor Trainee.

KEDREN COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, Los Angeles, CA
Counselor Trainee                                                                              January 1992- May 1992; May 1993-August 1993 

PROJECT J.A.D.E. - Juvenile Assistance Diversion Effort, Southgate, CA
Counselor Trainee                             May 1992 - August 1992

UCLA - PARENT TRAINING PROGRAM, Los Angeles, CA      May 1988-August 1994
Clinical Assistant 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE PRIMARY EDUCATION:
RANCHITO AVE. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Van Nuys, CA
Los Angeles Unified School District

TEACHER - Pre-Kindergarten           June 1992- June 1994
TEACHER - First Grade                                                                              July 1991 - June 1992

LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, Los Angeles, CA
Substitute Teacher (Kindergarten through Sixth Grade)           March 1990 - June 1991

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & HONORS:
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children - 1997
American Psychological Association - 1995

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society - 1991
Member, University of Southern California Chapter
Von der Ahe Merit Scholarship Award - 1992-1993
Phi Delta Kappa Professional Education Fraternity - 1993
Member, University of Southern California Chapter