Butler Staff Spotlight - Milan Tvardek
What interested you in working for Butler?
I've always been interested in research of nearly any kind! I attended Loyola Chicago and completed a master's degree in applied social psychology. One of my favorite classes was program evaluation where I worked on a student evaluation of WestCare's IMPACT program in the Cook County Jail. Since then, I've worked on a series of studies examining traumatization and the social networks of sex workers and people who manage them. I was particularly drawn to Butler's behavioral health content area and was thrilled to accept a position working across both the early childhood and behavioral health areas.
What is your position at Butler? What do you enjoy most about your position?
I am a research assistant III. I think the thing I enjoy most is having access to a wide range of tasks in my position. I'm able to perform program management that requires a lot of attention to detail and logistical considerations. I also have opportunities for both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. I never get bored, and there's always something new and challenging to do.
What projects are you working on currently?
My largest project is CERTRO, a multi-year training and evaluation initiative that aims to reduce secondary traumatic stress and increase well-being and resilience among folks who work in helping professions. Another project, ReCAST, uses components of CERTRO trainings as a blueprint for co-creating a resiliency program with Denver youth and families. I also work on the stimulus evaluation and mainly handle the qualitative data collection and analysis of stakeholders impacted by COVID-19 stimulus funds for early childcare. I play smaller roles on a range of projects throughout early childhood and behavioral health.
What are the outcomes you hope for with this project? How will this project impact the community?
Speaking to CERTRO, I hope that this project can increase the capacity of residential treatment providers to take care of themselves and, in turn, more effectively care for individuals in long-term behavioral health treatment centers.
