- Email:
- maalsma@iu.edu
- Website:
- https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/2683/aalsma-matthew
Education
- 1995 B.A., Psychology, Taylor University, Upland, Indiana
- 2000 Ph.D., School Psychology, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
- 2000 Child Clinical & Pediatric Psychology Resident University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle, Washington
- 2000-01 Leadership in Adolescent Health, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
- 2001-02 STD Research Fellow, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease, Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, Indiana
Bio
Dr. Aalsma is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology. Trained as a pediatric psychologist, Dr. Aalsma focuses on research with vulnerable populations, including youth in the mental health and juvenile justice systems. His current research agenda includes exploring system-wide and individual efforts to improve the utilization of mental and physical health care for children and adolescents. He has been involved in research and public efforts to improve the health of children, adolescents and adults through public health care collaboration and transformation in the public sector, including criminal justice, mental health, and public policy. He is a member of the Medicaid Medical Advisory Council (organization that informs policy decisions for Indiana Medicaid) and involved in several efforts to improve the care of youth including state and community collaborations to develop developing screening and diversion programming for mentally ill offenders. Dr. Aalsma's current research projects include research focused on the utilization of medical and mental health care upon community reentry for detained youth and a national evaluation of a comprehensive sexuality curriculum within junior high church groups (Co-PI Ott).
Research
Clinical: mental health care of delinquent youth. Currently, Dr. Aalsma leads a forensic evaluation team that conducts psychological evaluations with youth at various points in the juvenile justice system.
