Sofia I. Morales, MPH
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Additional Titles
Manager of Research and Evaluation, Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE)
Manager of Research and Evaluation, Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center
Contact Info
Yale School of Public Health
135 College Street
New Haven, CT 06510
United States
About
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Titles
Program Manager
Manager of Research and Evaluation, Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE); Manager of Research and Evaluation, Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center
Biography
Sofia I. Morales, MPH, CPH (she/her/ella) is Program Manager of Research and Evaluation at Yale School of Public Health’s Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE) and the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center (PRC). She is also Adjunct Professor of Public Health at the University of New Haven and currently holds a lecturer appointment at Southern CT State University as well as a research consultant appointment at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.
With a decade of experience in public health practice and community-engaged research, Morales has developed her expertise in the areas of social and structural determinants of health outcomes in low-income communities, communities of color, and other minoritized populations. She takes an intersectional approach to her work, accounting for the historical, social, and political contexts of communities’ lived experiences and the impact of power structures and systems of oppression.
Morales is dedicated to community engagement and prioritizes the application of community-based participatory approaches in all areas of her work. She is also experienced in designing and implementing public health interventions, conducting quantitative and qualitative research, and collaborating with communities and partners to drive positive health outcomes. Additionally, Morales is an experienced public health educator and mentor, with a proven track record of successfully teaching and guiding students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- MPH
- University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus (2015)
- BA
- Boston College (2011)
Research
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Overview
Public Health Interests
ORCID
0000-0001-5973-0073- View Lab Website
Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE)
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Kathleen O'Connor Duffany, PhD, MEd
Jackson Higginbottom, MPH
Katherine LaMonaca, MPH
Deanna Nardella, MD, MHS
Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, PhD
Publications
2025
What is effective communication in breastfeeding care? Perspectives from Latina women
Nardella D, Morales S, Pérez-Escamilla R, Vicente G, Brown L, Ray N, Duffany K, Rhodes E. What is effective communication in breastfeeding care? Perspectives from Latina women. PLOS ONE 2025, 20: e0325592. PMID: 40569968, PMCID: PMC12200710, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0325592.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBreastfeeding careLatina womenEffective communicationPostpartum periodPerson-centered careEnhance care qualityUnmet information needsSystem-level effortsWomen's breastfeeding experiencesReflexive thematic analysisCommunity-engaged studyOpen-ended questionsSemi-structured interviewsCare qualityCare continuumProvider practicesPerson-centrednessBreastfeeding inequitiesProvider usePromote more effective communicationBreastfeeding informationHealthcare providersBreastfeeding experienceThematic analysisU.S. METHODS
2023
Advancing Health Equity: An Innovative Program for Building Community Engagement in Research.
Santilli A, LaMonaca K, Carr K, Rue B, D'Angelo K, Higginbottom J, Morales S, Taylor M, Vicente G, Lin-Schweitzer A, Duffany K. Advancing Health Equity: An Innovative Program for Building Community Engagement in Research. Progress In Community Health Partnerships Research Education And Action 2023, 17: 523-533. PMID: 37934450, DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2023.a907982.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsImproved health outcomesHealth researchConsecutive cohortPublic health researchSelf-reported knowledgeHealth outcomesTraining programHealth equityParticipants' knowledgeCommunity-engaged researchParticipant satisfactionProgram satisfactionSatisfaction surveyLow incomeTraining sessionsCRFPost-program surveysTeam surveyProgram improvementInnovative programsThe Implementation of a Nutrition Intervention in Food Pantries: The Spirit of SWAP
Morales S, Vicente G, LaMonaca K, Rios J, Cunningham S, Higginbottom J, Mathios E, Werlin S, Cramer J, Santilli A, Duffany K. The Implementation of a Nutrition Intervention in Food Pantries: The Spirit of SWAP. Health Promotion Practice 2023, 24: 80s-91s. PMID: 36999497, DOI: 10.1177/15248399221112454.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsNutrition interventionsRE-AIM frameworkHealthy food choicesFood pantriesMixed-methods evaluationChronic conditionsNutritional guidanceHealth outcomesDiet qualityU.S. populationHealthy foodsInterventionFood choicesHigh rateOutcomesStandard practiceNew HavenSWAp implementationFood insecurityPantriesEffective strategyFoodBaseline
2022
Coalition Building and Food Insecurity: How an Equity and Justice Framework Guided a Viable Food Assistance Network
Santilli A, Lin-Schweitzer A, Morales S, Werlin S, Hart K, Cramer J, Martinez J, Duffany K. Coalition Building and Food Insecurity: How an Equity and Justice Framework Guided a Viable Food Assistance Network. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2022, 19: 11666. PMID: 36141937, PMCID: PMC9517197, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811666.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCoalition buildingFood insecurityAssistance networkEquitable resource distributionJustice frameworkCommunity organizingSocial changeDocument reviewFood assistancePopulation health outcomesExplicit focusFood accessCommunity partnersFood systemsFood ProgramEquitable accessEquityJusticeCOVID-19 pandemicInsecurityUnited StatesUnderserved communitiesCommunityPotential communityResource distribution
2020
Screening for Social Determinants of Health Among Children: Patients' Preferences for Receiving Information to Meet Social Needs and a Comparison of Screening Instruments
Oldfield BJ, Casey M, DeCew A, Morales SI, Olson DP. Screening for Social Determinants of Health Among Children: Patients' Preferences for Receiving Information to Meet Social Needs and a Comparison of Screening Instruments. Population Health Management 2020, 24: 141-148. PMID: 32096695, DOI: 10.1089/pop.2019.0211.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAccountable Health CommunityPositive screenPerson consultationsAdolescent/parent pairsScreening instrumentSocial determinantsCommunity health centersCross-sectional studyPatient preferencesCare coordinatorsHealth centersAdolescent ageInformation receiptHealth communityYoung childrenSDOHChildrenAdolescentsCommunity resourcesCareMinutesConsultationNeeds resourcesHealthChild care
2019
Standardizing Social Determinants of Health Assessments
Olson, D. P., Oldfield, B. J., & Morales, S. I. (2019). Standardizing Social Determinants of Health Assessments. Health Affairs Forefront. https://doi.org/10.1377/forefront.20190311.823116Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
2018
Recognizing National Health Center Week
Morales, S. I., & Olson, D. P. (2018, August 12). Forum: Recognizing National Health Center Week. New Haven Register. https://www.nhregister.com/opinion/article/Forum-Recognizing-National-Health-Center-Week-13149342.phpPublications for non-academic audiences
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity Board of Directors
2019 - PresentAdvisory BoardsExecutive Board MemberDetailsDowntown Evening Soup KitchenCurrent Appointments: Vice-President; Member, Nominations Committee; Member, Programs Committee; Member, Equity Task Force. Past Appointments: Chair, Nominations Committee; Executive Officer, Board Secretary.activity National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE)
2022 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsContributorDetailsExam Writer, Public Health Board Certification. Exam writer for the following competency areas: Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health; Program Planning and Evaluation; Health Equity and Social Justiceactivity University of New Haven
2022 - PresentPublic ServiceMentorDetailsMentor, SUCCESS Mentoring Programactivity How Latina women mitigate negative breastfeeding care experiences and its implications for healthcare quality: A qualitative study
11/06/2022 - 11/09/2022Oral PresentationAmerican Public Health Association 2022 Annual ConferenceDetailsBoston, MA, United Statesactivity Utilizing the Program Impact Pathways (PIP) Evaluation Framework: A novel approach for refining interventions and informing evaluations
11/01/2022 - 11/01/2022Oral PresentationConnecticut Public Health Association 2022 Annual ConferenceDetailsSouthington, CT, United States
Honors
honor Geiger Gibson Emerging Leader Award
04/01/2019National AwardGeorge Washington University School of Public Health and Health ServicesDetailsUnited States
News
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News
- March 11, 2025
5 Years with COVID-19
- September 30, 2024
Health Equity Fellowship Celebrates Five Years Supporting Local Communities
- May 09, 2024
YSPH staff speak to New Haven community about food insecurity
- September 07, 2023
Orientation session introduces YSPH students to diverse community public health initiatives
Get In Touch
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Contacts
Yale School of Public Health
135 College Street
New Haven, CT 06510
United States