Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Swarbrick
Associate Director, Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies; Research Professor, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
Office: SMH 222
Email: swarbrma@rutgers.edu
Curriculum Vitae: 
- Bio
- Current Research
- Grants
- Selected Publications
- Education
- Recent Awards
- Other Information
Bio
Dr. Swarbrick is the Associate Director of the Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies and a Research Professor in the Applied Department of GSAPP. Over her career, she has made significant contributions to the body of literature in occupational therapy, nursing, and community behavioral health care practice, focused on topics such as the 8 dimensions of wellness, wellness coaching, peer support, health disparities and social determinants of health, financial wellness, employment, trauma, and self-care. She developed a strength based 8-dimensional wellness model to promote recovery from mental health and substance use. Dr Swarbrick is known for bringing the voices and needs of people to the table by collaborating with the peer community and family groups to identify and address social determinants that are barriers to recovery and wellness. She has created self-care wellness programs for people in recovery, caregiver’s, families, youth, and professionals. She worked for many years at the Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey Wellness Institute.
Current Research
Principal Investigator
Farris Foundation, Wellness Training & Learning Collaborative (W-TLC) PI: Swarbrick January 2022-December 2022
Indivior, Wellness in Recovery (WinR) Self-Care Guide, development of a wellness self-care educational toolkit /resource to support long term substance use recovery PI: Swarbrick September 2021-July 2022
NJ DMHAS – Transformation Transfer Initiative NASMHPD, Caregiver Wellness PI: Swarbrick
April 2017-December 2018
Development of Health Promotion Toolkit for Behavioral Health Homes for Peer Support Specialists and CT-R implementation and sustainability in BHHs
2018-2019
Transformation Transfer Initiative (TTI), funded through the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), “Development of Training for a Peer Specialist Role, Wellness Coach”
December 2008-March 2010; April, 2011-December 2011; March 2012-2014
University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (UMDNJ) Foundation: Exploring the subjective experience of non-adherence to prescribed psychiatric medication.
2007-2009
Co-Investigator
Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey
Comparing Peer Support Approaches to Bolster Physician Well-Being during the COVID-19 Era and Beyond
September 2020-April 2021
Sandra and Arnold Gold Humanism Research Fund
Comparing Peer Support Approaches to Bolster Resident Physician Well-Being during the COVID-19 Era and Beyond
January 2021-November 2021
Rutgers University
CIRCLE Peer Talk Discussion Groups (CIRCLE: Colleague Involved in Reaching Colleagues through Listening and Empathy). Peer Support Approaches to Bolster Physician Well-Being during the COVID-19 Era and Beyond. PI: Dr. Brazeau. Co PIs Dr. Chen, Dr. Ayala, & Dr. Swarbrick
June 2020- present
Effects of Short-Term Self-Care Training on the Well-Being of Staff in an Applied Behavior Analysis Setting, PI: Dr. Massey; Co PIs: Frances, Paone, Swarbrick
January 2021- present.
Perceived Effectiveness of Online Teaching Strategies by Occupational Therapy Assistant Students, PI; Drs. Benaroya; McKernan, George, and Swarbrick
September 2021-2022.
Effect of Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Psychosocial Fieldwork Placement on Occupational Therapy Assistant Students’ Attitudes Towards Working with Individuals with Mental Illness, PI: Dr Benaroya; Co PI: Zechner, Murphy, Cimmino, Swarbrick.
December 2020-2022.
University Illinois Chicago (UIC)
UIC National Research and Training Center, National Institute on Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research, National Research and Training Center, , PI: Dr. Cook, Co-Director, Solutions Suite: Swarbrick
October 2020-present
- RCT of Building Financial Wellness Curriculum, October 2020-present
- Healthy ReStart: National Web Survey on the Status of Adults with Psychiatric Disabilities, Intervention Development, & Pilot RCT, October 2020-September 2022
- National Survey on the Health Status of the Certified Peer Specialist Workforce, October 2021-September 2023
- Healthy ReStart to Life After COVID-19 and Beyond, October 2021-September 2023
- Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle: On the Road to a Tobacco-Free Life; & Kick Start Your Immunity, October 2022 to September 2025
- Peer Telehealth Navigator Manual, October 2023 to September 2025
UIC National Research and Training Center, National Institute on Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research, National Research and Training Center, Co-Director Solutions Suite UIC Center on Self-Directed Recovery and Integrated Health Care, PI: Dr. Judith Cook
October 2015-September 30, 2020.
UIC National Research and Training Center, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, National Research and Training Center, Health Screening Project; Principal Investigator, Dr. Judith Cook
October 2010-2014.
Kean University: Co Investigator/Mentor
Exploring Sleep Habits and Routines for Individuals with Mental Disorders During COVID-19, PI: Monique Schulmann. Faculty mentors: Drs. Gardner and Swarbrick
June 2020- June 2021.
Yale University
R34 Peer Wellness Enhancement for Patients with Serious Mental Illness and High Medial Costs, Grant Number: 5R34MH117188-02, PI: Dr. Bellamy, Consultant: Swarbrick
2018-June 2021.
Increasing Healthcare Choices and Improving Health Outcomes Among Persons with Serious Mental Illness , I.D. #:IH-1304-7294, PI: Dr. Bellamy, Consultant/co-investigator for Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute: Swarbrick
2013-2016.
Columbia University
Perspectives on the International Classification of Diseases (11th revision); Using lived experience to improve mental health diagnoses in the United States: INCLUDE – US Study. Co-investigators: Drs. Pike & Swarbrick (Report on mental health service users’ perceptions for the World Health Organization.
October 2017- 2019.
New Jersey Health Foundation (Grant Number 810364), Preventive Medical Services Amongst Persons in NJ Public Mental Health Programs, PI: Lois Rockson
2012-2019
Grants
| Farris Foundation (2022), Wellness Training & Learning Collaborative (W-TLC)
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| New Jersey Department of Children and Families (2022-2023), Wellness Self Care for Family Support Organizations
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| New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts (2022-2023), Mental Health Diversion “step-down” transition model concept paper
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| Indivior (2022), Wellness in Recovery (WinR) Self-Care Guide, development of a wellness self-care educational toolkit/resource to support long term substance use recovery
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| Rutgers GSAPP Strategic Initiative Funds, WinR Addiction Advocacy Internship/Fellowship Program for Rutgers BIPOC Students & Faculty (Co-PI’s: Hein, D,. Swarbrick, Ph.D., FAOTA & Bauer, Ph.D.).
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| All In Wellbeing First for Healthcare (2022), Entertainment Industries Foundation, Promoting Well-being by Expanding Peer Support Programs in a Multi Professional Academic Environment |
Selected Publications
| Knis-Matthews, L, & Swarbrick, M. (in press 2023). Chapter 5: Compartmentalizing evaluation information to understand how activities and occupations relate to a person’s story. In L Knis-Matthews (Ed), Matthews Model of Clinical Reasoning: A systematic guide to occupation-based evaluation and intervention. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
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| Knis-Matthews, L & Swarbrick, M. (in press 2023). Chapter 6: Putting it all together to identify occupational performance issue(s). In L Knis-Matthews (Ed), Matthews Model of Clinical Reasoning: A systematic guide to occupation-based evaluation and intervention. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
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| Knis-Matthews, L & Swarbrick, M (in press 2023). Chapter 10: Overview to intervention planning: Spiraling the top-middle-bottom occupational performance issues across the intervention plan continued. In L Knis-Matthews (Ed), Matthews Model of Clinical Reasoning: A systematic guide to occupation-based evaluation and intervention. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
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| Knis-Matthews, L & Swarbrick, M (in press 2023). Chapter 11: Strategizing the beginning-middle-ending of the specific intervention plan. In L Knis-Matthews (Ed), Matthews Model of Clinical Reasoning: A systematic guide to occupation-based evaluation and intervention. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
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| Knis-Matthews, L & Swarbrick, M. (in press 2022). Chapter 12: Strategizing how to create change during the intervention plan. In L Knis-Matthews (Ed), Matthews Model of Clinical Reasoning: A systematic guide to occupation-based evaluation and intervention. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
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| Swarbrick, M. (accepted 2023). Chapter 63: Providing Wellness-Oriented Occupational Therapy Services for Persons with Mental Health Challenges., Willard & Spackman Occupational Therapy, 14th Edition. (Eds) Gillen & Brown. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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| Swarbrick, M. (accepted 2023). Chapter 50:. The Role of Occupational Therapy in Health Management. Willard & Spackman Occupational Therapy, 14th Edition. (Eds) Gillen & Brown. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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| Swarbrick, M., Nemec, P., Spagnolo, A., Gould Fogerite, S., Lundquist, MC., Zechnr, M., & Townsend, M., (accepted). Self-Care for All During the Pandemic. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation.
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| Gardner, J., Swarbrick, M., & Kitzinger, R. (2022) Sleep is something, not nothing: an interprofessional approach to sleep assessment and treatment to support substance use recovery, Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, DOI: 10.1080/1533256X.2022.2159643
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| Swarbrick, M., Kuebler, C., DiGioia-Laird, V., Estes, A., Treitler, P, Moosvi, K., & Nemec, P. (accepted). Co-Production: Journey to Wellness Guide. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services.
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| Cook, J.A., Steigman, P.J., Swarbrick, M., Burke-Miller, J.K., Laing, T., Vite, L., Jonikas, J.A., Brown, I. (2022). Outcomes of peer-provided individual placement and support services in a mental health peer-run vocational program. Psychiatric Services https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20220134.
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| Jiménez-Solomon O., Primrose R., Moon, I., Wall, M., Galfalvy, H., Méndez-Bustos, P., Cruz A., Swarbrick, M., Laing T., Vite, L., Kelley, M., Jennings, E., Lewis-Fernández, R. (2022). Financial Hardship, Hope, and Life Satisfaction Among Un/Underemployed Individuals With Psychiatric Diagnoses: A Mediation Analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.867421
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| Smullen Thieling, AM., Swarbrick, M., Brice, B., Nemec, P. (2022). A welcoming space to manage Crisis: “Wellness Respite”. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 1-7.
https://journals.healio.com/doi/10.3928/02793695-20220428-04
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| Benaroya, T. L., Swarbrick, M., Zechner, M., Murphy, A. A., & Cimmino, M. (2022). Faculty-Led Virtual Level 1 Community Fieldwork during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 6 (2). Retrieved from https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol6/iss2/17
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| Brazeau, C. M. L. R., Ayyala, M. S., Chen, P.-H., & Swarbrick, M. (February 22, 2022). Virtual Faculty Development Peer programmes support https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/medu.14748
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| Cook, J. A., Swarbrick, M., Boss, K. A., Steigman, P. J., Nemec, P., Jonikas, J. A., Brice, G.H., & Aranda, F. (2022). The importance of employment to workers with preexisting behavioral health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 45(1), 11-17. https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000499
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| Zechner, M., Swarbrick, M., Fullen, M., Barret, N., Santos-Tuano- S., Pratt CW. (2022). Multi-Dimensional Wellness for People Who are Aging with Mental Health Conditions: A proposed framework. Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 45(2), 160-169. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000510.
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| Jonikas, J., Swarbrick, M. A., Arnold, K., Brice, G. H. Jr., Cook, J. A. & Nemec, P. B. (2021) Enhancing immune health. University of Illinois at Chicago Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy and Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Inc. Chicago, IL.
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| Brandow, C., & Swarbrick, M. (2021). Improving Black Mental Health: A Collective Call to Action. Psychiatric Services. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202000894
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| Foglesong, D., Spagnolo, A. B., Cronise, R., Forbes, J., Swarbrick, M., Edwards, J. P., & Pratt, C. (2021). Perceptions of Supervisors of Peer Support Workers (PSW) in Behavioral Health: Results from a National Survey. Community Mental Health Journal, 58, 437-443. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00837-2.
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| Benaroya, T. L., George, J. C., McKernan-Ace, D., & Swarbrick, M. (2021). Application of Active Learning Strategies for Online Delivery in an Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 5(2). https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol5/iss2/10
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| Gao, N., Solomon, P, Clay, Z., & Swarbrick, M. (2021). Pilot study of Wellness Coaching for smoking cessation among individuals with mental illnesses. Journal of Mental Health, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2021.1922630
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| Gardner, G., Swarbrick, M., Dennis, S., Franklin,M., Pricken, M., & Palmer, K. (2021) Sleep Habits and Routines of Individuals Diagnosed with Mental and/or Substance-Use Disorders. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 37(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2021.1877592
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| Jonikas, J. A., Cook, J. A., Swarbrick, M., Nemec, P., Steigman, P. J., Boss, K. A., & Brice Jr, G. H. (2021). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and daily life of adults with behavioral health disorders. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(5), 1162-1171. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibab013
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| McGrellis, K., Swarbrick, M., Cummings, C., Wilson, B., & Gill, K. (2021). Development of a Nurtured Heart Approach® Questionnaire. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20210818-03.
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| Swarbrick M, Fogerite SG, Spagnolo AB, Nemec PB. (2021). Caregivers of People With Disabilities: A Program to Enhance Wellness Self-Care. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services. Jan 13:1-8. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20210107-04
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| Jonikas, J., Swarbrick, M. A., Arnold, K., Brice, G. H. Jr., Cook, J. A. & Nemec, P. B. (2021) Enhancing immune health. Chicago, IL: University of Illinois at Chicago Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy and Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Inc.
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| Brandow, C. L., Swarbrick, M., & Nemec, P. B. (2020). Rethinking the causes and consequences of financial wellness for people with serious mental illnesses. Psychiatric Services, 71(1), 89-91. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900323
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| Marrone, J., & Swarbrick, M. (2020). Long-Term Unemployment: A Social Determinant Under addressed Within Community Behavioral Health Programs. Psychiatric Services, 71(7), 745-748. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900522
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| Mulry, C., Gardner, J., Swarbrick, M., Maltempi, O., Ramirez, M., DiMaiuta, A., & Wollny, K. (2020) Feasibility of the Let’s Go Mobility Program for community dwelling adults with mental disorders. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 36(4), 307-329, https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2020.1825151
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| Nemec PB, Swarbrick M, Spagnolo A, Brandow CL. (2020). Nudges to Support Health and Wellness for Individuals Served by Behavioral Health Programs. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 59(1), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20201015-03
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| Wetzler, S., Hackmann, C., Peryer,G., Clayman, K., Friedman, D., Saffran, K., Silver, J., Swarbrick, M., Magill, E., van Furth, EF., Pike, KM (2020). A framework to conceptualize personal recovery from eating disorders: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis of perspectives from individuals with lived experience. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(8), 1188-1203. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23260
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| Zechner, M., Lundquist, M C., Swarbrick, M., Wey, M. (2020). Care2Caregivers: A Retrospective Examination of Needs Addressed and Services Provided by a Peer Support Helpline. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services. 58(10), 13-16. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20200817-04
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| Brandow, C. L., Swarbrick, M., & Nemec, P. B. (2020). Rethinking the causes and consequences of financial wellness for people with serious mental illnesses. Psychiatric Services, 71(1), 89-91. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900323
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| Swarbrick, M., Lundquist, M. C., Nemec, P., Gould Fogerite, S., & Zechner, M. Pilch, E, Tonwsend, M. (2020). Self-Care Program Implementation Manual. Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
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| Swarbrick, M. A., & Nemec, P. B. (2020). PROUD 2B Well Manual- revised. Freehold, NJ: Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Inc.
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| Hackmann, C., Balhara, Y. P. S., Clayman, K., Nemec, P.B., Notley, C., Pike, K., Reed, G.M. Sharan, P., Rana, M.S., Silver, J., Swarbrick, M., Zeilig, H., & Shakespeare, T. (2019). Perspectives on the INternational CLassification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11); an international qualitative study to Understand and improve mental health Diagnosis using expertise by Experience: INCLUDE Study. The Lancet Psychiatry. https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/69891/
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| Rockson L, Swarbrick M, Pratt C. (2019) Cancer Screening in Behavioral Health Care Programs. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 26(2), 212-215. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390319877227
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| Swarbrick M, Bohan MC, Gitlitz R, Hillis M. Peer health navigators support individuals with an opioid use disorder transitioning from prison. Drug Alcohol Dependence, 203, 88–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.07.006
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871619303035)
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| Swarbrick, M.A., & Nemec P. (2019). Peer Support Wellness Promotion Toolkit-Revised. Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, Department of Practice Innovation and Wellness.
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| Lundquist, M. C., Swarbrick, M., Gould Fogerite, S., Nemec, P., & Pilch, Ed. (2019). A Self-Care Guide for Professional Caregivers. Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
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| Jonikas, J., Swarbrick, M. A., Cook, J. A. & Nemec, P. B. (2019) Building Financial Wellness. Chicago, IL: University of Illinois at Chicago Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy and Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Inc.
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| Swarbrick, M. (2019). Chapter 30: Peer-led Services. In Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Vision for Participation Second Edition. (Eds). Brown, T. Stoffel, G. & Munoz, J.P. FA Davis.
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| Swarbrick, M. (2019). Chapter 48: Wellness. In Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Vision for Participation Second Edition. (Eds). Brown, T. Stoffel, G. & Munoz, J.P. FA Davis. |
Education
| 2005 | PhD, New York University |
| 2005-2008 | Advanced Training and Research Fellowship, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Rutgers School of Health Professions (formerly UMDNJ) |
Recent Awards
| Swarbrick, M., (2020). Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Tribute Award, For decades of innovation and dedication to the field of peer-led leadership in the behavioral health field, Freehold, NJ.
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| Swarbrick, M., (2020). New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Outstanding Leadership and Innovation.
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Other Information
Dr. Swarbrick has been involved in research, training, program development and consultation activities in the areas of wellness and health promotion, employment services, caregiver self-care, the role of peer support workers and efforts to reduce health disparities for people with substance use and mental health challenges.