Cynthia Cupit Swenson received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The Florida State University. Currently she is Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Family Services Research Center in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of the Medical University of South Carolina. She is Principal Investigator on an NIMH-funded randomized clinical trial comparing parent training to multisystemic therapy with physically abused adolescents and their families and clinical director of a community-based project addressing co-occurring parental substance abuse and child maltreatment. In addition, she is involved with international health initiatives regarding HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. Dr. Swenson has worked extensively with children and families over the last 25 years. Her research is community-based and focuses on community violence, child maltreatment, youth aggression and substance abuse. She has published over 30 journal articles and book chapters, and recent books on treating community violence and treating families when child physical abuse occurs.