Dr. Luz S Porter research findings have expanded the database to promote evidence-based practice, triggering further research in adolescent pregnancy, obesity prevention, and high-risk parenting, funded by institutional and federal research grants. One example of her funded research grants was the study to determine the effects of a blended Infant Massage-Parenting Enhancement program (IMPEP) on maternal and infant health outcomes. The study was a randomized, three-group controlled trial which tested two levels of treatment, IMPEP versus PEP, and a control group. Overall, our findings have demonstrated positive value-added effects of Infant Massage (IM) blended into a Parenting Enhancement Program, as depicted in decreasing recovering substance-abusing mothers’ parenting stress and depression, and improved infant growth. Maternal-child health care professionals and parents may use the study findings to design client-tailored parenting programs, blending IM as a health promotion and therapeutic intervention tool.

She well published and have presented juried research papers nationwide and internationally (e.g., Denmark, England, Spain, Egypt, Israel, South Korea, Philippines). Her years of service as mentor and research supervisor have strongly influenced the success of graduate students in program progression and completion. Her leadership in curriculum development has solidified a program focus on cultural competence for students and faculty, thereby cultivating greater interest in the educational advancement of minority nurses. She have a track record in obtaining federal grants to support advanced nurse education and traineeship programs at West Virginia University and Florida International University. Her experience as a Kellogg FNP Faculty Fellow has led to establishing a Family Nurse Practitioner track at Florida International University. And as one of three primary grant writers of a 2003 NCEMNA proposal to increase the number of minority nurse scientists and leaders, she played a significant role in securing over $2.5 million NIH funding for five years.

Adolescent Pregnancy; Obesity Prevention; High-Risk Parenting.