Biography

Alina M. Baltazar, PhD, MSW, LMSW, CFLE (Certified Family Life Educator) is the MSW program director and Professor of Social Work in the School of Social Work Department and is the Co-Associate Director of the Institute for the Prevention of Addictions at Andrews University. She received her PhD from Michigan State University in Human Development and Families Studies, her Master of Social Work from University of Michigan with a focus on Aging, and her BA in psychology from Andrews University. Dr. Baltazar currently teaches clinical social work courses at Andrews University. Dr. Baltazar has published and presented research in the areas of parental and religiosity’s influence on youth health risk behavior, parenting, pastoral family stress, domestic violence, and mental health. She has worked as a licensed clinical social worker for over 27 years in the areas of medical and psychiatric social work, and psychotherapy. She is a part-time psychotherapist at Life Coach Psychology in Berrien Springs, MI. She is married to her high school sweet-heart for 30 years and is a mother to three young adult sons.

Current Research or Professional Activities

(* indicates student)

Presentations & Posters

Alina Baltazar. "Gaming, social media, sexting." Power to Heal: North American Division Health Summit, Lexington, KY, April 2-8, 2023.

Alina Baltazar. "Porn isn't harmless." Power to Heal: North American Division Health Summit, Lexington, KY, April 2-8, 2023.

Duane C. McBride, Karl G. D. Bailey, Peter Landless, Alina M. Baltazar, David Trim, and Galina Stele. "Religious belief/involvement and recent alcohol use/binge drinking in a prohibitionist university." Virtual Exhibition. General Conference Session, St. Louis, MO, June 6-11, 2022.Baltazar. "Suicide and self-harm." Power to Heal: North American Division Health Summit, Lexington, KY, April 2-8, 2023.

Gary Hopkins & Alina Baltazar. "Trends in vaping." Power to Heal: North American Division Health Summit, Lexington, KY, April 2-8, 2023.

AAlina Baltazar & Duane McBride. "Addiction Hot Topics: Opportunities for the Church in Prevention." Power to Heal: North American Division Health Summit, Lexington, KY, April 2-8, 2023.

Alina Baltazar & and Duane McBride. "Historical perspectives and current efforts on addictions." Power to Heal: North American Division Health Summit. Lexington, KY, April 2-8, 2023.

Peter N. Landless, Duane C. McBride, and Alina Baltazar. "The Heart of the Matter." ELIA Wellness Summit. Sydney Adventist Hospital, Wahroonga, NSW, Australia. March 24-26, 2023.

Samantha Davis, Alina Baltazar, Duane McBride. "Differences in gender response to Adverse Childhood Experiences." Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters Annual Conference. Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, March 17, 2023.

Duane C. McBride, Alina M. Baltazar, David Trimm, Shannon M. Trecartin, and Karl G. D. Bailey. "Correlates of legalism in a global sample of Seventh-day Adventists." Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD. November 11-13, 2022.

Alina Baltazar (2022). "Mental illness and addiction prevention, identification,  and response." Faculty/Staff Colloquium, Asian-Pacific International University,  September 19, 2022.

Alina Baltazar & Karl Bailey (2022). "How to help your child really love Jesus."  Adventist Conference on Family Research & Practice, online, July 28-30, 2022.

Duane C. McBride, Karl G. D. Bailey, Peter Landless, Alina M. Baltazar, David Trim, and Galina Stele. "Religious belief/involvement and recent alcohol use/binge drinking in a prohibitionist university." Virtual Exhibition. General Conference Session, St. Louis, MO, June 6-11, 2022.

Alina M. Baltazar. "Use of alcohol: Not safe at any level." Virtual Exhibition. General Conference Session, St. Louis, MO, June 6-11, 2022.

Karl G. D. Bailey, Myrnaliza Tan, Alina M. Baltazar, and Duane C. McBride. "A Garland and a Chain: The persistent influence of family religious environment on adult Adventist church members raised in the church." Virtual Exhibition. General Conference Session, St. Louis, MO, June 6-11, 2022.

Alina M. Baltazar, Melissa Ponce-Rodas, Nicolai Williams, and Stacey Nicely. "Understanding college student mental health: Stress, depression, stigma and religiosity." Virtual Exhibition. General Conference Session, St. Louis, MO, June 6-11, 2022.

Alina Baltazar. "Pathway to Mental Health: Using the Brain to Promote Healing." Virtual Exhibition. General Conference Session, St. Louis, MO, June 6-11, 2022.

Duane McBride, Alina Baltazar, Karl Bailey, Shannon Trecartin, & David Trim  (2022). "Correlates of legalism in a global sample of Seventh-day Adventists."  Adventist Human Subjects Research Association Conference, Advent Health University, Orlando, FL, May 18-21, 2022.

Desiree Davis, Alina Baltazar, Curtis VanderWaal, and Shannon Trecartin. "Berrien County Access Network: Focus Group Evaluation." Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association Annual Conference. Advent Health University, Orlando, FL, May 18-21, 2022.

Karl G. D. Bailey, Myrnaliza Tan, Alina Baltazar, and Duane McBride. "A garland and a chain: The persistent influence of family religious environment on adult Adventist church members raised in the church." Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association Annual Conference. Advent Health University, Orlando, FL, May 18-21, 2022.

Karl G. D. Bailey, Cooper B. Hodges, Christiana D. Atkins, Paola S. Caceres, Eliana Iller, Alina Baltazar, and Duane C. McBride.  "Validation of a retrospective parental environment questionnarie in emerging adults."  Midwestern Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.  April 11-13, 2019.

Alina M. Baltazar.  "Living up to Adventist standards: The role religiosity plays in wellness behaviors of Adventist college students."  Nurture and retention Summit, Silver Spring, MD.  April 5-7, 2019.

Karl Bailey, Cooper B. Hodges, Christiana D. Atkins, Paola S. Caceres, Eliana Iller, Alina Baltazar, and Duane C. McBride.  "Correlates of retrospective parental environment perceptions in emerging adults."  Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters Conference, Alma College, Alma, MI.  March 1, 2019.

Trevor Furst, Curtis VanderWaal, Alina M. Baltazar, Duane C. McBride.  "Sexual orientation, mental health and ethnicity in a church affiliated university."  Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters Conference, Alma College, Alma, MI.  March 1, 2019.

Alina M. Baltazar.  "Role of medication for recovery."  NAD Health Summit, Albuquerque, NM.  January 23, 2019.

David Sedlacek and Alina M. Baltazar.  "Codependency: Living the life of others."  NAD Health Summit, Albuquerque, NM.  January 21, 2019.

Alina M. Baltazar.  "Suicide & suicide prevention."  NAD Health Summit, Albuquerque, NM.  January 20-26, 2019.

Alina M. Baltazar.  "Forgiveness, charity, & gratitude for healing."  NAD Health Summit, Albuquerque, NM.  January 20-26, 2019.

Alina M. Baltazar.  "Emotional intelligence."  NAD Health Summit, Albuquerque, NM.  January 20-26, 2019.

Alina M. Baltazar.  "Recognizing the signs of mental health problems."  NAD health Summit, Albuquerque, NM.  January 20-26, 2019.

Gary Hopkins and Alina M. Baltazar.  "Building resilience."  NAD Health Summit, Albuquerque, NM.  January 20-26, 2019.

Duane C. McBride and Alina M. Baltazar.  "Prevention: Role of faith."  NAD Health Summit, Albuquerque, NM.  January 22, 2019.

Duane C. McBride and Alina M. Baltazar.  "Prevention: Role of faith and community."  NAD Health Summit, Albuquerque, NM.  January 22, 2019.

Alina M. Baltazar and René Drumm.  "Global family life education through the radio: A mixed method evaluation of Christian world radio family life programming."  National Council of Family Relations Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.  November 7-10, 2018.

Alina M. Baltazar, Duane C. McBride, Harvey Burnett, and Melissa Ponce Rodas.  "Intimate partner verbal abuse and alcohol use."  Adventist Conference of Family Research and Practice, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI.  July 20, 2018.

Alina Baltazar, Duane McBride, and Harvey Burnett.  "Intimate partner verbal abuse and alcohol use."  Domestic Violence Conference, Maui, Hawaii.  May 30, 2018.

Peer Review Publications

Alina M. Baltazar. Self-harm: Warning signs, risk factors, and prevention. Journal of Family Research and Practice 3(1), 13-26, 2023.

Alina M. Baltazar.  Uplifting the non-custodial parent.  Pp. 55-63, in Willie Oliver and Elaine Oliver (eds.), Reaching Families for Jesus: Discipleship and Service.  AdventSource: Silver Spring, MD, 2018.

Alina M. Baltazar.  Religiosity's relationship with binge drinking and weekly alcohol use among students attending an alcohol-abstinent Christian university.  Pp. 253-275, in Yvonne M. Terry-McElrath, Curtis J. VanderWaal, Alina M. Baltazar, and David J. B. Trim (eds.), Promoting the Public Good: Policy in the Public Square and the Church.  Avondale Academic Press: Cooranbong, Australia, 2018.

Baltazar, A.M. (2018).  Uplifting the Non-Custodial Parent. In Discipleship and Service, ed. Willie Oliver and Elaine Oliver: 55-63. Silver Spring, MD. Department of Family Ministries, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Other Publications

Alina M. Baltazar. How to improve kids' learning after the pandemic. Lake Union Herald. January/February 2023.

Alina M. Baltazar. When your aging parents resist your help. Lake Union Herald, June/July 2022.

Alina M. Baltazar.  Parenting doesn't stop at 18.  Lake Union Herald.  February 25, 2019.

Silvia Bacchiocchi and Alina M. Baltazar.  Successful parenting begins with love.  Lake Union Herald. October 6, 2018.

Alina M. Baltazar  Kids these days!  Lake Union Herald. February 2018 

Book Chapter Published

Alina M. Balatzar. The impact of sexual abuse on children. Pp. 76-87, in Willie and Elaine Oliver, Eds., I Will Go with My Family: Families and Mental Health. Adventist Family Ministries Resource Book, Review and Herald: Silver Spring, MD, 2022.

Claudio Consuegra, Pamela Consuegra, Cesar de Leon, and Alina Baltazar. Relational health and wellness: Maintaining a Healthy Balance between your Ministry and your Family. Pp. 69-84, in Ivan Williams, Petr Činčala and René Drumm (eds.), Mending Ministers on Their Wellness Journey. Advent Source: Lincoln, NE, 2022.