Research Assistants
Vivian Thieu
Vivian Thieu is a Research Assistant with the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia (UBC) – Vancouver campus and Laurentian University. She obtained her BSW from UBC in May 2020 and has worked directly with women and children who have experienced domestic violence, as well as in clinical settings in areas of mental health and substance use. She will be starting her first year of law school in September 2021 at UBC where she hopes to be able to bridge her knowledge and passions for social work. In her free time, Vivian enjoys trying new restaurants, hiking, playing the piano, and participating in outdoor sports with her friends.
Rose Zhao
Rose Zhao is a Research Assistant with the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia (UBC) – Vancouver campus and Laurentian University. She completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) Major in Psychology and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at UBC. She has worked with families involved in the child welfare system, particularly with youth and young children. Her research interests include learning more about how to incorporate culturally appropriate interventions (aspects such as cultural sensitivity, humility, and competence) into practice. In her spare time, Rose enjoys making crafts, reading web novels, and finding four-leaf clovers.
Mildred (Mil) Mok, MSW, BSW, HDSW
Mil is a graduate student of the master’s program of Measurement, Evaluation, and Research Methodology at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She first obtained her Higher Diploma of Social Work (HDSW) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in 2008 and the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in 2011. Afterward, she emigrated to Vancouver and completed the Advanced Master of Social Work (AMSW) at UBC in 2019. Mil has worked with children, youth, parents, and adults who are facing the challenges of emotional distress, mental health problems, and special needs since 2010. Mil has extensive training in psychotherapy and has started to teach Focusing Therapy in HKU and the Chinese community since 2016. Currently, she works as a part-time RSW in the Chinese Christian Mission Canada and the Elida Medical Centre to provide counselling service, educational talks and groups, and special needs training for clients in the Metro Vancouver area. In her leisure time, Mil enjoys volunteering, hiking, family life, and spending time to create and support virtual mutual support groups for parents of children with special needs in Hong Kong and Canada.
Frankie Cabahug
Frankie Cabahug is a Research Assistant with the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia (UBC) – Vancouver campus. She is completing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) after working in the social service and shelter sectors serving the Downtown Eastside for the last 10 years. Frankie immigrated from the Philippines at the age of 16, and this experience has shaped her interest in transnational family ties, intergenerational care relationships, and parent-adolescent acculturation negotiation. Over the pandemic, Frankie had the pleasure of running a Zoom-based community kitchen for newcomer immigrant families through the South Vancouver Neighbourhood House Food Program. In her free time, Frankie enjoys baking pies, painting watercolours, and reading comics.
Olive Huang
Olive is a fourth-year psychology student interested in the impact of early life experiences on future coping of stressful events and savouring of positive events, as well as childhood disorders, especially ADHD and autism. She hopes to pursue graduate studies and conduct research to inform policy change and social welfare program development. Outside research, she loves to dance and cook!
Claire McMillan
Claire McMillan (she/her/hers) is a student researcher with the MSW program at the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) School of Social Work on the Vancouver campus. Claire completed her BSW at the University of Calgary in 2019. Since graduating, she has worked as a Youth Transitioning to Adulthood (YTA) worker for youth aging out of care and as a hospital social worker. Claire is grateful to be a part of this research and her contribution to this project will be in involving the voices of MCFD service providers. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, trying new food and vintage collectables.
Jisu Yoon
Jisu Yoon is a student researcher currently completing her MSW program at the University of British Columbia. Jisu has primarily worked with the geriatric psychiatry population with experience in multiple inpatient settings in Edmonton, Alberta. She’s passionate about working with youth and young adults in the field of mental health and hopes to further pursue community and therapeutic social work roles moving forward. Jisu hopes to positively contribute to the Asian Welfare research project by obtaining the unique perspectives of MCFD service providers. She enjoys hikes, reading, and drawing whenever she has the chance!
Joanna Wan
Joanna Wan is a student researcher currently studying for a Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of British Columbia. She completed her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Hong Kong in 2015 and started her career as a social worker in Hong Kong. Joanna has experience working with at-risk youth and ex-offenders in youth outreaching and social rehabilitation services. She is passionate about working with the research team and enhancing child welfare services through gathering service providers’ experiences. She also enjoys outdoor activities in her leisure time.
Chanon L.
Chanon is a Research Assistant with the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia (UBC), located on the traditional and unceded lands of the Musqueam people. She completed her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at UBC. Chanon has experience working in outreach programs for immigrant children, youth, and seniors in under-resourced communities. Her relationships with these communities have inspired her interest in exploring cross-cultural practice perspectives in social work. In her spare time, Chanon enjoys reading and cooking.
Research Advisory Committee Members
Joanne Chen
Manager, Children and Parenting Program and Youth Programs
MOSAIC
Joanne Chen was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Canada when she was 16. She has first-hand experience being an immigrant youth in a new country, trying to learn a new language and figuring out how to fit into this new culture. Currently managing early prevention and youth programs at MOSAIC, Joanne works primarily with newcomer parents, youth, and young children. She believes the healthy development of young children starts from healthy families, and it requires support from a healthy and just community. Outside of work, Joanne enjoys spending quality time with her husband and their 9-year-old son, reading, and exploring.
