最新天美传媒

Four projects led by researchers at the 最新天美传媒 focused on strengthening the state's behavioral health workforce have been awarded funding from the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce (FCBHW).

Nik Lampe, assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Health Science and Practice, is partnering with Alzheimer's Association Florida to develop and evaluate a free online training program designed to strengthen dementia-specific knowledge and skills among behavioral health workers. The program aims to better equip providers to support individuals living with dementia, their caregivers and older adults at high risk for cognitive decline.

鈥淔lorida鈥檚 behavioral health workforce serves nearly 580,000 older adults living with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and related dementias. However, many providers lack the specialized education and skills necessary to meet the complex needs of this population," said Lampe. "Through enhanced training, we hope to address a critical workforce readiness gap by providing a scalable training model that strengthens dementia-capable behavioral health services statewide.鈥�

Amber Gum, T. Freeman Gerhardt, Debra Dobbs and Lindsay Peterson will contribute as co-investigators, and Mary Goldsworthy will serve as project director. Michelle Stemler, Alzheimer鈥檚 Association Florida health systems director, will serve as community partner lead.

Jerome T. Galea, an associate professor in USF's School of Social Work, and Kristin Kosyluk, an associate professor in USF's Department of Behavioral Health Science and Practice, are partnering with BayCare Behavioral Health and George Washington University  (GWU) to pilot a program that trains non-clinical staff to provide a low intensity psychosocial intervention, Problem Management Plus (PM+), to individuals awaiting psychological services delivered by a licensed clinician. The initiative aims to reduce client distress and prevent disengagement from care during the period before treatment by a licensed clinician begins.

"Delays in access to care, including long wait times between intake and initiation of treatment by a licensed clinician driven by workforce shortages, are one of the greatest challenges facing patients with depression and anxiety," said Galea. "This train-the-workforce model could be replicated across Florida to providers, supporting quicker engagement, better continuity and improved outcomes."

Dr. Brandon Kohrt and Ruta Rangel, both from GWU, will participate in the project as co-investigators, along with BayCare Behavioral Health collaborators Erica Fritz, clinical supervisor, and Alissa Depietro, systems analyst.

Alison Salloum, professor in the School of Social Work, in partnership with the Florida Network of Children鈥檚 Advocacy Centers, will evaluate the effectiveness of a training program for a stepped care treatment model that uses parent-led, therapist-assisted intervention as an initial treatment approach for childhood trauma, reserving intensive services for those who most need it.

"Access to care remains limited due to provider shortages, costs and logistical barriers. A workforce equipped to deliver stepped-care interventions, with a parent-led, therapist-assisted first step and the best available treatment for the second step, can reduce costs and provider burden while maintaining quality," said Salloum. "This stepped-care approach expands access to care and strengthens parents鈥� capacity to support their children.鈥�

Salloum's team includes Ruby Joseph,  Svetlana Yampolskya, and Luzed Cruz, executive director of the Florida Network of Children鈥檚 Advocacy Centers.

Kahlila Lawrence and Jose Castillo, both faculty with the Institute for School Community Partnerships in USF's College of Education, are partnering with Hillsborough County Public Schools to develop and evaluate a program that prepares graduate student trainees to deliver behavioral health interventions in supervised small-group settings in high-need community schools.

"Florida faces a critical shortage of school psychologists, limiting student access to behavioral health services and reducing opportunities for graduate students to gain hands-on clinical experience," said Lawrence. "The project aims to strengthen the behavioral health workforce while expanding access to support services for students in underserved communities."

Sally Rushing, program field supervisor in the Institute for School Community Partnerships and Stephanie Green, program evaluator in the Institute for School Community Partnerships, will also contribute.

These projects are four of seven initiatives selected through a competitive, statewide grant process. The seven funded projects span multiple sectors, including health care, schools, state universities, community-based organizations and specialty care settings. Each initiative addresses a distinct workforce need while contributing to a shared goal: building a skilled, prepared workforce capable of meeting the behavioral health needs of Floridians.

鈥淔CBHW鈥檚 funded grant awards reflect a core principle: the most effective solutions to behavioral health workforce and training challenges are those shaped by the people closest to them. By partnering with stakeholders across education, practice and community systems, these projects are grounded in real-world needs and informed by frontline expertise.鈥�

FCBHW Executive Director Courtney Whitt

These projects are part of FCBHW鈥檚 $1.9 million research investment to strengthen Florida鈥檚 behavioral health workforce through innovative approaches to expanding access, improving training and supporting providers statewide. By investing in community-informed solutions, FCBHW is helping grow, retain and innovate the workforce needed to meet Florida鈥檚 behavioral health needs.

As the projects progress, FCBHW will monitor outcomes, share findings and identify strategies that can be scaled across the state.

about the full portfolio of funded initiatives.