CFS Announces $10 Million in New Grants to Improve the Lives of Children and Families
Officials at the University of South Florida Department of Child & Family Studies at the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute today announced nearly $10 million in federal monies for five initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of children and families.
The money will support projects to better serve children with mental health needs in areas from the classroom to the community.
“ As leaders in the children’s mental health field, we have a special responsibility to try to develop and disseminate the knowledge that will give children a chance to live, learn and fully participate in their communities and avoid a wide range of negative outcomes,” said Department Chair Robert Friedman, PhD
Following is a summary of the funded projects and the grant money awarded:(See attached announcement newsletter (pdf) for detailed information on each of the new projects.)
Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health: $4.275 million for the five-year research and training program that will build on 20 years of experience to increase the effectiveness of community-based mental health service systems for children with serious emotional/behavioral disabilities and their families. Funding is from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS).
Evidence-based Intervention for Severe Behavior Problems: The Prevent-Teach-Reinforce Model (or PRT): $4.3 million for an initiative that will help schools develop a team-based approach with proven strategies for supporting children with severe behavior problems and increasing their academic and social success. This project will result in a set of training materials and procedures that can be used by schools nationwide. Funding is from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS).
An Empirical Investigation of the Effectiveness of Parent Support Groups: $700,000 in funding from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to investigate how families can help each other work successfully with the schools to meet the educational needs of their children. Parent Support Groups will be central to this school-based project, aimed at improving outcomes for children with severe emotional or behavioral problems.
The National Implementation Research Network (NIRN): $497,050 in funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for NIRN to provide a national clearinghouse for current best practices throughout the range of human service systems. Through its national network, NIRN provides guidance for identifying proven approaches, and implementing these approaches successfully.
Florida Suicide Prevention Pilot Project: $98,641 in funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for the Florida Suicide Prevention Pilot Project to expand the Columbia University Teenscreen Program efforts in the Tampa Bay area. This screening program, endorsed by the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, focuses on offering all youth a mental health checkup before leaving high school; an important component of detecting issues related to suicide risk.
The Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS) is a department of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida. The faculty and staff of CFS are committed to enhancing the development, mental health and well-being of children and families through leadership in integrating research, theory & practice.