Research

Research Overview

MHLP strives to develop new knowledge and disseminate this information to address some of society's most challenging problems. We use advanced methods of training, technical assistance, and knowledge dissemination to promote the application of research related to behavioral health and justice issues. Key research initiatives examine court-based and other diversion programs, interventions that address substance use and co-occurring mental disorders, managed care and other delivery and finance mechanisms for Medicaid-funded behavioral health services, ethical issues among vulnerable research populations, pharmacy management approaches for Medicaid recipients, legal processes involving persons with mental disorders, treatment, and reentry services in jails and prisons, and innovative strategies for veterans and homeless persons who have behavioral health disorders.

Current Projects:

Baker Act Reporting Center

In partnership with the Florida Department of Children and Families, 新澳门六合彩内幕信息operates the Baker Act Reporting Center. This Center has been in existence since 1996 and is the only center of its kind in the country. The Baker Act Reporting Center receives documents from mandated reporters, enters data from them, stores the documents electronically, and produces reports from the data, and provides technical assistance to the Florida Department of Children and Families and other stakeholders about our data specifically and the Baker Act generally. The Baker Act Reporting Center receives and enters data from forms for over 200,000 involuntary (Baker Act) examinations each year that are submitted by Baker Act receiving facilities and over 40,000 documents received from Clerks of Court statewide for longer-term civil commitment.

  • Principal Investigator:  Annette Christy, PhD
  • Funding Agency:  Florida Dept of Children & Families

Data Analysis of Problem-Solving Courts

Principal Investigator: Kathleen Moore, PhD
Funding Agency: 13th Judicial Court Hillsborough County

Center for Disseminantion and Implementation at Stanford (C-DIAS)

Principal InvestigatorKimberly Johnson, PhD
Funding Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse

Telepsychiatry Services throughout Florida

Principal Investigator:  Marie McPherson, M.A.
Funding Agency: Florida Department of Health

Enhancing the Care Transitions Intervention with Peer Support to Reduce Disparities 

Unplanned hospital readmissions represent a critical failure of the healthcare system, perpetuate health disparities, and are the single largest driver of excess healthcare costs. Hospital readmissions are particularly prevalent among older adults; patients aged 60 and older account for nearly 60% of all unplanned readmissions. Racial/ethnic disparities in readmission rates are profound and are the greatest among African American and Latino/Hispanic older adults. The Care Transitions Intervention (CTI) is a non-clinical coaching strategy that occurs in the hospital, at home, and via telephone for 28 days post-discharge. The Enhancing the Care Transitions Intervention with Peer Support to Reduce Disparities project is a three-armed randomized controlled trial of CTI alone, CTI + Peer Support (PS), and usual care (UC) to compare readmissions occurring within 6 months (assessed at 30 days, 90 days, and 6 months) in a high-risk minority sample of 201 African Americans and 201 Latino/Hispanics (age 60+) who are living with a chronic physical illness (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes, COPD etc.). Study participants are recruited from three partner hospitals in South/Central Florida (2 urban hospitals and 1 rural hospital). 

  • Principal Investigator:  Kyaien Conner, PhD
  • Funding Agency:  Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

Do More Feel Better: 3/3 Lay-delivered Behavioral Activation in Senior Citizens

The Do More, Feel Better project uses Behavioral Activation delivered by lay volunteers to address the large numbers of senior center clients who suffer from untreated depression.  The focus of Behavioral Activation is to guide clients to reengage in daily pleasant and rewarding activities, and reduce depressive symptoms.  The goal is to determine if the lay delivery model has a positive impact in comparison to MSW-delivered Behavioral Activation, leading to an effective intervention that can be used by a large untapped workforce of older adult volunteers across the nation.

  • Principal Investigator Amber Gum, PhD
  • Funding Agency:  National Institute of Mental Health

Examining the Stress Processes Relating Ethnicity and Sex to Substance Misuse and Services Outcomes (ESPRESSO)

The purpose of this project is to investigate and disseminate the mechanisms underlying racial/ethnic and sex disparities in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services among minors in the criminal justice system, called justice-involved adolescents (JIA). JIA have an elevated risk for substance misuse and SUD that indicates a critical need for diagnosing and treating SUD. Consequences of untreated SUD in adolescence include incarceration/recidivism, violence, risky sexual behavior, as well as poor educational, occupational, and psychological outcomes, and early death. Only a portion of juveniles who meet diagnostic criteria for SUD are referred for clinical diagnosis, initiate treatment and complete treatment. Although racial/ethnic minorities and females in the juvenile justice system can suffer harsher consequences from unmet treatment needs, some evidence indicates racial/ethnic and sex disparities in treatment services.

  • Principal InvestigatorMicah Johnson, PhD
  • Funding Agency:  National Institute on Drug Abuse

The Substance Misuse and Addiction Research Traineeship (SMART)

The key to an inclusive, heterogeneous and highly-skilled research community is to develop comprehensive initiatives that recruit, train, and cultivate burgeoning under-represented minorities and disadvantaged scholars early in their education.  The Substance Misuse and Addiction Research Traineeship (SMART) program is a comprehensive recruitment and research education program to enhance diversity in the next generation of substance abuse and addiction scientists.

  • Principal InvestigatorMicah Johnson, PhD
  • Funding Agency:  National Institutes of Health

Scientific training in addiction research techiques (START) for gifted future investigators from historically underrepresented and underserved backgrounds

  • Principal InvestigatorMicah Johnson, PhD
  • Funding Agency:  National Institute of Health / University of Vermont and State Agricultural College

Up To Me:  Erasing the Stigma of Mental Illness on College Campuses

  • Principal InvestigatorKristin Kosyluk, PhD
  • Funding Agency:  DHHS Administration for Community Living / National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

Summer Research Institute at the Florida Mental Health Institute (SRI@FMHI)

Principal InvestigatorKathleen Moore, PhD
Funding Agency:  National Institute on Drug Abuse

Research Examining Factors Associated with the Opioid Crisis among Underserved African Americans (REFOCUS)

Principal Investigator:  Khary Rigg, PhD
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health / University of Kentucky Research Foundation

Adapting and Testing an Intervention for Families with a Parent in Methadone Treatment

Principal Investigator:  Khary Rigg, PhD
Funding Agency:  Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts

Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Technical Assistance Center

Principal Investigator:  Abigail Shockley
Funding Agency: Florida Dept of Children & Families

VA CIS IPA for On-Line Curriculum Revisions

Principal InvestigatorMatthew Scott Young, PhD, Deborah Heller, M.A.
Funding Agency: Dept of Veterans Affairs / James A. Haley Veterans Hospital

Low Demand Safe Havens Project

Principal Investigator:  Matthew Scott Young, PhD
Funding Agency: Dept of Veterans Affairs 

Evaluation of Meridian Behavioral Healthcare Supportive Services for Veteran's Families Program

Principal Investigator:  Matthew Scott Young, PhD
Funding Agency: Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.