Current Research

INTERACT (INTegrating Non-Specialist ThERApy to Enhance ConTinuity of Care)

INTERACT (INTegrating Non-Specialist ThERApy to Enhance ConTinuity of Care), funded by the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce, is a pilot type-2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial comparing Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) standard care coordination (care as usual arm) with care coordination combined with delivery of a non-specialist delivered psychological intervention called “Problem Management Plus” (PM+, the experimental arm). The study has two outcomes: time to start psychological services (implementation outcome) and depression-anxiety symptoms at 3 months (effectiveness outcome). We hypothesize that adding PM+, delivered by non-licensed CCBHC care coordinators, will result in shorter times to first psychological intervention and improved depression and anxiety symptoms. If acceptable, feasible, and effective, this train-the-workforce model could be replicated across Florida’s CCBHCs, general CBHCs, and community providers, supporting quicker engagement, better continuity, and improved outcomes— directly aligning with CAP priorities to strengthen, retain, and modernize the behavioral health workforce and, eventually, inform National CCBHC guidelines.

This project is lead by Dr. Jerome Galea and Dr. Kristin Kosyluk (Principal Investigators) and involves a partnership with BayCare Behavioral Health (Pasco East and West locations) and George Washington University Center for Global Mental Health Equity (Dr. Brandon Kohrt, Co-I, and Ruta Rangel, Co-I).