Research
Veterans' Behavioral Health and Homelessness
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SCREENING FOR STUDENT VETERANS
This is an exploratory study to identify the prevalence of substance use and mental health problems among USF student veterans as well as to develop methods to refer those in need to appropriate services. In addition, the study is exploring development of a "registry" to which student veterans can sign up to participate in research studies being conducted by USF faculty and students.
Contact: Lawrence Schonfeld, PhD, Principal Investigator, Professor Emeritus
FLORIDA SAMHSA JUSTICE DIVERSION TRAUMA RECOVERY WITH PRIORITY TO VETERANS PROJECT
Florida is one of 13 states to receive Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) funding to divert veterans from the criminal justice system to trauma informed care. Florida is focusing on the development of a veteran peer certification, the inclusion of veteran peer mentors in the diversion, the use of evidence based practice for trauma informed care, all with a focus on diversion of veterans at sequential intercept 2 (initial hearing and detention).
Contact: Colleen Clark, PhD Research Assistant Professor, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy and Annette Christy, PhD,
Associate Professor, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy.
REFUGE IN TRANSITION, TREATMENT FOR HOMELESS SERVICES IN SUPPORTED HOUSING
Working with local community agencies ACTS and MHC, this is a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) funding to house people labeled "public inebriates" and who have a history of being chronically homeless with an evidence based practice called Critical Time Intervention. The project has a priority of serving Veterans.
Contact: Colleen Clark, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy and Kathleen Moore, PhD,
Associate Professor, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy
EVALUATING HOUSING AND HOUSING SERVICES FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
This study evaluates community-based housing and housing services for homeless veterans, especially those with problems with mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Faculty will define key features of housing and housing services by reviewing the literature and interviewing stakeholders to determine criteria measuring these features, refining and validating the criteria and their measurements and conduct assessments to describe housing options.
Contact: Colleen Clark, PhD PI, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy
VA NATIONAL CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS - POLICY, TRAINING, AND DISSEMINATION INITIATIVES
This project involves assisting Center staff and the VA in developing policy briefs and disseminating and training in areas relevant to ending homelessness including prevention, Housing First, alcoholism, and women Veterans.
Contact: Colleen Clark, PhD PI, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy
VA NATIONAL CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS - JUSTICE INVOLVED VETERANS STUDIES
This project involves issues of justice-involved veterans as part a larger contract from the Department of Veterans Affairs that focuses on veterans with housing issues. This specific project involves analyses of secondary data for health and social services of veterans in multiple systems for a cohort of veterans released from jails and prisons. It also includes examination of models of peer mentorship, such as those used in Veterans Courts, as well as improvement of items used to screen for military/veterans status for inclusion in data at a variety of providers.
Contact: Annette Christy, PhD, Sub-Study PI, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy
VA NATIONAL CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS - SAFE HAVENS EVALUATIONS
This project involves the development, evaluation and relevant training of a model of low demand transitional housing new to the VA called Safe Havens to address the issue of difficult to engage Veterans who are chronically homeless and have severe behavioral health disorders.
Contact: M. Scott Young, PhD, Sub-Study PI, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy
VA NATIONAL CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS - HUD-VASH & HOUSING FIRST INITIATIVE
This project involves the development, evaluation and relevant training of a model of low demand permanent housing called Housing First to address the issue of difficult to engage Veterans who are chronically homeless and have severe behavioral health disorders. Mr. Engelhardt was initially involved in the reviewing the VA's largest permanent housing project in conjunction with HUD - HUD- VASH. In part due to the findings of this review, the VA has adopted the Housing First policy approach and the USF team is working to help them establish this model throughout the country.
Contact: Mark Engelhardt, MSW, Sub-Study PI, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy
VA NATIONAL CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS - COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND REFERRAL CENTERS (CRRC'S)
This project involves the development, evaluation and relevant training of a model of community networking with one-stop resource centers for homeless people called Community Resource and Referral Centers (CRRC's).
Contact: Jim Winarski, MSW, Sub-Study PI, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy