Research & Training

Latino youth and their families living in rural areas are at increased risk for obesity and obesity-related complications. The purpose of this study is to refine and test the acceptability and feasibility of a culturally competent, evidence-based, community-centered obesity lifestyle modification intervention, ADAPT+, using mindfulness strategies. The goal of the project is to set the groundwork for a larger clinical trial to test whether ADAPT+ can improve rural Latino families’ health behaviors.

Contact: Marilyn Stern, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health/National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

The Family First organization has developed and implemented a literacy campaign within their All Pro Dad (APD) program designed to enhance father and child relationships, while also building child reading and academic skills. The evaluation plan examines the implementation experiences of new chapters and identifies opportunities to support their continued growth and success. This plan includes research questions and methods that are guided by APD goals. It reports on strategies that Family First can use to support the growth and enhance the positive impact of APD chapter events on dads and their children. As Family First continues to grow the APD program, the evaluation plan will expand its focus to assess changes over time in parent knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to the literacy campaign.

Contact: Donna Burton, PhD
Funder: Family First

This project aims to decrease the rate of recidivism, defined as returning to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FLDJJ) system within one year of release, among Florida’s juvenile offenders with brain injury by increasing brain injury surveillance within the FLDJJ and by implementing a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) continuum of services to address the unique needs of the brain injury population. These goals will ultimately be reached by implementing TBI screening protocols within identified FLDJJ residential program sites, working with Youth Opportunity Foundation professionals at those sites to implement brain injury specific programming. Resource Facilitators will infuse Brain Injury accommodations into their residential programming (Ohio Valley Center for Brain Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation), creating a care pathway called “FLDJJ TBI Continuum.”

Contact: Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga, PhD
Funder: Florida Department of Justice/U.S. Department of Justice

The goal of ENCORE is to improve Veterans Affairs (VA) policies, programs and services that support veteran community reintegration (CR). Two strategic objectives will guide ENCORE activities: (1) mobilize veteran CR research and (2) promote innovation, relevance and acceleration of Veteran CR research and knowledge translation. Successful achievement of ENCORE’s goal will be measured by meeting project milestones and benchmarks including deliverables developed by the multi-stakeholder partnership (MSP), ENCORE informed research proposal submissions, and knowledge translation of research and MSP consensus into VA policies and programs.

Contact: Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga, PhD
Funder: James A Haley Veteran’s Hospital

This grant supports FCIC activities related to engaging families of individuals with disabilities statewide, primarily funding salary and supplies for staff who serves as FCIC Family/Community Liaison. The Family/Community Liaison helps identify needs of families who have one or more member with an intellectual and developmental disability, provides these families with information and tools for advocacy, and helps connect them to supports and services that match their needs.

Contact: Laura Rodríguez López, Ed.D.
Funder: Administration for Community Living

Interdisciplinary Center for Evaluation and Intervention (ICEI) is part of a statewide network of Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources (FDLRS) Multi-Disciplinary Centers (MDC). The center provides comprehensive evaluations, consultations, and interventions at no cost for children and youth aged 3-21 who have medical, educational, emotional, or behavioral problems.

Contact: Rose Iovannone, PhD
Funder: Florida Department of Education

This study examines which personal and social factors might help in understanding why some families do very well in meeting their healthy lifestyle goals and others do not. A special focus is in fruit/vegetable consumption over the course of the parent NOURISH-T+ project, examining individual differences in eating behaviors and conducting interviews with participating parents to get a better understanding of their perceptions of personal and social individual difference variables most important to them in influencing behavior change.

Contact: Marilyn Stern, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute

Approximately 40-50% of pediatric cancer survivors are overweight or obese; thereby increasing their risk for negative long-term physical health complications. The purpose 
of this multi-site project is to address obesity in pediatric cancer survivors by targeting parents as agents for change in promoting positive health behaviors and long-term healthy weight, with the goal of establishing a framework for future translation and dissemination of NOURISH-T+.

Contact: Marilyn Stern, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute

USF researchers are responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of program implementation and analyzing data related to the target outcomes. The goals of the PBHC include increasing the number of pediatric behavioral health screenings and referrals, improving collaboration between
pediatric primary care and behavioral health providers, and improving children’s behavioral health outcomes.

Contact: Areana Cruz, PhD
Funder: Florida Department of Health/Department of Health and Human Services

The UCEDD, called the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities (FCIC), has been funded since 2005 and is one of 67 federally funded UCEDD centers. FCIC conducts research, delivers community training, prepares professionals through graduate programs, and provides technical assistance to improve systems and services that affect individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Contact: Donald Kincaid, EdD
Funder: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Developmental Disabilities