Ongoing Projects

Supporting Trauma Treatment and Resiliency Services (STTARS) - El Salvador

The STTARS project in El Salvador - funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and implemented with the collaboration of Creative Associates International – introduces psychological support mechanisms to prevent violence in El Salvador. This three-pronged project implements an open pilot trial of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for children, conducts school-wide mental health screenings, and offers trauma-informed and self-care curriculums trainings for victim services agencies in El Salvador. For the present project, all the materials and protocols have been adapted to the sociocultural specificities of the Salvadorian context.

Puerto Rico Outreach Model in Schools- Esperanza (PROMISE)

The Puerto Rico Outreach Model in Schools-Esperanza (PROMISE) project – originally funded by a National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) SAMHSA grant- is a three-tiered, trauma-focused intervention model aimed at addressing the mental health needs of Puerto Rican children and school personnel at various stages of recovery after Hurricane Maria. Our team has culturally and linguistically tailored and delivered evidence-informed trainings in Puerto Rico including: 1) Psychological First Aid (PFA); 2) Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR); and 3) Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). In partnership with the Puerto Rico Department of Education and collaborators from Carlos Albizu University- Mayaguez Campus, University of Puerto Rico- Medical Sciences Campus, and APS Clinics of Puerto Rico, ongoing projects continue to build on these efforts and incorporate additional trauma-focused mental health awareness trainings, tele-mental health to reduce barriers in access to care, utilization of technology to create and disseminate an evidence-based mental health service referral system, and expansion of our collaboration networks on the island- funded through a Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) SAMHSA grant (PI-Dr. Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo; Co-PI: Dr. Regan Stewart).