August 2017
In This Issue
Who We Are
SPARC
As a Massachusetts
Department of Mental Health Research Center of Excellence, SPARC aims to improve the mental and behavioral health of all citizens of Massachusetts and beyond.
SPARC
Transitions RTC
A division of SPARC, the Transitions RTC promotes the full participation in socially valued roles of transition-age youth and young adults (ages 14-30) with serious mental health conditions.
What We Do
SPARC and Transitions RTC are committed to transferring knowledge and insights gained through rigorous research to improve the lives of people with lived mental health experience.

We conduct Participatory Action Research, an all-inclusive approach that ensures that every aspect of our research incorporates the voices of those with lived mental health experience. 
Tell Us What You Think
We want to hear from you!
 
If you are interested in knowing more about a particular area of research or want to collaborate with us, please let us know .
Contact us at:
 SPARC@umassmed.edu
 
Subscribe & Share! Please share this e-letter with your networks; we're happy to include them in our circle.
Stay Connected

In the News

Nancy Byatt is the recipient of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine's 2017 Don R. Lipsitt Award for Achievement in Integrated and Collaborative Care! Learn more about this prestigious award here.

Want to learn more about Dr. Byatt's work?  Visit SPARC's Parents and Families program page here. 
UPCOMING EVENTS 
Local Presentations
 

SPARC and Transitions RTC researchers, Kathleen Biebel, Jonathan Delman, Amanda Costa, & Raphael Mizrahi, will be presenting at the August 18-21 Alternatives Conference 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. Stay tuned to see copies of their presentations.
ADVANCING RESEARCH
Spotlight on SPARC!
 
SPARC is a national leader in conducting participatory action research with individuals with serious mental health conditions (SMHC). Watch our video to learn about how we engage the mental health community in our research.


Learn more about SPARC here. 
IMPROVING PRACTICE
Reducing Juvenile Reoffending
 
Using Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) principles can reduce juvenile reoffending by identifying the level and types of services juveniles need the moment they need them.  Learn more about RNR principles in our issue brief. 

Like this?  See more from SPARC about juvenile justice and mental health here .
CHANGING POLICY
Knowledge is Power
 
Moving evidence-based mental health services into policy and practice is challenging. You need to involve many people and have great communication among the stakeholders. Read about how Massachusetts tackled this problem in our issue brief here. 

Find more information about the study here.
EMPOWERED TO ACT
Getting Ready for College
 
Are you heading to college and need additional support to do the best you can in school? Check out the second part of this video featuring Laura DiGalbo talking about academic accommodations for people with mental health conditions.  Watch the video here.


See our companion tip sheet, Outside-The-Box College Accommodations Real Support for Real Students, for more information here. 
UPCOMING WEBINAR
Don't miss the September 14th Transitions RTC Webinar!  
 
It Can Be a Bumpy Ride: Navigating School and Work with a Serious Mental Health Condition

This webinar will describe the educational and employment activities of young adults with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) and the successes and challenges they encounter, including challenges due to their mental health conditions. Findings are based on 90-minute qualitative interviews with 61 young adults with SMHC in Massachusetts, ages 25-30. Participants provided a retrospective description of a) their education, training, and employment experiences, b) how those activities developed over time, and c) how contextual life circumstances (e.g., family history, experiences with SMHC) and pivotal life events (e.g., hospitalization) may have influenced these activities.

12pm to 1pm EDT

Register for the webinar here! 

Learn more about this project here.
  
                   Visit SPARC online at:   www.umassmed.edu/sparc


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