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School of Social Work grad turns childhood trauma into mission to help abused children
Elena Contreras turned a childhood marked by abuse into a career dedicated to helping others heal. After years of silence and isolation, she pursued social work to become the advocate she once needed. Contreras now works as a case coordinator for USF Health’s Child Protection Team, helping abused children. Read more.
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CSD hosts winter conference with full day of CEU opportunities
The Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD) hosted the USF CSD Interdisciplinary Winter Conference on Dec. 5, offering a full day of interdisciplinary presentations focused on communication sciences and related disciplines. Read more.
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Assistant Professor Nik Lampe recognized at Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s event
Hundreds gathered on Dec. 6 for a Walk to End Alzheimer’s event in Lakeland, Florida, including Nik Lampe, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Health Science and Practice. During the event, Lampe was formally recognized as an Alzheimer’s Association-funded researcher. Read more.
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Doctoral student Zena Rodill participates in International Conference on Aging in the Americas
Zena Rodill, a Behavioral and Community Sciences doctoral student, attended the 2025 International Conference on Aging in the Americas in Miami, Florida. Read more.
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Students spread holiday cheer through note drive for local foster home
Two USF student organizations — Mentorship and Support in Communication Sciences and Disorders and USF Rotaract, a service-based student organization that helps organize and facilitate service events — joined forces this semester to host a holiday note drive benefiting Joshua House, a local foster home that supports abandoned, abused and neglected children. Read more.
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Florida’s new reporting system is shining a light on human trafficking in the Sunshine State
The Conversation
"We are criminologists who research human trafficking. In 2020, we founded the University of South Florida’s Trafficking in Persons Risk to Resilience Lab, known as the TIP Lab, to study human trafficking in the state of Florida," written by Joan A. Redi, PhD, and Shelly M. Wagers, PhD.
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Pinellas County Sheriff's Office introduces free program to protect children from cyber crimes
WFLA
"They really don't even see these as children and this is innocent children they obviously see them as a pay day," said Thomas Hyslip, PhD.
| | Chowdhury, S. K., Marshall, J., Boone, B., & Kirby, R. S. (2026). Relationship of Medical Home Components With Health Care Utilization and Unmet Needs in Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs. The Journal of ambulatory care management, 49(1), E14–E30. https://doi.org/10.1097/JAC.0000000000000543 | | Upcoming Events & Deadlines | | |
Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce issues request for proposals
The Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce invites proposals for projects that address workforce recruitment, training and retention needs across Florida and offer practical, scalable strategies to improve access to high-quality behavioral health care. Grants of up to $150,000 a year are available. Proposals are due Jan. 30. Learn more here. FCBHW will hold an online Q&A session on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at noon via Zoom. Register here.
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Winter Break: USF offices closed
Monday, Dec. 22 - Friday, Jan. 2
USF offices are closed for winter break from Monday, Dec. 22 through Friday, Jan. 2. Happy Holidays from the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences!
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Adding News, Events, and Publications to the CBCS Website and Newsletter
If you have news/events or recent/upcoming publications you would like posted on the CBCS website and/or in the Communique newsletter, send the details and any attachments to CBCS Marketing (CBCSMarketing@usf.edu). Please send all newsletter submissions no later than Thursday for inclusion in the following week's newsletter.
Be sure to include all pertinent information (title, date, times, location, event description, and contact information) in editable digital text format. Articles included in the CBCS Communiqué may be disseminated to USF Media outlets and/or beyond.
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