June 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:
 [email protected]
 
Please share this e-letter with your networks; we're happy to include them in our circle.
Stay Connected

ADVANCING RESEARCH
What does 
SPARC do?  
 
Want to learn more about SPARC?  Watch our new video featuring Massachusetts DMH Commissioner
Joan Mikula here .
IMPROVING PRACTICE
Tips for providers and clinicians!
 
This new tip-sheet developed with the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts, Inc. (SEAC) offers culturally-informed strategies mental health providers can use to build strong therapeutic alliances with their Southeast Asian clients.
CHANGING POLICY
New research at SPARC!
 
Colleen McKay was recently awarded a new grant Evaluating Brain Injury Clubhouses and their Effects on Neurobehavioral Functioning and Participation  that will fill knowledge gaps by implementing standard program and individual level data collection tools in Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Clubhouses. Learn more about this project.
EMPOWERED TO ACT
How parents can help?
 
In our What is a 504 Plan and How Can it Help My Teen? tip sheet, we offer parents and guardians some information on 504 plans based on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Read the tip sheet.
FEATURED RESEARCHER
Melissa L. Anderson
Melissa L. Anderson is a psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at SPARC. She completed her graduate work at Gallaudet University, where she studied intimate partner violence and trauma in the Deaf community. She is the recent recipient of a Clinical Research Scholar Award (K12) administered by the UMass Center for Clinical & Translational Science, with which she and a team of Deaf and hearing clinicians and community members are currently developing a digital American Sign Language therapy manual for treating trauma and addiction.  Read more about her work here.
 
Melissa received this year's Bellflasher Award at the 2017 ADARA Conference for her presentation about Signs of Safety.  Learn more.
In the News
Nancy Byatt, a SPARC researcher, is featured in a recent Psychiatric News article about how her work on perinatal depression has become a nationally recognized program.

   ...A modest grant proposal...would eventually find its way into federal legislation.

Upcoming Events!

Team Genesis is celebrating their 11th Annual Falmouth Road Race Run!  Join them on August 20, 2017 starting at 9:00 am. Learn more about the race here.

The 2017 NAMI National Convention:
Educate, Empower, Engage is being held June 28 - July 1 in Washington, DC.  Learn more about the event here.
  
                   Visit SPARC online at:   www.umassmed.edu/sparc


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