The International Behavioral Health Trauma Team, in conjunction with Loma Linda University's Global Health Institute, began providing weekly trainings and stress reduction sessions through affiliation with the Ukraine Angelia Clinic in Kiev in an effort to alleviate some of the ongoing suffering of those impacted by the war. This training was part of Loma Linda University's support for services in Ukraine. A total of 15 sessions (90-120 minutes each) took place between March 8 and October 11, 2022.

The trainings and support sessions have been provided by Drs. Beverly Buckles, Kimberly Freeman, Adam Aréchiga, Tori Van Dyk, and Barbara Hernandez, as well as associates of SBH Jan Click, LCSW and Elaine Miller Karas, LCSW and Co-Founder and Director of Innovation of the Trauma Resource Institute.

The Promotores Academy partnered with the School of Behavioral Health to hold their first Career Exploration and Networking Fair at the San Manuel Gateway College in June 2022, funded by the Peer Personnel Workforce Development Grant.

Awardee Dr. Bridgette Peteet says, "It was an honor to be recognized as a 'Trailblazer' alongside this esteemed interdisciplinary team of LLU healthcare professionals. Clinical psychologists play a vital role in understanding and diminishing behavioral barriers to health equity through targeted interventions and research. In community-academic partnerships with organizations such as IECAAC, we will continue to strive to improve the health and well-being of historically marginalized groups in our region and beyond."

"PrEP (once-a-day pill, brand name Truvada) is a crucial tool for populations at high risk of HIV infection," writes Dr. Alex Dubov. "When used as directed, PrEP can reduce the risk of HIV infection by over 99%. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that only about 25% of the 1.2 million people recommended for PrEP were actually prescribed this medication."

Hobart Lee, MD, associate professor of family medicine, and Kelly R. Morton, PhD, professor of family medicine and professor of psychology, were awarded the five-year Health Resources and Services Administration Primary Care Training Enhancement Grant entitled "ICARE: Integrated Care to Achieve Resilience with Engaged teams."

Internalizing problems such as anxiety and depression impact 20% of young people by age 18, and rates are higher for racial and ethnic minority youth. In 2022, Dr. Maya Mroué Boustani was awarded an R21 (exploratory/developmental) grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to fund research on Problem-Solving Skills Training, which can reduce risk for internalizing problems.

The Department of Psychology's Diversity Committee recently hosted a Diversity Potluck! This egg-citing event drew 60 attendees, including students, fac-kale-ty, and staff. Twenty-two countries were represented by over 40 different dill-icious dishes! Peas endive right in and checca out these great photos from the potluck!

On May 18, 2022, School of Behavioral Health faculty and students gathered for the first Self-Care Fair at our new research space at Mountain View Plaza! The purpose of this event was to help students consider tools that can help balance the care a mental health provider offers for others and self-care.

Every few weeks, Brenda Flores, PhD, MSW, steps up to a lectern to address a community group about human trafficking awareness. The Loma Linda University graduate is a victim specialist for the federal government’s Homeland Security Investigations and works in the department’s San Bernardino office to support agents in the investigation of federal crimes and to educate citizens.

Homecoming is just around the corner, and the School of Behavioral Health is offering some exciting CEU presentations as well as an alumni mixer with food, a photo booth, and door prizes! Don't miss it! Our faculty and students are looking forward to connecting with you.

Research Poster Exhibition (March 1-3) • Interprofessional Education Day (March 2) • Homecoming Bash (March 2) • SBH CEUs (March 3) • SBH Alumni Mixer (March 4) • Pickleball Tournament (March 5)

Clinical Psychology PsyD student Nuria Morales Coskran won two poster awards at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference in April 2022! She received awards from both the Sleep Special Interest Group and the Pain Special Interest Group for her poster, which examined how physical activity attenuates the relationship between poor sleep and worsening pain in adolescents at risk for sleep problems. Congratulations, Nuria!

"The purpose of the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) Diversity Scholarships is to support students from diverse backgrounds or low socioeconomic status who may otherwise be challenged in completing an internship."

Dr. Cameron Neece, Professor, has been selected as a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), as part of Division 33, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities/Autism Spectrum Disorder! APA Fellow status is an honor bestowed upon APA members who have shown evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in the field of psychology. Fellow status requires that a person's work has had a national impact on the field of psychology beyond a local, state, or regional level.

Dr. Neece also won the 2022 Wolf Wolfensberger Valor Award, presented by the Psychology Interest Network (PIN) of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). The award recognizes a mental health professional who is committed to empowering clinical practice or research that amplifies the inherent dignity of all people.

Dr. Jackie Williams-Reade, Professor, was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Her term began January 1, 2022 and runs until December 31, 2024.

"I am honored to be elected and am looking forward to contributing to the field of marriage and family therapy as a Member of AAMFT's Board of Directors. I care deeply about my discipline and hope to use my position to help strengthen our field for the future and support the many clinicians who are committed to relational and systemic practice."

Dr. Kenny Boyd, Professor, was recently elected to the APA Division 36 (Religion/Spirituality) executive committee as a Member-at-Large.

"My goal is to more closely associate Loma Linda University with national scholarly dialogue in the psychology of religion and spirituality," says Dr. Boyd.

Alisha Saavedra, MA, CCLS, Director of Clinical Training for the Child Life Specialist MS program, has been voted President-Elect for the Association of Child Life Professionals!

"Alisha is the first academician to be selected for the President-Elect position, and as a person of color she represents marginalized populations in the child life profession," says Michelle Minyard-Widmann, MS, CCLS, Child Life Specialist MS Program Director. "Her unique background, experiences, and expertise will lift the profession toward a more inclusive community that represents the populations of those we serve."

This year's keynote, "Gender Identity and Faith in Clinical Practice: Applications of the GRIT Approach," will be presented by Mark Yarhouse, PsyD, Director of the Sexual and Gender Identity Institute at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL.

The conference will also include a panel discussion and a research poster session.

Join us either in person or online on April 7, 2023 from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM. There is no charge for this conference. (CEUs will not be offered.)

"Sierra High School has achieved a model program at their wellness center," says Dr. Maya Mroué Boustani. "They offer their students comprehensive wellness services including mental health services provided by our own doctoral students. The partnership has been a win-win for Sierra High School and Loma Linda University's doctoral students."

Read the LA Times article

Loma Linda Health's annual Stand Up to Stigma 5K Walk/Run aims to bring awareness to issues surrounding mental health in the community. Faculty and students within the School of Behavioral Health have consistently demonstrated a commitment to this event by participating in the run/walk itself—two psychology students have won the fastest time!—and by hosting a booth with information about our programs and mental health more broadly.

"Pandemics are a category of disease that holds a mirror to society—they highlight inequalities and how some lives seem to be more important than others," writes Dr. Alex Dubov. "The COVID-19 and the HIV pandemics exploit similar societal weaknesses, such as divides along the lines of race, class, and politics."

Drs. Neece, Van Dyk, and Nair from the Department of Psychology were recently awarded a grant from the Organization for Autism Research to test the efficacy of a behavioral sleep intervention in a diverse sample of children, ages 3-10, with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Sleep concerns are highly prevalent in youth with ASD and are associated with both negative child and family outcomes in this population. Through this intervention study, the investigators hope to reduce child sleep problems and improve child and family outcomes. This is the first collaborative grant in SBH's new Translational Research Across Childhood (TRAC) Center. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to serve these families!