In the Social-Transcultural Research and Intervention Valuing Equity lab, we STRIVE to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions for traditionally underserved populations worldwide. We harness technology and culturally-attuned strategies to improve young people's access to and engagement in mental and behavioral health care. We partner with organizations and schools in the United States and Latin America to ensure our work aligns with the needs of communities we serve.

We have been supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute of Health Fogarty International Center (NIH-FIC), the Hellman Family Foundation, and the Health Initiative of The Americas- Berkeley School of Public Health Research Program on Migration and Health (PIMSA). Our projects have been realized in collaboration with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS), and the Sinaloa Secretary of Public Education (SEP).

To-date, we have developed two culturally-appropriate measurement instruments for youth functioning and impairment (i.e., the FX-II Scale and the ADHD-FX Scale) and have adapted a school-home evidence-based intervention to improve youth attention and behavior (i.e., the Collaborative Life Skills [CLS] program) for Spanish-speaking families in the United States (i.e., CLS-S) and Mexico (i.e., CLS-FUERTE). We are currently working on evaluating the program effectiveness, mechanisms of intervention change, and maintenance barriers/facilitators in a scaled-up cluster randomized controlled trial in four cities across two Mexican states (i.e., CLS-A-FUERTE).  Read more about our CURRENT PROJECTS,  and COMPLETED PROJECTS and MEASURES.

We have shared our work in peer-reviewed academic journals (including Journal of Attention Disorders, Evidence-Based Practice in Child & Adolescent Mental Health, Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, the Journal of Child and Family Studies, and School Psychology), at international academic conferences (including the ADHD World Federation’s Congress, the American Psychiatric Association’s [APA] Annual Meeting, the annual meeting of the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology [ISRCAP], and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies [ABCT] Annual Convention), in annual community champion meetings with collaborating partners, and with local press. Read more about our recent and upcoming scientific conference PRESENTATIONS.

Learn more about OUR TEAM led by Dr. Lauren Haack.