The purpose of Project THRIVE is to train the next generation of special education leaders in mental health and culturally linguist practices. Through rigorous coursework, immersive internships, and focused mentoring, doctoral scholars will gain experience and expertise propelling them to post-doctoral opportunities.

• Project Director: Allison Bruhn (University of Iowa)
• Key Collaborators: Seth King (Co-Director, University of Iowa), Derek Rodgers, (Co-Director, University of Iowa), Lia Plakans (Co-Director, University of Iowa)
• Sponsor: Office of Special Education Programs, 2023-2028
• Amount Awarded: $1,179,135

METRICS is a national technical assistance center providing support to states, districts, and schools related to the recruitment, retention, and development of school mental health professionals. Four universities (Iowa, South Florida, Wisconsin, and UC-Santa Barbara) work collaboratively to support the recipients of U.S. Department of Education School Based Mental Health Services or Mental Health Service Professional grants to ensure grantees success, and in turn, improve mental health services for kids in schools.

• Project Director: Steve Kilgus (University of Wisconsin)
• Key Collaborators: Allison Bruhn (Site Lead, Co-Director, University of Iowa), Kari Vogelgesang (Co-Director, University of Iowa), Gerta Bardhoshi (Co-Director, University of Iowa), Brad Niebling (Project Manager), University of Wisconsin, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of South Florida
• Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2023-2027
• Amount Awarded: $10,399,015

This project, MoBeGo 2.0, addresses the call to develop technology that enables an evidence-based approach (i.e., self-monitoring) to personalize learning for students with disabilities and increase student engagement. Over five years, we redesign MoBeGo 1.0 (an earlier version of a self-monitoring app), build, and test version 2.0. The project will culminate in a randomized control trial across project sites.

• Principal Investigator: Allison Bruhn (University of Iowa)
• Key Collaborators: Ashley Rila (Co-PI, University of Iowa), Lesa Hoffman (Co-I, University of Iowa), Joseph Wehby (Co-PI, Vanderbilt University)
• Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, 2023-2028
• Amount Awarded: $2,469,693

This project addresses shortages of personnel in special education and school psychology through training emphasizing team-based, individualized intervention for school-aged children who have intensive academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs. Interdisciplinary coursework, embedded signature assignments, expert seminars, and fieldwork will expose scholars to clinical and classroom settings and prepare personnel to meaningfully partner with other providers and families.

• Project Director: Allison Bruhn (University of Iowa)
• Key Collaborators: Seth King (Co-Director, University of Iowa), Shawn Datchuk (Co-Director, University of Iowa), Ann Santos (Co-Director, University of Iowa), Matt O’Brien (Co-Director, University of Iowa), Kelly Schieltz (Co-Director, University of Iowa)
• Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, 2020-2025
• Amount Awarded: $1,624,468

The postdoctoral research fellowships are funded by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) National Center for Education Research (NCER) and will support a total of four fellows for two years each. Throughout their two-year positions, postdoctoral fellows will work with their primary mentor on ongoing research projects and engage in independent research and professional development activities.

• Co-Principal Investigator: Gerta Bardhoshi
• Key Collaborators: Saba Ali (PI, University of Iowa); Jonathan Templin (Co-P, University of Iowa); and Ain Grooms (Co-PI, University of Iowa)
• Sponsor: Institute of Education Science
• Amount Awarded: $737,814

MPath will address shortages in school-based mental health services professionals (MHSPs) available in high-need schools. The MPath project focuses on developing a multidisciplinary training model to increase the number of highly qualified school-based MHSPs serving high-need areas of Iowa. Special emphasis will be to increase the number of MHSPs from underrepresented, nontraditional, and minoritized backgrounds.

The grant will fund 72 graduate students over the course of 5 years. This project will result in the enhancement of innovative practical learning experiences and more accessible pathways to prepare school-based MHSPs to serve in high-need schools located in Keystone and Mississippi Bend AEA. Students will acquire the expertise and practical experience necessary to address the broad range of mental health concerns encountered by high-need Local Education Agencies (LEAs) within our partner AEAs (Keystone and Mississippi Bend AEA).

• Co-Principal Investigator: Gerta Bardhoshi
• Collaborators: Ann Santos (University of Iowa, PI); Eboneé Johnson (University of Iowa, Co-PI);  Sarah Witry (University of Iowa, Co-PI)
• Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education
• Amount Awarded: $4,732,078

Project Prepare, Engage, Assess, Respond, Link, Sustain (PEARLS) is a partnership between the University of Iowa, the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD), the DesMoines Public School District, and local community, government, and mental health agencies, to provide mental health awareness training (MHAT) to K-12 community stakeholders and improve linkages to care for Iowa's school-aged youth (ages 5-18). PEARLS goals reflect school district and community needs, and include: 1) establish a coalition of community stakeholders to address the mental health needs of school-aged youth; 2) adapt, integrate, and implement the 4 evidence-based frameworks to address the mental health needs of school-aged youth; 3) increase mental health screening and linkages to care for school-aged youth; and 4) train community stakeholders to (a) recognize signs and symptoms of SMI and SED, (b) implement crisis de-escalation and stabilization techniques, (c) refer and track youth in need of mental health services, and (d) practice self-care strategies for providing mental health services. 

• Principal Investigator: Gerta Bardhoshi
• Collaborators: Martin Kivlighan (University of Iowa, Co-PI)
• Sponsor: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency
• Amount: $496,906