The purpose of Project THRIVE is to train the next generation of special education. 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