| May 12, 2008 6:38pm |
| Table of Contents |
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Contacts Chair: Department Administrator: School of Aging Studies: |
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Some Facts about the Department The Department of Aging and Mental Health (AMH) is one of three research departments of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida. AMH's mission is to conduct research, program evaluation, training, education and consultation which addresses the immediate and longer term mental health and support system needs of older adults in Florida and nationally. AMH faculty members work with national, state and local agencies to develop research agendas, behavioral health services for older adults, shape policy, and provide educational opportunities. AMH research is supported by funding sources including the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Justice, Health Services Research Administration (HRSA), Department of Veterans Affairs, AARP Foundation, Hartford Foundation, Borchard Foundation, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Florida Department of Children and Families, and Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute. Faculty research articles are published in high impact journals in the aging and mental health fields. To accomplish its mission, AMH faculty collaborate with state and local agencies such as the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida Department of Health, Agency for Health Care Administration, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Florida Correctional Medical Authority, West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging, Broward County Elderly and Veterans Services, Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Mental Health Services, and Hillsborough County Department of Aging. One of AMH's faculty members co-chairs the Florida Coalition for Optimal Mental Health and Aging and AMH organizes the Coalition's annual conference. Faculty members are frequently invited to serve on federal expert panels for agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Center on Elder Abuse, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research, American Psychological Association, National Coalition for Mental Health and Aging, National Center for Elder Abuse, Gerontological Society of America, American Association of Suicidology, and American Society on Aging. AMH faculty are committed to excellence in educating future researchers and scholars. To accomplish this they provide course instruction within the USF School of Aging Studies, Honors College, FMHI's undergraduate minor in Behavioral Healthcare, and FMHI's National Science Foundation funded Research Experience for Undergraduates. They also serve as mentors for doctoral students and postdoctoral research fellows, and host numerous training events for professionals. Latest News Dr. Larry Dupree was awarded the 2007 Mental Health and Aging Network (MHAN) Award by the American Society on Aging. The award is given to "an outstanding professional who has demonstrated continued excellence in direct or indirect service to the mental health or dementia care of older adults and their families and who has had a profound and lasting impact on the mental health of older adults, through practice, teaching, research, advocacy or policy planning." Dr Dupree was honored at the Mental Health and Aging Network Reception as part of the 2007 Joint Conference of The American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging, held in Chicago where he presented a special conference session entitled Mental Health and Aging Coalitions: Making a Difference at the State and Local Level. Dr Dupree joined the ranks of aging pioneers such as Ray Raschko, Steven H. Zarit, Stephen J. Bartels, Willard Mays and Laura Trejo as winners of this prestigious award.
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