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    • Our Story

    Founded in 2018

    Founded in 2018, the Pennsylvania Early Intervention Center/HeadsUp, located at the University of Pennsylvania, serves as a robust hub for mental healthcare advocates, clinicians and centers across Pennsylvania on the frontlines of education, treatment and de-stigmatization of early psychosis.

     

    About HeadsUp

    Starting in 2008, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funded a large-scale, research initiative highlighting and promoting the importance of early intervention for psychosis and the efficacy of the Coordinated Specialty Care model for early psychosis treatment.

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    In response to this exciting research, specialized First Episode Psychosis centers were created with support of the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Pennsylvania in 2015. With the goal of supporting these existing centers as well as enabling pathways to expand statewide FEP resources, Irene Hurford, MD, began the Pennsylvania Early Intervention Center in 2018, evolving into HeadsUp in 2019 under the leadership of Christian Kohler, MD and Monica Calkins, PhD.

    Funding for HeadsUp is also provided through a Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). MHBG funding and the support of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has opened up pathways to build upon Pennsylvania’s First Episode Psychosis support and treatment successes.

    While HeadsUp does not offer clinical care, our work helps to support and expand the care provided by the FEP centers across Pennsylvania and with collaborating states, increases awareness of early psychosis, and de-stigmatizes discussions of mental health.

    Empowerment

    We aim to replace prejudice and discrimination with affirming attitudes and positive outcomes through support of our Pennsylvania First Episode Psychosis centers and the Coordinated Specialty Care model of treatment. Our role is to empower people experiencing early psychosis to take control of their treatment and, in turn, their lives.

    HeadsUp Steering Committee

    In order to facilitate a collaborative learning health care system across the First Episode Psychosis (FEP) / Clinical High Risk (CHR) network in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, HeadsUp maintains a robust Steering Committee consisting of representatives of a diverse set of stakeholders including administrators, clinical staff, participants/patients, families, HeadsUp directors, and mental health advocacy groups.

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    The goals of our Steering Committee include:

    • Provide direction and guidance for HeadsUp by identifying and framing issues for
      discussion and policy
    • Strengthen the PA FEP/CHR network by promoting a learning collaborative framework
      that actively and iteratively assesses actions of the overall program, and whether it
      continues to fulfill goals for training, assessment, data management and sharing, and
      performance reporting across the network
    • Assess progress towards milestones and guide activities and adaptations
    • Engage in shared decision making with HeadsUp leadership and sites regarding program
      implementation and training, changes in data collection protocols, and authorship
    • Collaborate in development of the network’s recruitment and outreach plan, including
      reviewing outreach materials for cultural and linguistic competency
    • Ensure that the HeadsUp team and PA sites are supported as the network grows
    If you are interested in learning more about our Steering Committee please email: headsuppaorg@gmail.com

    Current Employment Opportunities

    At this time HeadsUp does not have any openings.  Check out our PA FEP Employment Opportunities page to find out about employment opportunities at our PA First Episode Psychosis Centers.

    Meet Our Staff

    Christian Kohler, MD

    Co-Director, HeadsUp

    Monica Calkins, PhD

    Co-Director, HeadsUp

    Daniel Wolf, MD, PhD

    Telehealth Director, HeadsUp

    Catherine Conroy, MEd

    Program Manager, HeadsUp

    Megan Jumper, MS

    Data Analyst, HeadsUp

    Emily Becker-Haimes, PhD

    Fidelity Advisor, HeadsUp

    Crystal Vatza, MS

    Education and Tele-Health Manager, HeadsUp

    Donna Bencivengo, MS

    EPINET Clinical Research Coordinator

    Meredith Jacoby, BA

    Outreach Coordinator, HeadsUp

    Christina Bell, BA

    Research Administrative Coordinator, HeadsUp

    Aimee Kim, MSEd

    Outreach & Clinical Support Specialist, HeadsUp

    Jessie Riggs, BA

    Data Coordinator, HeadsUp

    HeadsUp Contributors

    In addition to our staff members, here are some important contributors that support our mission:

    Irene Hurford, MD

    Aaron Brinen, PsyD

    Fanghong Dong, PhD

    First Episode Psychosis Centers in PA are Making a Difference*

    Early Intervention in Psychiatry
    91%

    91% decrease in participant hospital days

    85%

    School enrollment increased by 85% in those over age 18

    76%

    76% decrease in homelessness

    *at 24-month follow-up

    Questions for HeadsUp?

    Catherine (Cat) Conroy, M.Ed, Manager of HeadsUp
    Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Section, Department of Psychiatry
    Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
    10th floor, Gates Pavilion, HUP
    3400 Spruce Street, Rm. 10054, Philadelphia, PA 19104
    headsuppaorg@gmail.com

    We are available during standard business hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) to answer any questions you may have about our organization or to direct you to programs in Pennsylvania that can offer clinical help.