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If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or is considering suicide, help is available. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact Crisis Text Line by texting PA to 741741.
Heads Up does not offer clinical services.
ALL FEP CENTERS ARE ACCEPTING NEW PARTICIPANTS AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO OFFER SERVICES THAT FOLLOW CDC GUIDELINES FOR COVID-19
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.
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.
Read More +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.
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.
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.
Read More +PEIC Research Administrative Coordinator (Dept. of Neuropsychiatry)
Read More +Job Description Summary
This position coordinates research administrative activities in support of the Principal Investigator, Project Manager and other key stakeholders. May provide support for multi-year grant proposals and renewal process. Will coordinate data collection, quality control, storage and management. Maintains database for efficient information management and reporting. Participates in research team meetings to problem solve follow-up challenges with the intent to improve the quality of data obtained. Participates in reporting and dissemination activities related to research findings. Assists with manuscript preparation and dissemination of results. May also coordinate special research projects and meeting as needed. The research duties include telephone screening participants for study eligibility, communicating with PIs and study coordinators on potential study participants for study assignment, coordinating and conducting community outreach activities, ensuring data completeness, maintaining research files, providing information to participants regarding research protocols and procedures, data collection and data entry.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO APPLY.
In addition to our staff members, here are some important contributors that support our mission:
91% decrease in participant hospital days
School enrollment increased by 85% in those over age 18
76% decrease in homelessness
*at 24-month follow-up
If you or someone you know is experiencing psychosis, here’s how to reach out. HeadsUp does not offer clinical services or emergency care.
Call the National Suicide Prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-Talk (8255) or contact Crisis Text Line by texting PA to 741741.
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.