Our Story

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.

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

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.

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